Recently I had the opportunity to try the Personal Microderm System, which is an at home microdemabrasion system available from SkincareRx. This system retails for $179.
The Product Claims:
Achieve amazing anti-aging results at home with Personal Microderm System. It works just like a professional microdermabrasion treatment without the hassle or cost. The hand-held device uses the same aluminum oxide crystals as the ten thousand dollar machines found at your doctor’s office. It smooths away dead skin cells, diminishing age spots and other signs of aging.
To begin, I watched the 8 minute introductory video. It’s really important to watch this to see the technique demonstrated in the video for using the machine on your face. Additionally, it’s very important to follow all the instructions in the video.
The kit comes with everything you need to get started. You get the Personal Microderm System, 1 sample of Boske Molecular Repair serum, 1 sample of M2 Skin Refinish, 2 coarse green exfoliating disks and three fine grit exfoliating disks, 1 facial cap,1 body cap, 1 filter, 1 cd, 1 pamplet and 1 electric cord.
I want to remind you of what my naked face looks like. I put red circles around the spots that bug me.
To begin for a treatment:
1. I cleansed my face and patted it dry.
2. I used the small blue fine grit facial disk in the machine.
3. I held the skin on my face taunt between my fingers and gently applied the machine. I could feel a sort of suction that the machine was on my skin properly and then I slowly moved it outward. It took me a bit to get the hang of this, and I didn’t find it easy to do. I kept it completely away from my eye area because the eye skin is way too thin and delicate for an instrument like this. I did end up with a few places that looked very red/almost raw from the machine sticking.
Now, let me be clear. I have sensitive skin, and I went at this VERY slowly, and it still hurt like you wouldn’t believe. My skin gets pink whenever I cleanse it. I watched my skin like a hawk, and when I saw it go pink I moved on. I did see the white skin flakes, as the video stated I would see.
This is what my face and neck looked like immediately after treatment. I put pink arrows by the spots that I’d like to see a reduction, or that look like there has been a reduction.
4. After I finished my face and neck, I immediately used the Korres 3 in 1 Milk Cleaner/Toner to gently cleanse my face and neck where I’d used the machine.
5. I cleaned the machine as instructed in the video.
6. I used the Boske Molecular Repair that came with the machine.
It was impossible for me to get suction on my nose with this thing. It was very difficult to get suction around my mouth. The motor of the machine is loud, especially right in my face.
I feel like just the first treatment gave me results on the two hyperpigmented spots on the right side of my face, as they appear to be lighter to my eyes, even through the redness. I’ve tried a lot of spot lightening treatments in the past on those two spots and never was able to see a change in the color of them. In fact, I’d purchased Alpha Hydrox’s Spot Light to try and lighten those spots, only to change my mind and not use the product after researching the controversy surrounding hydroquinone.
After using the machine, my face felt like I had a sunburn. While cleansing didn’t burn, applying the serum stung a bit.
Does the product live up to its claims?
The product lives up to most of its claims. The claim I contend the most with is the ‘treatment without the hassle.’ To me, this is not easy to use, and I have to use it very carefully. Even days after using it, the places where the machine stuck to my skin instead of gliding over it were red like I’d fallen and scraped myself.
My final thoughts:
I do believe that this machine works. After just one treatment I saw results on the two spots on the right side of my face that nothing had previously been able to budge. In my opinion, if you have sensitive skin like I do, it is critical to watch the video and use this machine carefully until you get the hang of it. Yes, it is expensive, but it’s cheaper than visits to a dermatologist, and cheaper than multiple microderm abrasion treatments at a spa. That said, it may be worth it to you to pay for the visits to the experts who will make sure you don’t end up with redness like I had, as I can see that using a machine like this is not for everyone.
What do you think of the personal microderm system? Would you use it?
Product sent for consideration. All opinions are my own.
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Hello Cotton
I have this same one and I really, really like it. I don’t have the super sensitive skin that you do, which would make using it harder. I also had a difficult time getting suction on my nose and found that you have to just press it on there and not try to slide it. But only for a second, or you’ll get too much and look scraped. I had a similarly difficult time using it on my forehead. I love this, I just wish the discs lasted longer.
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Yeah I ended up with the red places on the side of my face looking scraped
I have a skin condition that requires visits to the dermatologist with fair frequency: I get a 20% salicylic acid facial while I’m there (since I’m there anyway), and my insurance covers it. My copay’s small enough that I could visit the dermatologist 9 times for the price of this.
Overall, I doubt I’d use it since I get such a powerful exfoliation from my doctor. It’s not like if I switched to this I would be able to stop going to my doctor, anyway, so this just doesn’t have the value for me that it might for some people.
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Wow, nice insurance!
See, I figured that some people would just find it more advantageous to see a doctor or an aesthetician rather than use a machine like this. As I’d only ever had one professional facial in the past, I can definitely say that this was about as painful as that, though when the machine stuck, it was freaky.
Eep! That just looks and sounds to me like basically putting a very small grinding wheel against my face. No thanks! I’ll stick to things that don’t have motors. I’m less likely to accidentally scrape raw spots in my skin that way.
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It is kind of like using a very fine grit to exfoliate. I did end up with some scrapes.
danke für den interessanten artikel.
You’re welcome Alley.
I have sensitive skin too Phyrra, and I have been hesitant to try any type of microdermabrasion at home or at the Derm’s office. I use manual scrubs but nothing like this. I have a clarisonic that I will begin testing soon, but that is about the extent of my experience with these types of things. I think if I went in regularly to the Derms for this treatment, saw how they used the device, then I might be comfortable wtih doing at home. But, I might fear getting scraped and such like you did. But, with all things, the only way to know is to try it out yourself (or find similar bloggers like you that tested it)!
Great review!!!
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Go easy with the Clarisonic and don’t use it more than once a day if you’re sensitive. I have a Clarisonic mia with the sensitive brush head and couldn’t handle more than once a day.
I’m glad you like the review
I think I would leave this sort of thing to the experts. Just curious if there were any warnings about damage to the skin by using this tool? Take care of your lovely face!
I just saw my dermatologist to see what I can do about getting rid of my post-pregnancy melasma. He told me the best thing to use is a product called Tri-luma, but it’s on backorder. So, we’re recreating it by using the three individual ingredients applied to the area one at a time: hydroquinone 4%, retin-A .05% and hydrocortisone 1%.
I asked him about the hydroquinone and he said the negative effects are a result of people using/prescribing the product incorrectly. The example he used was if someone with brown skin was using it to get lighter. He is one of the best derms in town, so I’m inclined to believe him.
I blogged the details and the dreaded “before” pictures if you’re interested.
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Dave and I researched it, and you’re right, it has been used to lighten people’s entire skin, but some of the things we found indicated that even in small doses for spot treatment there could be side effects. Ultimately, it made me uncomfortable enough to decide against using it.