Dermaplaning, Microneedling, And Microdermabrasion

I’ve always wanted to remove all the hair from my face. I contemplated lasers, but because my skin has too much melanin, it could cause hyperpigmentation. Instead I’ve been waxing, tweezing, and Nair-ing for years. That was, until I discovered dermaplaning.

Dermaplaning is a skin care treatment that removes dead skin cells and vellus hair, aka peach fuzz. An aesthetician uses a small, sterile blade while holding the skin taut, swiping the blade in gentle upward motions.

A few weeks ago, I visited Stacked Skincare to try dermaplaning for myself. The treatment got rid of my gnarly sideburns with just a few passes—and best of all, it’s painless. It felt quite relaxing, actually, like little baby hands running across my face.

“Dermaplaning leaves your skin brighter, smoother, glowing, and more youthful,” says Stacked Skincare founder Kerry Benjamin. “The only people who can’t dermaplane are those with active pustular acne.”

Here, Benjamin breaks down everything there is to know about dermaplaning, the Stacked Skincare method, and getting your smoothest skin ever at home.

Dermaplaning goes beyond a basic shave

The procedure involves the use of a 10-inch scalpel, which curves into a sharp point. The blade is used on clean, dry skin on the forehead, cheeks, chin, nose and neck. “You can expect to see an instant improvement in skin texture and tone, while the long-term effects are increased cell turnover, fewer wrinkles and dark spots, reduction of acne scarring, and the removal of fine facial hair,” Benjamin says.

Hairless skin is the cleanest

Removing the peach fuzz is beneficial since the fine hairs trap debris and oils and give skin a dull look. “After dermaplaning, skin care products and treatments perform much more efficiently since they can penetrate the skin more easily. Your makeup goes on smoother as well,” explains Benjamin. “It’s the perfect procedure to begin stacking other treatments, like our TCA Multi Acid Face Peel, Serums, and MicroRoller.”

Stacking is exfoliation on steroids

Step one: Slough off dead, dry skin with a combination of chemical exfoliation (aka a chemical peel). “Combined exfoliation treatments promote healthy skin cell turnover, prevent acne, reduce dark spots and blemishes, and boost collagen production for plumper skin.”

Step two: Cocktail two or more serums. “When stacked together, the active ingredients in our serums work synergistically to address multiple problematic skin symptoms at once.”

Step three: Dermaplaning, microneedling, and microdermabrasion.

Maintenance is a major key

“I always tell my clients that they can’t just treat their skin when they see me—they have to do it at home too,” Benjamin says. At-home peels between professional treatments can really boost and maintain your results. “If you are battling acne, a peel will gently exfoliate, kill acne-causing bacteria, and calm inflammation,” says Benjamin, who sends clients home with her TCA Multi Acid Face and Body Peel.