HydraFacial Carlsbad
cleanse, extract and hydrate in one pass

HydraFacial is a medical-grade facial that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and hydrates in a single treatment using a patented vortex tip. Water and serum are spiralled into the skin while suction simultaneously lifts away dead cells and pore debris. It is the water-based mechanism that separates it from a traditional facial, and the reason there is no downtime.

A HydraFacial costs $200 for the Express, $250 for the Deluxe or $299 for the Platinum at Glow Theory in Carlsbad. Members pay $170, $213 and $255. The Deluxe adds a targeted booster serum and LED, and the Platinum adds lymphatic drainage before the standard steps.

Express is the core three-step treatment — cleanse and exfoliate, extract, hydrate — and covers the face. Deluxe adds a booster serum targeted at your specific concern plus LED therapy. Platinum opens with lymphatic drainage before all of the above, which is the tier worth choosing if puffiness is part of the problem.

Both cleanse, extract and infuse, and we offer both at matched price tiers so our recommendation costs us nothing either way. HydraFacial uses a water-based vortex, which is gentler mechanically and usually the better choice for sensitive, reactive or rosacea-prone skin. DiamondGlow uses a physical diamond tip for more thorough exfoliation and SkinMedica prescription-strength serums. If your skin reacts easily, start with HydraFacial.

No. Most people describe it as a cool, slightly odd suction moving across the skin, then genuinely relaxing. No numbing is needed. The nose and chin are the most sensitive because that is where extraction works hardest.

None at all. This is the treatment we recommend when someone has an event in a few days and cannot risk peeling or redness. Skin may look slightly flushed for under an hour. Makeup is fine the same day.

Roughly five to seven days of obvious glow, with smoother texture lasting two to four weeks depending on your skin and routine. Because it works on the surface layer, results fade as skin naturally turns over — which is why it works best as maintenance rather than a one-off.

Every four weeks is the standard rhythm, matching natural skin cell turnover. For an active concern such as congestion or uneven tone, monthly for three to four months produces a real change rather than a temporary glow. For maintenance alone, every six weeks is enough.

It genuinely helps congestion, blackheads and the dullness that comes with acne-prone skin, and the Deluxe booster can be chosen for that specifically. It is not a treatment for active inflammatory or cystic acne. If that is what you have, we will recommend a medical plan or Forever Clear BBL instead rather than sell you a facial that will not touch it.

It is worth it if you want visibly better skin with zero downtime and treat it as maintenance. It is poor value if you expect a single treatment to resolve pigment, acne or lines — those need a course or a different treatment, and we will tell you which at your visit.

Keravive is a separate HydraFacial treatment for the scalp rather than the face, cleansing and hydrating the scalp to support healthier hair growth. It is a different service from the facial tiers on this page — ask at consultation if scalp health is your concern.

Usually yes, and it is often the better choice over more abrasive treatments because the exfoliation is water-based. Settings and serums are adjusted for reactive skin. We avoid treatment during an active rosacea flare, with open or inflamed lesions, active cold sores, or sunburn in the area.

Yes — it is one of the safest treatments to have close to an event because nothing peels and nothing bruises. Book three to five days before rather than the day before. Ideally start monthly treatments two to three months out for a genuine change rather than a single glow.

Stop retinoids and exfoliating acids about three days beforehand, and avoid waxing or laser hair removal in the area for a week. Afterwards, skip retinoids and acids for 24 hours, avoid heavy sweating for the rest of the day, and wear SPF — freshly exfoliated skin burns more easily.

Commonly, yes. It pairs naturally with Botox or filler in the same visit and is often used to maintain skin quality between laser treatments. We separate it from resurfacing lasers and Morpheus8 by about two weeks so the skin barrier has recovered first.