Hear us out: shaving our faces might be the next skin care movement.
I’ve never been able to figure out my TikTok’s “For You” page. Interspersed with oversaturated snapshots of the latest Y2K microtrends, #satisfying paint mixing collages, and mind blowing before-and-after gua sha transformations, my “For You” Page is pretty much an enigma.
My recent feed has been dominated by videos of at-home dermaplaning: in these viral clips, beauty gurus drag a facial razor (yea, you read that right) along their face to reveal dramatically brightened, hyper-smooth baby skin. It’s weird at first – the dead skin and facial hair clump up to produce a “forbidden gunk” – but that’s also why these videos are so easily bingeable.
Dermaplaning isn’t a new practice, by any means. Performed by dermatologists for over forty years, dermaplaning is a non-invasive technique where a surgical-grade scalpel is used to remove dead skin and vellus hair, also known as “peach fuzz.”
Our skin is continually exposed to UV rays, toxins, and irritants; by removing the top layer of our skin, dermaplaning helps our skin cells regenerate. Dermaplaning, much like AHAs, works to slough off the top layer of dead skin cells. The end result is a smoother, brighter canvas that layers better with skin care and makeup products.
It’s traditionally performed by licensed estheticians or dermatologists— more recently, however, at-home dermaplaning has skyrocketed in popularity, all thanks to weird-but-satisfying dermaplaning videos on TikTok.
Jill, a company that sells beauty razors designed specifically for at-home dermaplaning, uses TikTok as a platform to inform users on the alleged complexion-changing effects of their product. Their videos — many of which have racked up millions of views — have sparked a long-awaited conversation about at-home skin care treatment, as many users express concern over how the facial hair will grow back, while others are instantly convinced.
Tried and Tested
Given the controversy, I, of course, had to try it out (I’m a Leo, OK?).
Jill kindly gifted me their Glow Kit, which includes a Jill Glow Wand, 1 petite blade, 1 wide blade, a travel case, gunk pad, and instruction manual. According to their website, their dermaplaning set helps with removing facial hair, gentle exfoliation, makeup application, acne-scars, and texture.
Over the course of a week, I followed Jill’s instructions and observed how different products layered on top of my skin after dutifully dermaplaning.
Going into it, I was petrified. My skin behaves like a spoiled child: one wrong move can ruin its entire mood. However, I found at-home dermaplaning to be easier than I had previously thought. After applying aloe vera gel, like the Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel, to prep my skin, I dragged the Jill razor along my face at a 45 degree angle, pulling my skin taut with my other hand.
It definitely wasn’t as satisfying as my “For You” page had made it seem, but it wasn’t a stressful process at all— it did help that I was bopping to Doja Cat’s new album.
Immediately after shaving my face, I noticed that the tone of my face was slightly lighter and smoother, though it isn’t that visible in the before-and-after pictures below. To be honest, my cheeks felt like a baby’s butt. This was expected, as exfoliating, whether with a razor or ingredient, makes the skin brighter and helps to even out texture.
The dermaplaning process also helped with skin care product penetration. By removing the dead skin cells from the top barrier of the face, it makes it easier for our favorite products, like our glow-inducing serums, to sink into our skin and get to work.
I didn’t notice that any of my active pimples or blackheads were more inflamed than usual. However, there weren’t any dramatic transformations that blew my mind away— I still had some acne scars and discoloration from before.
What did blow my mind, though, was how my makeup layered on top of my skin after dermaplaning. This made the process entirely worth it: as someone that detests textured makeup, I couldn’t help but notice that my foundation and concealer layered magnificently on my skin, more so than usual. From blush to bronzer, the products I put on top of my face were seamlessly blended together. It also seemed to last longer throughout the day; the picture below is a selfie I took after five hours of wear.
After care is super important following dermaplaning because shaving creates tiny cuts on the skin’s surface. For a few days after indulging in this at-home or in-office exfoliating treatment, you should avoid applying strong active ingredients, like retinol or benzoyl peroxide, to prevent any further irritation.
SPF is also a must, of course! Exposing new layers of skin to UV rays provides a higher change of UV and free radical damage. So, grab your sunscreen of choice (ours is the Neogen Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen) and apply away.
So… What’s The Verdict?
In the past, I’ve used Harry’s razors to shave my upper lip and chin area as well as facial razors to clean up my brows. What differentiates Jill’s razors from your run-of-the-mill razors is that their ergonomic design features different blade sizes for different areas of your face, and that their razors are recyclable and designed for sensitive skin.
The Jill starter kit helped demystify the dermaplaning process for me— as someone new to dermaplaning, the instruction manual as well as the gunk pad and different blade sizes helped ease me into the process. However, the Jill starter kit isn’t necessary to guarantee the same results— many people use regular facial razors for at-home dermaplaning. It’s most important that people are familiar with the dermaplaning process and make sure to follow any guidelines posed by medical professionals.
I wouldn’t say that dermaplaning changed the trajectory of my life, but I’m impressed by how smooth my skin felt and how my makeup application changed with dermaplaning. Goodbye, peach fuzz!
Would you try dermaplaning? Let us know your thoughts below!
