‘A vacuum cleaner for your pores’: My honest review of the Shark FacialPro Glow

After trying it for six weeks, here’s my Shark FacialPro Glow review.

Having oily skin is a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, I barely need moisturiser, and people are always asking what highlighter I’m wearing (answer: sebum). The frustrating part is the breakouts. At 32, my skin is much clearer than in my teens and twenties, but I still struggle with pesky blackheads and congestion.

It’s probably why, having tried all kinds of professional facials over the years, my favourites are the ones that involve extractions. While they can be painful and usually leave you looking like a mess for a day or two, I’m one of those sick freaks who needs to see the gunk come out of my pores.

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I don’t think I’m alone in this. Recently, I was scrolling Instagram and came across one of my favourite beauty gurus, makeup artist and skin therapist, Isabella Schimit, using a facial tool with suction attachments and something called a ‘gunk drawer’. I was immediately intrigued.

It was the new Shark FacialPro Glow, a handheld device that promises a professional-grade facial at home. Like many of Shark’s beauty tools, it transforms with multiple attachments designed to do different things. In this case, that’s a deep-cleansing treatment, a hydra-infusion treatment and a depuffing device in one. It’s also one of the first Shark tools to come with its own skincare: two facial serums, one for exfoliation and one for hydration.

I’ve been using the device regularly for six weeks now, and while the gunk drawer wasn’t nearly as satisfying as I’d hoped (more on that later), I’ve noticed a big difference in the clarity and texture of my skin. At $500 AUD, it’s definitely an investment, so if you’re curious whether it’s worth the money, here’s my full review.

What is the Shark FacialPro Glow?

Marketed as an at-home facial treatment that takes just 10 minutes, the Shark FacialPro Glow is a powered handheld device with two main attachments: one uses suction to exfoliate and cleanse the skin, while the other is a gua sha-inspired metal tool designed to depuff.

Also housed in its plastic storage case are four extraction tips and two facial serums: a 20ml Derm Detox AHA and BHA Exfoliating Gel (a combination of glycolic acid and salicylic acid) and an 80ml Hydro Infuse BHA Hydrator (formulated with hyaluronic acid and a firming peptide complex). When they run out, both serums are available to purchase directly from Shark.

It’s worth noting that while the device omits red and blue light during hot and cold contrast therapy, it’s not an LED light therapy device. Rather, its main benefits are exfoliation, pore cleansing, hydration and depuffing.

My honest review of the Shark FacialPro Glow

The first time I tried the exfoliation treatment, I followed the instruction booklet closely to wrap my head around the steps. The routine is actually very simple and takes me around 12 minutes from start to finish. After cleansing, I applied a thin layer of the Derm Detox serum and immediately felt a gentle tingle (a good sign), then waited three minutes before starting with the extraction attachments.

I filled one side of the tank with clean water and turned the device on to its highest setting (there are three levels, depending on your preference). Starting on my cheeks, I used one hand to hold my skin taut while placing the wide tip against my face until I felt it ‘kiss’ my skin with suction. I then slowly moved it outwards, towards my ear. The suction is strong enough to feel like it’s doing a thorough job, but it doesn’t have the force of a professional extraction at a facial. It feels a bit like vacuuming your pores, which is still incredibly satisfying.

I worked my way around my face section by section, swapping to the smaller T-zone attachment for my nose and forehead. After four minutes, the ‘gunk drawer’ fills with murky water that you tip into the sink. It’s fun to see, but I was hoping it would show me what was actually coming out of my pores. It’s more like watered-down gunk, if you will.

I usually go through two tanks of water to cover my whole face, which takes around eight minutes. Afterwards, my skin looks slightly red and flushed, much like it would after a mild peel. I rinse off any remaining serum, pat my face dry and move on to the hydra-infusion step.

For this, I filled the water tank with the Hydro Infuse BHA Hydrator and, using the wide attachment, repeated the same movements as before. Once the serum tank empties, I tipped out the gunk drawer, which was now filled with murky serum. My skin feels nicely hydrated and calm, although I’m left wondering whether I could have achieved the same result by simply applying the serum with my hands.

As for the results, my skin felt baby-smooth the following morning. After a few weeks of using the exfoliation treatment, I also noticed my pores appeared less noticeable, with fewer blackheads and less congestion overall. Am I convinced the extraction tips are actually removing gunk from my pores? Not entirely. I suspect it’s the combination of exfoliating acids and suction that’s working as a deep-cleansing treatment, gradually helping to keep my skin clearer.

My DePuffi review

The DePuffi attachment is easily my favourite part of the device. I use it every morning to refresh my under-eyes, wake up my skin and generally get the blood flowing. I can get very puffy in the mornings (my boyfriend calls it “wombat face”), and I’ve tried all sorts of methods to combat it, from putting metal spoons and gua shas in the fridge to using those ice Contour Cubes that slowly melt down your arm.

Shark’s is the best depuffing device I’ve used. It takes seconds to chill (I crank it to the coldest setting) and stays cold throughout the four-minute session. The metal feels lovely and cooling, and the shape fits the contours of my face perfectly. I find it works best with a slippery serum (I like Merit Great Skin Serum) so it glides over my skin without dragging. You can also use it over a hydrating sheet mask, a tip I stole from Isabella Schimit.

Personally, I didn’t feel the need to use the heat setting. I imagine it would feel nice in winter for a facial massage, but since my main concern is puffiness, I’m all about the cold therapy.

Would I recommend the Shark FacialPro Glow?

After six weeks, I’ve incorporated the DePuffi attachment into my daily morning routine and use the exfoliation attachment and accompanying serums weekly. I’m happy with how much clearer and smoother my skin looks, although it’s difficult to know whether the reduction in blackheads and congestion is down to the suction or the exfoliating serum.

I’m a big fan of the DePuffi attachment and love the instant snatched look it gives me in the morning. The exfoliation treatment is enjoyable to use, too, even if the gunk drawer hasn’t quite lived up to my expectations. At $500, I wouldn’t say it’s an essential purchase, but it’s a facial tool I can see myself reaching for regularly. If, like me, you struggle with congestion and morning puffiness, there’s plenty to like.

For more on facial devices our editors think are worth the money, try this.