A dedicated at-home skin-care routine certainly helps, but topical products can only get you so far. Once you hit that inevitable skincare plateau, many people turn to professional-grade treatments for an extra boost. Enter Glacé, Hydrafacial, and DiamondGlow, three popular advanced facials that promise to restore your radiant glow. Each of these treatments features zero downtime, is generally well-tolerated across most skin types, and relies on a core three-part skin-resurfacing regimen: cleansing, exfoliating, and infusing the skin with targeted serums. They are all performed using specialized, technology-driven devices designed to vacuum impurities out of blackheads and whiteheads while helping active topicals penetrate the skin far more effectively than hands alone.
To understand what makes each of these three options stand out in a crowded beauty market, I decided to try them all and put their claims to the test.
Glacé
Pronounced “glassy” because its primary objective is to help clients achieve the coveted glass-skin aesthetic, Glacé is a relatively new treatment launched in 2025 by Candela. It is a non-invasive facial that combines hydrodermabrasion—a specialized technique involving pore-vacuuming while simultaneously pushing active ingredients into the skin—along with LED light therapy and lymphatic massage. According to Dr. Sameer Bashey, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor in dermatology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, this makes Glacé an exceptional choice for anyone looking to boost hydration and radiance while experiencing a cooling and soothing treatment.
With my skin matching that exact description, I booked a visit with Julianny Goncalves, an aesthetician and the founder of On Esthetic in lower Manhattan. We began my GlacÄ“ treatment with a thorough double cleanse designed to rid my face of accumulated daily debris, including the inevitable city air pollutants. Next, Goncalves used two TheraFace Depuffing Wands—a recognized beauty award winner—across my face and allowed me to relax under a facial steamer for a few minutes to further loosen any lingering congestion in my pores.
For the main event, she reached for a handheld device equipped with "diamond-integrated disposable tips" to perform hydrodermabrasion. Both Glacé and DiamondGlow incorporate diamond-encrusted tips into their exfoliation wands, while Hydrafacial has recently introduced the feature as an optional add-on. Because diamond is an exceptionally hard material, tiny diamond particles create a durable, textured surface that physically buffs away dead skin cells as the wand glides across the face.
Dr. Mona Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut, compares the process to a nail buffer smoothing a rough nail, but using a tool specifically engineered for delicate facial skin. Removing that uneven cellular buildup makes the skin feel significantly softer and allows it to reflect light more evenly, which translates directly to a natural glow. Because the suction and abrasion intensity are adjustable, this treatment works for a variety of skin types, though it is typically not recommended for individuals with actively irritated skin, open wounds, or active eczema and rosacea flare-ups.
As Goncalves swept the device across my complexion, the suction tip offered a peculiar sensation, which I mentally likened to a tiny slug with a very rough tongue licking my face. It was not an unpleasant feeling, just unusual, and I quickly grew accustomed to it after a few passes.
Simultaneously, the diamond tip infused two separate serums into my skin. One is universally dedicated to exfoliation, while the other is tailored to the client’s specific skin concerns using one of four available Met2morph serums, ranging from options designed to even out skin tone to those meant to boost the suppleness of aging skin.
Because I have sensitive skin, Goncalves selected a serum called "Silky Touch." According to Candela, this formula delivers hydrating and restorative agents via niacinamide, lavender, and cranberry to soothe and protect reactive skin. Dr. Gohara notes that while niacinamide helps strengthen the skin barrier and retain essential moisture, and cranberry offers potential antioxidant benefits, lavender has the potential to irritate highly sensitive skin. Personally, I experienced no irritation during this step.
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Following the vacuum wand portion, we moved on to the lymphatic drainage phase, which utilized facial cupping to reduce puffiness and sculpt the face. Facial cupping can sound intimidating, often bringing to mind the dark red and purple bruises left on athletes’ backs, but this was a much milder and calming version of the technique, utilizing smaller glass cups and gentle suction. It easily became my favorite part of the session.
Goncalves then applied a soothing sheet face mask paired once again with the TheraFace Depuffing Wands, creating an exceptionally relaxing sensation. Afterward, I sat beneath an LED light therapy panel for about 10 minutes to help reduce inflammation, concluding with a thin layer of SPF massaged into my skin.
My face typically flushes red during facials, but as I left On Esthetics, my skin was immediately glowing. My complexion looked remarkably fresh, feeling exceptionally clean and bouncy to the touch. My pores appeared minimized, my skin radiated luminosity, and my self-confidence soared, even if my immediate destination was merely catching a New Jersey Transit train. Fortunately, the striking effects of this particular facial can last for up to two weeks.
For those who can comfortably afford it, Goncalves notes that getting the treatment once a month is ideal, though pricing typically ranges from $150 to $350 per session, making it a substantial monthly investment. However, as a pre-event treat before a wedding, formal celebration, or milestone birthday, it is entirely worthwhile. Out of all three facials tested, Glacé delivered the brightest and clearest complexion immediately upon completion.
Hydrafacial
The core concept behind a Hydrafacial is straightforward: it serves as a hydration tool that simultaneously decongests and extracts impurities from pores, according to Dr. Corey Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, who serves as a paid consultant for the brand. Dr. Hartman notes that the treatment can deliver a signature red-carpet look with zero downtime. Dr. Bashey adds that it is particularly well-suited for individuals dealing with clogged pores, blackheads, excess oiliness, or dehydration.
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Unlike treatments that rely on a crystal-encrusted tip for physical exfoliation, the standard Hydrafacial begins with a chemical exfoliation blend of glycolic and salicylic acid serums, though the brand has recently introduced a diamond-encrusted tool option for an additional fee. A patented plastic spiral tip and proprietary Vortex-Infusion technology work in tandem to apply these exfoliating liquids evenly across the face.
Dr. Gohara explains the mechanism simply: the spiral-shaped tip helps circulate the fluid across the skin dynamically as the aesthetician moves the wand, functioning much like a cleaning machine that applies fresh water while simultaneously vacuuming away dirty water, rather than pushing a dirty mop around the floor.
Visiting Skin Spa in the Flatiron district for a "deluxe" mid-tier treatment—situated between the entry-level "signature" and top-tier "platinum" offerings—my aesthetician Alisa fitted me with protective eye goggles resembling small tanning shields to block out stray sprays of serum.
The session began with a lymphatic drainage step utilizing two clear glass tubes rolled along the face to reduce puffiness and firm the skin. This felt remarkably similar to the cupping step in my Glacé session and provided an exceptionally relaxing start. Next came the light chemical peel using the glycolic and salicylic acid mixture, which produced a warm, tingly sensation that is entirely normal for sensitive skin types encountering active acids.
The chemical exfoliation was immediately followed by a mechanical extraction phase using a wand-like tool that combined suction with a swirling vortex of water to flush impurities from pores while infusing restorative serums. Similar to Glacé, Hydrafacial offers specialized booster serums targeting concerns like dullness and acne for an added cost. For my session, Alisa used DermaBuilder, a peptide-infused serum booster intended to improve skin laxity. The treatment concluded with an LED red-light session to minimize inflammation and stimulate collagen, followed by a protective layer of SPF.
Priced between $150 and $350 for a signature treatment depending on location and provider, the cost scales higher for deluxe or platinum tiers. While the immediate aftermath left my skin feeling slightly tight, sensitive, and visibly red—meaning I would likely skip an immediate night out afterward—these temporary effects are standard for deep exfoliation. By the following morning, my skin had completely settled, revealing a dewy, glowing complexion that lasted for days, perfectly timing out for my engagement party just two days later. For regular monthly maintenance, opting for the signature tier is a practical way to capture the results while saving money.
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DiamondGlow
For my final evaluation, I visited the Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue to see aesthetician Edyta Jarosz for a DiamondGlow treatment. Jarosz described the experience as a three-in-one process that simultaneously exfoliates, extracts, and infuses customized SkinMedica serums tailored to the client’s skin needs. Like Glacé, DiamondGlow utilizes a diamond-infused wand tip for physical exfoliation alongside a vacuum-like suction mechanism to clear away debris, distinguishing it from Hydrafacial’s primary reliance on chemical exfoliants.
DiamondGlow can be performed as a standalone maintenance treatment or integrated into a longer, multi-step facial. Jarosz notes that it is a favorite before weddings and red-carpet events because of its minimal downtime, while Dr. Bashey highlights its effectiveness for clients whose primary concerns are roughness, dullness, or uneven surface texture who prefer a strong emphasis on physical exfoliation.
Following a thorough cleanse, Jarosz immediately introduced the DiamondGlow wand. Unlike the multi-step processes of the other treatments, this device extracts, exfoliates, and infuses simultaneously in a single pass. Aestheticians can choose from four distinct diamond tip levels ranging from gentle to intense exfoliation; Jarosz selected a moderate level after evaluating my skin.
To address my prevailing seasonal dryness, she selected SkinMedica’s Hydra Collagen Hydrator from the brand’s lineup of targeted serums, which also includes options for smoothing, brightening, clarifying, and correcting. Notably, this was the only treatment of the three that extended serum infusion directly to the lips. The physical sensation again mirrored the unique feeling of a rough-tongued slug gliding across the skin—strangely pleasant once accustomed to it.
The treatment proceeded with a facial steaming session while Jarosz performed a customized massage utilizing her hands, two facial gua shas, and an ionized oxygen infuser intended to help serums penetrate deeper into the skin. While Dr. Gohara notes that definitive clinical studies confirming deeper delivery from such infusers are still lacking, the physical massage successfully released built-up jaw tension. The session wrapped up with an LED light wand to mitigate redness and a final five-minute exposure under an LED panel to reduce inflammation.
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While Jarosz’s premium custom facials start at $500, a standard DiamondGlow treatment typically ranges from $150 to $300 depending on location and provider. Because the wand completes extraction, exfoliation, and infusion in a single pass, more time remains for luxurious additions like facial massage. Although the immediate post-facial glow was slightly less intense than what I experienced with Glacé, the longevity of the results was impressive, earning compliments on my skin texture for at least a week and providing newfound confidence going makeup-free.
Choosing the Right Facial
While these three advanced treatments offer significant customization, professionals emphasize that none of them should be performed on chapped, irritated, or compromised skin. This includes active breakouts, cold sores, open wounds, active dermatitis, eczema flare-ups, rosacea inflammation, or sunburns. Exfoliating an already damaged skin barrier typically amplifies inflammation rather than delivering a healthy glow, making proper pre-treatment consultation essential regarding allergies, medications like topical retinoids or isotretinoin, pregnancy, and recent cosmetic procedures.
Furthermore, the skill and expertise of the practitioner performing the treatment are paramount. As Dr. Bashey notes, the devices are merely tools; appropriate patient selection, correct setting and serum choices, and a thorough understanding of underlying skin conditions are just as critical as the brand name of the machine itself. These facials are also not designed to resolve deep wrinkles, significant pigmentation, severe acne scarring, or pronounced skin laxity, which are better managed through specialized dermatological therapies such as lasers, chemical peels, microneedling, or radiofrequency devices.
Because excessive exfoliation can severely disrupt the skin barrier, leading to irritation and breakouts, dermatologists generally recommend staggering these treatments. Dr. Gohara suggests a conservative maintenance schedule of receiving an exfoliating facial quarterly—roughly four times a year—to provide a seasonal skin refresh without over-exfoliating.
Ultimately, choosing the right facial comes down to identifying your skin’s immediate needs. If deep hydration is your primary goal, Hydrafacial remains an exceptional choice. If you are battling persistent dullness and rough texture, DiamondGlow offers a targeted solution. If you need immediate radiance ahead of a major event, Glacé delivers the most rapid payoff. As Dr. Bashey concludes, the best facial is not necessarily the newest or most aggressive option on the market, but rather the one that precisely matches what your skin requires at that moment.
