Before and After: How the HydraFacial Saved My Skin

If you haven't experienced a HydraFacial yet, what are you waiting for? It's nothing short of amazing. And if you've ever heard one of your friends singing its praises, I promise you — that friend is not exaggerating. In fact, I'm about to join in the chorus and share a few nuggets, including a before-and-after shot, from my most recent HydraFacial treatment. My skin type: Combination Dry Current state of skin: Dry and red irritation; oily patches (mostly cheek area), clogged pores, and a hormonal breakout around the jawline. Oof. General dullness. I've been traveling more than usual and the stress — and indulgence — of the holidays certainly caught up to my skin. Between major climate changes (cold, frigid Boston air vs. Austin's warmer temps) and over 30 hours of flight time (Austin > Japan > Shanghai > Austin > Boston > Austin) logged, let's just say my skin wasn't looking its best. Goals for HydraFacial: I know not everything can be "cured" in one session, but I wanted to leave with clear pores and lots of hydration. My skin was screaming for it. Results Post-HydraFacial: Glowy-ness! My skin feels rejuvenated and undeniably clean. It's the most hydrated version of itself right now and I couldn't be more pleased. The jawline breakouts, while still visible to me, have been stopped in their tracks. Finally, the sallow tone of my skin is gone. Success! See my before-and-after shots... Before: Excuse the poor lighting. Take note of the general congestion all over my face. Most might argue — "well, I don't see a lot of acne!" — but just because I don't have visible spots on my face doesn't mean that the surface of my skin doesn't feel rough with clogged pores and travel-weariness.   After: What is most important to note in this "after" shot is how healthy my skin looks. It literally looks plumper, as if I had discovered the fountain of collagen overnight. There's life in my skin and I feel eons better.