Peach fuzz and my face go way back. While those fine little hairs (government name: vellus hair) never really bothered me, I have to admit that I’ve gotten way more into dermaplaning the past couple of years. But it’s mainly because of how smooth my skin feels afterward, and how much better my makeup goes on. For those who haven’t yet tried dermaplaning, first things first, it’s not shaving. Dr. Amy B. Lewis, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, describes it as “a physical exfoliation treatment that uses a sterile, semi-sharp blade to remove dead skin cells and ‘peach fuzz’ hairs from the skin’s surface.” The result? Skin that feels smoother, has better texture, and looks brighter.
I’ve had professional dermaplaning done with estheticians at my dermatologist’s office, but my at-home routine is pretty solid. My favorite dermaplaning tool is the Dermaflash Luxe+ ($199), a device that uses subtle sonic vibration to safely remove peach fuzz and dead skin cells. Because I’m such a fan of Dermaflash, I was excited to hear that the brand had recently debuted its very own skin-care products, namely the Active Cocooning Serum ($68), a vegan multi-tasking serum.
How it works
Creating skin-care products was always in the cards for Dermaflash founder Dara Levy. “I am a perfectionist and cannot tell you how many times we tested and reformulated, then reformulated again! The result was worth it,” she explains. “These formulas are effective when you use them on their own—and when you use them in conjunction with your Dermaflash devices, they’ll amp up the results and give you exponential results.” The Active Cocooning Serum promises to smooth, firm, and brighten the skin while protecting it from pollution and blue light—as well as pumping hydration into the skin. They weren’t joking about it multi-tasking!
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Dr. Lewis says that even though dermaplaning is considered minimally invasive, it’s important to follow proper skin-care afterwards. That means giving your retinols and acids a break and adhering to a more simple skin routine instead — one that uses gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and healing serums that contain hyaluronic acid. The Active Cocooning Serum appears to have hyaluronic acid and a lot more, such as target peptides, which Levy says work like “skin-care delivery drones to smooth and brighten where your skin needs it most.”
According to Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, “dermaplaning provides gentle physical exfoliation, which can boost penetration of active ingredients like peptides.”
Another key ingredient in the Active Cocooning Serum is Mediterranean lavender, an active botanical that aims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. King says lavender “has a lovely aroma, and is sometimes used in skin care for its anti-inflammatory or skin-calming properties” (but can be problematic for sensitive skin types). Other ingredients include probiotics and probiotics to balance the skin’s microbiome, as well as an anti-pollution molecule to help counteract daily environmental damage.
My honest thoughts
Knowing all of the skin-friendly ingredients this serum contained, it already felt promising. But as with all serums, I was worried that the Active Cocoon Serum might feel oily or sticky on my skin. This wasn’t the case. In fact, it has a similar consistency to other vegan serums I love, plus it feels lightweight and absorbed into my skin quite seamlessly. (Levy said she would take a bath in it if she could, and I totally get that now.) I used the serum twice a day and noticed how much my skin felt plump and more hydrated, especially as it’s getting used to this 50-degree, LA winter weather.
The only thing is, I’m not too big on droppers — I prefer the ease of a quick pump delivery system for serums — but I liked how Levy put an aperture at the mouth of the bottle so the dropper is wiped clean every time you use it, This prevented a drippy mess from occurring, which is something that has happened with other dropper products.
I also just received the brand’s Dermapore ($99) device, which is an amazing multifunctional tool that deep cleans pores and removes blackheads. However, it’s also perfect to use with the serum, as it can help make your products penetrate into your skin better. You just flip the Dermapore over, apply the serum, and gently glide it over your skin to get your boost on.
To get the full Dermaflash skin-care experience, I used the Active Cocoon Serum in tandem with the brand’s other debut product, the Botanical Ketoacid Toner ($42). The toner is formulated with natural ketoacids sourced from the hibiscus flower, which gently exfoliates skin and minimizes the look of pores without irritation, says Levy, who adds that even super sensitive skin types can use it twice a day. Because I usually don’t use toners on the regular, I was a little bit hesitant at first (I’m still emotionally scarred from the harsh toners of the ‘90s and aughts), but was happy to find it pretty refreshing. My skin instantly looked less red after using the toner, and my texture has definitely improved. And while I do prefer a spray mechanism for these types of formulas, it was fine applying the toner with a cotton pad.
Overall, I really enjoyed using the Active Cocoon Serum (and the Botanical Ketoacid Toner) in my daily and dermaplaning skin-care routine. Whether you’re into dermaplaning or not, anyone whose skin can use some help in the hydration department will benefit from this serum. Plus, how can you resist that cute “cocoon” name?
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