The 9 Best Microdermabrasion Machines
Updated by · How we research
Nine home microdermabrasion machines compared on suction control, tips, guidance and upkeep. The Microderm GLO leads for beginners with its on-screen face map. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Every home microdermabrasion machine does two jobs at once: a diamond tip or spinning disc buffs off dead surface skin while light suction carries the debris away. Home units are weaker than clinic machines, and even clinic results fade, so think of one as weekly upkeep rather than a cure. This list suits first-timers as well as people ready for stronger suction.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Microderm GLO keeps the top spot. Its screen tells a beginner where to move and when to stop, and on a tool you aim at your own face, that guidance matters more than raw suction. The Trophy Skin MicrodermMD and the PMD Personal Microderm Classic stay too.
Seven of the ten earlier picks are gone. The Neutrogena Microdermabrasion Starter System was discontinued, the Trophy Skin RejuvadermMD is unavailable, and the Appolus Premium Diamond, Microderm GLO Mini and Kelley West Microderm360 are no longer sold. The Kendal HB-SF01 has no current U.S. offer, and the New Spa Diamond has too little owner history to justify its price. New picks cover spa-style suction boxes, the PMD Personal Microderm Pro and Elite Pro, a compact Trophy Skin UltradermMD and a cordless pen.
Nobody has lab-tested home microdermabrasion machines side by side, so we weighed the American Academy of Dermatology's patient guidance and the FDA's device class against makers' instructions and the failures owners keep describing. Those failures, mostly early motor or suction loss, are why brand track record counts for so much here.
January 09, 2020:
It's important to keep in mind that these devices are capable of only so much, as factors like sleep, diet, stress, moisture, genetics, and others make a significant impact on skin health, and a good, physical abrasion process is only as effective as the skincare products you rub on your face after the dead skin cells have been removed.
That said, there are still methods to determine which of these machines will give you the best chance of improving your skin. To that effect, we scrutinized things like suction levels and tip options, which serve to increase the chances that a given model will be suitable to your particular skin type. Of course, some models can be pretty ineffective, even with multiple settings, like the Silk’n Revit Fresh, which we removed for lacking the kind of suction and abrasion that the majority of users would likely need.
In its place we added the Appolus Premium Diamond, the two heads of which let people use the device all over their body with great results. Still, the Microderm Glo maintains its superiority over other models thanks to its useful display and charging cradle, and its undeniable ease of use.
Special Honors
AAD Find a Dermatologist For acne scars, sun spots or anything more than a light polish, a board-certified dermatologist can offer clinic microdermabrasion and stronger treatments, and can check any spot that is changing. The American Academy of Dermatology's free directory finds one by ZIP code. find-a-derm.aad.org
How A Home Machine Works, And What It Can't Do
Clinical figures in ads usually come from small panels the brand ran itself.
Microdermabrasion removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells. In a clinic, a provider either sprays fine crystals across the skin and vacuums them back up, or uses a diamond-grit tip that sands and vacuums in one pass. Cleveland Clinic compares the first to gentle sandblasting and the second to a gentle electric sander (Cleveland Clinic). Home machines use the diamond method or a small spinning disc under a suction cap, which is why you won't find crystals in any of these kits.
Set your expectations by the clinic version. The American Academy of Dermatology says most patients need between 5 and 16 professional treatments to see results, and that the results tend to be temporary (AAD). A home unit is weaker than a clinic machine, so it works best as regular upkeep for smoother-feeling skin, not as a fix for deep scars or wrinkles.
Be wary of big claims on the box. Powered dermabrasion brushes sit in Class I, the FDA's lowest-risk device group (FDA product code GFE), so a phrase like "FDA approved" says nothing about how well a machine works. Clinical figures in ads usually come from small panels the brand ran itself.
Choosing Suction, Tips And Guidance
Home machines fall into four groups. Guided consoles, such as the Trophy Skin models and the Microderm GLO, have a screen that sets or times the suction for each part of the face. They are the gentlest way to learn.
Disc pens from PMD swap the diamond tip for spinning discs in grades from smooth to very coarse. Starting on the smooth training disc lets you practice the motion safely. The trade-off is speed: a small cap takes a while to cover a whole face, and discs have to be replaced.
Spa-style benchtop boxes have a plug-in pump, a suction gauge and a set of metal wands with tips in different grits. Sellers quote high suction numbers that no one has checked independently. They offer the most control and the most room for error, and they are loud. Cordless pens sit at the other end: handy for travel, but with far less pull.
Whichever type you pick, check that replacement tips, discs and filters are sold, since you'll go through them. If you only want a mild polish, a manual diamond-grit wand such as Revlon's does the scrubbing without any motor or suction.
Using One Safely At Home
The AAD says to see a dermatologist before using an at-home kit if you have a mole or spot that is growing, bleeding or changing, if you scar easily, or if you have taken the acne drug isotretinoin in the past six months, which raises the risk of scarring (AAD). Expect pink, slightly swollen skin for a day or two, like a mild sunburn. Bruising, stinging and extra sun sensitivity can also happen.
Technique matters more than the machine. Dr. Amy McMichael, chair of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Health, warns that home devices can do more harm than good with too much pressure, and that shared or dirty tips can spread bacteria and wart viruses (Wake Forest). Start on the lowest setting, practice on your forearm first, hold the skin taut and glide in one direction. Make no more than two passes over an area, and never let the tip sit still, which is how suction bruises start.
Most makers suggest once a week. Wash the tip after every session, change filters when they discolor, keep the device to yourself, and wear sunscreen for the next few days.
How we researched this
We compared 22 home microdermabrasion devices, read the makers' specs and instructions for the 11 finalists, weighed them against guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic and the FDA's device classification, analyzed owner feedback patterns, and searched the CPSC recall database, which lists no recalls for these brands or the category. No independent lab test of home machines exists. Updated October 23, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Admin.
Frequently asked questions
Does at-home microdermabrasion work?
It can leave skin feeling smoother and looking brighter, but the effect is mild and temporary. Even clinic treatments, which are stronger, usually take several sessions, and the AAD says results don't last.
Is a diamond tip or crystal microdermabrasion better?
Both remove dead surface skin. Crystal systems are clinic equipment. Diamond tips, which home machines use, leave no loose particles and are easier to control near the eyes.
How often should I use a microdermabrasion machine?
Once a week is the usual advice, with no more than two passes over any area. Wait until any redness is gone before the next session.
Who should not use one?
Skip it and see a dermatologist first if you have a changing mole, scar easily, or took isotretinoin in the past six months. Also wait out sunburn, open sores, infections and eczema or rosacea flares.
Is a microdermabrasion machine FDA approved?
Powered dermabrasion devices are Class I, the FDA's lowest-risk group, and don't need approval to be sold. "FDA approved" on a box is a marketing line, not proof that the machine works.
Do I need a machine at all?
Not for a light polish. A manual diamond-grit wand or a gentle scrub exfoliates without suction. Machines add suction and adjustable strength, which help with clogged pores.
