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Everyone wants to obtain smooth skin. A smooth complexion can make your skin look ever more youthful and radiant than it already is, all while helping your skincare and makeup products fully soak in, allowing for a flawless look – but not everyone goes about achieving smooth, clear skin in the safest of ways. Viral TikTok hacks, for example, impossibly promise to rid your face of acne in minutes, or utilize dangerous tools or chemicals to exfoliate that can cause further damage. One viral hack of late? Dermaplaning at home. I wondered just how effective – and safe – dermaplaning without a professional is, so I talked to dermatological experts to find out if this seemingly simple tool can really help you say goodbye to dry, textured skin.
What exactly is dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning improves your complexion naturally, without harsh chemicals. The process of using a blade to skim over the skin and remove peach fuzz is typically done by a dermatologist or esthetician as a professional method of exfoliation. By removing the dead and dry skin, you can soften and smooth the surface of your skin. It may even help improve surface-level acne scarring.
Amy Koberling, cosmetic dermatology physician assistant and The Skinthusiast blogger, tells Her Campus, “For true acne scarring like textured scars or depressions, [dermaplaning will not remove them].” But for flat dark marks that are taking forever to fade, regular exfoliation can speed up the process. “[Especially] when combined with sunscreen and the appropriate topical regimen,” she adds.
The process is painless, and there’s absolutely no recovery time needed afterward – unlike microneedling. It can get costly to have a dermatologist or esthetician dermaplane your skin for you, but that doesn’t mean you should just take it upon yourself to take a razor to your face.
How Can I dermaplane myself?
As it turns out, dermaplaning at home is pretty similar to having it done at the dermatologist’s office or spa. The biggest difference is the tool (professionals use a surgical scalpel). The first thing that you’ll need is a face razor – from tinkle razors to a specifically designated dermaplaning tool. These small razors won’t break the bank for you, and you can find them at any store that sells beauty products and tools, including Ulta Beauty and other drugstores.
Once you’ve chosen the right razor, cleaning your skin and removing any makeup is essential – you want to avoid makeup build-up on the razor, which can prevent proper exfoliation. With your skin cleaned and prepped, pull your skin taut and begin shaving your face in a downward motion and at a 45-degree angle (shaving downward is important in order to not irritate or cut your skin). Slow and steady with light pressure is the best way to go about it, but don’t shave over any open scratches or spots on your face. It’s that simple!
Not only can dermaplaning help the texture of your skin through exfoliation, but it can also improve your overall complexion, making your skin look brighter. Plus, by removing the peach fuzz on your face, your makeup will apply more smoothly. Dr. Munheeb Shah, a dermatology resident, tells Her Campus, “Removing the peach fuzz, or vellus hairs, make it such that makeup doesn’t clump up on the hair, and allows light to reflect off the skin for improved radiance.”
As someone who often battles with my skin texture and was tired of lackluster skin, I knew this was a trick that I needed to try the first time I saw one woman showing off her dermaplane routine on TikTok. Now I dermaplane my skin every two to three weeks. I was in shock over how much dead skin and peach fuzz came away, and by what a difference it made. Elizabeth Russeau, a dermatology nurse practitioner, tells Her Campus, “If you have dead skin buildup…any product applied has to go through that before getting to the deeper layers of the skin, which can limit absorption. When you remove those hairs and dead skin cells, the product can be absorbed faster and more effectively.”
Within a month of dermaplaning from home, it was obvious how true that is. Now I often look as though I’ve been airbrushed, and I feel like I’m literally glowing thanks to how much better my moisturizer can penetrate my skin. I certainly wouldn’t say dermaplaning is the be-all-end-all of skincare hacks (I don’t think such a thing exists), but it’s made a noticeable improvement for me and I won’t be quitting it any time soon!
Experts:
Amy Koberling, owner of The Skinthusiast and cosmetic dermatology physician assistant
Dr. Munheeb Shah, dermatology resident
Elizabeth Russeau, dermatology nurse practitioner