I’m in my 40’s and tried viral facial shaving to see if it lasts for years…a friend called me Benjamin Button but I have two problems

It’s 7:30 on a Monday morning, the kids are whining about lost homework, and a harassed parent is standing in front of the bathroom mirror, razor in hand, trying to get ready for work.

Typical family scene, right?

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Only the person shaving his face isn’t my husband, it’s me.

Before you assume I’m a secret werewolf trying to gather evidence of last night’s full moon, let me explain.

Over the past three years, I’ve been among a growing number of women who swear by the benefits of facial shaving – or dermaplaning, to give it its official title.

It promises radiant, softer and more youthful skin, perfectly prepared to absorb your favorite lotions and potions.

Best of all, it is now very affordable.

What started in the 1990s as a detangling and exfoliating salon treatment is now flourishing at home, helping women shave off both the expense and facial fur.

You only have to take a quick scroll through social media to see that face shaving is not a niche activity for those with a bearded lady fetish.

There are nearly three million Instagram posts about #Dermaplaning and more than 150,000 TikTok videos that have been viewed more than four billion times.

Then there are the famous fans, like Eva Mendes and Gwyneth Paltrow, who use it to strengthen their A-list.

With all this buzz as background noise, I found myself brandishing a dermaplaner on a regular basis.

I wouldn’t describe myself as particularly hairy, but like many women, I have quite a bit of peach fuzz on my face.

Which, I must emphasize, is completely normal.

And if you’d rather leave your facial hair alone – no matter how much nature has blessed you with – that’s fair.

Personally, though, I’ve never liked mine.

As an avid fake tanner, I had noticed that my lady’s sideburns were turning a slightly orangey tinge and, now that I think about it, my foundation felt a bit hairy too.

The first time I dermaplaned, I definitely felt a bit of trepidation—when I applied a basic skin oil, held the scalpel-like razor under my cheekbone, and started removing hair.

Within seconds the fur flew.

Two or three small strokes and the blade was already covered in a surprisingly large amount of fluffy vellus hair.

I can’t deny that it was very satisfying. Immediately afterwards, my forty-year-old skin felt wonderfully smooth, and even more so after my moisturizer was soaked up.

The next day my skin seemed to have a fresh glow and my makeup stayed on effortlessly.

I was fairly certain that my peach fuzz was way too fine to cause prickly regrowth, and my husband agreed that my skin felt wonderful — once he stopped chuckling at my latest beauty experiment.

Monthly regimen

The breakthrough came when a friend asked me what I was using on my skin that day and, thank goodness, added, “You look like Benjamin Button.”

Chance? Ego stroke? Maybe, maybe not.

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Dr. Kemi Fabusiwa, Venus Dermaplaner Ambassador, says: “When done correctly, dermaplaning really does reveal a brighter, smoother complexion, by removing dead skin cells and peach fuzz.

“Imagine your skin without that layer of dullness and tiny hairs. It will also make your skincare products work better, meaning you get more bang for your buck.”

But before we get carried away, let’s return to the two key words: “well done”.

Although dermaplaning is now part of my monthly beauty regimen, I am aware that it is not without potential pitfalls.

Above all, remember that these knives are sharp. I’m guilty of being careless once or twice and ending up with a little nickname to show for it.

I’ve also seen a new viral trend on TikTok where influencers are literally adding a whole new layer to DIY dermaplaning.

To prepare before shaving, they use ‘hair identification’ sprays, which coat the face with a botanical-based white powder that accentuates each frizzy hair follicle for the ultimate shave. Ever the docile – and furry – human guinea pig, I ordered a bottle for myself, which cost five dollars, including razor blades.

I copied the spooky effect I’d seen online and sprayed it on liberally, creating a look that was somewhere between Christmas gingham frosting and rose.

As the spray dried, my facial hair stood out in a rather unflattering way and I began to carefully shave away the remains, loosening the chalky, hairy dust.

Since I was filming this for Fabulous, I went over some areas in a way I normally wouldn’t – and I paid the price, with a few spots getting irritated.

My bad.

But I did find that my skin felt quite dry after rinsing off the spray.

Yes, the facial hair was gone, but honestly, I never had any trouble identifying my peach fuzz.

Moreover, I found the process quite messy and cumbersome.

Consultant dermatologist Dr. Aamna Adel (@dermatologist_adel) agrees.

She says, “These products are just gimmicky.”

So a hair revealing spray may turn heads on TikTok, but it’s not something I’ll be adding to my shaving regimen.

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