This New At-Home Microdermabrasion Tool Rivals In-Office Devices

For those who don’t have access to medispas right now—or those who do, but still aren’t feeling at ease enough to go—at-home tools are the answer to maintaining glowy, healthy-looking skin. I’ve tried my fair share over the years, and this new Lancer Pro Polish Micro-Dermabrasion Device ($140) is impressive.

Created by Beverly Hills, CA dermatologist and founder of Lancer Skincare, Harold Lancer, MD, the dual-patented device brings his signature microdermabrasion treatment to your own bathroom (his in-office treatment is $275, and most clients go once a month, so I consider it a steal). “If you prime your skin properly, the active ingredients you put on will penetrate and do what they’re supposed to,” he says. “This tool also increases the metabolic rate in the skin being treated, which boosts oxygen, and you cannot promote new healthy skin tissue without oxygen.”

This tool uses diamond-encrusted exfoliating tips, vacuum suctioning to clear debris from pores and stimulate blood flow, which helps to even skin tone, improve the appearance of rough skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also a great tool for preventing acne, and “maskne, too,” Dr. Lancer says. “It’s as much an acne prevention tool as it is an anti-aging one. Many of my clients are women in their 40s and 50s who says they’re getting wrinkles and acne at the same time, especially hormonal acne and mask acne along the jawline. It’s really great for removing pore-clogging debris around the nose and chin—it thoroughly cleans out oil, wax debris from these areas.”

Although the device is selling quick, I was lucky enough to get my hands on one. I’ll admit it took a couple tries to master the right technique—if you are too firm, you’ll get a scuff mark of sorts, but it heals in a day or two—but once I did, my skin felt super clean and looked really glowy (albeit a bit flushed), like it does after a facial. These are five tips Dr. Lancer taught me for getting the most out of each use:

1. Before using the device on your face, practice on your hand or arm, holding the device at a 90-degree angle to the skin and using the lowest-strength setting of the three. “Always start on level one,” he advises. “This is not a toy—proper understanding of the use of this machine is very critical.” Pull the area taut and sweep the tip across the skin in short, upward motions.
2. Once you establish a good rhythm and feel confident using the device, move to your face. I like to start around my nose, where my pores are largest, moving out toward my hairline (the head swivels, making it really easy to get around my nose). “Make sure not to pass over the same area more than twice,” says Dr. Lancer.
3. Use the device twice a week (waiting about three days between each session), and a new black filter each time (the device comes with a pack of 200 that last two years). Think of it like your laundry catching lint in your dryer—this catches dead skin and makes the treatment hygienic.
4. You can switch to the body tip for the back of your arms and legs—it’s great for ingrown hairs and making skin look more toned and feel softer. “It’s good for calluses on the feet and heels, too,” Dr. Lancer says.
5. “You don’t want to use any other form of chemical (AHAs) or manual exfoliation (scrubs) the same day you use the device,” says Dr. Lancer. “But you can resume using them the next day. If you get neurotoxins or fillers, you should wait three days before using. “Start the device on the fourth day, or any time after.”