In my role as a beauty reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute, I make it my business to know about all the best beauty and anti-aging treatments out there. I'm especially interested in injectable treatments which offer visible results from just a quick dermatologist appointment.
I had previously read about the injectable “skin boosters” only available in Europe that jet-setting women swore by. When I heard that the technology had finally come to the U.S. as a treatment called Skinvive, I knew I had to learn more.
Before trying the treatment on myself, I wanted to hear about it from the experts. I sat down for a video call with Saami Khalifian, M.D., double board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and surgeon and Sara Sangha, Ph.D., Head of U.S. Medical Aesthetics at AbbVie, the company behind Skinvive. These were my burning questions:
What is Skinvive?
Skinvive (pronounced skin-VEEV) is hyaluronic acid that is injected under the surface of the skin to create “a reservoir of skin hydration” says Dr. Khalifian. Hyaluronic acid, often abbreviated as HA, is a molecule naturally found in our skin that helps keep our cells hydrated. Hyaluronic acid is a common ingredient in hydrating serums applied on top of skin, but Dr. Khalifian explains that injecting it into the skin can provide much deeper and longer-lasting hydration.
“Skinvive is being deposited in the middle layer of the skin, called the dermis, where topicals cannot reach. It's like an internal moisturizer; it's actually physically changing the amount of water in our skin.”
What are the benefits of Skinvive?
“The main indications are skin quality and skin smoothness,” says Dr. Khalifian. Essentially, increased hydration in the cells makes the skin smoother, giving it that light-reflecting property we describe as “glow.” The glow-improving effects can last for up to six months, according to the clinical trial.
Personally, I hoped that it might approve the appearance of some boxcar acne scars on my cheeks. When I bring this up, Sangha notes that for shallow scars I could see improved smoothness, but that Skinvive is not a treatment for deep scars and other treatments are better suited for them.
Is Skinvive a filler?
Not really. Though Skinvive and many dermal fillers are both made of hyaluronic acid, they don’t behave the same way in skin. “The other HA fillers in the U.S. volumize the cheek or sculpt the jawline, whereas Skinvive really doesn't volumize. It's more for skin quality,” says Sangha. Dr. Khalifian notes that Skinvive has a lower concentration of hyaluronic acid than a filler solution.
With my questions answered, I was ready to try it for myself. But first, I popped my face into the Beauty Lab’s Visia complexion analyzer and took a “before” picture. The Visia is a device that takes standardized facial images and analyzes skin features including pores and texture. I hoped it would help me see what Skinvive did for my skin.
My Skinvive experience
I got my Skinvive treatment done by Dr. David Shafer at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue. I didn’t have to do any prep beforehand. When I sat down, Dr. Shafer offered to numb my skin, but I declined, thinking that I could save some time. He prepped my skin with a sanitizing wipe. While holding a vibrating facial massager on my cheek to distract me from the pricks, he injected my cheek many times in a grid pattern, making an injection every centimeter.
Though I’d had plenty of neurotoxin injections before, this treatment felt much more intense due to the number of injections. I remembered that Dr. Khalifian said that there could be around 50 injections per cheek, and I was aware of every prick. He finished one side, gave me an ice pack, and after a thirty second break moved on to the next cheek.
Though the process only took a few minutes, I got overwhelmed and passed out in the treatment chair. I must add that I’m prone to fainting, and I realized that I had been a bit hungry and overheated when I arrived, which are common triggers for me. Thankfully, the staff at Shafer Clinic came to the rescue with ginger ale and chocolate to bring me back. My advice: eat breakfast before your appointment and ask for numbing!
Immediately after the treatment, I was a little red but otherwise looked normal. Over the next few days, my cheeks felt tender and looked a bit swollen. If I were preparing for an important event, I would definitely schedule Skinvive at least a week in advance. After the first week the swelling was gone and I started to see improvements in my skin. I thought my acne scars appeared softened and my cheeks looked smoother. I could feel that the skin of my cheeks was plump with hydration. Instead of feeling dry, thirsty skin after washing my face, I felt like my cheeks were already moisturized — from within!
I had heard from the experts that Skinvive achieves its full effect in about four weeks, so after one month I came back to our Visia imaging system to reveal if the changes I saw were measurable. Though I subjectively felt that my acne scars were softened, the Visia program didn’t pick up on any improvement there. What was visible, however, was the increased light reflection from my cheek. The improved hydration had in fact plumped up my skin enough to give it a visible shine. I was impressed!
How much does Skinvive cost?
The price of a Skinvive treatment varies by provider but can begin at $650 to $750 for a treatment of two syringes. I had a total of four syringes injected, so the cost can be quite high. Thankfully Skinvive lasts for about six months, which is quite good compared to neurotoxins which last about three to four months.
My final thoughts
I was satisfied that Skinvive gave my skin exactly what the experts said it would — hydration from within and improved smoothness and glow. I would recommend Skinvive to someone who is looking for a subtle enhancement that won't change the shape of their face. If dryness and dullness are your concerns, Skinvive can improve them. This treatment does require a lot of injections, so keep that in mind if needles make you squeamish. I recommend requesting topical numbing at the start of the appointment. The results are on the subtle side, but I can see and feel improvement in my skin. I now enjoy catching a glimpse of my shiny cheeks whenever I pass a mirror.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
