Glo2Facial: What You Should Know
Pros & cons
How much it costs
How it works
Side effects to consider
How long results last
Fast facts
Glo2Facial is a skin rejuvenation treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, hydrates, and improves the overall quality of the skin.
This multi-step treatment combines a patented form of oxygenating exfoliation (known as Oxfoliation), ultrasound, and lymphatic massage to deliver one of the most effective medical-grade facials, according to Dr. Jamé Heskett, a board-certified physician in Katonah, New York. A series of treatments can reduce the appearance of fine lines, smooth skin texture, calm breakouts, and make skin tone brighter and more even.
While it’s often performed as facial treatment, the benefits of Glo2Facial extend to more than a dozen different body areas, including the:
- DĂ©colletage, to treat sun damage, wrinkles, and acne breakouts
- Butt, to make skin hydrated and smooth, with more even tone and texture
- Back, to treat acne breakouts or dry skin
- Underarms or bikini line, to treat ingrown hairs and hyperpigmentation
- Hands, to rejuvenate dry, wrinkled skin and reduce signs of sun damage
To perform a Glo2Facial treatment, a provider uses the Geneo X device, which has two handheld wands and different attachments for each of the three steps.
- First, its Glo2Facial OxyPods react with Primer Gel to gently exfoliate the skin and create a bubbly, CO2-rich environment on the skin's surface, a process the manufacturer calls Oxfoliation.
- Next, ultrasound micro-vibrations (a “lite ultrasound experience,” aka LUX) helps smooth skin and increases its permeability for customized serums.
- Finally, lymphatic massage detoxes, decreases puffiness, and massages the serums more deeply into the skin.
The Oxfoliation step sets Glo2Facial apart from similarly advanced facial treatments. Unlike oxygen facials, which use air pressure to “push” oxygen onto the skin, Glo2Facial uses unique technology to draw oxygen to the skin’s surface. It harnesses the Bohr Effect, a biological phenomenon where oxygen is released in response to rising carbon dioxide levels.Â
The reaction between the Primer Gel and the OxyPod forms carbon dioxide bubbles on the surface of the skin, lowering its pH and triggering the release of oxygen molecules from the blood. In other words, it oxygenates skin from the inside out.
In a study (funded by the manufacturer), researchers measured heightened levels of oxygen in facial skin 15 minutes after treatment, as well as a visible improvement in smoothness, brightness, pore appearance, and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
Glo2Facial can be tailored to your skin type and goals. You can choose from these customizations:
- Balance uses bamboo charcoal and willow bark to soothe breakouts and control oil production, delivering clearer and calmer skin.
- Detox uses antioxidant-rich green tea and marula oil to defend against environmental aggressors like pollution, making it ideal for people in urban areas.
- Glam uses gold, silk amino acids, and rosehip oil to address early signs of aging and help maintain skin elasticity and collagen production.
- Hydrate uses blue spirulina and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and brighten dry or dull skin.
- Illuminate uses vitamin C and kojic acid to address pigmentation concerns, like dark spots and discoloration.
- Retouch uses red algae and edelweiss to target mature skin and support collagen production, reducing the look of fine lines.
- Revive uses caffeic acid, red algae, and retinyl palmitate to stimulate new collagen, even skin tone, improve elasticity, and reduce signs of aging.
Pros
- Glo2Facial can be customized to be a quick, 30-minute lunchtime treatment or a more luxurious, 90-minute treatment.Â
- It’s pain-free, with no downtime or serious side effects.
- This versatile treatment can be performed on the face or 13 different body areas, literally from head to toe.
- You’ll see an immediate glow and improved skin quality.
- It's safe and effective for all skin types and tones.
- Seven customization options offer targeted benefits for a variety of skin concerns.
- It pairs well with other treatment options, like LED light therapy or microneedling, which can further enhance your results.
Cons
- As with other facials, the results for a single treatment can be subtle. To create a more significant improvement in your skin tone, texture, brightness, and quality, providers recommend a series of six monthly treatment sessions.
- You'll also need occasional maintenance treatments to keep up your results.
- While the cost per treatment is comparable to other professional facials, having multiple treatment sessions can add up.
A Glo2Facial can cost between $200 and $500 per treatment session, depending on your provider’s level of experience and their practice location. Some providers will offer a discount if you book a series of treatments up-front. Since six monthly sessions are recommended for optimal results, that could be a worthwhile option.
You’ll pay more if you pair this treatment with complementary procedures, although your provider may give you a discount if you have them both in one treatment session, compared to what you’d pay for separate appointments.
Here’s what to expect during your appointment.Â
- First, your provider will assess your skin and recommend the best treatment customization to address your concerns.Â
- To start your treatment, your provider will apply the Primer Gel to your skin.Â
- Then they’ll use the Geneo X device’s wand to apply the OxyPod of your choosing for the Oxfoliation step. Similarly to microdermabrasion, the wand has an abrasive tip to remove dead skin cells via light physical exfoliation. Some OxyPods also contain chemical exfoliants, such as alpha hydroxy acids.Â
- The OxyPod will react with the Primer Gel to create CO2 bubbles, lowering the skin’s pH to draw oxygen from the blood into the skin.
- Next, your provider will use an ultrasound wand for the Lite Ultrasound Experience, or LUX. Micro-vibrations from these ultrasound waves help smooth skin and infuse it with the serum of your choice.
- Finally, they’ll use the wand (with a different attachment) for a hands-free lymphatic massage, to help reduce puffiness and further infuse your skin with those active ingredients.Â
Afterward, you’ll be able to resume your normal activities.
Glo2Facial doesn’t have any reported side effects besides temporary mild redness and blotchiness due to mild irritation.Â
There seems to be little risk beyond that, though it’s possible that some people with very sensitive skin could have an allergic reaction to some of the ingredients in the customizations. If you have a big event coming up, consider having your treatment a few days before, just in case you experience irritation.
As always, it's essential to find an experienced provider. Although the Geneo X device does the majority of the work for this treatment, a technician without the proper training may not be able to recommend the right settings or serum for your skin.
Glo2Facial results typically last up to 14 days, though their longevity will depend on your skin type and skin care routine. You can help extend your benefits with daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
For more significant skin revitalization with longer-lasting results, the brand recommends a series of at least six monthly Glo2Facial treatments, to align with skin cell renewal cycles.Â
Some providers may recommend more frequent treatments for patients with acne or hyperpigmentation, though it’s not recommended to have more than one treatment per week.
Updated November 3, 2023