Whenever I get a new toy, be it a new smartphone or a board table, the first thing I do is read the manual. I don’t want to blow up anything by pressing the wrong button, you know? My sister’s the opposite. She throws the manual away and starts playing with her new toy straight away. More often than not, she figures out how to use it quicker than me and then nags that I’m too slow. Sisters, eh?
Well, I’m glad she hasn’t gotten her hands on PMD Personal Microdermabrasion Kit yet. I know her. She’s into instant gratification, so she’d grab the most abrasive disc (cos the training one is for boring people like me, you know?) and start sucking away at her skin. And then, she’d throw the whole thing away complaining it’s a scam when she ends up with red and irritated skin all over.
When it comes to microdermabrasion, it pays to read the manual, trust me. PMD also put a DVD in the box so, if you hate reading (wait, is that even possible?!), you have no excuses.
What’s Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a professional-grade form of exfoliation. A pressurized jet, usually filled with ultrafine aluminium oxide crystals or diamonds, scours away the dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of your skin and then vacuums the leftovers away. Like all forms of exfoliation, microdermabrasion does the skin a lot of good:
- Makes skin smoother and brighter
- Reduces dark spots
- Gets rid of small fine lines
- Buffs away flat acne scars
You should see a small improvement straight away, but this is something you have to do regularly to get the most out of it.
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What’s PMD Personal Microderm?
PMD Personal Microderm is an at-home microdermabrasion device that uses aluminium oxide crystals on a flat and sandy disc. There are two disc sizes: a small one for the face and a bigger one for the body. If you ask me, they’re both rather small, but I guess the size helps keep the treatment gentle enough for at-home use.
The discs are colour-coded based on their intensity and abrasiveness. The white one is the gentlest. That’s why it’s the starting one, already locked in place into the device and ready for use. It’s for ultra sensitive skin and you’re supposed to use it until your skin has gotten used to microdermabrasion.
Then, you can move onto the grey disc, which is still fairly gentle. The next level up is the blue disc and after that, you can graduate to the green disc, which is for medium strength microdermabrasion. I’ve been using this kit for a month and I still haven’t gotten there. When it comes to microdermabrasion, slow and steady wins the race.
If after a few months, you feel like you’ve outgrown the green disc, you can always buy the red one (the maximum strength abrasion disc). Same for the black disc, which is for the body only. Those two are super powerful. I guess they don’t come with the kit so that folks like my sister won’t jump to those straight away and seriously mess up their skin.
The device also comes with several types of plugs, so no matter where in the world you are, you’ll be able to exfoliate your skin.
How To Use It
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
- Wash and towel-dry your skin.
- Connect the power cord to the device and turn it to lock it in place.
- Push the disc firmly down on the device post.
- Twist the cap on tight.
- Turn it on (duh!)
- Use your free hand to pull your skin taut when you’re about to exfoliate it.
- Glide the device in an upward motion across the skin (don’t go over the same area more than twice!).
- Apply a soothing toner or nourishing moisturizer afterwards.
- Let skin recover for a week before you do another treatment.
- Don’t forget to clean the disc with rubbing alcohol or antibacterial soap and the dark filter with warm water after every treatment.
Easy peasy.
WARNING! Replace crystals every 2 to 4 treatments. The aluminium oxide crystals wear off after a while.
Performance & Personal Opinion
First things first: at-home microdermabrasion kits are less powerful than anything you can get at the derm’s office. PMD Personal Microderm is no exception. So, what did it do for me? Let me tell you, using this thing is damn weird. You can literally feel the device sucking at your skin. Now, that’s a new experience. It’s not painful or anything, just plain weird.
Like the good girl that I am, I’ve started off with the white disc and only glided it over every area of my skin once. I love exfoliation but I’m super wary when I try a new exfoliating thingie. The white disc is fairly gentle. After the treatment, my skin was much softer and smoother. It also felt a bit tight. There was no irritation, redness or anything like that. Even the tightness went away after I’ve put moisturizer on.
After two weeks, I graduated to the grey disc. I could feel this was a bit harsher on my skin. After the first treatment, I was left with some red patches on my cheekbones. Those have always been the most delicate parts of my face. The rest of my face looked amazing, though! So, lesson learned. I went back to the white disc for the cheekbones and kept using the grey one everywhere else.
I haven’t tried the other discs yet and, honestly, I’m not sure I ever will. Part of my feels I’ve failed as a beauty blogger cos I can’t tell you about the other discs. But this ain’t a competition, folks. It’s not about who can reach the ultimate level first or getting there as quickly as possible. It’s about finding a level of exfoliation that works for your skin type.
Now that winter’s coming and my skin’s getting more delicate, I feel like the grey disc is giving me all the exfoliation I need. Besides, I don’t have any dark spots, flat acne scars or deep wrinkles to get rid of, so it’s not like I need a more powerful treatment anyway.
Packaging
It comes in a white box with a picture of a woman on it (and she doesn’t look 15. How refreshing is that?).
How It Fits Into A Routine
Think of this as your big exfoliation moment. If you’re using the PMD, that means you don’t pile on other harsh stuff the same night. No retinol, no glycolic, no lactic, no scrubs – unless you actually want to feel your face burning. The easiest way to use it:
- Do it at night, after you wash and dry your face.
- Run the PMD, then slap on something soothing – hydrating toner, rich moisturizer, whatever your skin loves.
- Next morning? Sunscreen. Non-negotiable. Your skin’s basically baby-fresh at this point, so you’ve gotta protect it.
And honestly? Keep everything else boring on PMD days. Hydrators = good. Barrier repair creams = good. Anything that stings = bad.
Safety & Side Effects
Let’s get this out of the way: microdermabrasion isn’t for everyone. If you’ve got rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, super sensitive skin, or a face full of active acne, this little gadget can do more harm than good. It’s basically sandpaper + suction – and if your skin is already compromised, you’re just poking the bear. Even if your skin is fairly resilient, you may notice:
- Temporary redness (especially on the cheeks or nose).
- Tightness (like you’ve just washed with soap).
- Mild irritation or sensitivity for a day or two.
Most of that calms down quickly if you moisturize and baby your skin afterwards. The biggest mistake people make is thinking “more is better” and going over the same patch multiple times. That’s how you end up with scratches, broken capillaries, or irritation that takes weeks to heal. One pass per area. Always.
Who Should Use It?
This is where people get tripped up. Microdermabrasion isn’t a universal fix. It shines for:
- Dull, uneven skin that needs a glow-up.
- Rough texture (like those little bumps you can feel but not always see).
- Mild sun damage or superficial pigmentation.
- Fine lines that make makeup settle weirdly.
Who probably won’t see much payoff:
- Oily, acne-prone skin: This won’t unclog pores or treat breakouts. Salicylic acid is your friend here, not microdermabrasion.
- Super sensitive types: You’ll likely just get redness and regret.
- People who already exfoliate with acids/retinoids religiously: You might not notice a big difference since your routine already covers this ground.
Related: The Best Exfoliants With Salicylic Acid For Oily, Acne-Prone Skin
FAQs People Always Ask
Can I use it if I’m on retinoids?
Not on the same night. Space it out by at least 3-4 days, otherwise your skin will freak out.
Can I use it on my neck or chest?
Yes, but be extra gentle – those areas are thinner and more delicate than your face. Stick to the lowest-strength disc until you know how your skin reacts.
How soon after can I wear makeup?
Technically right away, but I wouldn’t. Freshly exfoliated skin + foundation = potential irritation. Give it overnight to recover, then go in with makeup the next day.
Does it make skin thinner over time?
Nope. You’re only removing dead cells from the surface – not shaving down living layers. As long as you don’t overdo it, your skin barrier stays intact.
Does PMD Personal Microderm Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| The Personal Microderm Classic is a revolutionary at-home device providing the same brilliant results as professional, in-office microdermabrasion treatments. | It provides good results, but at-home treatments don’t work as well as in-office treatments. |
| It combines Patented Spinning Disc technology with Perfectly Calibrated Vacuum Suction to leave skin looking fresh and radiant. | True. |
| Weekly treatments reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, blemishes and enlarged pores. | True. |
Price & Availability
$199.00/£145.00 at PMD Beauty and Ulta
Do You Need It?
I prefer chemical exfoliants to microdermabrasion. But if you’re curious to try it, you won’t be disappointed.
Related: Why I Prefer Chemical Exfoliants
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
