Key Points

• Why facial hair gets thicker, darker, and coarser in perimenopause.
• Why 3-pack face razors damage your skin and what dermaplaning tool to use instead.
• How to complete safe and comfortable dermaplaning at home between professional treatments.
• How to pair PLLA with dermaplaning and how PLLA supports your skin in perimenopause.

Silky smooth skin is essential for flawless makeup application. After the age of 40, flawless application becomes increasingly challenging. Your skin becomes lax, lines and wrinkles sink in, and skin texture changes. Add to that peach fuzz, which becomes more apparent for many women in perimenopause. We all have facial hair, but it becomes fuller, coarser, and darker with age. Even a slight increase in facial hair leaves cream and powder makeup looking cakey or uneven. It also impedes product penetration.

If you’re like many women, you're nervous about dermaplaning at home. With the right tool, dermaplaning for hair removal is safe and comfortable. I suggest pairing the tool below with House of PLLA’s facial filling line to smooth and rejuvenate your skin.

AT-HOME DERMAPLANING VS. PROFESSIONAL-GRADE TOOLS

• Professional dermaplane blades are surgical-grade tools designed for deep exfoliation. They remove the top layer of skin and peach fuzz (aka. vellus hair) and should only be used by trained and licensed professionals.
• At-home dermaplane tools are maintenance tools designed for safety and precision. When used as directed, they lightly exfoliate while comfortably removing vellus hair. Be mindful that at-home tools are not created equally.

MASTER ESTHETICIAN-APPROVED DERMAPLANE TOOL

The  Jia Dermaplane is the only tool I suggest for removing facial hair at home. As a Master Esthetician for 25 years, I’m really picky about the tools I suggest for home use. This tool is a dream for at-home hair removal and light exfoliation. It has a non-slip zinc alloy metal body and comes with disposable stainless steel micro-blades. The Swiss-made blades are sharp enough to easily remove hair, and the built-in safety guard prevents cuts and scrapes.

In addition to treating your entire face, Jia’s Dermaplane is a tweezer-free alternative for touching up your brows, upper lip, and sideburns.

THE PROBLEM WITH FACE RAZORS

• Leg or bikini razors are too large to shave the contours of your face. When used on your face, the flat multi-blade design leaves cuts, nicks, and razor burn.
• Tinkle razors and popular 3-pack face razors are easier to maneuver, but they have large serrations that cause razor burn and micro-tears in the skin.

PERIMENOPAUSE AND PEACH FUZZ: WHY THE INCREASE IN FACIAL HAIR?

We all have hair on our face, but in  perimenopause (or after a hysterectomy), vellus hair grows in thicker, darker, and coarser. This is due to fluctuating hormones.

When estrogen levels drop, and testosterone levels remain the same:

Hair color changes: Fluctuating hormones disrupt pigment-producing melanocyte cells. Some women experience an increase in grey or white hair on their face and body, while others grow darker hair.

You grow terminal hair: Perimenopause often causes the hair on your upper lip, chin, and jawline to transition from fine vellus hair to coarse terminal hair.

Facial hair grows thicker: Hair on your face becomes thicker and more noticeable, even if it’s grey or white. It’s perplexing, though, as you may also experience a receding hairline, shedding, and balding on your head.

HOW PLLA SUPPORTS SKIN IN PERIMENOPAUSE

Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) is a biostimulator that prompts your body to produce collagen. If you’ve ever had dissolvable sutures, they were made from PLLA. This is also the active ingredient in the Sculptra filler, so it doubles as an injection-free way to deliver comparable results. Unlike injectable fillers that can look overdone, topical PLLA fills out your skin naturally in all the right places. You’ll look like you, but rejuvenated.

WHY COMBINE DERMAPLANING WITH PLLA?

When you combine the factors above with declining elasticity, facial hair becomes more apparent. Daily application of PLLA products combined with monthly dermaplaning keeps your skin smooth and hair-free, while lifting, smoothing, and plumping out your skin. Use the protocol below every 3 to 4 weeks between professional dermaplaning treatments.

House of PLLA’s (HOP+) facial filling line is the only topical PLLA I’ve found that works! It took 8 years for this Korean skincare brand to perfect this advanced anti-aging technology. Once applied, it sinks deep into your skin and wraps around your hair follicles. Apply at least once a day for 30 days to create a lifting and smoothing matrix underneath your skin. Daily application is required to maintain results. In addition to poly-l-lactic acid, each product in HOP+’s facial filling line contains a premium range of reparative ingredients.

DERMAPLANE AND PLLA MONTHLY FACIAL: LIFT AND FIRM WHILE KEEPING FUZZ AT BAY

STEP 1: HOP+ VOLUME MOUSSE CLEANSER

Cleanse away makeup, skincare products, oil, and daily grime with HOP+ Volumizing Mousse Foaming Cleanser. Even if all you have on your skin is serum and moisturizer, you need to cleanse before you dermaplane. Creams, serum, makeup, and oil stick to your skin and hair, creating a patchy layer, so your shave won’t be as smooth.

STEP 2: PILLEO SKIN PREP

Some skin influencers suggest applying oil for smoother dermaplaning, but with the Jia blade, your treatment is comfortable on clean and dry skin. That said, I suggest applying  Pilleo Skin Prep. This ultra-thin daily refiner is formulated with snow mushroom extract. Snow mushrooms contain a compound similar to hyaluronic acid, but the particles are smaller. It pulls moisture to the skin, drawing in the PLLA and active ingredients.

Sweep 1 or 2 pumps of this luxurious foam over your skin with a cotton pad. Apply underneath and on the sides of your eyes, but avoid your eyelids. Your skin drinks it in, creating a smooth finish that your razor will glide right over. Let your skin dry for at least 3 minutes before moving on to Step 3. Apply daily to boost the product penetration of all of your skincare products.

STEP 3: JIA DERMAPLANE BLADE+ FRESH BLADE EVERY TIME

Do not dermaplane if you have acne, active breakouts, or any skin irritation. If you have a pimple or two, dermaplane a half inch around them. While you wait for your skin to dry, replace the blade and clean the blade and the handle with 70% isopropyl alcohol. The Jia’s metal razor is safe and comfortable when used as directed. It comes with 20 replacement blades, which will last you over a year.

1.              Angle is everything when dermaplaning your face! Aim for a 45° angle for maximum comfort and hair removal.

2.              Hold your skin taut and gently glide over your skin in a downward motion, using short, feather-like strokes. Don’t apply pressure, allow the blade to do the work. Applying the same pressure you use when shaving your legs will irritate your skin. If you feel dragging or scraping, you’re pressing too hard, or your angle is off. 

3.              Rinse your face with water to remove excess hair and pat your skin dry.

4.              Clean the blade and handle after use, and again before your next at-home treatment.

STEP 4: HOP+ 24K GOLD MASK

Even if hair removal is your primary objective, I always suggest nourishing your skin after exfoliating.  HOP+ 24K Gold Volumizing Sheet Mask combines PLLA, Gold, and Premium Ingredients to hydrate, detoxify, and plump. Just one treatment leaves your skin smoother, radiant, and rejuvenated.

Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes and gently pat the excess serum into your skin.

STEP 5: HOP+ VOLUMIZING EYE AND LIP CREAM

Don’t forget your eyes and lips!  HOP+ Promoter Volumizing Eye and Lip Cream is a dream for tired and aging eyes and lips. It combines PLLA, PDRN, Volufiline, and a 4 Growth Factor Complex to diminish lines and wrinkles. With daily use, it improves firmness and elasticity.

STEP 6: HOP+ MINERAL SPF (AM ONLY)

If the sun is still shining bright, finish this skincare routine off with  HOP+ All Mineral Multi-Protection Sunscreen. This formulation isn’t just sunscreen, it’s infused with 4 Growth Factor complex and powerful Anti-Aging Ingredients. It has a bit of a white cast, so let it sit before layering makeup on top.

PRO TIPS:

Use Your At-Home Device: If you have a microcurrent, LED, Ultrasound, or Multi-Modality device, apply it over your sheet mask in Step 4. This will treat your skin and push the anti-aging actives deeper into your skin.

No Waxing, Threading, or Tweezing: Switch from waxing, threading, and tweezing to dermaplaning facials. PLLA wraps around the hair follicles, so you’ll pull the PLLA out if you wax, thread, or tweeze.

LET’S DISCUSS YOUR SKIN BEYOND PEACH FUZZ AND PERIMENOPAUSE

Now that you know how to safely dermaplane your face, consider joining the  CBE Rewards Club. As a member, you’ll receive $10 in cash rewards each month, 10% off CBE Botanicals products, and exclusive BOGO events, flash sales, contests, and prizes. Membership includes access to the Rewards Club Lounge, where you can ask me your most pressing skincare questions!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is dermaplaning at home safe?

At-home dermaplaning is safe and comfortable if you use the right tool, the right way. I suggest the Jia Dermaplane. Always use a fresh, clean blade and use Jia’s face razor as directed. Never use a professional scalpel at home.

How many times can you use Jia Dermaplane before replacing the blade?

Replace the Jia Dermaplane blade after every full-face hair removal session. Use the new blade to spot treat your brows, upper lip, and chin before your next full-face session.

Are at-home dermaplane tools as effective as professional treatments?

No. At-home dermaplane tools aren’t as effective as professional treatments. At-home tools are designed for safe, comfortable, and precise hair removal, light exfoliation, and improved product absorption. Professional treatments are designed for deep exfoliation, with the added benefit of hair removal.