Is it worth the hype? Six things I learned when I went for a Hydrafacial

After months of watching videos of celebrities and bloggers having gunk sucked out of their faces on Instagram, it was time. I finally got to try the Hydrafacial for myself – and it didn't disappoint.

The Hydrafacial has become a viral hit, thanks to how disgustingly fascinating it is to watch. For anyone who hasn't had a video of it pop up on their timeline, it's a multi-step facial that promises instant results. The treatment includes cleansing and exfoliating the skin at the surface level, an acid peel, an intense pore extraction and a hydrating finish. The most intriguing part of all of this is, of course, the hoover-like tool used to perform the Hydrafacial. The device has a number of attachments that make the whole experience feel super high-tech. But is it just a gimmick or are the results really as good as celebrity fans like Vogue Williams, Kate Winslet and Charlize Theron make them look? I was keen to find out and so was delighted when Joanne Woods Beauty in Dundalk invited me to try the Hydrafacial for myself. The lovely Joanne herself, along with her Senior Skin Specialist Dina Kantz, were on hand to answer all of my questions and take me through the treatment. Its popularity has soared recently as clients look for a quick, pain-free facial, Joanne told me. "Some invasive treatments come with tenderness and pain to the skin, and we all don’t all have the same pain threshold. The Hydrafacial has the same effects but with no pain to the skin and no down time either. After a few treatments you will see anti-ageing begin the hard task of rolling back the years." One relaxing hour later, it was all done. I was really happy with the Hydrafacial and with the stunning service I got from Joanne and Dina. Here are my key takeaways from the experience:   It doesn't hurt Any treatment that involves a machine is a little daunting but the whole thing was completely painless and actually quite relaxing.   It's pretty satisfying You can actually feel your dead skin coming away and your pores being cleaned out – plus it was fascinating to see everything Joanne and Dina had removed from my skin at the end of the treatment.   It has a range of effects At 26, anti-ageing isn't a big concern for me just yet but my skin did look super plump afterwards. I'd also had lots of congestion on my T-zone beforehand so Dina targeted this area when extracting; majorly reducing my blackheads. The overall effect was skin that looked glowing and healthy.   It can be done on your lips too The skin on my lips was dry and flaky before my treatment and so I was delighted when Joanne told me she could take care of that too. My lips were left smooth and hydrated and even looked a little fuller.   It lived up to its 'zero downtime/ instant results' promise Unlike with other facials I've had, I saw an immediate difference. It's ideal for anyone who, like me, is impatient or who wants a boost to their skin before a special occasion but doesn't have a lot of free time.   It's expensive but it delivers on value Sometimes you leave a facial feeling relaxed but not quite sure whether it made any difference. With the Hydrafacial, the results were instantly visible. My skin was clear and fresh-looking, meaning I needed less makeup and when I did apply some later in the week, is went on very smoothly. The treatment costs €120, which is more than any other facial I've ever had, but the effects were also in another league to those of any other facial I've ever had. While I was gifted the experience, I do think I'd pay for int again if I wanted to guarantee clear skin for a special occasion. Two thumbs up.   Joanne Woods Beauty offers the Hydrafacial at its salon on Park Street in Dundalk, Co. Louth. You can follow Joanne Woods Beauty on Instagram here and Facebook here.