Hydrafacial treatment review 2025: The pros and cons of the viral extraction facial, tried and tested

There are two types of facials: the relaxing spa facial and the get-shit-done facial. For times when I need a get-shit-done facial, I always book a Hydrafacial. The treatment is painless, requires zero downtime, and leaves my pores looking teeny-tiny and my skin ridiculously glowy too. And because Hydrafacials are super customizable, I can rely on the treatment to address whatever skin issue I'm dealing with at that particular time, whether it be dark spots, acne, or dryness.

Keep reading for my full review of the Hydrafacial – plus everything you need to know about the treatment, including what exactly a Hydrafacial is, how it works, the benefits, and how much it costs.

The Hydrafacial is a type of facial that uses patented technology to deeply cleanse, extract and hydrate the skin. During a treatment, a wand that works like a vacuum is passed over the skin in various steps to exfoliate skin, deep clean pores, and then push targeted booster serums deeper into the skin. "Hydrafacials can be tailored to individual skin types and concerns by using different booster serums or adding LED light therapy or lymphatic drainage to a treatment," says aesthetician and Hydrafacial wiz Miranda Sturce.

Dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD, likens getting a Hydrafacial to power-washing your skin. "A Hydrafacial treatment uses water power to physically push dead skin cells and congestion from the skin," she says. If you're consistent with at-home turnover treatments (exfoliating acids, retinoids, bakuchiol, etc.), you may not need a Hydrafacial, says Dr Rogers, but if you don't use those types of products regularly, there's a good chance you can benefit from a treatment.

There are a ton of benefits to Hydrafacials, including clearer skin, smaller pores, and smoother skin texture. And depending on the booster serums applied during your treatment, a Hydrafacial can help with hyperpigmentation, dryness or dehydration, and blackheads and whiteheads, too.

Dr Rogers says the biggest negative of getting a Hydrafacial is that it can potentially leave your skin dried out and/or irritated. This is especially true if your skin is sensitive or if you used strong actives, like retinoids or AHAs, in the days leading up to your treatment.

Also! Hydrafacial isn't a one-and-done treatment, so don't expect any long-lasting miracles after just one session. "To really build collagen, fade brown spots, and maintain smooth texture, you have to keep feeding your skin what it needs to fight the fight, day in and day out," says Dr Rogers. "Real results take time and consistency," she adds.

The final con to be aware of is that you may also experience some breakouts after your Hydrafacial treatment. It is, however, totally normal and a common sign that the treatment is working – and your skin will thank you in the long run! This happens because it brings comedones and impurities to the surface of the skin.

One of the great things about a Hydrafacial is that the results are instant. Those results can last for a few days too, depending on how well you take care of your skin after your appointment (check out the products I used post-treatment, below). To maintain your results, you should aim to make Hydrafacials part of your regular routine. "I tell my clients to come in for a facial once a month until their skin is on track, and then every eight weeks after that for maintenance," says Sturce.

There's no best age to get a Hydrafacial – it's a treatment that's appropriate for just about everyone. You can be in your 20s with clogged pores, 30s with dark spots, or 40s with fine lines, and a Hydrafacial can be good for you.

The price of a Hydrafacial treatment really depends on where you live and where you get your treatment done (the price in a derm's office may cost more than at a day spa), but on average, a single Hydrafacial treatment can cost anywhere from £100 to £400.

The prices vary depending on how extensive your treatment is.

• Signature/Express (30 mins): £100 – £150+
• Deluxe (45-50 mins, with serum/LED): £150 – £300+
• Platinum (60 mins, lymphatic drainage + boosters): £200 – £400

Hydrafacials are effective at deep cleaning the skin, exfoliating the skin, and improving skin tone and texture. As for acne, Dr Rogers says it's "fine but not a miracle worker – it does not do much for the active lesions, but by unclogging pores it can help prevent further breakouts," she adds.

Last month, my period finally came back after having a baby in February, and my skin has been going absolutely haywire as a result. Like suuuuper oily with bumpy texture and PMS-style clogged pores and cystic acne. I had been faithfully using retinoids and exfoliating at home, but my skin needed a seriously deep clean, so I scheduled myself a Hydrafacial with Miranda Sturce. I've been a fan of Hydrafacials for years now, always booking myself a treatment before a big event or when my skin's acting u,p and my at-home routine just isn't cutting it.

My recent facial with Sturce lasted an hour and a half (she comboed my Hydrafacial treatment with lymphatic massage, an LED mask, and a face mask), but the actual Hydrafacial part lasted about 30 minutes. First, Sturce cleansed my skin and then used the wand to deliver an exfoliating serum with a mixture of glycolic acid and salicylic acid to gently break down dead cells and prep it for the following step: some much-needed extractions.

During the extraction portion, the wand swiftly sucked up surface-level gunk and build-up. This was my favourite part of the Hydrafacial TBH. The wand is manoeuvrable enough to really get into the crevices around my nose and the contours of my jawline to unclog pores – plus I usually find manual extractions uncomfortable, but with the wand it was totally pleasant.

After my skin was fully cleansed and degunked, Sturce used the wand again (told you, the wand gets shit done) to push a serum with antioxidants and peptides into my skin for some brightening and anti-ageing benefits. She also applied the Hydralock HA booster serum, which contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5, since my skin was a bit dehydrated in addition to being congested. I LOVED the effects of this booster. It gave my skin that dewy glass skin effect, but didn't feel heavy at all or clog my pores.

Overall, I left my treatment with my skin looking clear and glowy – and the blackheads and clogged pores on my nose and chin were nearly gone. I still had red marks from breakouts on my chin area, but they seemed less inflamed, which was a plus for me.

Hydrafacials are offered at many different skincare clinics across the UK. You can either get at one of the brand's very own clinics or another provider. Find out where to get one near you:

Click here to find a provider.

• Miranda Sturce is a licensed aesthetician in New York, NY, with more than 15 years of experience. Sturce's custom skin treatments are loved by celebs and editors.
• Heather Rogers, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Seattle, WA. Dr Rogers is the co-founder of Modern Dermatology and the CEO of Doctor Rogers Skin Care.

Lauren Balsamo

Beauty Director

Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram. 

Lia Mappoura

Beauty Writer

Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).

In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.