I got -154° nitrogen gas blasted on my face for 12 minutes to get 'tighter, brighter skin,' and it was the strangest spa treatment I've ever had
Clean Market is a luxury wellness center in New York City that offers services including cryotherapy, vitamin IV drips, infrared saunas, and smoothies infused with boosters such as collagen and CBD.
I went to get a cryofacial, a $55 treatment where a stream of -154° nitrogen gas is blasted on your face and neck for about 12 minutes. It's supposed to reduce inflammation, puffiness, and dark circles, and "tighten and brighten" skin, according to Clean Market.
Source: Clean Market
While whole-body cryotherapy can be done on a daily basis, according to Clean Market owner Lily Kunin, cryofacials shouldn't be a daily treatment. "For a cryofacial, I only recommend up to a few times per week, because it is very powerful," Kunin told Business Insider.
For my cryofacial, I sat in a massage chair in a small, private room. I was only wearing eye makeup, but I was told that it wasn't necessary to remove foundation or any makeup for the treatment.
The spa technician wheeled in the mobile cryofacial machine. I was bit apprehensive about the treatment at this point; having freezing gas blown on my face in the wintertime didn't exactly seem pleasant. I was fully expecting it to be shocking and somewhat uncomfortable.
I closed my eyes as instructed. When the technician turned on the machine and started the cryofacial, I found it was surprisingly soothing. The nitrogen gas didn't feel unbearably cold as I'd expected. It just felt like a cool, gentle stream of air massaging my face. The technician had me wear a headband to keep my ears warm.
The cryofacial took about 12 minutes, during which time the technician moved the handheld device slowly around all areas of my face and neck. She never held it still in one place, so I didn't feel like I was about to get frostbite. A blue light followed the stream of gas. My skin felt wet at times even though it actually wasn't. It was a strange feeling.
Toward the end, my face did start to feel cold and the nitrogen gas started to feel less soothing — but then it was over. Had the cryofacial lasted much longer than 12 minutes, I think my face would've started to feel uncomfortable.
I noticed an immediate difference in my skin after the cryofacial. A publicist had told me the cryofacial would give me that "post-ski glow" — and that's exactly how I'd describe it.
Here's my face before the cryofacial ...
... and after. While I think a greater effect would be seen after a few cryofacials, my skin felt noticeably smoother, and it had more of a glow. I couldn't stop touching my skin on the way home.
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