For most of my adult life, people have often assumed that I am considerably younger than I actually am. I credit that to my Dominican family’s genes — even the men look a decade younger than their age — and the healthy lifestyle habits I began adopting in my teens. Growing up as a young Latina, I quickly noticed how the women in my family were always intentional about maintaining their appearance. But I never saw it as exhausting or oppressive. I learned early on that, for them, it was never just about vanity or appealing to the male gaze, either. Their committed skin-care routines, regular facial appointments, perfectly styled hair and nails, sharp sense of personal style, attention to their weight, and the way they always carried the scent of heaven (none of them played when it came to their fragrance game) — all of it was a form of self-care and self-love. It was their way of affirming themselves in a country that constantly told them they weren’t enough, that they didn’t belong.
As a result, my relationship with vanity began at a relatively young age. By high school, I was going to the Dominican salon every Saturday morning for a weekly blowout. I also had a dedicated skin-care routine by then, which consisted of cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and applying SPF. My mom treated me to my first facial when I turned 16 at Bloomingdale’s on Lexington Avenue, and for years, I’d get facials every season to keep my skin clean, healthy, and even. But as my skin became more sensitive in my 30s, traditional facials with extractions often left me with stubborn dark spots that took weeks to fade on my brown skin, or with irritation once I started developing rosacea.
Now, just a year away from turning 40, people are always surprised to learn that I still haven’t tried any of the anti-aging facials or treatments experts swear by — like microneedling, PRP, ultrasound radio frequency treatments, or laser facials — because I’m terrified of how my skin might react. After searching far and wide for something that could brighten my complexion and do it all without aggravating my sensitive skin, I finally came across Glacial Rx. It’s an FDA-cleared cryoaesthetic device from the same company that developed CoolSculpting, and it utilizes cryomodulation technology, a controlled and precise cooling of the skin, to reduce inflammation. Think of it as a way more advanced version of the ice water facials everyone is obsessed with these days. After just one session, I was sold.
“When inflammation is reduced, the skin naturally looks calmer, clearer, and brighter. Glacial Rx can also gently address pigment issues, such as dark spots and melasma, without the intensity of light-based devices like IPL (intense pulsed light) or BBL (broadband light),” says Ewa Pietri, a NYC-based medical aesthetician and laser specialist at Coolspa by Aethos. “This makes it especially valuable for patients with darker skin tones, where those devices can sometimes pose higher risks of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. So, while it’s gentler than laser, it still provides meaningful improvement in overall tone and brightness.”
Going into it, I was excited for the cooling effects, as someone who used to be obsessed with cold plunging. I already knew the beauty benefits that ice-cold temperatures can have on the skin. After every plunge, my body always felt softer, smoother, and more supple even before I reached for a moisturizer. My face, meanwhile, would be left slightly rosy with an instant youthful glow. Now picture that effect doubled — that’s exactly how I looked after my first Glacial Rx facial.
For my treatment, Pietri started by applying a light chemical peel to resurface and prep my skin. She then incorporated the Glacial Rx cooling handpiece throughout each step — from exfoliation to mask application. This was done to calm my skin and reduce any inflammation. I was so relaxed throughout the treatment that I almost fell asleep halfway through. Pietri followed up with an aloe vera and hyaluronic acid mask to help hydrate and soothe the skin, and she finished it off with a peptide cream for its repair and anti-aging benefits.
“The combination not only helps smooth texture and reduce redness but also enhances hydration and radiance,” she says.
This medical-grade facial delivers calmer, glowy skin in just an hour — with zero downtime — making it easy to fit into any schedule. I went in the middle of a workday and was still able to carry on with my evening plans. Pietri recommended a series of three treatments spaced a month apart, and although I still have two sessions left, I’ve already been sporting a much more luminous complexion for weeks now. A few friends even asked me if I had finally tried microneedling. Pietri did caution that some clients experience light breakouts after the first treatment, which I did around my chin, but it quickly cleared up. It was also the only form of irritation I experienced following the facial.
What this experience has taught me is the importance of choosing treatments that are actually safe for my skin — ones that won’t trigger hyperpigmentation or irritation, which can often occur with lasers or even certain brightening facials. I also realized that simply reducing inflammation alone can completely transform the skin, helping to fade dark spots, even out tone, and create an instantly smoother, brighter complexion.
As a Latina who refuses to apologize for my vanity and who truly lives by the motto, “When you look good, you feel good,” I feel like I’ve finally found a go-to facial for those moments when my skin needs an instant pick-me-up. I just wish more brown girls like me knew about it.
Johanna Ferreira is the content director for PS Juntos. With more than 10 years of experience, Johanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a central part of Latine culture. Previously, she spent close to three years as the deputy editor at HipLatina, and she has freelanced for numerous outlets including Refinery29, Oprah magazine, Allure, InStyle, and Well+Good. She has also moderated and spoken on numerous panels on Latine identity.
#Brightening #Facial #Trusting #Fall
