I Tried A Dermaplaning Facial at Nordstrom Beauty Haven And It Left Me With Baby-Soft Skin

When it comes to facial hair, I find most people are usually in two camps: embrace or erase. 

As someone with a lot of vellus (AKA peach fuzz) and terminal hair (dark, thicker strands) – thank you Italian genes – I’ve always been team erase.

Over the years, I've gone to great lengths to remove my hair and experimented with Nair, threading (ouch!), waxing (double ouch!!), sugaring, and tweezing. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the feeling of smooth, fuzz-free skin, but the painful, time-consuming process to get there? Not so much!

And after years of trial and error with different hair-removal techniques, I was starting to think I would never find something that didn’t burn or irritate my skin.

However, that all changed the day I went to Nordstrom Beauty Haven and learned about dermaplaning.  

What Is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is a type of facial shaving that removes peach fuzz and dead skin cells with a sharp scalpel. It is a skin resurfacing treatment that, in addition to removing fine hair, can improve skin radiance and help with the appearance of acne scars. 

Before that day, I had always been intrigued by dermaplaning, but was hesitant to try it because I thought it would make my hair grow back darker and more course. Turns out that’s a total myth and – even better – it’s a quick, painless, skin-friendly way to get a smoother and more even complexion.   

With this new knowledge under my belt, I decided it was time to take the plunge and try it out for myself, so I booked a dermaplaning facial at Nordstrom Beauty Haven. 

Spoiler alert! I lived to tell the tale and couldn’t be happier with the results! 

If you're looking for baby-soft, hairless skin, and are interested in dermaplaning, get the inside scoop in my review of my professional dermaplaning facial below. 

Dermaplaning Facial at Nordstrom Beauty Haven Review 

The Space 

Walking up to the Nordstrom Beauty Haven, I was still a little nervous but excited. I had heard such great things about the facials at Beauty Haven and was eager to experience the magic myself. As I reached the front desk, my jaw hit the ground. As a beauty lover, the chic, upscale space has everything you could ever need and more! I could easily spend a full day there learning from their beauty experts or trying out one (or many) of their interactive beauty services. I was in beauty heaven (I mean haven) and my nerves slowly started to disappear.  

Expert Advice from Beauty Professionals:

Once I checked in, my aesthetician greeted me in the private waiting room. Her warm demeanor immediately put me at ease and made me feel like I was in good hands. Since this was my first dermaplaning facial, I had a few questions before we got started. 

“Will it cause my facial hair to grow back darker and thicker?” No. Dermaplaning doesn’t change the pigment or texture of the hair follicles.

“Does dermaplaning hurt?” No. At the very most, you might feel a faint tingling sensation as the blade grazes your skin, but overall it’s painless.

She assured me that in addition to removing hair, dermaplaning also helps to even skin tone and increase product penetration.

I was sold and ready for the treatment to begin. 

The Treatment

In order to get the best results from the treatment, it’s important to start with a clean canvas. My facial began with a gentle cleanse using the Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser to remove all traces of dirt, makeup, and oil from my skin.  

Once my skin was clean and dry, it was time for main event. The aesthetician held the Dermaflash Luxe at a 45 degree angle and moved in short strokes, making sure to avoid sensitive areas like my lips and around my eyes. As she moved from section to section, she would show me the hair and debris that was coming off my skin, and let you tell you it was shocking. I mean knew I was hairy, but wow I felt like I had a brand-new complexion by the time she was done. When I looked in the mirror, I was like “Whitney who?” My skin had never looked so smooth or radiant in my life!   

After dermaplaning, I was treated to a round of LED light therapy using the DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro. After taking into consideration my issues with sunspots and discoloration, we determined that the first setting with red LED would be the best fit for me. Red LED penetrates deep within the skin to boost collagen production and new cell growth, so it’s especially great for repairing sun-damaged skin like mine. The quick three-minute treatment went like a breeze and was so relaxing that I may or may not have fallen asleep with the FaceWare on.

After the LED came Dr. Gross’ signature professional chemical peel. Now I know you may be thinking, “isn’t that a lot of exfoliation?” But when you combine physical exfoliation (dermaplaning) with chemical exfoliation (pro peel) in the same treatment, the benefits are enhanced. But please, leave that type of double exfoliation to the pros! 

I am an avid user of the Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel, but didn’t know too much about the Professional Peel except that it is much stronger than the peel pads in my bathroom. I didn't know how my skin would react. Fortunately, I found the pro peel to be completely painless and it gave my skin an immediate glow! 

After all that exfoliation, it was time to conclude my facial with a hefty dose of hydration. We started with the Hyaluronic Marine Hydrating Modeling Mask to soothe and calm my skin followed by the Hyaluronic Marine Hydration Booster to help replenish. All that juicy goodness was sealed in with the Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion. The entire Hyaluronic Marine collection is formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and marine algae, so it was like one big glass of water for my skin. Finally, as the last step of the facial, she applied the All-Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 to keep my fresh, new skin protected against environmental damage.

After Care

To keep my skin glowing, I was instructed to skip makeup for the first 24 hours after the treatment and stick to a simple skincare routine for the rest of the week. That meant using a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum, and wearing sunscreen daily. Sun protection should be a non-negotiable every day, but it’s especially essential after dermaplaning or a chemical peel because they make the skin more sun-sensitive, so it’s easier to burn.

Final Verdict

After the treatment, my complexion looked and felt completely rejuvenated! I am prone to getting desert-dry so I mentally prepared myself to see some flaking after the treatment, but that never happened. I was shocked! I just had glowing, dewy skin that lasted for days. Not only did my skin look 1000% better, but I also noticed that my makeup applied like a dream, thanks to the lack of peach fuzz. I can also officially confirm that my hair never grew back thicker or darker as well. So, I’m hoping that this review can help put this myth to bed once and for all! 

Overall, I couldn’t be happier with my dermaplaning results or my experience at Nordstrom Beauty Haven. It was like taking my senses on a five-star vacation, and I left feeling like a million bucks. Whether you’re a New Yorker who loves a good pampering sesh, or are just visiting the city, I highly recommend stopping by Nordstrom Beauty Haven and booking one of their beauty services. Indulge just once, and you’ll be sold! 

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