I Tried 13 Beauty Treatments in the Last Year. Here’s What’s Actually Worth It.
Plus, what wasn’t… and what I’m still curious about.
A lot of you might not know that I spent six years working in the beauty industry before becoming a full-time creator. My role was technically in influencer marketing, but that still meant daily exposure to every trending treatment, every new laser, every “this changed my skin” testimonial floating around the office.
Now, being on the content side, I get invited to try things regularly: facials, devices, injectables, treatments I hadn’t even heard of six months ago.
If you know my platform, I hope you know this: I’m not interested in altering my face. I don’t believe in chasing perfection or advertising plastic surgery and I do think parts of the industry have gotten slightly out of control.
But I do believe in feeling polished. I like waking up and looking rested. I like when my skin behaves. I like not feeling like I need makeup.
So at the beginning of this year, I made what I called a “Glow Up Bucket List” and I started working through it.
Some did nothing.
Some were nice but not life-altering.
And a few genuinely changed how I feel day to day.
And when something makes you wake up looking like the most natural, glowy version of yourself? That’s when the “high maintenance to be low maintenance” philosophy clicks.
If you’re considering spending your money in this arena, here’s my honest breakdown.
And not to steal the plot, but here’s a before/after (I think we’re trending upward?!)
High Maintenance That Didn’t Deliver
(aka what didn’t work for me)
1. Brazilian Blowout / Keratin
I really wanted this to work.
I have thick, wavy Italian hair that never quite decides what it wants to be. My hope was that a keratin or Brazilian blowout would give me that effortless, sleek, air-dried finish.
After five hours (!!!) in a chair and nearly $300 later, I can honestly say: I don’t see a meaningful difference. I documented the process here for those that are curious.
My hair is shiny — but it’s usually shiny. Maybe it’s slightly smoother? Slightly straighter? But not enough to justify the time, cost, or upkeep. I’ve tried both keratin and Brazilian blowout and had the same experience.
If your hair is looser in texture, you might love it. For me, it didn’t change my routine at all — which defeats the purpose.
I still think Japanese straightening might be the real solution. But for now, I’m sticking to my usual blow-dry.
2. Microneedling
Oof. I know this one is controversial.
I’m not trying to be dramatic when I say it didn’t work for me… but my skin did not recover well from this. Photos below for evidence.
I expected redness. I did not expect to look like I’d been lightly attacked for over eight days. It was swollen, irritated, and just generally not cute. I likely had a harsher reaction than most — which is totally possible.
Yes, I’m sure there was some improved bounce and texture afterward. But it wasn’t anything so noticeable that I’d willingly sign up for that downtime again.
I know people absolutely swear by microneedling. But for me, I need either quicker recovery or more dramatic results to justify it.
(Which is why you’ll see I loooooved RF microneedling later. Very different story.)
3. Fat Cavitation
This treatment uses ultrasound technology to break down fat cells, which your body then processes naturally. It’s often positioned as a non-invasive alternative to body-contouring treatments like EmSculpt (which I’m still curious about — it’s supposed to actually activate muscle, like the equivalent of thousands of crunches).
I did five sessions of fat cavitation.
Personally, I didn’t notice a meaningful difference. It’s possible longer-term consistency is key, but at that price point, I wanted clearer results.
And honestly — if these types of treatments delivered dramatic results for most people, we’d probably see everyone doing them.
Great Maintenance Treatments
(But Not Life-Changing)
These are treatments I genuinely enjoyed and would do again — but they won’t radically alter your life.
4. Hydrafacial
These are incredible. They truly pull all the gunk out of your skin (here’s the proof), and I always leave feeling insanely glowy.
It’s relaxing and effective. Probably my favorite facial on the market. If you have an event or just want a reset, this is a safe bet.
5. Lymphatic Drainage Massages
I’m slightly obsessed with these.
I always feel noticeably lighter and less puffy afterward, especially after intense travel. It’s not permanent, but it’s one of those treatments where you walk out feeling different in your body.
I try to do them a few times a year — especially after long flights or busy seasons.
6. Lash Lift
I did love this. My lashes looked lifted, darker, more defined — and it lasted about three weeks. I almost wasn’t used to seeing myself with lashes at all times, which took a second.
I think blondes or lighter hair would see the most dramatic before-and-after, but I’d absolutely do it again before a big trip or event.
7. BioRePeel
This one surprised me.
It made my skin noticeably smoother and brighter and helped calm breakouts for a few weeks. It’s not dramatic like a laser, but it gives that subtle “your skin just looks good” effect.
A strong glow-maintenance treatment.
Treatments That Genuinely Changed Things
These are the ones where I saw real payoff.
