All three of these treatments do the same job at the highest level — remove what's dull on the surface so newer, better skin shows through — but they work by completely different mechanisms, and which one you need depends on what you're trying to fix. Here's the plain-language version we give clients in our River North treatment room.
The one-line version
Dermaplaning is physical — a blade removes dead cells and peach fuzz. Instant glow, zero downtime. Microdermabrasion is mechanical — a device exfoliates and vacuums, working a layer deeper. Texture and congestion. A chemical peel is, well, chemical — professional-grade acids dissolve the bonds holding dead cells on, working deepest of the three. Tone, sun damage, fine lines, acne marks.
Dermaplaning — the instant-results one
Best for: dullness, peach fuzz, makeup that won't sit smoothly, pre-event glow. No downtime at all — you leave glowing. It doesn't treat pigment or deep texture; it's surface perfection, not correction. Full breakdown here. From $130, or from $25 as a facial add-on.
Microdermabrasion — the texture one
Best for: rough texture, congested pores, mild acne scarring, dull thick-feeling skin. The device exfoliates mechanically while vacuuming away debris, and the suction stimulates circulation. Skin may be pink for a few hours. Usually done as a short series for real texture change. From $85 per 30 minutes.
Chemical peel — the correction one
Best for: uneven tone, sun damage, melasma and post-acne marks, fine lines, stubborn breakouts. Modern professional peels — we use PCA Skin, the line our esthetician treats with — are progressive, not the face-shedding horror stories of the 2000s. Expect a few days of light flaking with most strengths, and real change over a series. From $125.
How to choose
Event this week? Dermaplaning. Skin feels rough or congested? Microdermabrasion. Skin looks uneven — spots, patches, old acne marks? Peel. All of the above? That's normal — most treatment plans alternate (a peel one month, microderm the next) because the mechanisms complement each other. And if you genuinely don't know what your skin needs, that's literally what the skin analysis at the start of every Reverie facial is for — Elizabeth looks at your skin under proper light and tells you honestly which of these will move the needle and which would be wasted money.
One honest caveat
Resurfacing treatments make skin temporarily more sun-sensitive. Daily SPF isn't optional during a treatment series — without it you can undo the pigment work you're paying for. We'll send you home with specifics.
