HydraFacial’s vs. Facials: The Difference, Benefits and Everything In-Between
- Ethos Day Spa
- May 14
- 6 min read
Updated: May 15
Let’s start with the basics, having a skincare routine is important! The benefits of a skincare routine can bring you healthy, radiant skin. What type of maintenance and support are the best ways to bring out that glow? HydraFacial or Facial? Both are outstanding treatments that can not only enhance your overall skin health but also bring out skincare confidence from within.
Our skin is the largest organ in our body, our skin plays a crucial role in protecting us from external factors like pollution, UV radiation, and bacteria. In turn, our skin is then exposed to these harmful factors, which can potentially lead to skin damage and premature aging.
A skincare routine integrating professional support and guidance can provide care to combat these potential negative effects while helping to stimulate our skin to keep it looking and feeling great. With a consistent skincare routine, this can help to prevent skin damage by removing dirt, oil, and other impurities from the skin's surface, helping to unclog pores and prevent acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
As we age, our skin loses elasticity and firmness, leading to discoloration, fine lines, and other signs of aging. A skincare routine integrating HydraFacial can combat these effects by providing the skin with hydration, nourishment, and protection while enhancing overall skin health by promoting cell turnover, improving circulation, and providing essential nutrients.
What is a HydraFacial Service?
Regular Facial vs. HydraFacial: Traditional Facial Services are spa treatments that can help to improve the overall appearance of your skin. A facial typically involves deep cleansing, exfoliation, and massage of the face, followed by applying a moisturizer and other skin-nourishing treatments.
Ethos Day Spa Offers the following Facial Treatments
Calm Skin Calm Mind Facial - skin hydration focused, moisturized with seaweed and fruit extracts and bathed in a light aromatic steam.
Time Resist Rejuvenating Facial – one-of-a-kind relaxation-based anti-aging treatment. This facial stimulates your senses, refines skin texture, energizes, and boosts overall cell renewal.
Ethos Signature Facial - deep cleansing facial to appropriately address any skin concerns.
HydraFacial offers top-level advanced professional skincare treatments and Ethos Day Spa specializes in HydraFacial Treatments.
So, what is a HydraFacial?
HydraFacial is a form of advanced skincare that provides clients with quicker and more long-term skincare success, showcasing dramatic results, having you ready for any special event, wedding, or just as a regular form of skincare maintenance.
The HydraFacial is comparable to another treatment called microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion uses a “mildly abrasive instrument to gently sand your skin, removing the thicker, uneven outer layer,” according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The HydraFacial device uses an exfoliating tip paired with suction to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your face. Once the skin is exfoliated, serums are infused into the skin. There is no downtime, and the entire treatment can be done in as little as 30 minutes.
The 3 steps to HydraFacial treatment:
Cleanse and Peel
The resurfacing step is when the skin is exfoliated. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. Exfoliation has been known to have outstanding skincare benefits including brighter-looking skin, unclogging pores, and with long-term use the potential to increase collagen production. This is all done in the HydraFacial with the HydraFacial tip. The tip “generates a fluid vortex over the skin that gently dislodges impurities and dead skin cells.
Extract and Hydrate
The HydraFacial tip works to get the gunk out of pores and delivers topical moisturizers or serums simultaneously. This is how a HydraFacial can be better than a regular facial. HydraFacial offers a more “deep cleaning” experience for the skin. Renewing your skin and creating a great foundation to build your regular skincare routine up on.
Infuse and Protect
The HydraFacial treatment finishes with customized boosters or serums. Similar customization can be provided in regular facials, but the serums and boosters used in the HydraFacial treatments are next level. These serums and boosters are pitched toward your skin goals which may include reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, dull skin, or enlarged pores. The HydraFacial treatment is entirely customizable through these boosters and serums.
HydraFacial is a great way to remove the buildup of sebum and debris that cover the top of our skin. They help to loosen and unclog pores while combining an exfoliation process of removing the top layer of dead skin cells while infusing the skin with the hydration and healing of water.
Are HydraFacial’s different from microdermabrasion or chemical peels?
Microdermabrasion treatments use manual extractions, while a HydraFacial uses a vacuum-like tip to cleanse deeper down than traditional extraction.
Chemical peels use acids and are most effective on lighter skin tones, whereas HydraFacial’s can be used on all skin tones.
HydraFacial takes its name from the root word hydrate—this ability to moisturize the skin separates the HydraFacial™ from all other skin resurfacing procedures, separating this treatment from a regular facial while mimicking the benefits and amplifying soothing, refreshing, non-irritating, and immediately effective results.
Can you customize your HydraFacial treatment?
HydraFacial is a completely customizable facial, just as Ethos Day Spa Offers full customization when it comes to regular facials, HydraFacial’s are offered and customizable to meet your skincare needs.
Ethos Day Spa skincare professionals are armed with the knowledge to guide you to success in your skincare goals.
There are many different serums within the HydraFacial system. If your skin has been more dehydrated than normal, or you’re prone to acne and looking for a little extra boost of actives, your skin care professional could offer specific acids (glycolic, lactic, etc.) to treat your skin as an example of customization.
HydraFacial’s are Clinically Proven To Reveal Glowing Skin, Out with the Gunk, In with the Glow!
HydraFacial treatments are scientifically shown to significantly improve the appearance of skin.1 In clinical studies, participants showed immediate and long-term benefits after receiving a series of 5 or more HydraFacial treatments.
(Based on Investigator assessment of 20 participants with mild to moderate acne who received 6 Clarifying Hydrafacial Treatments over 12 weeks. Individual results may vary. 1. 20 participants receiving a Hydrafacial treatment vs. manual application of antioxidant serum over 6 treatments. Freedman 2008. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2. 20 participants with mild to moderate acne received 5-6 Clarifying Hydrafacial treatments with blue LED light over 12 weeks. Storgard et al. 2022. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.)
100% of participants had clearer skin with 65% achieving acne-free skin.
100% reported visibly cleaner, clearer skin.
95% reported less oil and congestion.
85% of those with acne saw fewer blemishes and less inflammation.
70% reported a significant increase in hydration.
Ethos Day Spa offers two types of HydraFacial Spa Experiences:
Deluxe HydraFacial:
This offers the most advanced skin resurfacing treatment that includes all the luxurious essentials of HydraFacial for your skin.
Ethos Deluxe HydraFacial is a non-invasive treatment that offers intense hydration, exfoliation, and pain-free extractions using patented Vortex-Fusion technology coupled with professional strength therapeutic light energy to treat skin from within.
The results are instant and there is no downtime. This treatment is ideal for treating hyperpigmentation, clogged pores, loss of elasticity, dullness, some acne, and uneven skin tones. It can be used on all skin types.
Platinum HydraFacial:
This is the ultimate HydraFacial experience! Beginning with a soothing Lymphatic Drainage to reduce puffiness and provide the appearance of lifting and contouring the skin.
This reveals smooth skin texture and vibrant skin clarity with HydraFacial’s Vortex-Fusion technology. This Vortex-Fusion technology offers hydration, exfoliation, and pain-free extractions.
Customized and directed super serums with professional strength therapeutic light energy are used before a luxurious masked facial massage is performed to enhance results and treat skin from within.
The treatment concludes by bathing the skin with nourishing hydration and antioxidants for the ultimate glow. Ethos Platinum HydraFacial is the ultimate skincare spa experience.
Is HydraFacial better than a Regular Facial?
Both skincare spa treatments provided by Ethos Day Spa offer professional, knowledgeable experience. Customized to suit your skincare needs, providing you with the confidence to embrace the glow from within.
References
Dermatology, M. C. F. (2024, June 14). 5 reasons why facials should be part of your skincare routine. Miami Center for Cosmetic Dermatology - Dr. Deborah Longwill. https://miamicenterfordermatology.com/acne-2/facials-2/
American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). Microdermabrasion. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/microdermabrasion
Migala, J. (2024, December 18). 5 Potential health benefits of dry brushing. EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-beauty/what-is-a-hydrafacial-how-it-works-benefits-risks-and-where-to-get-one/
Hickman-Kirby, J. M., & Penrose, N. (2024, January 31). Your complete guide to HydraFacials: steps, cost, and benefits. ELLE. https://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/a29519812/hydrafacial-treatment-cost-benefits/
Hydrafacial - the best skin of your life. (n.d.). MWH. https://www.hydrafacial.com/
Grand Rapids, MI Eco-luxury facial Spa near you | Ethos Day Spa. (n.d.). Ethos Day Spa. https://www.ethosdayspa.com/facials