Deep Cleansing with “Small Bubbles” | The Truth Behind the Upgrade

The most basic and essential step in skincare is cleansing. When it comes to cleansing, most people immediately think of the once-popular treatment — the “Small Bubbles” (小气泡).

This is a foundational deep cleansing treatment commonly offered in beauty salons and small skincare studios both in China and abroad. It typically claims to offer “deep cleansing and removal of blackheads/whiteheads” and is widely tried due to its affordability.

What Is “Small Bubbles” (小气泡)?

The “Small Bubbles” trend reportedly originated in Korea, and its core function is cleansing.

It primarily uses a spiral-shaped suction tip that operates directly on the skin. Through vacuum negative pressure, it forms a closed-loop suction circuit to pull out excess sebum and debris clogged in the pores, thereby achieving deep cleansing and blackhead removal. As for the term “bubbles,” it’s more about the experience — they are not actually the main component of the treatment.

Procedure of “Small Bubbles”

Typically, a small bubbles treatment involves three steps:

Vacuum suction
Acid-based exfoliation (such as fruit acid or salicylic acid)
Post-care using facial masks or serums

That said, the liquid used in the bubble pen varies by location. Some use distilled water, which is gentler and more suitable for sensitive skin. Others use acids (fruit acids or salicylic acid) to dissolve sebum and help exfoliate dead skin, allowing the vacuum suction to remove comedones and metabolic waste more effectively.

Different beauty centers also offer variations of the procedure. For example, some promote a Japanese-style small bubbles treatment without any acid exfoliation step for a gentler approach. Others may incorporate additional modalities like electroporation or red/blue LED light therapy. Still, the vacuum suction and post-treatment care are standard components.

Main Effects

Deep cleansing
Removal of blackheads/whiteheads/sebum
Exfoliation of dead skin cells
Brightening of skin tone
Improved absorption of subsequent skincare products

Relationship with Blackhead Removal Devices

Some beauty salons may pair the small bubbles treatment with a blackhead softening serum on the nose, followed by manual suction using blackhead removal devices.

To put it simply, blackhead suction devices are a simplified version of the small bubbles treatment — they retain only the blackhead extraction step, often using misting water to aid gliding on the skin, skipping the softening and soothing phases.

However, blackhead suction devices should not be used on closed comedones (闭合性粉刺), and improper technique or prolonged application (no more than 2 seconds per area is recommended) can lead to bruising or petechiae, similar to the effects of cupping therapy.

Frequency of Small Bubbles Treatment

This treatment is not recommended for sensitive skin. For people with healthy, thicker stratum corneum, it is advisable to limit the treatment to once or twice a month at most.

Is Small Bubbles Suitable for Everyone?

Most promotional materials claim it is non-invasive, safe, and suitable for all skin types — but this is not entirely true. Small bubbles is not a standardized treatment, and due to its relatively aggressive and simplistic mechanism, it is not ideal for everyone. Theoretically, it suits normal to oily skin types better. Sensitive skin should proceed with caution.

Precautions for Small Bubbles Treatment

Although it appears non-invasive, the suction involved in the treatment can still impose stress on the skin, leading to unpredictable damage.
Additionally, the acid solutions used may impair the skin’s barrier, causing post-treatment redness or inflammation.

From a hygiene standpoint, small bubbles suction tips are often reused — unlike HydraFacial — so improper sterilization could lead to cross-contamination.

Thus, if your budget allows, it’s best to receive treatment from certified medical aesthetic institutions, where staff training and hygiene standards are far more professional than those in beauty salons or skincare centers.

The “Secrets” Behind Small Bubbles

With the rapid development of aesthetic medicine, the small bubbles treatment has become increasingly controversial. Some people claim their skin worsened after the treatment, while others believe it’s a low-cost imitation of “HydraFacial 海菲秀”. So what’s the truth? Let’s reveal it below.

Why Is Small Bubbles Controversial?

No Unified Standards
Globally, small bubbles machines vary widely in brand, quality, and price — from hundreds to thousands. Without industry standards, procedures and effects are inconsistent, raising concerns about safety and professionalism.
Low-Cost, Low-Quality
Small bubbles is often used as a low-cost promotional item in small salons, sometimes even offered for free, leading to a lack of guaranteed quality.
Overly Simplistic Procedure
The treatment merely imitates part of HydraFacial’s functions and uses one step — suction and rinse — to achieve short-term cleansing, sometimes worsening sensitivity and enlarging pores with poor aftercare.
Short-Term Results
While negative pressure suction may remove some sebum and blackheads, the effects are superficial and short-lived.
Reuse of Treatment Heads
Many small bubbles treatment heads are reused to cut costs, posing hygiene risks — another reason to choose licensed clinics.
Undertrained Practitioners
Many “skincare specialists” in salons have only undergone brief training, leading to poor understanding of skin physiology and improper techniques. Excessive suction can cause redness or even skin damage.

Is Small Bubbles an Authentic Korean Treatment?

There are various claims about the origin of small bubbles, and there’s no officially recognized or standardized machine. In online discussions, the one brand constantly mentioned in comparison is HydraFacial 海菲秀.

Despite being sometimes translated as “water dermabrasion” (水飞梭), its official name from the manufacturer is “HydraFacial”.

Learn more: https://www.ai-beauty.co/hydrafacial/

What Is HydraFacial 海菲秀?

HydraFacial MD® is a skin management system developed by HydraFacial (USA). Its core technology — the patented Vortex Technology™️ — delivers four-in-one benefits using three types of treatment tips and four exclusive serums, in three main steps:

Step 1: Cleanse + Activate
Removes impurities and promotes cellular vitality.

Step 2: Extract + Hydrate
Suction clears debris with vortex technology; intensive hydration leaves skin plump and elastic.

Step 3: Nourish + Repair
Serums rich in antioxidants and peptides nourish the skin, calm inflammation, and restore balance.

From both a functional and technological perspective, it resembles small bubbles — leading many to believe small bubbles originated as a lower-cost Korean imitation of HydraFacial. Some small bubbles brands even explicitly acknowledge this:

Screenshot source: chammedics.com

Why Is HydraFacial the Upgraded Version of Small Bubbles?

HydraFacial, developed in the U.S. with over 20 years of research, holds 34 patents and is FDA, CE, and CSA certified. It is used in over 87 countries and covered by 150+ media outlets. A treatment is performed every 10 seconds worldwide.

Treatment Tip Comparison

Small Bubbles Tip
A single spiral tip uses suction to remove dead skin and sebum, but many devices reuse the tips, raising hygiene concerns.

HydraFacial Patented Tips
HydraFacial offers three patented, disposable tips for different steps and concerns: deep cleansing, focused extraction, and serum infusion. The dual-direction Vortex vacuum technology allows simultaneous cleansing and infusion — a proprietary, non-replicable method. It is gentle and effective on the face, eyes, neck, and back.

Serum/Solution Comparison

Standard small bubbles treatments use acids to exfoliate and vacuum out oil. However, this can weaken the skin barrier, leading to irritation — one reason they are unsuitable for sensitive skin.

HydraFacial Serums
The exclusive HydraFacial serums (4 formulas) gently exfoliate, balance sebum, and repair the barrier while delivering anti-aging nutrients deep into the skin. With high-end ingredients comparable to brands like SK-II and La Mer, and patented infusion technology, the benefits reach the dermis — far beyond topical application.

In short, HydraFacial offers more than cleansing — it supports long-term skin health.

HydraFacial Advantages

Less Skin Irritation
Unlike small bubbles, HydraFacial preserves the skin’s barrier while improving texture and tone.
Infuses Nutrients
Beyond cleansing, it injects serums to hydrate and nourish skin at deeper levels.
Balances Oil and Water
Gentle acids promote balanced exfoliation without downtime, improving oil control and hydration.
Safe for All Skin Types
Even sensitive skin patients can safely undergo HydraFacial, and it’s often doctor-recommended for barrier repair.

Why Not Just Use HydraFacial?

Because of cost. HydraFacial devices and consumables are significantly more expensive than small bubbles. Its disposable patented tips and exclusive serums add to the operational costs. Machines can cost dozens of times more than small bubbles devices and come with stricter import and certification requirements — making it less accessible for small salons.

Summary: Should You Still Try Small Bubbles?

Small Bubbles
A basic deep cleansing option with limited effects. It’s more effective than at-home masks or blackhead strips, especially for oily, acne-prone skin with small comedones. However, it lacks long-lasting results and requires personal maintenance post-treatment. Choose professional, licensed clinics with proper hygiene standards. Sensitive or dry skin types should avoid this treatment.

HydraFacial 海菲秀
A premium, comprehensive skincare solution — cleansing, exfoliation, hydration, and repair in one. It’s painless, has no downtime, and delivers visible results in 30 minutes. Certified equipment, disposable tips, and professional operation meet clinical standards. It is suitable for sensitive skin and ideal for those with complex skin concerns or who want combined treatments (e.g., laser + skincare) for enhanced effects.

For those with the budget, HydraFacial is undoubtedly the smarter, safer, and more effective choice. Ai Beauty Clinic is an officially authorized HydraFacial provider with trained medical staff, personalized 1-on-1 skincare programs, and affordable package deals — the more you do, the better it gets!