Posted June 9, 2005
Over the years, clever product engineers have figured out that the way to interest a guy in a grooming product is to stick a motor in it—thus the battery-operated nose-hair trimmer and the electric toothbrush. I confess that the prospect of a motorized skin care regimen is what piqued my interest in the new Advanced Solutions At Home MicroDermabrasion System from Neutrogena. The box comes with a little hand-held battery-operated unit, two soft foam applicator sponges that click right on to it, and a micro-oxide crystallized cream that’s similar to the sort that dermatologists use in in-office microdermabrasion. To use the thing, just dip the applicator sponge in the goo, dab some of it on your chin, cheeks, nose and forehead, then flick on the switch and work the various areas for a minute or so. I thought the sponge was going to rotate—I was picturing a semi-dramatic, semi-scary sanding scenario—but instead it vibrates gently, dispersing the microscopic crystals across your skin to “enhance surface cell turnover” (i.e., slough the dead skin off your mug). Just as Neutrogena promised, my skin felt smoother after I used it. Supposedly, over time (you’re supposed to use it once or twice a week), it reduces the appearance of wrinkles. I don’t know about that (in addition to having healthy teeth and no visible nose hairs, I have no wrinkles), but this baby is way cheaper than a single real microdermabrasion session, and it makes taking care of your skin incrementally more fun.
$38 at drugstore.com.