The Cultured Girl

During a recent spa getaway, my sister–who also serves as my self-appointed beauty advisor–convinced me that I had to try a microdermabrasion rather than the usual facial. She swore it would work wonders on my complexion: Leave it polished, more toned, less prone to breakouts. Turns out she was right, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

While the “abrasion” part made me a bit apprehensive, the half-hour procedure is not nearly as invasive as it sounds. A practitioner simply moves a handpiece over the face to simultaneously exfoliate and vacuum up the dead cells. The result is baby-soft skin that, as clichéd as it sounds, truly does glow. There’s no downtime, and the procedure is pain-free. The price tag, however, is steep: Expect to pay around $100 for an in-spa treatment.

Since the results last less than a month, I limit my visits to special occasions. The rest of the time I use an at-home kit that serves up a surprisingly comparable “insta-glow.” What’s great is that you can also use it to smooth other troublesome body parts like rough knees or stretch marks. Right now, I’m working on the many scars I’ve accumulated over the years, including a surgical scar on my knee that’s already noticeably less distinct. I use L’oreal’s kit but I’ve read good things about several drugstore choices including Olay Regenerist and Neutrogena. There’s also a pricey Philosophy option if Walgreens makes you wary.