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

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.

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?

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.