In today’s economy, where tariffs are rising, inflation is relentless, and a carton of eggs costs $12—we’re all rechecking our budgets, reevaluating our priorities, and rethinking every swipe of the card. The non-negotiables stick around: rent, streaming subscriptions, and that one sweet treat at the grocery store. But the negotiables? That’s where the cuts start, and beauty and wellness are often the first to go. In a world where everything feels more expensive and our wallets a little lighter, the question lingers: Is it worth it?
Beauty services are often seen as luxuries, and some treatments? Ultra-luxuries. Getting your nails done, a fresh blowout, a facial, these all add up by the end of the month. So before you tack on another expense for something you might regret, Is It Worth It is your guide. This series puts beauty and wellness services to the test vetting and reviewing them to see if, in a world of $12 eggs and surprise charges just for leaving the house, they’re actually worth it because beauty doesn’t always have to mean pocket pain.
What Is It?
In Downtown New York, Good Skin Clinic offers Biostim, a next-generation laser facial, alongside an array of skin-forward services. This treatment targets the skin’s natural rejuvenation process with the help of biostimulators. And while “biostimulation” might sound like biohacking or the manipulation of your natural biology, it’s actually a noninvasive, nonsurgical method designed to stimulate the body’s own elasticity and collagen production.
“At GoodSkin, our Signature Bio-Stim Treatment is a 40-minute in-clinic protocol that combines powerful modalities including fractional laser, ultrasound, oxygen exfoliation, lymphatic massage, and even liquid nitrogen—all delivered in harmony with our proprietary RMÉD by GoodSkin serums,” says GoodSkin founder Lisa Goodman.
Upon sitting down for my consultation, Dr. Jessica K. Lebental walked me through exactly what the service entailed and asked about my personal skin needs. “It’s fully customized to your skin and works by exfoliating, prepping the surface, addressing any pigmentation, and incorporating our proprietary EGF—epidermal growth factor—which helps nourish the skin,” she says.
After taking photos of my skin, Dr. J listened carefully and addressed my concerns, noting hyperpigmentation and scarring, particularly along my cheeks. She continued, “We specialize in treating all five layers: bone, skin, muscle, fat, and fascia. Our approach begins with a full diagnosis, and from there we build a healthy aging plan tailored to you.”
For GoodSkin, the goal is to help clients age in a way that feels natural and aligned with who they are, rather than relying on treatments that may become counterproductive over time.
What do they offer?
According to Goodman, the Biostim facial functions as a six-step treatment that begins with a fractional laser, which creates micro-channels in the skin to jump-start the body’s natural healing process. In other words, lasers, as their name suggests, use heat and light to create controlled micro-injuries or skin- punctions that stimulate renewal—essentially giving the skin a “new and better skin” effect.
Dr. J then followed with an ultrasound treatment to help stimulate collagen and elasticity while deeply penetrating the skin. Next comes oxygen exfoliation, which gently removes superficial dead skin cells and enhances overall absorption. After that, my skin was highly inflamed and I was starting to feel the burning sensation kick in. I consider myself to be a skin-vet, someone who has gotten experimental treatments and services done, and for a first-time laser user, I couldn’t help but admit that my tolerance was lower than expected. But luckily, Dr. J checked in during an after the facial, and made sure the next steps would focus completely on cooling and calming down my skin.
For the second half of the facial, Dr. J performs a lymphatic massage, applies liquid nitrogen to cool the skin and reduce any inflammation caused by the laser, and finishes with topical serums to soothe and rebalance the complexion. She even threw in a calming sheet mask, targeted fan treatment and ice-mask that added in instant relief
Is it worth it?
Not if you have overly sensitive or “young” skin. Although I enjoyed the immediate effects of the service—my skin felt incredibly smooth, my texture was noticeably subdued, and even some discoloration appeared lighter—I found the overall process a bit too intense for someone who regularly gets facials and has the skin age of a 27-year-old. The treatment’s power is undeniable, but so is its potency.
For me, the experience felt more aligned with concerns that tend to emerge later in life. I suspect this service is better suited for more mature skin or for clients who are actively treating deeper textural issues, like someone who has dealt with intense and stubborn acne for years. Even Goodman acknowledges this, saying, “While there is no ‘cutoff,’ it is particularly beneficial for people in their late 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond who are starting to notice signs of aging (texture, laxity, dullness, fine lines).” She continues, “But younger clients (20s) who want to prevent or improve skin health also benefit greatly.”
In other words, Biostim isn’t off-limits to younger clients, but if your skin skews sensitive or reactive, it may be worth weighing how much intensity you’re looking for versus what your skin actually needs.
As my skin began to heal, I noticed that about a week after the service, things became extremely temperamental. I experienced flare-ups and breakouts one day, followed by completely clear skin the next—a cycle that seemed to repeat itself without warning. There were days when I couldn’t believe how glowy my complexion looked, and others when my skin felt rough from the laser treatment, with a texture almost like sand.
Overall, would I get another laser facial? Yes, but only in targeted areas where I have discoloration or hyperpigmentation, which was my original reason for visiting GoodSkin in the first place. I genuinely think this treatment is effective if you’re looking for fast results with minimal downtime. But if you have highly sensitive skin or you’re still in your 20s and don’t yet see clear signs of aging or noticeable scarring, this might be one to skip for now.
However, I’d happily recommend it to my mother, who constantly complains about her droopy, dull, or unevenly pigmented skin. For someone with more mature concerns, I think the Biostim facial could be transformative.