The quest for youthful skin is almost as old as time itself. (We sometimes like to think Eve gathered fruits and honey and made a DIY mask occasionally) And over the years women have been willing to try almost anything to get their skin to age backwards. From covering the face with blood to zapping the skin with electric jolts, there might be nothing we won’t do for youthful skin. So, when we heard women were shaving their face to achieve it, we weren’t surprised and decided to find out more.
Dermaplaning is fast becoming the new non-surgical skincare treatment to get. If you’re a bit confused, it’s basically shaving your face. Tons of women, including celebrities, are literally shaving their faces to get more even, youthful and clear skin tone.
(Photo: Refinery 29)
It sounds crazy, right? But here’s why it works.
The process of dermaplaning is basically like exfoliating, but with a small blade. The blade is gently scraped along your face, taking off dead skin, facial hair etc. According to Kate Sommerville, Elizabeth Taylor’s cosmetic dermatologist disclosed that Elizabeth always shaved her face. And so did Marilyn Monroe and Cleopatra. What do all these women have in common? Flawless, youthful and even skin.
(Photo: ZUMI Collage)
We could close our case here, but we’re not done yet. Dermaplaning is also great for applying makeup and skincare products. With a smoother face, foundation etc would glide on better, and skincare products would penetrate the skin better.
Caution: If you have active acne, eczema or sensitive skin issues, we’d suggest you keep this in the bank for now. Dermaplaning should not be done on problematic skin to be safe.
How you can do this at home
But if you’re acne-free (kudos to you) and would like to give this a go, here’s how:
- Start by cleansing your skin. Your skin will be fresh and vulnerable after you shave, so it is important that there are no germs on your face. Wash with a facial wash and cleanse with a toner or cleanser. And pat your face completely dry.
- Grab the blade and stretch your skin with your fingers. Hold the blade at a 45-degree angle and make short feathery strokes. Ensure you do not press the blade against your skin, and use a light hand. Shave from your hairline and move towards the centre of your face avoiding your eyebrows, lashes etc.
- Throw the blade away (re-use will put your skin at risk of infections) and apply your skincare products as usual.
(Photo: Refinery 29)
We do not recommend that you use a leg razor as it can be too difficult to control on your face. Opt for a small blade like the image above instead. Also, moisturize and use sunscreen after you’re done to protect the new layer of skin.
Even better, get this done professionally via @hello.perfect_ on Instagram.
This isn’t for everybody, but if you like what you see would you be willing to try it?