the Perfector machine

COST $450 per treatment (includes the Perfector machine, plus microdermabrasion)

TESTER Jody, 26

My skin is pretty healthy, but I still obsess over every broken capillary and sunspot – and lately, I swear I’ve seen fine lines on my forehead. So I went to Everett M. Lautin, MD, of New York City’s Institute Beauté to try the Perfector machine, which promises to even skin tone, smooth lines, and leave skin more luminous. To start, a technician cleansed my skin, then blasted it for a minute with tiny, sand-like crystals (this is microdermabrasion) to remove dead cells. Next, she put a thick, cold gel over my face (excluding my eyes and lips) and massaged it in with the Perfector’s electric wand. It felt like small electric shocks, and the gel was really cold, but overall, the massage felt good. In total, it took about 45 minutes.

OUCH FACTOR 3 – for the shocks.

WAS THE GAIN WORTH THE PAIN? Yes. That night, my fine lines were gone. My sunspots weren’t erased, but they have faded.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Institute Beauté, (212) 535-0229; www.institutebeaute.com