A Beginner's Guide: The Best Facial in Gainesville, FL (For Every Age)
Hey Gainesville, FL! Let’s Talk About the Facials That Last the Longest, Fade Acne Scars, and Reverse Aging Naturally
You want clear, dewy, and glowing skin— no matter your age.
But, chances are, you’re new to skincare and you don’t know where to start. Or, you’re done blindly spending money on products that never show the results everyone else seems to have.
And you just want someone to ask YOU, “Oh my gosh you’re GLOW-ing! What do you do!?”
If we are being honest, you’re probably here because the last time you exclaimed that question to someone else, they told you they get consistent facials.
You struggle to remedy specific concerns like uneven skin tone, visible pores, fine lines, sun damage, wrinkles, scarring, or acne-prone skin.
OR maybe it’s none of that and rather, you could be over-extending yourself in this phase of your life—you’re a new parent or in front of a screen all day— you’re more interested in not looking as tired as you are and ultimately you really just need some undisturbed ‘me time’.
Whatever it is, you’re thinking about getting a facial— but first, you have questions.
There are so many trending options— which is worth your time, money, and pain threshold?
We get it. You have your own unique story, specific skin goals, and concerns—which is something that should never be pressured or rushed.
Here at Glow Bar GNV, we have time and we care. We believe that you deserve to feel understood, supported, confident, and empowered by any decision every single step of the way by a highly-rated professional — even in your research era.
Which is exactly why we made this comprehensive-beginner-friendly guide to facials— where we break down the basics and answer your questions so that whenever you’re ready, you know what your first step is:
What is a Facial? Benefits and The Experience
The Types of Facial and Skin Resurfacing Services at Glow Bar GNV
How to Make Your Facial Last: 3 Easy Steps
The Best Facial for Your Skin Type and Goals
Disclaimer: At Glow Bar GNV, we provide a free educational no-pressure consultative approach for all of our services to ensure that you receive a custom plan that is best for your goals. We want the absolute best for you. And sometimes, the best thing for you is to not receive the treatment you thought you were going to receive. If you do not live in or around the Gainesville, Fl area, we highly recommend that you seek a med spa that will do the same for you.
What is a Facial? Benefits and The Experience
One of the most common assumptions about facials is that they are only meant for cleansing, exfoliating, extraction, moisturizing, and relaxation.
This leaves a lot of people asking, “Well, Can’t I just do that at home?”
….
Yes! On the most basic level, we absolutely recommend that everyone has a regular skincare routine that includes all of the above (minus the extractions). And if you’ve already got it on lock, your skin is flawless, and you have zero worries— you got this!
But not everyone has been taught skincare “best practices”, especially for their specific skin type.
And even then, there are results that an at-home skincare routine can not deliver.
Our clients schedule facials with us because they want to:
✦ Achieve a filtered glow before an event, like a wedding or for professional photos
✦ Indulge and relax with an effective stress-relieving self-care service
✦ Reduce fine lines and wrinkles naturally and achieve a face-lift effect
✦ Fade scarring or hyperpigmentation
✦ Achieve the “Glass Skin” effect— poreless, clear, even textured, and glow-y
✦ Improve sensitive skin prone to acne or psoriasis
In a bit, you will learn about all of the different types of facial services that can help you achieve the results listed above. And even though the treatment types vary, we can promise that a Glow Bar GNV facial experience always includes a free no-pressure consultation and a customized treatment, performed by a licensed aesthetician, designed to:
✦ Treat your specific skincare concerns to achieve goal-focused results
✦ Improve the overall look and health of your skin
✦ Ensure that you have a completely pain free experience, no matter the service
✦ Educate and recommend safe effective products to maintain your results
✦ Leave you feeling whole— supported, relaxed, confident, and happy
Our clients also speak for our promised experience as well …
“The staff at Glow Bar GNV are able to create a customized treatment plan specific to each individual's needs and goals.
One thing that really stands out about Glow Bar GNV is their focus on minimizing pain during procedures and achieving natural results. They have a "less is more" mentality and strive to enhance your natural beauty rather than drastically altering it … I never feel rushed or pressured into purchasing products at, and the staff are always happy to educate me on their products and services.” (1)
Owner of Glow Bar GNV, Jen Pompa DNP, CRNA is a board-certified Nurse Anesthetist and Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner—her focus is to educate her staff to ensure that all patients experience a safe space, education, and natural results while making every procedure as pain-free and comfortable as possible (beauty is not pain here).
The Types of Facial and Skin Resurfacing Services at Glow Bar GNV
The ultimate goal of any facial treatment is that glow. But everyone’s skin type and desired results are so different which is why we offer such a vast array of options.
From brightening to age-defying results, here you’ll learn about each facial service offered at Glow Bar GNV alongside some extras.
Signature Glow Facial
This is your typical maintenance facial — deep cleanse, exfoliate, extract, moisturize, and relax. If you’re coming in for your first facial and you’re looking for zero downtime, we might recommend you start with our Signature Glow Facial. From there, depending on your goals, we have over a dozen add-on services that can enhance the experience:
✦ Improve acne-prone skin
✦ Minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
✦ Brighten and even skin tone
✦ Minimize the appearance of scars
✦ Reduce swelling and puffiness
Downtime: None
Results: Immediate
Results last: 3-4 weeks
Time commitment: As little as 30 minutes
Aquagold® Botox Facial
Looking for that poreless soft-filtered glow?
The Aquagold® Botox Facial is the ultimate bridal facial—or for any other event— great for anyone who wants the non-invasive convenience of a facial with the “after” photos of someone who just received a total facial balancing session.
And while Botox is in the name, this facial does not relax your facial muscles or replace any other aesthetic injectable services. Rather, it is designed to temporarily:
✦ Minimize the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
✦ Reduce pore size and oil production
✦ Enhance skin hydration for that plump dewy look
✦ Encourage the healing of scars & balance hyper-pigmentation
We use a 24k gold coating micro channeling device to evenly penetrate the most superficial layer of the skin with a custom cocktail of hyaluronic acid, Botox, PRP, and other vitamins and antioxidants to help you achieve an undeniable glow from within.
Downtime: None
Expected results: 5-7 days
Results last: 2-3 months
Time commitment: As little as 45 minutes
Chemical Peel Treatment
Behind superficial scarring, discoloration, blemishes, uneven texture, and fine lines you have a radiant complexion.
A chemical peel will help reveal this smooth, radiant complexion. This is usually not classified as a facial, but rather a resurfacing and collagen induction service— stimulating new skin growth and improving surface texture and appearance to:
✦Treat & nourish cystic acne-prone skin types
✦ Smooth away uneven skin texture, fine lines, and wrinkles
✦ Fade acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage
✦ Promote collagen production and healthy skin cell growth
✦ Allows skincare products used at home to be more effective
For this specific service, due to the peeling process, you might want to set aside around 3-5 days before you can go back into work or spend any time out in the sunshine.
At Glow Bar GNV, we use several different types of chemical peels — some have their own special pre-treatment of the skin while others are more gentle with a quicker turnaround (the best one for you can be determined when you book a free consultation with us) and they can be applied to almost any part of the body.
Downtime: 0-10 days
Expected results: Immediate-14 days
Results last: 1 month - your lifetime
Time commitment: As little as 30 minutes
HydraFacial MD Facial
The HydraFacial MD is the most effective facial to add to your monthly skincare routine— especially if you're looking for immediate and long-lasting results with no downtime.
With over 2 million treatments done globally in 2022 (2), HydraFacial MD holds a strong reputation because it’s designed to help all skin types reverse aging signs, uneven skin texture, and scarring.
(Yes, all skin types benefit— rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis, as well as acne-prone skin!)
The treatment promises a whole complexion reboot by exfoliating dead skin cells, extracting all the gunk that leads to bumps, and nourishing your face with moisturizing serums to protect and hydrate your newly revealed skin.
The extraction process is gentle, painless, and leaves no signs—this is done with a vacuum-like wand (Vortex-Fusion technology) that effectively clears clogged pores of excess oils, blackheads, milia, and any other debris for a virtually poreless afterglow.
You can expect gentle tugging at your skin and a whirling sound from the machine. But even, many clients fall asleep anyway!
At Glow Bar GNV, you can take this same treatment to your back to address the same congested or acne-prone symptoms you might experience on your face or your scalp if you experience itching, dryness, or irritation!
Time commitment: As little as 30 minutes
Downtime: None
Expected results: Immediate
Results last: 3-4 weeks
Microneedling (Collagen-Induction Therapy) Treatment
Microneedling is the safest and most effective anti-aging technology to reduce wrinkles and plump your skin naturally— a great option if you never want to do any injectable fillers.
This is less of a facial and more of a skin-care treatment that traumatizes the skin in a controlled way (with you guessed it, micro-needles) to encourage it to regenerate itself. We specifically use the SkinPen (4) device which leaves no damage to the skin and is completely pain-free.
We tend to recommend micro-needling to patients who are looking to remedy:
✦ Deep acne or stretchmark scarring
✦ Fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss
✦ Tired and dark under-eyes
✦ Preventative aging goals
We recommend that you add platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to your service for more effective results and a faster recovery time (3).
PRP works by utilizing a concentrated serum of your blood that instructs the body to create new collagen for tighter, smoother, and youthful-looking skin.
Downtime: 2-7 days
Expected results: 4-6 weeks
Results last: Vary
Time commitment: As little as 75 minutes
How to Make Your Facial Last: 3 Easy Steps
Dr. Pompa says that getting a facial is very much like going to the dentist — in-office treatments are great, but what you do at home is super important.
No matter where you go for your facial services, making the most of your facial requires proper preparation, diligent aftercare, and consistent maintenance. ‘
Your results will vary depending on the type of facial service you receive and ultimately, how you take care of your skin at home.
It can feel like a lot at first, so we broke it down into three easy steps:
Step 1: Prep
At Glow Bar GNV, we always recommend that patients stop using retinoids and aggressive exfoliants anywhere from 1-3 days before all of our services.
However, everybody’s needs vary, which is why we encourage you to book a consultation with a licensed esthetician. They will guide you on how to prep your skin for the particular service that will serve you best.
At Glow Bar GNV we offer a free no-pressure consultation where you can communicate openly about your skincare concerns, goals, and any ingredients you might be sensitive to. That way, you receive a personalized treatment that will give you the results you are looking for.
Your appointment is SO MUCH MORE than just the service you are receiving. You come into a medspa because you are looking to feel & look radiant in your skin. You deserve a professional who will truly listen and keep your best interest in mind.
Step 2: Aftercare
How you take care of your skin after a facial is crucial for prolonging the benefits and maintaining healthy, radiant skin.
We recommend that you maintain these next few points, even long after your initial facial service:
✦ Avoid direct sunlight and wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher that is approved by your esthetician.
✦ Maintain inner and outer hydration. Drink water regularly and use moisturizers and serums approved by your esthetician.
✦ Avoid harsh products like retinoids or exfoliants that could irritate or compromise your skin’s barrier. Stick to gentle, soothing products approved by your esthetician.
Step 3: Maintenance
To prolong the effects of your facial and maintain long-term skin health we recommend:
✦ An at-home skincare routine that usually includes a twice-daily cleansing and moisturizing, sunscreen application, and a toner. This is just a generalized recommendation! At Glow Bar GNV, we focus on the routine and products that you already have in place. Then, we might recommend adding or taking away a product to bring you closer to your goals. We will never pressure you into buying a whole new skincare line unless that is what you’re looking for!
✦ Rest and maintain stress to reduce the levels of cortisol in your body. Cortisol impairs collagen production, speeds up the aging process, and contributes to conditions like acne and skin discoloration.
✦ Schedule a consultation or facial with your esthetician every 4-6 weeks. Why? To maintain your glow of course! And that’s the average length of your skin cycle, which is how long it takes to completely regenerate your skin. At Glow Bar GNV, we consider your desired results and will only recommend routine services if they support the goals you are after.
The Best Facial for Your Skin Type and Goals?
You may already have an idea of what type of facial you think might be best for you. And unfortunately, we can’t give you a confident answer without meeting you first!
The only way to truly know which facial will deliver the results you are after is through a consultation with a professional licensed esthetician.
If you live near Gainesville, FL and you want to take your research era to the next level with a professional esthetician without the pressure of feeling like you “have to buy something” — Glow Bar GNV’s free no-pressure skincare consultation is the perfect next step for you!
In fact, Dr. Jen will talk you out of spending more money if she doesn’t think it will get you the results you’re after! (5)
And let’s say you’re not looking to get a facial anytime soon— but you’re curious about the Glow Bar GNV experience and you want to learn more about how you can take better care of your particular skin type — you’re welcome to book a free consultation with one of our licensed esthetician anyway!
We want to support you— no matter where you are on your journey!
Before we are a business, we are space holders, we truly listen and want the absolute best for you.
There is time.
No one is rushing.
This is not a conveyor belt experience.
And you never ever have to follow through with an appointment, even if you are already in the chair. This is a space where we offer the freedom to speak up even if it’s in the middle of a treatment.
Ready to take the next step toward your skincare goals? Schedule your free no-pressure skincare consultation with one of our licensed estheticians to receive professional advice that will bring you closer to that age-less, clear, dewy, and glowing skin you’re after. Book right here.
Resources:
(1) Google Review
(4) SkinPen
(5) Google Review