Guide · HydraFacial step by step
HydraFacial steps: what happens in a session, and what it feels like
If it is your first HydraFacial, it helps to know what is coming. Here is each step in order, from the skin check to the last serum, what each one does to your skin, what it feels like, and what to do in the first 48 hours.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 31 October 2026
Quick answer
- A HydraFacial has three core steps on one handpiece: cleanse and peel, extract and hydrate, then fuse and protect with serums. Boosters, LED and Perk are add-ons.
- At SkinRev Lab, a session on the HydraFacial Syndeo takes about 45 minutes, including a short skin check. The manufacturer describes the core treatment as about 30 minutes.
- It is designed to be gentle: you feel a cool, wet sweep, some tingling during the peel and a pulling sensation over the nose and chin. Tell your therapist if anything is uncomfortable.
- There is no downtime for most people. Make-up can go on the same day; skip strong actives for a day or two.
Before you start
Before the steps: your skin check
Every first visit starts with a short skin check. Your Aesthetic Therapist looks at congestion, dryness, redness and sensitivity, asks what you want to change, and suggests a tier, including a lower one if that suits your skin better.
This is also the moment to mention anything that changes the plan: isotretinoin now or recently, prescription retinoids, pregnancy, allergies, a recent sunburn, cold sores, or injections, laser or a peel in the past few weeks. Some of these mean adjusting a step; a few mean postponing.
You can arrive wearing make-up, because it is removed during the cleanse. Coming without heavy make-up saves a few minutes.
Step one
Step one: cleanse and peel
The first pass uses an exfoliating tip with a cleansing solution to lift away loose dead skin cells. The manufacturer offers tips of different strengths; the gentlest is recommended for first-time clients and for dry or sensitive skin.
Then a mild peel solution with glycolic and salicylic acids is swept over the skin. Glycolic acid loosens the bonds between dead surface cells. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, so it reaches into pores, and it loosens the junctions between cells; that is why it is used for blackheads and congestion. The strength is low, and it is designed not to cause visible peeling.
What it feels like: cool and wet, with some tingling or warmth during the peel. A mild sting is common on dry or sensitive areas; tell your therapist, and the step can be adjusted.
Step two
Step two: extract and hydrate
With the plugs loosened, a spiral Vortex-Fusion tip passes over the skin under gentle suction. It lifts out blackheads and oily debris while flushing the surface with a hydrating solution, so nothing is squeezed by hand. Inflamed or painful spots are worked around rather than extracted.
The principle of combining a mild acid with suction has some support. In a 2015 split-face study of 23 women, a 4% alpha hydroxy acid solution applied with negative pressure reduced whiteheads and blackheads at one, two and four weeks more than the acid alone. That study did not use a HydraFacial device, so it supports the idea rather than the brand.
What it feels like: a wet, pulling sensation, strongest over the nose and chin.
Step three
Step three: fuse and protect, plus boosters, LED and Perk
In the last core step, serums with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, peptides and antioxidants are infused into the freshly cleared skin through the same handpiece. This is when skin starts to look more hydrated.
What happens next depends on your tier. At SkinRev Lab, Deluxe and Platinum add a targeted booster, chosen for your main concern, and LED support; Platinum adds further steps through the session. The JLo Beauty Booster can be added to any tier.
Perk Lip and Perk Eye use a separate small applicator for the lips and the eye area, which the main handpiece does not treat. Each takes about 15 minutes and comes with a take-home product. All add-on prices are given at the counter.
Afterwards
After the last step: the first 48 hours
Most people go straight back to work or out for the evening. Results vary: some see a clear difference in pores and glow after the first session, while others notice more after two or three.
- Make-up can go on the same day. If you are acne-prone, a clean base or none until the next morning is gentler.
- Wear sunscreen daily, because the peel step can make skin more sun-sensitive for a short time.
- Skip scrubs, peels, acid toners and retinoids for a day or two.
- Avoid saunas, steam rooms and hard workouts on the day.
- A small spot or two can surface in the next few days as congestion clears. Leave it alone.
- Redness lasting more than a day, swelling or many new inflamed spots is not usual: message us on WhatsApp at +65 8266 9585.
Sources
References & sources
- Arif T. Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:455-461. doi:10.2147/CCID.S84765
- Kim SJ, Baek JH, Koh JS, Bae MI, Lee SJ, Shin MK. The effect of physically applied alpha hydroxyl acids on the skin pore and comedone. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2015;37(5):519-525. doi:10.1111/ics.12244
- Kornhauser A, Coelho SG, Hearing VJ. Applications of hydroxy acids: classification, mechanisms, and photoactivity. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2010;3:135-142. doi:10.2147/CCID.S9042
- Hydrafacial. The treatment: steps, HydroPeel tips, boosters, LED and tiers.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What are the steps of a HydraFacial?
Three core steps: cleanse and peel, extract and hydrate, then fuse and protect. Boosters, LED and Perk can be added.
How long does a HydraFacial take?
About 45 minutes at SkinRev Lab, including a short skin check. Perk Lip or Perk Eye adds about 15 minutes each.
Does a HydraFacial hurt?
It is designed to be gentle. Most people feel a cool tingle and a pulling sensation over congested areas, and the peel and suction can be adjusted if anything is uncomfortable.
What should I do before my first HydraFacial?
Avoid sunburn, pause strong retinoids or acid products for a few days, and tell us about medicines, pregnancy, allergies and recent injections or laser.
Should I come to a HydraFacial with make-up on?
You can, because it is removed during the cleanse. Arriving without heavy make-up saves a few minutes.
Which HydraFacial step removes blackheads?
Step two. Vortex suction lifts out blackheads that the peel in step one has softened.
Is the peel in a HydraFacial strong?
No. It is a mild glycolic and salicylic acid blend, designed not to cause visible peeling.
What do Deluxe and Platinum add to the steps?
Both add a targeted booster and LED support to the three core steps. Platinum adds further steps through the session.