At this point in my beauty writing career, I've tried it all — from lasers to chemical peels. But, when I got my very first HydraFacial, I knew I'd found my new holy grail treatment. Never had a singular facial done so much for my skin in one go. I'm talking clearer, brighter, more hydrated skin instantly — it truly works a small miracle or two, especially if you're like me and prone to breakouts.

You may have witnessed the gory aftermath of Hydracials on the internet: they're infamous for the "gunk jar," a vacuum bag that contains all the debris extracted from your skin. It sounds disgusting, but I promise, there's something oddly satisfying about seeing it — you know your skin is squeaky clean afterward.

While I can definitely say HydraFacials, aka gunk facials, were a key component in clearing up my skin, they're also great for skin concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, dehydration, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and more. If you're curious to learn more about this magical treatment and see my before and after photos, keep reading. I documented a HydraFacial with my aesthetician Varuni Palacios in LA (who I swear is actually a magician) to show you what you can expect.

Varuni Palacios is an aesthetician based in Los Angeles.

A HydraFacial is a workhorse: it cleanses, exfoliates, extracts, and utilizes serums to infuse your skin with moisture. "Vortex technology suctions dead skin cells, blackheads, whiteheads, sebum, dirt, and debris from every single pore while simultaneously infusing critical nutrients and antioxidants to revive your skin barrier," Palacios says.

It works by using a specialized wand with a spiral design to help lift and loosen debris from the skin, gently extracting impurities and creating the "gunk jar" you may have seen on social media. "It's sort of like a wet vac for your face, but it's gentle, highly effective, and non-invasive, for zero discomfort," Palacios says. "It's my favorite treatment for a monthly deep-pore cleansing, because unlike traditional extractions, there's no poking, picking, popping, squeezing, or blood, which can leave damage, scarring, and inflammation behind."

Treatment typically starts with a water-based cleanser, exfoliation, and extractions with the wand. After that, hydration-boosting serums are usually infused into the skin using that same wand head. Depending on your aesthetician, they may also add a massage, a soothing mask, or any add-ons you selected to top off the treatment.