Skin Health

Why Your Expensive Skincare "Stopped Working": What The Serum Companies Won’t Tell You.

"I tell all my clients: before you invest in more skincare, spend 5 minutes a week at your bathroom mirror doing THIS...

By Leah McCoppen, Master Esthetician
15 years in practice · Monday, September 21

A woman in a bathroom spa moment using Sonicsmooth Pro+ on her cheek

As seen in Allure, Byrdie, Vogue, InStyle and Elle

I Tell All My Clients: "Better Skincare Is A Waste Of Money Until You Do This."

I spend a lot of time very close to women's faces.

And in 15+ years as a Master Esthetician, there's one mistake I see over and over:

Women investing in beautiful skincare … then applying it to skin that isn't ready to receive it.

She comes to me saying: "My skincare stopped working."

Or worse: "I guess this is just what my skin looks like now."

But when I get close to her face with my magnifying lamp, I often see something very different:

The surface she's applying it to has changed:

Dead skin cells have built up on the surface... dulling her skin and getting in the way of everything she puts on it.

That's why there's one professional treatment I tell my clients to do themselves, at home.

If she's a good candidate, my advice is simple:

Skip the appointments. Keep your money.

And join the 1 million+ women who've already discovered Sonicsmooth Pro+ by Michael Todd Beauty … an at-home dermaplaning treatment that clears away dead surface skin and fine facial hair to reveal your skin's natural glow.

It's oddly satisfying, but fair warning:

The first time you try Sonicsmooth Pro+, you may be surprised to see what comes off your face…

Your Glow Isn't Gone… It's Buried.

A woman over 40 with glowing skin, beside a dermaplaning tip and the powdery dead skin it removed

When a woman first sits in my treatment chair, she usually expects me to start putting things ON her skin.

Serums. Masks. Moisture.

So she's often surprised when I tell her:

First, we need to talk about what needs to come off.

Because that slow buildup of dead surface skin creates the dull, dry-looking film you've been trying to moisturize away.

Maybe it's snuck up on you, too? Ask yourself:

Does your skin look tired & dull?
Do dry flakes keep coming back?
Do serums just sit there?
Does your makeup look cakey?
Is your glow harder to find?

If these struggles sound familiar…

… Then you may be a great candidate for at-home sonic dermaplaning with Sonicsmooth Pro+ by Michael Todd Beauty.

In just 5 minutes a week, Sonicsmooth Pro+ can help you clear away the latest buildup of dead surface skin and hair…

… Revealing the smoother, fresher-looking skin underneath.

So your makeup looks better. Your skincare works better. And you start to feel more like yourself again.

You may have even seen actress Alyssa Milano talking about this exact discovery:

Alyssa Milano, actress and Michael Todd Beauty ambassador, holding Sonicsmooth Pro+

★★★★★

Nobody Warns You What Menopause Does To Your Skin!

A 5-Minute "Shedding" Once A Week
Is All It Takes

Leah using Sonicsmooth Pro+ on her own face

Dermaplaning may sound like a complicated spa treatment.

But the principle is actually very simple:

It's controlled surface exfoliation.

You gently clear away the dead skin cells that have built up on the surface, while removing fine vellus hair, or "peach fuzz," at the same time.

For women who notice more facial hair as hormones shift with age, that second benefit can be a welcome bonus.

But as an esthetician, the hair isn't the main reason I recommend dermaplaning.

The bigger story is what happens once that dead surface buildup is out of the way:

You reveal the smoother, freshly renewed-looking skin underneath.

And freshly dermaplaned skin can absorb up to 80% more product.

So before you replace the expensive serum sitting on your bathroom counter:

Clear away that barrier.

And while you might be surprised to hear me say this...

Don't Go To The Spa For This!

(This is easier to maintain at home.)

A woman using Sonicsmooth Pro+ at her bathroom mirror, with Allure, Dermascope and Shape award badges

Until fairly recently, dermaplaning was the kind of treatment you booked with an esthetician like me. In my area it runs $150 to $350 a session ... less in some markets, more in Los Angeles or New York.

You'd come into the treatment room, and we'd carefully lift away that dull surface buildup, leaving your skin looking healthy and radiant.

The problem is…

… Those results don't last forever.

Because your skin keeps renewing, which means dead surface cells start building up again.

So maintaining your glow, if you were blessed with a "Hollywood budget," used to mean an appointment about once a month, which can really add up.

Sonicsmooth Pro+ on its charging stand with 16 dermaplaning tips and MicroSmooth tips

Then Michael Todd Beauty turned the industry upside down:

They released Sonicsmooth Pro+ ... the first at-home dermaplaning device that delivers results comparable to professional treatments using sonic technology.

Every aspect of the treatment that I control with my hands in my one-on-one client sessions is built right in!

So instead of booking another appointment every time the buildup returns…

… You can remove it yourself, at home, in just a few minutes a week.

And right now, Sonicsmooth Pro+ is on sale for 40% OFF — giving you 16 weeks of at-home treatments for a one-time investment that's less than the cost of a single spa session.

CHECK AVAILABILITY & APPLY DISCOUNT

30-day money back guarantee · Ships from Michael Todd Beauty

2 Professional Treatments In One Handheld Device

Here's something I haven't mentioned yet.

Sonicsmooth Pro+ doesn't just give you the dermaplaning treatment we've been talking about.

It actually comes with 2 different treatment tips:

There's a sonic dermaplaning tip to clear away dead surface skin and fine facial hair.

And a diamond MicroSmooth™ tip for microdermabrasion, which you use a few days later to target deeper-looking texture and unevenness.

Leah holding up the two Sonicsmooth Pro+ treatment tips

Here's the routine:

Dermaplane · Rest · MicroSmooth · Rest · Repeat

Step 1 · Weekly

Dermaplane Away The Buildup

The Sonicsmooth Pro+ dermaplaning tip

Start with clean, dry skin. Use a fresh dermaplaning tip for each weekly treatment.

Then gently glide the Sonicsmooth Pro+ dermaplaning tip across your face.

Its sonic technology creates 258 sonic movements per second, helping the tip glide with light pressure instead of dragging across the skin.

As you go, the tip clears away dead surface cells along with fine facial hair, revealing skin that feels smoother and freshly exfoliated.

And because the tip sits inside a patented comb-cage safety guard, the treatment stays controlled while you work.

The whole dermaplaning step takes about 5 minutes.

Step 2 · 3–4 Days Later

Polish With MicroSmooth™

The diamond MicroSmooth tip

Two things I tell my clients to do after every Sonicsmooth Pro+ session:

1Put something on immediately. Freshly exfoliated skin is thirsty and it will take up whatever you give it. This is the moment your good serum finally earns what you paid for it.
2Sunscreen the next morning, and don't negotiate with me about it. You've just cleared away the dead layer that was doing a little of your sun-scattering for you. Freshly treated skin gets protected.

One more thing, so you're not surprised: some women feel a mild tingle for about half an hour afterward, and a little pinkness. That's not irritation. That's circulation and cell turnover waking up ... it's the fresh, glowing part already starting. It settles on its own.

No Nicks, Cuts or Scraping

I know what some of you are thinking, because my clients say it too:

"You want me to run a moving blade-thing across my own face?"

Fair question. So let me show you rather than tell you.

That's the Sonicsmooth Pro+ running at full speed across an inflated balloon.

The balloon doesn't pop.

The tip sits inside a comb-cage safety guard...

Like the guard on a hair clipper.

It physically caps how deep the tip can reach... it cannot go further than the surface, no matter what your hand does.

More on this in a minute. For now, just know I wouldn't recommend anything I don't use myself.

CHECK AVAILABILITY & APPLY DISCOUNT

Look At What Actually Comes Off Your Face

The first time you use Sonicsmooth Pro+, watch the tip.

You'll see the fine facial hair, but you may also notice a soft, powdery-looking buildup coming away with it.

Women tell me that seeing that buildup come off is oddly satisfying.

A used Sonicsmooth Pro+ dermaplaning tip beside the powdery dead skin and fine hair it removed

And it's also the moment they finally understand what I mean:

The dry, dull surface they've been trying to "moisturize away" suddenly isn't abstract anymore. They can see it coming off their face.

And when they touch their skin, they feel the difference immediately.

Independent Study Results

100%said their skin felt instantly softer
97%reported more radiant-looking skin
96%noticed more flawless makeup application
93%said they felt more confident in their appearance

In an independent study of 30 women conducted by Princeton Consumer Research, an independent third-party lab.

From an esthetician's perspective, these results make sense.

And in my experience, women who start using Sonicsmooth Pro+ at home tend to notice the same changes: Smoother skin, more glow, and makeup that sits better.

Real Women Tell Their Stories:

★★★★★

"I Can't Stop Touching My Face"

"I am obsessed with the Sonicsmooth! It's designed to perform professional-grade dermaplaning at home by removing dead skin cells and that stubborn peach fuzz… and it absolutely delivers on those promises. My skin feels incredibly soft and smooth. Honestly, I can't stop touching my face after I use it!"

Debbie P. · Verified Buyer

★★★★★

"The Built-In Light Makes All The Difference"

"I absolutely love the Sonicsmooth Pro+ — it's by far the best tool I've used for removing facial hair and exfoliating dead skin. I love the built-in LED light — it makes it so much easier to see what I'm doing and get great results. My skin feels fresh, smooth, and perfectly prepped, and my makeup goes on so much more evenly."

Sandra K. · Verified Buyer

★★★★★

"Remarkable Results At 66"

"I'm a 66 year old and have found the results of my Sonicsmooth Pro+ quite remarkable. Not only does it deal with the dreaded peach fuzz in a jiffy, but it gets rid of the dead skin and leaves me with a beautiful, clear, healthy complexion. I would highly recommend this product."

Lynn A. · Verified Buyer

Flash Sale

40% Off Sonicsmooth Pro+

Get 16 weeks of at-home dermaplaning treatments for less than the cost of a single spa session.

The Sonicsmooth Pro+ kit

16 medical-grade dermaplaning tips
2 MicroSmooth™ tips included free
Dermatologist Approved · FDA Registered
30-Day Money Back Guarantee

CHECK AVAILABILITY & APPLY DISCOUNT

Over 1 million sold… one sells every 30 seconds.

10,000+ reviews · Allure Reader's Choice, Best Tool Breakthrough · 3-Year Limited Warranty

My 3 Tests For "At Home" Dermaplaning Tools

(And Why This Is The Only One I Recommend)

Once women hear this can be done at home, the next question is always some version of: can't I just buy one of those little dermaplaning razors at the drugstore?

You can. But I don't recommend it.

Because before I let anything near a client's face, it has to pass three tests.

Test 1

It has to be safe on mature skin.

Most drugstore "dermaplaning tools" are just rebranded men's razors.

They have no depth control at all. The edge is fully exposed, and it drags across your skin at whatever speed your hand happens to move.

On skin that's thinner and drier than it was at thirty, that's how you get irritation along the jaw and redness that takes days to settle.

A generic drugstore dermaplaning razor — Exposed edge.

Sonicsmooth Pro+ with its guarded tip — Comb-cage guard.

Sonicsmooth Pro+ solves these problems with:

The comb-cage guard, which controls the depth of the exfoliation.

And the sonic glide at 258 movements per second, which does the work instead of your hand pressing.

Passed ✓

Test 2

It has to be hygienic.

The Bigger Payoff: Fresh Collagen

A woman over 40 with visibly glowing skin

Here's what most women never hear about dermaplaning:

The glow you see after each treatment is just the beginning.

Because with consistent weekly treatments, Sonicsmooth Pro+ helps signal your skin to produce fresh collagen... the structural "scaffolding" that helps skin look smooth, firm and resilient.

And if you're over 40, you already know why that matters. Our natural collagen production declines with age… and drops sharply through menopause.

So week after week, you're also helping support:

Smoother-looking texture
Softer-looking fine lines
More even-looking tone
Dark spots that become less noticeable
A healthier-looking glow

That's the difference between getting a single dermaplaning treatment and making Sonicsmooth Pro+ part of your weekly skincare routine!

"But Won't The Hair Come Back Thicker?"

This is one of the questions I hear most often once women learn dermaplaning also removes peach fuzz.

And the answer is simple: No.

Dermaplaning works at the surface. It doesn't change the follicle underneath your skin that determines how thick, dark or quickly your hair grows.

Skin cross-section: dermaplaning works at the surface, the follicle root below it determines regrowth

So your peach fuzz grows back as peach fuzz.

It doesn't suddenly turn into coarse hair because you dermaplaned it.

You Genuinely Won't Cut Yourself With This.
Here's Why...

This is the question I hear most from women over 50, even when they don't ask it out loud:

"What if I slip? Will I cut myself?"

You won't! Remember this?

Sonicsmooth Pro+ was engineered with not one but 2 US patents so that slipping doesn't matter.

Remember the balloon test?

The comb-cage guards your skin from nicks and cuts by controlling the depth of the dermaplaning to "surface only."

Making it almost impossible to nick your skin.

Macro of the Sonicsmooth Pro+ tip with cage posts enclosing the edge — Comb-cage guard.

A hair clipper with its guard attached — Same idea as a clipper guard.

The sonic glide does the work. Not your hand.

258 movements per second means no dragging, no pressing, no scraping.

And 3 speed settings let you tune it to your skin.

Sensitive skin starts on LOW and can stay there.

It's also dermatologist approved... which, for something you're going to use on your own face every week, is the kind of detail I'd want to know.

See What Your Mirror Misses.

The Clear Glow LED off and on, lighting up fine pale hairs on the cheek

The integrated "Clear Glow" LED light illuminates the fine hairs and dead-skin buildup most women can't see in the mirror. You see exactly what comes off your face.

"As Good As My Dermatologist, For A Fraction Of The Cost!"

Estheticians know the difference between a tool that removes hair and a tool that treats skin... we see the after-effects of the wrong choice in our chairs every week.

So when skincare professionals put Sonicsmooth Pro+ in their own routines, at home...

That's the endorsement worth paying attention to:

★★★★★

I Instantly Fell In Love!

"It's so easy to hold, easy to use and just provides that smooth glowing skin in just minutes without having to book an appointment (and this is coming from a licensed esthetician)! I love that you also get the microdermabrasion head to exfoliate your skin as well but I instantly fell in love with this product as soon as I used it!"

Diana L. · Licensed Esthetician

★★★★★

As Good As My Dermatologist, For A Fraction Of The Cost

"I was at first skeptical about ordering this online. I go to a dermatologist regularly and get dermaplaning done. When I received the product, I was pleasantly surprised — it surpassed my expectations, and my skin looks as good after a treatment at home as when I have it done professionally, for a fraction of the cost!"

Katerina · Verified Buyer

★★★★★

Absolutely Addicting!

"It's foolproof to use and even easier to get addicted to. Your makeup will glide on like silk after using it once."

Editor · Allure Magazine

But Are You A Good Candidate For At-Home Dermaplaning?

I keep saying "if you're a good candidate"... so let me be direct about who that is.

Most women over 40 with dull, dry, or flaky-looking skin are excellent candidates for Sonicsmooth Pro+ ...

Including those of you with sensitive skin.

(That's what the LOW setting is for.)

But check with your dermatologist first, if you have:

Active, inflamed breakouts...

A rosacea or eczema flare...

Or skin that's currently peeling from prescription retinoids.

Dermaplaning is a surface treatment for intact, healthy skin.

If that's you ... and for most women reading this, it is ... you're exactly who this was designed for.

You Don't Need A Hollywood Budget To
Try This At Home

(But grab it on sale, if you still can...)

If you want to pay for in-person dermaplaning at $150–$350 per session… every four to six weeks… booked around someone else's calendar… I understand. It's a wonderful treatment. I've built a career on it.

But I tell all my clients: you don't need a Hollywood budget for this.

Sonicsmooth Pro+ gives you the same professional sonic dermaplaning I perform in my treatment room. At home. On your schedule. For less than the cost of a single session.

Which means every week, in about five minutes:

Unwanted facial hair? Gone.
Dead surface skin? Exfoliated away.
Fine lines? Softer-looking.
Makeup? Gliding on smooth.
And skin that looks instantly brighter and more awake.

If you're a woman over 40 struggling with dull, tired-looking skin…

This is your opportunity to reclaim your glow with the same spa-at-home system celebrities are using themselves.

Lift that film of dead skin with Sonicsmooth Pro+…

… And uncover the fresh, renewed skin that's just below it.

TRY SONICSMOOTH PRO+ — 40% OFF TODAY

Where To Get Yours

Sonicsmooth Pro+ is only available through Michael Todd Beauty's official website (so go directly to the source).

Right now, they're running a FLASH SALE:

Sonicsmooth Pro+ at 40% OFF the regular price.

It's the lowest price I've seen.

The complete Sonicsmooth Pro+ kit

40% OFF | FLASH SALE

Uncover Your Hidden Glow With

Sonicsmooth Pro+

At-home dermaplaning… 16 weeks for less than one spa session.

Complete kit, everything you need.
MicroSmooth™ tips included free
Trusted by 1 million+ women

CHECK AVAILABILITY & APPLY DISCOUNT

30-day money back guarantee · Ships from Michael Todd Beauty

Questions?

Email: customerservice@michaeltoddbeauty.com

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"My makeup artist showed me Sonicsmooth Pro+… He said it was the only at-home device that uses the same sonic technology professionals use in spas. And he was right. After my first use, my skin looked smoother and brighter than it had in years. This is the Hollywood secret. Now you know it too."

Alyssa Milano · Actress, Mother of Two, Age 53

She's describing exactly what I see in my treatment room every week.

And the treatment itself? It's much simpler than it sounds.

About 3 to 4 days later, once your skin has settled, switch to the diamond MicroSmooth™ tip.

This is your microdermabrasion treatment.

I use it to target deeper concerns and polish areas the dermaplaning tip can't reach. Like age spots, hyperpigmentation, the curves of your nose, and any stubborn texture buildup.

Glide it in small, slow circles over the areas you want to refine. Then let your skin rest and begin again the following week.

It's a simple weekly routine you can do right in your own bathroom.

This is the one nobody talks about. You need a fresh tip every treatment, for the same reason surgical instruments are single-use.

A tool you reuse for months is a tool that's collecting bacteria and going dull at the same time ... and a dull edge is what makes you press harder.

Your kit comes with 16 single-use tips. That's a four-month supply, and you use a new one each time without thinking about it.

Passed ✓

Test 3

It has to actually exfoliate.

This is the test most tools fail, and it's the whole reason I recommend dermaplaning in the first place.

Most of those little razors only take the hair. They're not designed to lift the layer of dead surface cells dulling your skin and blocking your glow.

Remember that soft, powdery buildup you saw coming off the tip? That's the difference. That's true exfoliation ... you literally see it happen.

A clean dermaplaning tip beside a used tip with powdery dead-skin buildup

Passed ✓

So yes, the peach fuzz comes off. But the exfoliation is why I recommend it.

And it's also where the bigger payoff begins...

The Sonicsmooth Pro+ device
16 medical-grade single-use dermaplaning tips (a full four-month supply)
Diamond MicroSmooth™ tips
"Clear Glow" LED built right in

You get everything you need in one complete kit. Nothing sold separately.

Plus, it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. And a 3-year limited warranty. (That's right… you're promised THREE YEARS of treatments!)

So there's no risk in trying it today.

TRY SONICSMOOTH PRO+ — 40% OFF TODAY

Use it for a full 30 days.

Watch what comes off the tip.

Watch how your makeup sits... how your serums sink in... how your skin feels when you touch it.

If you don't see the difference, send it back. They insist you LOVE it, or they'll return your money.

One tip from my chair: start this week.

Results build week over week... by treatment four, this stops feeling like something new you're trying and starts just being your skin. Every week you wait is a week your glow stays buried.

Oh... and take before and after pictures.

I promise, you're going to fall in love with your skin again.

TRY SONICSMOOTH PRO+ — 40% OFF TODAY

Flash Sale

Uncover Your Hidden Glow

40% Off Sonicsmooth Pro+

Comes with 16 medical-grade dermaplaning tips… a four-month supply of at-home treatments, for less than a single spa session.

(Instead of $1,800 to $4,200+ a year in appointments.)

The Sonicsmooth Pro+ kit

Dermatologist Approved · FDA Registered
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
3-Year Limited Warranty

Over 1 million sold… one sells every 30 seconds.

You may be surprised by what comes off.

And even more surprised by what's been underneath it.

CHECK AVAILABILITY & APPLY DISCOUNT

Sonicsmooth by Michael Todd Beauty | Official Store