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Microdermabrasion vs. Dermaplaning vs. Chemical Peel in Colorado Springs: Which One Does Your Skin Need?
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
Every fall, the same question lands in my treatment room in some version or another. "I want my skin to look smoother and brighter. Do I need microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, or a peel?"
It is a great question, and the honest answer is that all three are exfoliation, but they reach your skin in very different ways. One polishes. One shaves away the surface and the soft facial hair. One uses carefully chosen acids to loosen the bond between dull surface cells so fresh skin can come forward. Each one has a moment where it shines, and the best results usually come when they are planned together across a series of visits, not all at once.
I am Veronica Daugherty, licensed esthetician, esthetics instructor, and owner of Soluna Vee Spa, a private skin sanctuary on the north side of Colorado Springs. I hold certifications in microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, and chemical peels, and I teach these same treatments to future estheticians. Here is how I explain the difference to my clients and my students, so you can walk into your appointment knowing exactly what each one does.
Why exfoliation matters so much in Colorado Springs
Our skin works hard here. We live above 6,000 feet, the air is dry most of the year, and the sun is stronger at altitude. Add furnace heat in the winter and a lot of time outdoors, and skin cells tend to pile up on the surface. That buildup is what makes skin look flat, feel rough, and soak up serums less evenly.
Professional exfoliation clears that layer away in a controlled way. When the surface is smooth and clean, light reflects off it evenly, which is the glow everyone is after. Your skin care also absorbs better, so the products you already own start working harder for you.
The real question is not whether to exfoliate. It is which method fits your skin right now.
What is microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a mechanical exfoliation. At Soluna Vee Spa I use a diamond-tip wand. The tip is coated in fine diamond particles that gently polish the surface of the skin while a light suction lifts away the loosened cells. It feels like a soft, steady vacuum with a little texture to it. Most clients describe it as relaxing, even satisfying.
Because I control the diamond tip size, the speed of each pass, and the suction level, I can adjust microdermabrasion for each area of the face. The forehead and cheeks can usually take more polishing than the delicate skin near the eyes, and I treat them that way.
Microdermabrasion is a great fit if you want:
Smoother texture you can feel with your fingertips
A brighter, more even look to dull skin
Softer-looking fine lines and a more refined look to pores
Better absorption of serums and moisturizer
An instant, camera-ready glow with little to no downtime
What a Microdermabrasion Facial at Soluna Vee Spa includes: a double cleanse, a skin analysis, diamond-tip microdermabrasion customized to your skin, extractions when your skin needs them, a calming mask chosen for you, and finishing serums, moisturizer, and SPF. It is a 75-minute appointment, $125. If you want to build results, a series of 3 is $345, which is the way I recommend most clients start.
If you already love The Sol Facial, you can also add microdermabrasion to it for $40.
What is dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is also a physical exfoliation, but instead of polishing, it uses a sterile surgical-style blade held at a careful angle. I glide it across the skin in short, light strokes. It lifts away dead surface cells and the fine, soft facial hair often called peach fuzz.
The result is skin that feels like silk. Makeup goes on smoother, foundation stops catching on fine hair, and skin care glides across the surface. It is a favorite before events, photos, and the holidays because the glow is immediate.
Dermaplaning is a great fit if you want:
That ultra-smooth, soft-focus finish
Flawless makeup application
Removal of peach fuzz that traps oil and product
A gentle option with no suction and no acids
One quick myth to clear up: removing vellus hair with dermaplaning does not make it grow back thicker or darker. It grows back the same soft texture it was before.
What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel uses professional acids or enzymes to loosen the bonds that hold dull, older cells on the surface. Instead of physically removing them in the room the way microdermabrasion and dermaplaning do, a peel sets off a process that continues over the next several days as your skin renews itself.
Peels come in many strengths and formulas. At Soluna Vee Spa I work with professional lines including Dermalogica, IMAGE Skincare, and Skin Script, and I choose the peel based on your skin type, your Fitzpatrick type, your goals, and how your skin responds. Some peels are gentle and leave you simply glowing. Others create visible flaking for a few days and deliver more change.
A chemical peel is a great fit if you want:
A more even-looking skin tone and softer-looking dark spots
Help with the look of post-breakout marks
Brighter, smoother skin that keeps improving after you leave
A results plan for melasma, uneven tone, or sun-related changes, built over a series
If you are thinking about a peel this season, my post on Choosing the Right Chemical Peel in Colorado Springs for Your Skin Type walks through how I match a peel to your skin, and Before Your Chemical Peel in Colorado Springs: What to Stop Using and When tells you exactly how to prepare.
Microdermabrasion vs. dermaplaning vs. chemical peel at a glance
How it works
Microdermabrasion: a diamond tip polishes while gentle suction lifts away cells
Dermaplaning: a sterile blade lifts away dead cells and peach fuzz
Chemical peel: professional acids or enzymes loosen dull cells so skin renews over several days
What you feel
Microdermabrasion: light suction with a soft, sandy texture
Dermaplaning: gentle, light strokes, very calm
Chemical peel: warmth or tingling for a few minutes, depending on the peel
Best for
Microdermabrasion: texture, dullness, refined-looking pores
Dermaplaning: a silky finish, makeup application, peach fuzz
Chemical peel: tone, dark spots, post-breakout marks, deeper change over time
Downtime
Microdermabrasion: usually none
Dermaplaning: usually none
Chemical peel: from none to several days of flaking, depending on strength
How they work together across visits
This is the part I love teaching. You do not have to choose one treatment forever. Microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, and chemical peels can all be part of the same skin plan. They simply happen in separate visits, spaced out so your skin has time to recover and respond between each one.
Here is what that can look like for a client who wants smoother texture and a more even tone before the holidays:
Visit one: A Microdermabrasion Facial to clear surface buildup and wake up dull skin.
Visit two, a few weeks later: A second microdermabrasion session as part of the series, so texture keeps improving.
Visit three: Your skin is ready for a peel chosen at your skin check, to work on tone and dark spots.
Between visits: Home care that supports your skin barrier, plus daily SPF.
Another client might start with dermaplaning before a big event, then move into a peel series in January. Someone with sensitive skin might stay with gentle microdermabrasion and enzymes. The order and the timing depend on your skin, and that is exactly why every plan starts with a conversation.
I decide what your skin needs at your skin check, on the day, with your skin in front of me. That keeps each visit focused, comfortable, and effective.
Which one should you book first?
Here is the simple version I give clients who are deciding:
Your skin feels rough and looks dull, and you want results with no downtime: start with the Microdermabrasion Facial.
You want a silky finish for makeup, photos, or an event this week: dermaplaning is your friend.
You are focused on dark spots, uneven tone, or post-breakout marks: a chemical peel series is likely where you will see the most change.
You are not sure: book a facial and tell me your goals. I will look at your skin and build the plan with you.
If you are new to professional facials, my post on Signature Facial vs. Chemical Peel in Colorado Springs: Which One Does Your Skin Need? is a great next read.
How to care for your skin after exfoliation
Whichever treatment you choose, the days after matter. Fresh skin is beautiful, and it deserves a little extra protection.
Wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, and reapply when you are outdoors. At our altitude this is not optional.
Keep your routine gentle for a few days. Hold off on retinol, strong acids, and scrubs until your skin feels completely calm.
Hydrate inside and out. A good moisturizer and plenty of water help skin settle and glow.
Skip hot yoga, saunas, and very hot showers for the first day or two.
Let any flaking after a peel come off on its own.
For peel clients, my Chemical Peel Aftercare in Colorado Springs post covers the first seven days step by step.
Questions clients ask me
Does microdermabrasion hurt?
No. Most clients find it relaxing. You will feel light suction and a soft, sandy texture moving across your skin.
How often can I get microdermabrasion?
Most clients do best with a session every two to four weeks during a series. That is why I offer the series of 3 for $345.
Is microdermabrasion good for sensitive skin?
It can be, because I can lower the suction and choose a finer diamond tip. We talk through your skin history first, and I adjust everything to you.
Can I wear makeup afterward?
I recommend giving your skin the rest of the day to breathe. By the next morning, your makeup will go on beautifully.
Is this the same as a HydraFacial?
No. Diamond-tip microdermabrasion polishes the skin with a diamond-coated tip and suction. It is its own treatment with its own benefits.
Book your Microdermabrasion Facial in Colorado Springs
Fall and winter are the perfect seasons to build smoother, brighter skin, and it all starts with the right plan for you. Explore the full menu on my facials page, learn more about chemical peels in Colorado Springs, or read this guide in Spanish: Microdermoabrasión, dermaplaning o peeling químico en Colorado Springs.
Want the details first? Prices, what is included, and the series of 3 are all on my Microdermabrasion in Colorado Springs page.
When you are ready, book your Microdermabrasion Facial at book.solunaveespa.com. I will see you in the suite.
Soluna Vee Spa
3230 E Woodmen Rd, Suite 6, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(719) 297-3637 | hello@solunaveespa.com
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