Press play for a sneak peak of my SkinPen facial at Luxury on Lovers
If you're anything like me, you're over wasting money on beauty treatments and products that don't work. I am at the point where I'm willing to spend a bit more to get results from a treatment versus some bargain procedure that doesn't really do anything. That's why I am always on the lookout for beauty innovations that work. Friends, the SkinPen facial does the job.
RELATED: DermaPlane Review: A Simple Way to Get Glowing Skin with No Downtime
What Is The SkinPen?
The SkinPen is a micro-needling device, created by Dallas-based Bellus Medical, featuring 12 tiny surgical-grade needles that produces microscopic punctures in your skin. That, in turn, stimulates the production of collagen and elastin which give you a more youthful appearance. There are no lasers or heat involved. It mimics what a fractional laser does but with little downtime.
"(There is) no risk of burning, hypo or hyper-pigmenting the skin," says Lisa Cobb, owner of Luxury on Lovers, a leader in the SkinPen treatment. "We can do it any time of year. Sun exposure should be limited for a week or so after but one does not have the risk of photo-sensitivity like with lasers."
Interested other beauty gamechangers? Read my photofacial review, DermaPlane facial review find out about 10 instant beauty treatments that work.
My SkinPen Experience
I scheduled an appointment at Luxury on Lovers for Wednesday, January 14th. I had a photo shoot on Monday, January 19th, so I wanted my skin to glow but also needed it to look camera-ready. Meaning: no redness, sloughing or peeling. Cobb guaranteed I would be good to go.
The procedure begins with an application of numbing cream. This helps dull the pain of the SkinPen needles hitting your skin. Luxury on Lovers aesthetician Monica Klocksieben then applied a serum on my skin to begin the SkinPen facial. She glided the SkinPen all over my face, focusing on areas that needed a little more help.
While the procedure isn't necessarily a relaxing facial, it never hurt. I have had plenty of photofacials (with which I have a love/hate relationship: love the results, hate the procedure) and this wasn't anywhere near the pain or discomfort level of a photofacial. I would say the SkinPen "smarted" and stung a tiny bit.
The procedure lasted about 60 minutes, longer than a typical session because I was taking photos the entire time.
SkinPen Results
Immediately after the procedure, my face was red. Thankfully, I wasn't going anywhere that afternoon. That night, my face felt tight and a bit warm, like a mild sunburn. Cobb gave me a hyaluronic acid serum to apply liberally. I followed her instructions to a T and slathered my face with it. Luxury on Lovers provided a detailed after-care instruction sheet advising me to avoid retinol and exfoliators for a few days.
My face was a bit pink on Thursday but with some makeup it wasn't noticeable at all. I applied Elta MD UV Tinted Daily (LOVE this stuff - read my Elta MD review HERE), some powder, blush and went about my day: lunch at Hillstone with a friend, followed by a party that night. You can see a bit of redness on my forehead in the above picture.
Friday my face starting sloughing, especially in that "goatee area" around my mouth. Saturday I had some sloughing on my cheek. This is all completely normal.
By Sunday, most of the dead skin had pretty much sloughed off. I had some rough patches that I smoothed out with my Clarisonic. My concern was making sure my skin was completely smooth for the photo shoot on Monday. Turns out, it was.
Here are the results one week later. I am thrilled. My skin is soft and the complexion is even. I have been told by other SkinPen "veterans" that the results continue to improve over time. Cobb says the results are most visible about 3-4 weeks out. Happy Dance!
My SkinPen Verdict
I loved it. This was a painless procedure that addressed some of my skincare concerns and required virtually zero downtime. When I have had photofacials in the past, I have had to ask the camera operators at my old TV station to stay on a wide shot and not zoom in because my face was peeling sheets of skin. While there is some sloughing, it's not nearly as significant as the photofacial.
Things To Know About The SkinPen
What Is The SkinPen?
The SkinPen is a micro-needling device, created by Dallas-based Bellus Medical, featuring 12 tiny surgical-grade needles that produces microscopic punctures in your skin. That, in turn, stimulates the production of collagen and elastin which give you a more youthful appearance. There are no lasers or heat involved. It mimics what a fractional laser does but with little downtime.
"(There is) no risk of burning, hypo or hyper-pigmenting the skin," says Lisa Cobb, owner of Luxury on Lovers, a leader in the SkinPen treatment. "We can do it any time of year. Sun exposure should be limited for a week or so after but one does not have the risk of photo-sensitivity like with lasers."
Interested other beauty gamechangers? Read my photofacial review, DermaPlane facial review find out about 10 instant beauty treatments that work.
My SkinPen Experience
 |
| During the SkinPen facial |
I scheduled an appointment at Luxury on Lovers for Wednesday, January 14th. I had a photo shoot on Monday, January 19th, so I wanted my skin to glow but also needed it to look camera-ready. Meaning: no redness, sloughing or peeling. Cobb guaranteed I would be good to go.
The procedure begins with an application of numbing cream. This helps dull the pain of the SkinPen needles hitting your skin. Luxury on Lovers aesthetician Monica Klocksieben then applied a serum on my skin to begin the SkinPen facial. She glided the SkinPen all over my face, focusing on areas that needed a little more help.
While the procedure isn't necessarily a relaxing facial, it never hurt. I have had plenty of photofacials (with which I have a love/hate relationship: love the results, hate the procedure) and this wasn't anywhere near the pain or discomfort level of a photofacial. I would say the SkinPen "smarted" and stung a tiny bit.
The procedure lasted about 60 minutes, longer than a typical session because I was taking photos the entire time.
SkinPen Results
 |
| Immediately after my SkinPen facial |
Immediately after the procedure, my face was red. Thankfully, I wasn't going anywhere that afternoon. That night, my face felt tight and a bit warm, like a mild sunburn. Cobb gave me a hyaluronic acid serum to apply liberally. I followed her instructions to a T and slathered my face with it. Luxury on Lovers provided a detailed after-care instruction sheet advising me to avoid retinol and exfoliators for a few days.
 |
| 24 hours after my SkinPen facial, with a bit of makeup |
My face was a bit pink on Thursday but with some makeup it wasn't noticeable at all. I applied Elta MD UV Tinted Daily (LOVE this stuff - read my Elta MD review HERE), some powder, blush and went about my day: lunch at Hillstone with a friend, followed by a party that night. You can see a bit of redness on my forehead in the above picture.
 |
| Friday after my SkinPen facial - notice a bit of sloughing around my mouth |
 |
| Saturday after my SkinPen facial, notice a bit of sloughing on my cheek |
Friday my face starting sloughing, especially in that "goatee area" around my mouth. Saturday I had some sloughing on my cheek. This is all completely normal.
 |
| Monday, the day of my photo shoot - no sloughing! |
By Sunday, most of the dead skin had pretty much sloughed off. I had some rough patches that I smoothed out with my Clarisonic. My concern was making sure my skin was completely smooth for the photo shoot on Monday. Turns out, it was.
My SkinPen Verdict
I loved it. This was a painless procedure that addressed some of my skincare concerns and required virtually zero downtime. When I have had photofacials in the past, I have had to ask the camera operators at my old TV station to stay on a wide shot and not zoom in because my face was peeling sheets of skin. While there is some sloughing, it's not nearly as significant as the photofacial.
- The SkinPen treatment is ideal for people who want to treat acne scars, deep wrinkles or sun damage. It can be done on any type of skin, including ethnic skin which is limited when it comes to laser and intense light therapies, according to Cobb.
- Multiple sessions are recommended to achieve optimal results. You can do this every 4-6 weeks.
- It can be used to treat the face, neck, décollete, arms, legs, hands, stomach and back. It works well on stretch marks.
- The science behind how the SkinPen works is pretty fascinating. Learn more about it HERE.
Products to Help with SkinPen Recovery
*The SkinPen facial was provided by Luxury on Lovers for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are mine. For more information on Luxury on Lovers, click HERE.
