Skin boosters improve the quality of your skin itself, how hydrated it is, how it reflects light, how smooth it feels, rather than adding shape or volume. They are not fillers. I carry five, and they fall into two groups. The Redensity treatments, BabyGLOW and the V2 Beauty Booster, use non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid blended with eight amino acids, three antioxidants, two minerals, and vitamin B6, so they nourish the skin as they hydrate, and they suit anyone wary of traditional filler. Skinvive and the Restylane Skinboosters use cross-linked hyaluronic acid: they last considerably longer but do not carry the same vitamin and amino acid profile. Neither group is better. They answer different priorities.
We decide which one fits you at your consultation.
I'm Wyling Leung, a Registered Nurse. I do every skin booster treatment myself at our Yorkville clinic, 7 St Thomas Street, Unit 607, Toronto. Our medical director is Kelly Ross, Nurse Practitioner.
The Five Boosters
Each booster is explained below. Open any one to see what it is best for, how many sessions it takes, and the evidence behind it.
The five at a glance
| Booster | Best for | Sessions | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BabyGLOW (Redensity 1) | Dullness, dehydration, all-over glow | 2 to 3, about 4 weeks apart. Retreat every 4 to 6 months | $550, or $1,300 for three |
| V2 Beauty Booster | Even coverage of the whole face, including the forehead | 3, about 3 weeks apart | $550, or $1,300 for three |
| Skinvive | Smoother, more hydrated skin with the fewest visits | 1. Results usually last 6 to 9 months | $600 for 1 ml, $950 for 2 ml |
| Restylane Skinboosters Vital | Face, neck and hands | Usually 2, about 4 weeks apart, then every 1 to 1.5 years | Priced at your consultation |
| Restylane Skinboosters Vital Light | Fine lines and delicate areas | 3, about 4 weeks apart, then every 1 to 1.5 years | Priced at your consultation |
HST is added to all prices.
BabyGLOW is the treatment most people picture when they think of a glow. I place Redensity 1 in a series of fine micro-injections using an eight-point technique across the face. The product sits in the superficial skin, hydrates it, and delivers its amino acids and antioxidants where the skin can use them. The result is not volume. It is a softer, more reflective surface, the kind of glow that looks like good skin rather than like a treatment.
Plan for about 45 minutes, plus numbing time. I go through what to expect afterward at your consultation.
Best for: Dullness, dehydration, and an even all-over glow, and for anyone who wants a non-cross-linked option
Sessions: Two for younger skin, three for more mature skin, about four weeks apart
Retreatment: every 4 to 6 months
Evidence: In a preliminary real-world evaluation of nearly 80 women treated with the babyGLOW technique, injectors rated 97 percent as showing immediate improvement, and 93 percent of patients were satisfied at the end of the protocol (Teoxane, IMCAS 2026).
The V2 Beauty Booster uses the same Redensity 1, with the same non-cross-linked formula and the same vitamin and amino acid profile. What changes is how I deliver it. The V2 is an automated nine-needle injector that places product at a controlled, even depth and applies gentle suction before each injection.
The reason I offer both is coverage. BabyGLOW is a targeted eight-point technique. The V2 lets me treat the whole face evenly, including the forehead, which is difficult to cover well by hand. If you want an all-over result and consistent coverage, this is the one.
Best for: An even glow across the entire face, including the forehead, and for anyone who wants a non-cross-linked option
Sessions: Three to start, about three weeks apart
Maintenance: Roughly once or twice a year
Note: The efficacy comes from Redensity 1. The V2 is how I deliver it.
Skinvive is where the boosters cross over into cross-linked. It is a modified hyaluronic acid placed as small microdroplets in the cheeks, and it is built to last. It is approved by Health Canada, and it is designed as a single treatment rather than a course.
This is the one I reach for when someone wants the result with the fewest visits. It does not carry the amino acid and vitamin profile of the Redensity treatments, so it is hydration and smoothness rather than nourishment. But it holds. Results usually last 6 to 9 months.
Best for: Smoother, more hydrated skin with the fewest visits
Sessions: One treatment, results usually last 6 to 9 months
Evidence: In Allergan’s clinical study of 135 patients, 83 percent were satisfied with how healthy their skin looked and 72 percent with hydration six months after treatment (Skinvive patient labelling).
Restylane Skinboosters are cross-linked Galderma hyaluronic acid, placed in small amounts across an area to hydrate it from within and improve the overall quality of the skin. They last longer than the Redensity treatments. They do not carry the vitamins and amino acids. That is the trade.
Vital is the standard formulation. I use it on firmer skin and the areas that take a slightly heavier product well: the midface, the cheeks, the neck, the décolletage, and the backs of the hands. I also use it on the backs of the hands.
Best for: Long-lasting deep hydration and skin quality on the face, neck, and hands
Sessions: Usually two, about four weeks apart, then maintenance every 1 to 1.5 years. Most of my patients only need two sessions to start, and it lasts longest once you have had at least two.
Evidence: Galderma reports that in its studies, all patients still showed improvement in skin quality at 12 months, and 96 percent wanted to continue or repeat treatment.
Vital Light is the same cross-linked Restylane product in a lighter, finer formulation. The difference is where it belongs. Thinner, more delicate skin does not take the standard formula as gracefully, so for finer lines and softer areas I use Light: around the eyes and mouth, the neck, and younger or more delicate skin generally.
It carries the same long-lasting profile as Vital and follows the same schedule.
Best for: Fine lines and delicate areas where a lighter formulation belongs
Sessions: Three to start, about four weeks apart, then maintenance every 1 to 1.5 years
Note: Shares the Restylane Skinboosters durability profile.
Where skin boosters fit
Skin boosters improve the quality of the skin you have. They do not rebuild it. For deeper texture, acne scarring and sun damage, CO2 laser resurfacing does the structural work. For skin that is losing firmness, a biostimulator such as Sculptra works by prompting your skin to make new collagen over time. Many of my patients combine them, and we plan the order together at your consultation.
Skin booster questions
Is a skin booster the same as filler?
No. Filler adds shape and volume. A skin booster is placed in fine amounts to improve hydration and skin quality. It does not change the shape of your face.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the booster. Skinvive is one treatment. BabyGLOW, the V2 and the Restylane Skinboosters are a series, usually two or three sessions three to four weeks apart. For Restylane Vital, most of my patients only need two. The table above shows each one.
Which booster is right for me?
We decide together at your consultation. I look at your skin, your schedule and how long you want the result to last. New patients start with a free 15-minute virtual consultation.
How much do skin boosters cost?
BabyGLOW and the V2 Beauty Booster are $550 per session, or $1,300 for three. Skinvive is $600 for 1 ml or $950 for 2 ml. Restylane Skinboosters are priced at your consultation. HST is added.