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I used to be so good at facials. Getting them, I mean. Certainly not giving them.
I went every 6–8 weeks for a good few years in my late 20s and early 30s. Then It-Which-Will-Not-Be-Named happened in 2020/2021, followed by my son’s birth in 2022, so I didn’t have time for a facial.
Then about 18 months after my son started daycare, I jumped back on the regular facial bandwagon, and my skin looked GLORIOUS. But about two years ago, my lovely facialist stopped doing the treatments I preferred, and instead of looking elsewhere, I just stopped getting them altogether.
Watch: Which is better, daily skincare or regular treatments? Post continues below.
I would get a facial occasionally for work, trialling whatever was new and exciting, but a random facial is mostly like going to the gym once. There are no long-term benefits. You need consistency to see results.
And listen, my skin is mostly fine; it’s pretty healthy and happy, but it’s lost its zest.
So I was mightily intrigued when I saw Shark was releasing a new facial device, especially after reading reviews that said it reminded people of the Hydrafacial skin treatment.
Wait, what is a Hydrafacial again?
Hydrafacial is a popular in-clinic treatment that combines deep cleansing, exfoliation, gentle extraction, and hydration in one multi-step session.
I’ve had a few and LOVED them. My skin always feels really smooth afterwards, but one treatment costs $200-$300 each and takes an hour.
Which is why the idea of getting that fresh, cleansed feeling at home is enticing…
What is the Shark FacialPro?
It’s Shark’s newest skincare technology, designed to bring a multi-step facial experience into your home in just 10 minutes.
It combines five facial steps in one 10-minute treatment, helping to exfoliate, clear pores, hydrate, and revive the skin for an instantly refreshed, radiant-looking complexion.
What does the Shark FacialPro do?
First up, the heat.
The DePuffi attachment uses controlled heat and cooling. Start with the warm setting, massaging it over your skin to prep it for the rest of the treatment. It’s actually lovely, and I’ve been using it to massage my shoulders, too.
Prepping is a must. Image: Supplied.
Next, exfoliation.
You apply Shark’s Derm Detox gel, which contains a combination of AHAs and BHAs, and if you’ve got NFI what they are, make sure you listen to our You Beauty Masterclass episode about ingredients.
Leave this on for three minutes while you prep the next step so it can do its thing, loosening dead skin cells and helping clear surface build-up from pores.
Now for the extraction.
This is probably the feature people will be most curious about.
By this point, you’ve swapped out the attachments, filled the device’s front chamber tank thingy with water, and moved the treatment tip across your skin.
I was curious too! Image: Supplied.
It uses water flow and controlled suction to lift away loosened gunk/excess oil, etc., collecting the waste in a separate tank. There are different tips for larger areas like your cheeks and forehead, and smaller areas like your nose and chin.
And yes, you can indeed see what’s been sucked off your face. It’s kinda foul in the best possible way.
“It uses water flow and controlled suction to lift away loosened gunk/excess oil, etc.” Image: Supplied.
Then comes hydration.
Once you’ve finished extracting, tip out the gunky water and pour the Shark’s Hydro Infuse formula into the front chamber tank thingy.
The device then distributes this hydrating solution across your skin while continuing the hydro-extraction process.
Definitely an interesting technology. Image: Supplied.
And if you’re wondering whether you can use your own exfoliating serum and hydrating essence…well, it depends on who you ask.
If you want to make sure you don’t void the warranty, it’s best to follow Shark’s instructions and use only products recommended as compatible with the device.
It’ll leave your skin feeling fresh! Image: Supplied.
Finally, the cold treatment.
You switch back to the DePuffi attachment, this time using the cooling setting. Your skin might be a bit red after the treatment, so the cold setting helps soothe that flushed look and depuff the skin, leaving your face feeling completely refreshed.
What did I think?
As someone who hates reading instructions and faffing about, I was surprised by how easy it was to use.
I was most apprehensive about the ‘suction’ element because, as anyone who’s had face hickies from those awful OG pore suckers remembers, they are notoriously not great.
But this one wasn’t intense at all; it kinda just gently did its thing, which made it even more surprising how dirty and gunky the water was after it went over my skin. I HAD WASHED MY FACE!
I was also a bit iffy about using it because my skin has been feeling a bit delicate and easily annoyed lately, but it felt gentle, and my complexion has looked smooth, fresh, and happy all week.
Do you need it?
Of course not; you don’t need anything beauty-related, except SPF. But for people who enjoy beauty devices and want to give their skin a more thorough weekly treatment, it’s an interesting bit of technology.
I’d be cautious if your skin is particularly sensitive, easily irritated, or prone to extreme redness and flaking.
How much is it?
It’s $499, so if you used it weekly, and it broke the day after the warranty expired, each facial would cost around $4.80. You’d then also need to factor in the cost of replacing any of the tips and serums.
So while it’s not cheap upfront, if you commit to using it, it becomes more affordable over time and is worth the investment.
For more tried-and-tested beauty recommendations, subscribe to the weekly You Beauty newsletter, join our You Beauty Facebook group, listen to the You Beauty podcast or watch You Beauty on YouTube.
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Feature Image: Supplied.