Microcurrent vs HydraFacial, Which Facial Should You Book
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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A HydraFacial is a deep cleansing and hydrating facial that works on the skin's surface for an immediate glow, while a microcurrent facial works on the facial muscles for a firmer, more lifted look, so the right choice depends on whether you want clearer skin or better contours.
This guide covers what you need to choose, such as:
- what happens in each facial
- what each one changes on your face
- cost and how long results last
- which concern each one suits
- why many spas pair them in one visit
and many more!
We make microcurrent devices used in spas and at home, so we see both facials booked side by side every week.
Key Points:
A HydraFacial uses a vortex suction tip to cleanse, exfoliate, extract and infuse serums in one treatment.
A microcurrent facial uses a low electrical current to tone facial muscles, with no extraction and no downtime.
A HydraFacial is best for congestion, dullness and dehydration; microcurrent for a softer jaw and lower cheeks.
Both give an immediate visible change, and both need regular repeats to keep it.
Many spas offer microcurrent as an add-on after a HydraFacial, and a home device can continue between visits.
What happens in a HydraFacial
A HydraFacial is a branded form of hydradermabrasion. A handheld tip with a spiral design uses suction to cleanse and exfoliate the skin, loosen and lift debris from pores, then infuse hydrating serums, usually in around thirty minutes with no needles.
Freedman, writing in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2008, reported that a series of hydradermabrasion treatments improved the look of fine lines and pigment, and found thicker outer skin layers on tissue samples. The study was small, but it fits what people notice, which is smoother, clearer, plumper-looking skin straight after the visit.
What happens in a microcurrent facial
A trained esthetician glides probes or gloves over a conductive gel, sending a very low current to the facial muscles along the jaw, cheeks and brows. It feels like a light tingle or nothing at all, and it leaves no redness.
The visible change is in shape rather than surface, a slightly firmer, more lifted look. A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured the effect of facial electrical stimulation after twelve weeks of regular use. What the facial feels like is in our article on what microcurrent feels like.
Side by side
| HydraFacial | Microcurrent facial | |
|---|---|---|
| Works on | Skin surface and pores | Facial muscle tone |
| Best for | Congestion, dullness, dehydration | Soft jaw, lower cheeks, heavy brows |
| Feel | Cool suction and serums | A light tingle or nothing |
| Downtime | Usually none | None |
| Keeping results | Repeat about monthly | Frequent sessions, often at home between visits |
Prices vary by city and spa. Compare what a clinic series costs against a home device in our salon vs device cost article.
Which facial suits your concern
Blackheads, congested pores, dull or dehydrated skin, a HydraFacial is the more direct answer.
A jawline that has softened, cheeks that sit lower or a tired look around the brows, microcurrent works on the cause.
Before an event, many people book both, because clean, hydrated skin and firmer contours together give the most visible change. Our event timeline is in our microcurrent before a wedding article.
Why spas pair them
The two treatments work on different layers, so they do not compete. A HydraFacial first leaves the skin clean and hydrated, and a microcurrent pass afterward works the muscles with a fresh layer of conductive gel.
How estheticians build microcurrent into treatments is covered in our microcurrent in esthetics article, and how professionals use our devices is in our article on PureLift in spas.
Keeping results between visits
A HydraFacial is usually repeated about once a month, with good cleansing and hydration at home in between.
Microcurrent needs frequent short sessions to hold its effect, which is why many clients keep a home device. Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Is microcurrent better than HydraFacial
They do different jobs. A HydraFacial clears and hydrates the skin; microcurrent tones the muscles for a lifted look.
Can you get a HydraFacial and microcurrent on the same day
Yes, many spas offer microcurrent straight after a HydraFacial, because the skin is clean and the treatments work on different layers.
Does a HydraFacial lift the face
It can make skin look plumper and smoother, but it does not work on muscle tone, so it is not a lifting treatment.
How long does a HydraFacial last
The glow usually lasts days to a few weeks, which is why many people repeat it monthly.
Can I do microcurrent at home between HydraFacials
Yes, a home device lets you keep up frequent microcurrent sessions between spa visits.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.