As an editor, I spend hours at my laptop at least five days a week reading and writing. While a labor of love, I’m also mindful of the aging effects that prolonged blue light exposure can have on my face. I’m in my 30s and aware of collagen’s natural decline, which begins as young as 25. 

 

While I use a daily moisturizer with SPF 15 and keep the screen light dimmed as low as it can go on all devices, work stress and time take their toll on my skin – no matter how good I am to it.

 

Regular visits to the esthetician should be penciled in as much as trips to the dentist, therapist, hair salon, wax studio and massage parlor, among other essential pampering facilities. 

 

When the chance to attend the opening day of Glowbar in Hoboken came across my desk, complete with a “glow-up” facial treatment, I was eager to step away from the screen and unplug for 30 minutes and leave my skincare in the hands of a professional. And what a skin-spirational experience it was! 

Located in the heart of Hoboken, Glowbar’s window display bluntly says: “Face Your Skin.” Walking into the studio – characterized by delicate white orchids and industrial décor – is as convenient as it is sophisticated. Guests are greeted by a sign that reads “Nice to see your face” when tapping in their cell numbers and email to check in. Glowbar members and guests are asked to wash their face with iS Clinical’s Cleansing Complex before toweling off and heading into a room to meet with their esthetician. 

 

The clarifying cleanser formula blends salicylic acid, herbal extracts and antioxidants to resurface, clear and deeply cleanse. Perfect for sensitive skin, the cleanser, which creates light bubbles, made my skin feel soft and look virtually pore-less. That’s because it gently exfoliates, brightens and protects against environmental damage. 

 

My esthetician, Jada, asked me about my chief skin care concerns so she could create a personalized treatment. Haunted still by a bad sunburn during a whimsical trip to the beach in my early 20s without sunscreen, I have long struggled with rough texture in addition to combination skin (dry cheeks and an oily T-zone). Hydration, pore extraction and tightening were my suggested skincare solutions.  

 

To the sounds of Iann Dior, I laid down flat on my back while Jada worked her magic. After applying a toner, hot towel and gel to soften my skin in preparation of extraction, she used a pore scrapper and the high frequency from a cavitation machine to help zap any leftover acne-causing bacteria that could be trapped inside. Besides some mild discomfort, it’s a fast and painless procedure.

 

Next, she applied a hydrating mask of hyaluronic acid, green tea and aloe to help sooth my light inflammation from a mild case of rosacea. A microcurrent device pinched my brow bone, apples of my cheeks and jawline for five to 10 seconds each to lift the skin and tighten the facial muscles while stimulating collagen and elastin. The goal is to help the skin look smoother, brighter, bouncier and rejuvenated. The non-invasive procedure is likened to Pilates for the face, as it helps shape and sculpt, much like a rigorous workout’s effect on the body. Using a different mode, the microcurrent can double as a wrinkle eraser to diminish the look of fine lines, crow’s feet and forehead and Marionette lines. 

 

Jada polished off my facial with a layer of reparative moisturizer with SPF and a swipe of Aquaphor over my lips. Besides an obvious dewy glow, my skin looked “snatched,” beauty speak for toned, firm and sculpted. Dryness? Banished. While flushing is normal post-facial, I felt my skin looked and felt noticeably smoother, brighter and hydrated.

 

To combat my rosiness and dryness, Jada recommended taking home iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum – which contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and menthol, vitamin B5, mushroom extract and centella asiatica – to calm inflammation and redness for twice-daily use. Rough texture has been a longstanding issue for me, and a few droplets of the serum smoothed out my skin after one use like no other. The skin on my chin is the driest part of my face and felt smooth to the touch following my facial and use of the serum. 

 

At home that evening, I felt pretty – and witty and bright – as I examined my face in a ring-lit magnifying mirror. Thank you, Glowbar. I can’t sing your praises enough.