The treatments I rate — and the ones I regret

One of the more significant things I've done — and I'm already loving it.

I had this done just over two months ago and the results are already visible. Full results take up to six months, so it's still building, but I'm genuinely happy with where it's going.

This is not the deep CO2 some people have — with numbing it didn't hurt. Afterwards I was red and a little swollen, more like a bad sunburn. I looked a little scratched up for about a week and couldn't wear makeup for a few days. Manageable. If you're considering it: go to someone exceptional. This is not the treatment to shop for the cheapest price.

Downtime: about a week of looking a little raw; no makeup for a few days · Pain: minimal with numbing.

Didn't do much for me — but there's an important caveat before you write this off.

Broadband light and the Moxi laser are popular for pigmentation and skin-tone evenness. I don't have significant pigmentation to begin with, so these treatments may work considerably better for women with more sun damage or uneven tone. And sitting alongside the other treatments I've done, it wasn't a favourite.

This is likely a me problem, not a treatment problem. Ask your provider if you're a good candidate before booking.

The downtime didn't match the results. For me.

A hybrid fractional laser combining ablative and non-ablative wavelengths. I know it has devoted fans. For me personally, the recovery felt disproportionate to what I saw in the mirror. I had it done at the same time as BBL and Moxi, so it's possible the significant swelling I had was due to the back-to-back stacking of treatments. Others have had genuinely transformative results.

Provider selection and patient candidacy matter enormously with this one.

Eyebrows and lip blushing — yes. Eyeliner — the one I regret, and the part I really need you to read.

Eyebrows — rate. I like them. I top this up every two to three years.

Lip blushing — rate. I love it. My lips were super pale; now they're a natural-looking blush shade, and with lip balm or a clear gloss they look amazing. I get it topped up annually.

Eyeliner — regret, and I'm in the middle of fixing it. I had mine done in 2009. Over the years — across three countries and three moves — I had it topped up by different providers. It wasn't provider-hopping; it was life. But each top-up made it thicker, and now the pigment has faded to a gray/blue tone.

The part I really need you to read. I also have meibomian gland dysfunction — severe dry eye. I can't say with certainty the eyeliner caused it; I may have developed it anyway. But if you have any existing eye concerns, please see an ophthalmologist before committing to permanent eyeliner. I started laser tattoo removal last week — a minimum of five sessions, spaced ten weeks apart. It hurts more than anything else I've ever had done, and I have a high pain tolerance. My eyelids swelled significantly. One bruised. It is going to take a long time.

Eyeliner removal downtime: significant eyelid swelling, possible bruising · Timeline: 5+ sessions, 10 weeks apart.

For me — unnecessary. But hear me out before you cancel yours.

I have so many other treatments in my routine that a hydrofacial feels redundant for my skin specifically. This is not a treatment verdict — it's a "know your own routine" verdict. If you're not doing resurfacing, injectables, or regular clinic treatments, a hydrofacial is a genuinely lovely option.

For me personally, at this point, the money is better spent elsewhere.