Skin Care · Old Town Chicago
The Candela Next-Level Facial For Smooth, Hydrated, Glowing Skin With No Downtime
Most facials feel lovely and change very little. You leave a little shiny, and by the next morning your skin looks the way it did before you went in. Glacē™ is built to do a lot more with the same hour.
It is a hydrodermabrasion facial from Candela that cleans out your pores, exfoliates with a single-use diamond tip, infuses serums chosen for your skin that day, then takes down puffiness with a two-sided cupping massage before a calming finish. You walk out with skin that looks smoother, clearer and properly hydrated, and you can go straight back to your day.
Pronounced Glass-Ee
Glacē is Candela’s take on the Korean “glass skin” look: skin so smooth and evenly hydrated that it reflects light instead of scattering it. Candela launched the treatment at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting in 2025. It is the same company that makes the GentleMax Pro Plus laser we already use for laser hair removal and pigmentation.
We have the Glacē system in our studio at 1315 N Larrabee St in Old Town, and no two sessions run exactly the same way. How firmly the tip exfoliates, how strong the suction is, which serums go in and how the treatment finishes all depend on what your skin is doing on the day you come in.
Of participants reported visibly cleaner skin after treatment
Reported improved hydration in their skin
Said they would come back for another session
Described softer, refreshed skin straight after one session
Figures come from Candela’s own clinical evaluations, published in the Glacē launch announcement and Candela’s Glacē product information. Individual results vary.
What It Helps With
Glacē is a cosmetic facial rather than a medical treatment, and it does its best work on concerns that live near the surface. These are the ones it handles well.
Dead cells pile up on the surface and scatter light, so the skin reads flat and a little grey. Exfoliation clears that layer away and the serums put back what the season has taken out. This is the fastest change you will see.
The vacuum handpiece draws out the oil and debris sitting in pores across the nose, chin and forehead while the first serum loosens it. Nobody can shrink a pore for good, but they can look a lot cleaner and tidier, and they do.
Chicago winters, forced-air heating and long flights all pull water out of the skin. Glacē hydrates during the exfoliation rather than after it, so your skin finishes the hour feeling plump instead of tight or raw.
When tone is the concern we use Light Emerge, a brightening serum that improves the look of blotchiness and mild marks over a series of visits. For defined sun spots or melasma, our pigmentation and dark spots page is the better place to start.
The dual-mode cupping massage works both sides of the face at once. One mode encourages lymphatic flow to bring puffiness down, the other gives a lifted, more defined look along the cheekbones and jaw. It is temporary, and it is very noticeable.
Total Evolve is a firming, hydrating serum for skin that is losing its bounce. Silky Touch calms skin that reddens easily. Either can go with the gentlest tip, which is why Glacē suits skin that cannot handle a peel right now.
Four Steps, About An Hour
Every Glacē treatment follows the same four steps. What changes from one person to the next is the tip, the suction, the serums and the finish.
A purifying cleanse and a gentle exfoliating peel lift off makeup, oil, sunscreen and loose dead skin, so everything that follows can actually reach your skin.
We start with Candela’s deep purifying foam, then apply a light multi-active peel made for the Glacē system. This is not the kind of peel that leaves you flaking for a week. It loosens the surface so the diamond tip has less to work through, and the most you will feel is a mild tingle for a minute or two.
Skipping this step is the difference between a facial that polishes the top of your makeup and one that reaches the skin underneath it.
Coming straight from work in full makeup is completely fine. It is gone in the first five minutes.
This is the heart of the treatment. A handpiece fitted with a single-use, diamond-integrated tip moves across your skin while a closed vacuum system lifts away dead cells and pulls out what is sitting in your pores. At the same time, serum flows through the tip into the freshly exfoliated skin, so you are being hydrated while you are being exfoliated, not afterwards.
The tips come in four levels of abrasion, from very gentle to firmer, and we match the level and the suction to your skin. Each tip is used once and thrown away, so nothing that touched someone else’s face ever touches yours.
Next come two small glass cups, one on each side of your face, working at the same time. Candela built dual-mode cupping into Glacē, and it is the step people talk about afterwards.
Pulsed mode uses a rhythmic, gentle suction to move fluid along the lymphatic pathways, which is what brings down puffiness under the eyes and along the jaw. Continuous mode glides along the contours of the face for a more sculpted, lifted look. Most clients find this the most relaxing part of the hour, and you can see the difference as soon as you sit up.
A soothing biocellulose mask goes on, paired with LED light therapy or hot and cold skin renewal wands, to settle the skin and lock the glow in.
Biocellulose is a very fine natural fiber that clings to the skin far better than a paper sheet mask, so the soothing formula stays where it should instead of sliding off. While it sits, we finish with one of two options. LED light therapy calms and supports the skin after exfoliation. The skin renewal wands alternate warmth and cold to soothe the skin and leave it looking refreshed and firmer. We will suggest the one that suits you, or you can simply tell us which you prefer.
When the mask comes off, the skin looks smooth, plump and clear, with the glassy finish the treatment is named for. There is no redness to wait out and nothing to hide.
Real, Unretouched Results
These photos come from Candela’s clinical work with Victoria Martinez, MD and Konika Patel Schallen, MD. They are unretouched and they are not our clients, but they show the kind of change to expect: smoother texture, cleaner pores, a more even-looking tone and a brighter finish.
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Photos courtesy of Candela. All photos are unretouched. Individual results vary.
Our Glacē Menu
One device, several ways to use it. If you are not sure which fits, book the Signature facial first and we will tell you what we would do next time.
The full four-step treatment: cleanse and prep peel, diamond-tip exfoliation with your Phase A and Phase B serums, dual-mode cupping massage, then the biocellulose mask with LED or the skin renewal wands. If it is your first Glacē, this is the one to book.
A shorter version built around exfoliation, extraction and serum infusion, for when you want the glow and only have a lunch break. It works well as a top-up between full facials or on a week when your skin just needs a reset.
Your neck and chest get the same sun and the same dry air as your face, and they are often the giveaway when the face has had all the attention. This version carries the treatment past the jawline so everything matches.
Booked for the day before, or a few days before, a wedding, a shoot, a big presentation or a long flight. There is no peeling and no redness, so there is nothing to work around. If it is your first Glacē, try one a few weeks earlier as well, so nothing on the day is a surprise.
One session gives you an immediate glow. Regular sessions are what keep skin clearer and better hydrated over time. Most people start with a short series about four weeks apart, then come in monthly or every other month to hold the result.
Candela designed Glacē to sit before, between or after energy-based treatments. We use it to prep skin, keep it clear between laser or microneedling sessions, and look after it during longer electrolysis plans, always timed so the same area is never recovering from two things at once.
Six Serums, Chosen On The Day
Your consultation is where this gets specific. Here is roughly how we build the treatment around what your skin is doing.
| If Your Main Concern Is | We Usually Build Your Glacē Around |
|---|---|
| Oily skin, shine and congested pores | Balanced Flight, a firmer tip and extraction-focused suction |
| Dull, tired, “I look exhausted” skin | Vitality Blossom with Mineral Nurture |
| Uneven-looking tone and mild dark marks | Vitality Blossom followed by Light Emerge |
| Redness, sensitivity or reactive skin | The gentlest tip with Silky Touch |
| Dryness and dehydration | Vitality Blossom with Mineral Nurture or Total Evolve |
| Fine lines and skin losing its bounce | Total Evolve with continuous-mode sculpting |
| Puffiness and a soft jawline | Pulsed lymphatic cupping, then continuous-mode sculpting |
Concerns rarely arrive one at a time. An oily T-zone with dry cheeks is one of the most common things we see, and we adjust the tip and suction as we move across your face rather than treating every area the same way.
Before, Between And After
Most of our clients come to us for something else first, usually electrolysis, laser hair removal or a skin treatment plan. Glacē fits around all of it.
Tell us everything you have booked, here or anywhere else, including injectables. We put it all in an order that makes sense for your skin.
Your Appointment, Step By Step
No pressure, no surprise add-ons. You know what is going on your skin and why before we start.
We look at your skin in good light and ask what bothers you most, what you use at home and what you have had done recently. Tell us about retinoids, isotretinoin, recent peels or laser, injectables, cold sores and any active skin condition. If you are pregnant or nursing, mention it here.
We choose the tip level, the suction, your Phase A and Phase B serums and the finish. If something on your list would be better served by microneedling, a peel or laser, we will say so plainly.
Around 45 to 60 minutes for the full facial, roughly half that for the Express Glow. Most people describe the handpiece as a cool, wet suction gliding over the skin, and the cupping as a massage.
You leave glowing, not red. Makeup can go back on straight away, though most people would rather leave the glow alone for the rest of the day. We give you aftercare advice and suggest when to come back.
Keeping The Glow
There is no recovery to manage after Glacē, but freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun than it was an hour earlier. Wear a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day and reapply when you are outside, winter included. Chicago’s grey months fool a lot of people into skipping it.
Drink some water, keep your hands off your face, and let the serums do their work overnight. The morning after is often when skin looks its best.
If anything feels off afterwards, call the clinic rather than guessing. We would much rather hear from you.
Realistic Expectations
The glow is immediate. Skin looks smoother, clearer and more hydrated the moment the mask comes off, and many people say it looks even better the next morning.
That fresh, glassy finish usually holds for around a week, depending on your skin, your routine and the weather. The de-puffed, sculpted look is temporary by nature and is at its best for a day or two.
What builds over time is the underlying condition of the skin. Regular sessions keep pores clearer, texture smoother and hydration more consistent, which is why Candela recommends a series about four weeks apart followed by ongoing maintenance.
Think of Glacē the way you think of a good haircut. It is maintenance, not a one-off fix, and it does not replace microneedling for scarring or laser for defined brown spots.
None of these are a permanent no. They are timing questions, and all worth mentioning when you book.
Glacē is a cosmetic facial. It is not designed to treat medical skin conditions, and we will not pretend otherwise.
If you have painful cystic acne, a rash that will not settle, or a mole or spot that has changed shape, color or size, please have it checked by a dermatologist before booking. If we see something at your appointment that needs a doctor, we will tell you and reschedule. Every time.
What It Costs
Your price depends on which version you book and whether you add the neck and décolletage or combine Glacē with another treatment. We confirm it before anything starts, and the number we give you is the number you pay.
The diamond tip, the serums, the prep peel, the biocellulose mask and your LED or wand finish are all part of the session price. Nothing shows up afterwards as a separate line item.
We book through Vagaro, which offers Buy Now, Pay Later through Affirm. If you are planning a series or a monthly routine, you can spread the cost the same way. Applying takes a couple of minutes and does not affect your credit score, and the rates and terms come from Affirm rather than from us.
Included Every Time
Glacē can also be added to a laser, microneedling or electrolysis plan. We quote combinations at your consultation.
Answers
Anything we have not covered here, ask at your consultation, or call the clinic and we will talk it through.
Glacē is a hydrodermabrasion facial made by Candela. It combines a cleanse and gentle prep peel, diamond-tip exfoliation with serum infusion, a dual-mode cupping massage for puffiness and contour, and a calming finish with a biocellulose mask and LED or skin renewal wands. The goal is the smooth, hydrated, light-reflecting skin people call glass skin.
Glass-ee. The line over the final e is part of the brand name, and it is there to remind you that the word rhymes with glassy.
Both are hydrodermabrasion facials that exfoliate, extract and infuse serums in one pass. Glacē uses single-use, diamond-integrated tips in four strengths, adds a dual-mode cupping massage that works both sides of the face at once, and finishes with a biocellulose mask plus LED or hot and cold wands. The cupping is the part most people notice first.
No. You can go back to work, put makeup on and carry on with your day. There is no peeling and no redness to wait out.
No. The handpiece feels like a cool, wet suction moving across the skin, the prep peel may tingle for a moment, and the cupping feels like a massage. Most people find the hour genuinely relaxing.
About 45 to 60 minutes for the Signature facial, and roughly 20 to 30 minutes for the Express Glow. Adding the neck and décolletage takes a little longer.
For a visible, lasting improvement, start with a short series about four weeks apart, then keep it going monthly or every other month. If you only want it before events, that works too.
The glow usually lasts around a week. The de-puffed, sculpted look is temporary and at its best for a day or two. Regular sessions build on each other, so skin tends to stay clearer and better hydrated between visits.
Usually, yes. We use the gentlest tip, lower suction and Silky Touch, a serum made for reactive skin. If your skin is in an active rosacea or eczema flare, we wait until it settles before treating.
It helps with the oil, blackheads and clogged pores that lead to breakouts, and Balanced Flight is formulated for oily skin. It is not a treatment for inflamed or cystic acne, and we do not work over open or painful breakouts. For marks or scarring left behind, see our acne scars and post-acne marks page.
Yes. Glacē uses no laser and no harsh acids, and Candela rates it for Fitzpatrick skin types I to VI. We start with gentler settings on skin that tends to darken after irritation and build from there.
Absolutely, and several of the published before and after results are on men. Shaving, sweat and oily skin make congested pores and dullness common, and Glacē deals with both. Tell us about razor bumps or ingrown hairs so we can work around them.
Yes, it is one of the best times to book it. Anywhere from the day before to a few days before works, because there is no recovery. If it is your first Glacē, have one a few weeks earlier too, so you already know how your skin responds.
Yes, and many of our clients do. We schedule Glacē on a different day from laser or electrolysis on the same area, so your skin is never recovering from two treatments at once.
At Electrolysis 100% Permanent Hair Removal & Skin Care, 1315 N Larrabee St, Chicago, IL 60610, in Old Town. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, by appointment only. Call (252) 722-5006 to book.
Booking
If your skin looks tired, congested or just flat, Glacē is the quickest visible change we offer. Book your first Signature facial and we will build the treatment around what your skin needs that day, and tell you honestly if something else would serve you better.
Electrolysis 100% Permanent Hair Removal & Skin Care sits on N Larrabee St in Old Town, a short walk from the Sedgwick Brown Line station and minutes from the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, River North and the Loop. Street parking and nearby garages are available.
If you’ve never had electrolysis or laser hair removal at our location, we require a consultation before scheduling your first appointment.
For out-of-state clients, consultations can be conducted online.
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