Air, yes, but a full-on arctic blast? That was a shocker, albeit a frostily refreshing one.
When I recently hopped on the esthetician’s bed for a JetPeel facial at Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness at La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, I vaguely knew what I was in for: a non-invasive treatment that deploys pressurized air to spiff up the skin via massage and exfoliation akin to power-washing a grubby sidewalk, followed by a customized serum infusion sunk deep into the dermal layer.
I just wasn’t expecting it to be so cold. “That’s the magic in the delivery system—fine streams of pressurized air and liquid traveling at subsonic speed,” says Laura Krohn, Loma de Vida’s Director of Wellness, Recreation, and Retail. “The combination of the cool serum application and the deep hydration is perfect for the Texas sun and heat.”
Evidently JetPeel is suited to climates of all kinds. According to Inga Pross, CEO of NYLO Aesthetics, a leading distributor of esthetic medical devices, there are currently somewhere between 250 to 350 proprietors across the United States, a mix of destination and day spas, as well as plastic surgery and dermatological practices.
“Not since HydraFacial, has the [spa] industry had such a ‘wow’ treatment to get behind.”
An offshoot of aviation technology that was originally developed to treat burn victims whose wounds require extra-careful cleansing, JetPeel was introduced to the US market in 2018 by Israel-based TavTech but has been available globally for more than 15 years, says Pross. And despite the slowish start in America, it’s on an upward trajectory.
Early adopter Sai Demirovic, co-owner of Glo Spa New York, has offered JetPeel since 2019. But she, too, initially found it took some getting used to.
“I’m very ticklish, and wasn’t too fond of the treatment right away,” Demirovic recalls. “But when I woke up the next morning, my skin looked awesome and I already had a text from my sister [and spa co-owner] that she loved her skin, too. We bought the device the next day.”
You had us at the face-sculpting lymphatic massage . . .
Typically about an hour in duration, JetPeel facials are four-step affairs that include lymphatic massage, exfoliation, infusion, and booster infusion. Each stage incorporates some type of proprietary JetCare skincare administered with specialized hand pieces, and estheticians have a lengthy menu across several categories from which to choose: JetCare Hydro; Renewal Care; Anti-Aging; Selective Care, and JetCare Boost.
The lymphatic massage, a bit of a misnomer because no hands touch the skin, is executed with JetCare Hydro, a mix of water, mild sodium chloride, and copious amounts of hyaluronic acid. Don’t be surprised if your esthetician whips out the hand mirror for you to take a peek as soon as this step is finished; chances are you’ll marvel at how de-puffed and refreshed you look. I definitely did, and immediately snapped a few iPhone pics for posterity.
“The results are instant, and surprise and please our guests with sculpted cheekbones and a lifted jaw line,” Krohn notes. “These are highly noticeable results, which you rarely see in one session with a device-facilitated or manual-technique service.”
Not that the other steps in the decidedly high-tech facial don’t deliver.
Keisha Wagner-Gaymon, founder of Brooklyn’s PeachFuzz Laser Studio, has found JetPeel to be especially helpful in treating melanin-rich skin, particularly when estheticians use formulas from the Lightening and Clear collections during the exfoliation and infusion portions of the treatment.
“Most of our clients have darker skin tones and often suffer from dark marks and ingrown hair bumps caused by forms of hair removal, and we love the brightening complex with vitamin C serum,” Wagner-Gaymon notes. “We also love to add the acne complex to the treatment for acne-prone skin.”
Especially Promising: JetPeel For Hair & Scalp Health
Given the uptick in pandemic-generated, stress-related hair loss, news that JetPeel is exhibiting promise in this area is cause for celebration.
“A series of eight to ten treatments spaced one week apart have shown significant results in restoring thinning hair and hair loss,” says Pross, adding that the key ingredient in the JetCare solution used to treat the conditions is Redensyl. “Rich in amino acids and antioxidants, this anti-aging ingredient supports powerful delivery of nourishing and rejuvenating components to the scalp, enhancing conditions for healthier hair.”
Given all it has to offer, Krohn isn’t remotely surprised that JetPeel, which was added to the Loma de Vida treatment lineup in February of this year, is gaining serious traction in the US spa world. Not since HydraFacial, she says, has the [spa] industry had such a “wow” treatment to get behind. “The jet propulsion technology and the broad selection of serums to address common skin concerns or more challenging issues provide more tools in one device than anything on the market.”
And you can’t beat that wakes-you-right-up, rejuvenating blast of icy air.
Dana Wood
Dana Wood is the Contributing Beauty Editor at InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. She has been writing about beauty and wellness for decades, and no matter how many times she taps the words “hyaluronic acid” or “healing modalities” into her keyboard, it never gets old. Dana spent a total of 20 years at Condé Nast, serving as Beauty Director for W, Cookie, and Brides. A transplanted New Yorker, Dana now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her peak spa experience? Dana says it’s impossible to decide between the Coco-Mango Body Buff at the Driftwood Spa at Jakes in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, The Land of Beautiful Waters Anti-Aging Facial at Four Seasons Nevis, and the 80-minute 5 Senses massage at the Spa by JW in Marco Island, Florida.