Maybe I’m a minimalist, or just lazy, but when it comes to skincare, I don’t like to spend more than 15 minutes on my routine. This includes exfoliating, an essential part of complexion maintenance that removes dead cells for softer and more even-toned skin, and that I often blatantly neglect or don’t have the patience for: Most DIY methods, I’ve discovered over the years, involve gritty, messy scrubs that can cause tears and scars, or gentler acids and peels that take weeks (forever!) to produce results.
Then I found Dermaflash One, a dermaplaning tool that instantly exfoliates skin—without inflicting damage—and has completely changed my complexion for the better. And if there was ever a time to try this cult favorite pick, it’s now since the rarely-discounted tool is $46 off in Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale.
While the Dermaflash is geared toward all skin types, it’s especially great for sensitive skin like mine. I’m prone to rosacea, dryness, inflammation, hyperpigmentation and breakouts, all of which have increased during the pandemic (I blame stress), with age (skin weakens over time—oh joy) and after having kids (they’re cute but the hormonal changes are not).
Desperate to get rid of what felt like years of dead skin build-up on my face, I decided to try Dermaflash last spring. One night after the kids were in bed, I hooked up the futuristic-looking, curvilinear tool, slid in an “edge” (or blade) and clicked it on. Be prepared, this thing vibrates, which can be intimidating considering the aforementioned blade. But it’s actually very, very easy to use, and as far as exfoliating methods goes, dermaplaning has been around for decades. Facialists have long used manual blades to gently scrape along the surface of skin to remove the superficial top layer of debris and peach fuzz. What makes the Dermaflash unique is the pulsating part—it’s like an electric razor with a built-in safety guard—which speeds up the exfoliation process and prevents you from cutting yourself as you buff and de-fuzz your face.
Now, I know the question you’re thinking because it’s what everyone asks me: Will the peach fuzz on my face grow back thicker? Dermaflash receives so many inquiries on this topic that it actually conducted a clinical study to prove that, in fact, the device does not alter the way hair grows back in. Since the blade is so fine, I personally did not notice any change in the texture, color or thickness of my peach fuzz.
What I did notice, delightfully, is how little time the treatment takes—all of 10 minutes. To start, wash your face and position the edge of the Dermaflash at your outer cheek, below your ear. Hold your skin taunt with the opposite hand and then just glide along your skin, lightly pressing down the blade. Work your way from the outside of your face in toward your nose. Still, there’s no strict order that must be followed, and you can use the tool over your entire face, including the chin, below and above the lip and the forehead. As it buzzes, little specks of dead skin fall off your face (which is incredibly satisfying). Once you’re done, rub on a hydrating lotion—the Dermaflash starter kit conveniently comes with a pre-cleanser and post-moisturizer.
The reason people obsess over this tool and it’s racked up hundreds of five-star reviews: After a treatment, your skin is immediately softer and smoother. Since there’s no chemical ingredients to deal, the risk for skin irritation or unexpected reactions is practically nil, and unlike some professional resurfacing lasers that have the potential to cause scarring, especially on darker skin, the Dermaflash can be used on all complexion tones. You can’t really mess it up or overdo it either. When I’ve urgently needed to refine my pores and get rid of rough patches, I’ve Dermaflash-ed up to four times a week, and then applied exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids to maintain my clearer, brighter skin. Fun fact: the ingredients in your skincare products will sink in faster, and work more effectively, without all that dead skin in the way.
As for the drawbacks? The Dermaflash blades are single-use-only, which will hopefully change at some point to be lower waste, and replenishment blades only come as part of a bundle with the cleanser and moisturizer (not a dealbreaker but something to keep in mind). Six months into using the device, it’s earned a permanent spot on my bathroom counter for the simple but profound reason that it means I now regularly exfoliate my face. There’s no complicated trip to the facialist required, and I can buzz my way to refreshed, glowy skin in a mere 10 minutes, which is very appealing to a lazy minimalist like myself. I’m so impressed with the improvements in my skin that, who knows? I might have the energy for a double-cleanse next.
