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Women Are Shaving Their Faces For Better Skin

What is Dermaplaning, anyway?

Beauty blogger Chloe Morello last year famously announced she shaves her face for smoother skin and better makeup application. Zoe Foster-Blake just a few weeks ago posted to Instagram that she was having a professional dermaplaning treatment to get her complexion ready for The Logies.

I'm sleazing and waddling my way to the Logies next weekend, an event I like to exploit to get my skin looking whatever level is above 'retouched.' I've been having regular Omnilux (LED lamp) sessions and lactic peels with Face Boss @melaniegrantdbc for a while to keep pregnancy pigmentation in check, but this week I tried dermaplaning (professional face-shaving of the tiny fine face hairs with a single blade) for the first time, because it's the kind of thing people like you think beauty-writer people like me, do. Dermaplaning (around $100) is exfoliating, brightening, skin-tone-evening, non-inflammatory (so: great for pigmentation sufferers) helps skin care penetrate better, and makes your skin freakishly smooth (because, um, it's hairless), meaning your makeup will sit PERFECTLY. Just ask any beauty vlogger worth his or her bronzer: they're mad for a Japanese Facial Razor or 12. The first question I asked my bud Brooke at @meskinandbody was: will my facial hair grow back worse/coarse? "No. It will not change the number or texture of the hair follicles." Second: will this hurt? "No." And it didn't. (Unlike threading, or waxing, or laser.) Third was: Do you have some butter for my hot cross bun? (Brought one in my bag.) Few days on and I'm a luminous, bright, fuzz-free, smooth-skinned slice of facey cherry pie, and I'm juuust modest enough to admit it. Plus, my makeup looks like incredible. Like it's in HD. Long may it continue! (Six weeks, apparently.) Or at least til next Sunday! My earring is stuck to my face in this photo! Faceshaving for Gold! 🏆

A post shared by ZOË FOSTER BLAKE (@zotheysay) on

So, what is Dermaplaning?

"Epidermal Levelling, also known as Dermaplaning and Blading has been practiced by dermatologists and plastic surgeons for over 40 years. This treatment was originally performed as an alternative to chemical exfoliation and more recently to prepare the skin for resurfacing treatments and deeper chemical peels," Lisa Sullivan-Smith, Co-Director of The Clinic told HuffPost Australia.

As Sullivan-Smith says, although it is an exfoliating treatment, no chemicals are used in the procedure.

"This procedure involves the use of a patented blade that works by removing surface dead skin cells and fine downy hair on the face that oftentimes makes it difficult for products to penetrate and for the smooth application of makeup. It is a treatment that can be safely performed on all skin colours and skin types," Chiza Westcarr from All Saints Skin Clinic said.

Though a sharp blade is used the skin is not cut and there is no associated or downtime, which means you can return to work or regular activities immediately.

"Treatment can take up to 40 minutes. Dermablading is a manual form of exfoliation -- using a small sterile, surgical blade at a 45 degree angle to gently scrape away dead skin cells from the epidermis, revealing fresh, brighter skin beneath. It is done to improve the appearance of fine lines, acne scarring and also aids pigmentation," said Sullivan-Smith.

"Some minor redness due to the exfoliation process may occur (but will subside within a few hours). Skin will immediately feel smooth, brighter and refreshed and makeup will go on smoothly. Clients will also notice better results from their skincare products as they will penetrate deeper into the skin," said Sullivan-Smith.

For those concerned about 'stubble' growing back as a result of the hair removal, there's nothing to stress about.

"Vellous hair is very fine and very soft and the regrowth has that same consistency. The hair isn't any denser or thicker so it doesn't have a prickly feel to it, it's more a soft texture. If you only had dermablading once, the hair would grow back but it wouldn't be any different than it was to start with," said Sullivan-Smith.

As for after-care, it's best to leave on what the skin therapist applies, with the exception of SPF if you're outdoors of course.

"Directly after the treatment soothing aftercare products are applied with nothing exfoliating or stimulating to be used for the next 72 hours. Sunscreen must always be worn," Westcarr said.

With regards to which types of skin it's good for, its very well tolerated by most skin types.

" The only contraindications would be red, inflamed or acne prone skin," Westcarr said.

If you want to try it at home, proceed with caution. While you can purchase purpose-made dermaplaning blades for personal use, make sure you do your research before doing it yourself.

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Women Are Shaving Their Faces For Better Skin

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