Sephora's Perk Hydrating Facial Is New York's Best-Kept Beauty Secret

Here’s everything you need to know about Sephora’s Perk Hydrating facial, which uses a vacuum machine to suck dirt, debris, and dead cells from your face, all while delivering moisture to your skin. Plus a New York City dermatologist weighs in on just how effective the treatment is.

New York City is home to some of the world’s most luxurious spas. Although Sephora’s Perk Hydrating facial won’t send you off into nirvana like a self-esteem-boosting facial attunement treatment, it’s ideal for a quick lunchtime skin fix, giving you a deep cleanse in just half an hour. The facial is free of charge when you spend $75 on skincare products at Sephora.

Technician applies rollerball during Perk Hydrating facial

Skin technicians (note that Sephora skin technicians are not licensed estheticians) will assess your complexion, cleanse your face, and decide what level of suction to use, based on the skin’s moisture levels. Next, they will take two rollerball pens that connect to the Perk Hydrating machine and essentially act as pore vacuums. The first treatment pen, filled with a gentle concentration of lactic acid (the product does not sting) loosens skin cells, exfoliates, and vacuums oil and dirt trapped in your pores. This is followed by the second treatment pen, filled with a serum of Hyaluronic acid to restore moisture to the skin. The machine is designed to be gentle enough to use under eye area, where the skin is ultra sensitive.

Once the vacuum is complete, your technician will show you a jar of debris and dead skin cells extracted from your pores, which is an extremely satisfying (albeit slightly gross) moment. After all, how often do you get to see day’s pollution literally trapped in a jar?

Perk Hydrating facial technician displays dead skin and debris extracted from face

As for the results, skin is flushed, but not blotchy or uneven, which often happens when deep extractions are used during facials.

So, how effective is this quickie lunchtime facial? RealSelf contributor Dr. Michele Green tells Culture Trip that this type of treatment is “superficial but effective for cleansing the epidermis.”

However, these types of superficial cleansing treatments are ideal in caring for your complexion while keeping it blemish-free. “If you care for your epidermis, it’s less likely to develop problems,” says Green. “Gentle treatments are more effective than abrasive ones. People scrub the skin and it can get red, infected, and scar.”

Although Green says each patient is different, basic self-care techniques such as “staying out of the sun, using gentle products, and not doing your own extractions” are key to a healthy complexion.

The Perk Hydrating facial is a great option for maintaining a healthy glow, and treating yourself to a quick and efficient lunchtime facial.

Interested in booking a lunchtime facial? These New York City spas offer a range of facial cleansing services for different skincare needs.

About the author

Jill Di Donato

Fashion Editor

Jill is a New York native who holds a BA in Literature from Barnard College, and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. She is the author of the novel Beautiful Garbage (She Writes Press, 2013) about the downtown Manhattan art and fashion scene in the 1980s. A former staff writer for The Huffington Post and Bustle, Jill comes to Culture Trip after working with Refinery 29, Vice, Salon, Paste Style, Los Angeles Times, Nylon, Shopify, Autre, and producing content for emerging fashion labels. She teaches classes about fashion and culture at Barnard College and The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her prized possessions are her Gucci fanny pack, vintage rocker t-shirts, and her grandmother's collection of costume jewelry. She's always on the lookout for a gem-encrusted turban.