Mobile Salon “2Gether Beauty” Gives You Time to Be Yourself.
Interview with Ara & treatment experience report [Treatment Edition]
Ara delivers treatments with delicate precision and care
The U.S. edition of b.glenish! highlights women who shine in their own unique way, sharing their lifestyles and beauty secrets through in-depth interviews.
Bringing “me time” closer and more freely into women’s lives. 2Gether Beauty is a mobile esthetic salon born from the desire to support and care for hardworking women. With the flexibility to travel anywhere, it offers treatments wherever clients need.
Following Part 1, The Interview, in which we spoke with co-founder and practitioner Ara Hung about her unique business model and her facial treatments known for delivering visible results, we now bring you Part 2: The Treatment Experience.
This time, Kaori—a devoted b.glen user—experiences 2Gether Beauty’s most popular treatment. Along with before-and-after results, we’ll share plenty of insights, from tips you can apply to your daily skincare routine to the secrets behind Ara’s beauty.
Thorough Cleansing Lays the Foundation for Visible Results
In front of the trailer. Left: Kaori, a devoted b.glen user; Right: Ara
Step into the white trailer with “Hello, California!” written on its side, and you’re welcomed into a bright and tranquil spa-like space. When the trailer’s windows are opened, natural light pours in, creating an even more open and airy atmosphere.
Now, it’s time for 2Gether Beauty’s most popular treatment—the Facial Lifting session—to begin. The one receiving treatment is Kaori, a long-time devoted user of b.glen products.
A wide range of essential oils and treatment tools, blended and selected to suit each client
Kaori:
I’m exhausted every day from work, house chores, and driving my daughter and son around. By the time night comes, I’m too tired to care for my skin properly. Now that I’m in my 50s, I have all kinds of skin concerns, but what bothers me the most is sagging. I hardly ever get time to care for myself, so I’ve been looking forward to today!
Ara:
Please, take your time and relax. Today’s facial lifting treatment is designed to relieve tension caused by fatigue and help define the lines of your face, neck, and décolleté. I’ll begin with cleansing after checking your skin condition.
Ara carefully checks for any allergies and promptly tailors the treatment to suit Kaori’s needs. The first step is cleansing. Using cotton pads and swabs, she gently removes eye makeup, meticulously cleaning along the lash line and around each eyelash.
Ara:
As I mentioned earlier, cleansing is the most crucial step in skincare. Please take the time to do it thoroughly at home as well. The eye area is delicate and tends to retain stubborn makeup residue. So, please be mindful to cleanse slowly and gently.
Kaori:
So, even just the cleansing step requires time and care. However, after this process alone, my skin already feels incredibly soft, as if it’s clinging to my hands.
It hurts a little, but it feels so good! It’s relieving the puffiness and tension in my face as everything gets released and flows away.
A variety of pressure techniques are used, alternating between firm and gentle pressure to relieve muscle tension thoroughly.
Ara:
Today, we’ll be using essential oils of grapefruit, cypress, geranium, and rosemary.
Facial puffiness is easily noticeable, but muscle tension is often overlooked. By stimulating pressure points, we’ll not only reduce puffiness but also release deep-seated tension and help drain waste through the lymphatic system.
Gentle, stroking massages feel relaxing and pleasant, but to truly achieve a lifting effect, we need to combine both soft and firm techniques. Areas where you feel pain are likely where waste has accumulated due to tension. I’ll be using both my hands and a gua sha tool to stimulate the pathways in the neck and encourage drainage.
Kaori:
I had no idea at all! It feels so good, just the right kind of pain under my cheekbones. I must be tense there. I’d love to have this done every day! If I were to give myself a massage, how often should I do it?
Ara:
You can do self-massage every day. Be sure to apply a product with good slip, such as cream or oil, before you start to avoid irritating the skin.
Ara applies steadily, focused pressure around the eye area
Kaori:
The theory behind draining to the lymph nodes is the same as the “QuSome Lift” massage! I’ll try adapting the steps from the QuSome Lift video. Having pressure applied around my eyes gives me an instant sense of relief, as if the tension is melting away. It’s such a comforting sensation.
Ara:
These days, everyone spends long hours looking at smartphone and PC screens, which makes the area around the eyes especially prone to fatigue. By pressing specific acupressure points around the eyes, you can help relieve that tension. When doing it yourself, focus on the inner corners of the eyes and the hollow at the bridge of the nose. Since the skin on the eyelids is very thin, be careful not to rub up, down, or side to side; apply steady, gentle pressure.
Here, I also use a gua sha tool, but I use one with small projections to apply deeper pressure to finer areas. For beginners, that may feel too strong, so it’s best to start by using your fingers.
Since gua sha tools apply concentrated pressure to specific areas, it’s essential to use them carefully at home
A three-in-one lifting approach: Release, Drain, and Warm.
Ara:
To further enhance the lifting effect, we’ll now apply a targeted serum. Using a specialized device equipped with an LED light and a warming function, the serum is delivered deep into the skin. By warming the skin after massaging away blockages, we boost circulation, improve elasticity, and enhance overall skin tone.
The LED light and warming effect help enhance the absorption of the serum
To help deepen the sense of relaxation, Ara dims the lights and continues the treatment. The calm, serene look on Kaori’s face speaks volumes about the quality of care she’s receiving.
In this session, the LED and warming device isn’t just used at the beginning or end of the treatment. It’s incorporated mid-way to enhance serum absorption. Incorporating a beauty device into your at-home routine can significantly improve the effectiveness of your existing serums. That’s where b.glen’s facial device, Beyond Skin, can make a real difference!
Ara:
It’s also a good idea to adjust the order of your skincare steps depending on the season or your skin’s condition. While your at-home routine may be well-established, incorporating special care every month is beneficial. Once a month, it can help “awaken” your skin. Of course, performing special care treatments at home is useful, but I also highly recommend incorporating professional treatments into your routine.
Lift and firm with focused care on the head, neck, shoulders, and arms!
Ara’s massage flows from the neck, shoulders, arms and hands, all the way to the head for the finishing touch.
Ara:
Facial lifting that targets puffiness and sagging becomes even more effective when tension is released from the head, neck, shoulders, and arms. By loosening and draining the lymph nodes in the neck, shoulders, and underarms, the treatment helps sculpt a sharper, more defined facial contour. While you may feel some discomfort during this process, it’s essential for achieving that refreshed, lifted look.
Sagging care often focuses solely on the face, but that’s not enough. The face doesn’t exist in isolation; it’s connected as one continuous layer of skin with the head, neck, shoulders, and arms!
The underarms contain the axillary lymph nodes, and the area around the collarbone contains the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Both are densely packed with lymphatic tissue and play a key role in filtering waste and pathogens. Ara thoroughly massages these areas, and it’s something we should also be mindful of during our at-home skincare routines.
Kaori:
She also massaged around my ears, along with my neck, but it hurt more than under my arms!
Ara:
That’s because there are so many pressure points around the ears. It’s also a good idea to massage that area during your skincare routine. Just ensure that the flow is directed toward the lymph nodes in your neck.
Kaori:
It feels like every part of my body is a pressure point! It’s the ultimate “hurts so good” feeling. The area around my shoulder blades was pure bliss!
Ara:
To conclude, we’ll massage the scalp using essential oils that help balance sebum production and support the immune system. Scalp massage is necessary. When the scalp becomes tight, the entire face can start to sag. It also affects hormone balance, which is closely linked to mental well-being. By relaxing the fascia of the scalp and keeping it soft, you can lift the face and promote emotional stability.
Ara gently applies the aromatic oils to the scalp using cotton swabs. I occasionally do scalp massages myself, even as a somewhat lazy writer, but I’ve certainly never used cotton swabs with such care! Using a swab ensures the oil reaches the scalp, even through the hair, which often blocks direct contact.
With a combination of hands and a special comb, Ara spends time massaging the scalp, releasing tension and draining away buildup, bringing the treatment to a satisfying close.
Such a transformation! Before & After
Kaori:
All the daily fatigue feels like it’s just melted away. Not just from my face, but from my whole body and even my mind!
“Kaori lets out a delighted sigh as the treatment comes to an end.
Now, let’s see the full effect of Ara’s expertly delivered techniques—check out the transformation in the Before & After photos!”
“What a difference! The lift is undeniable. Compared to the “before” photo, the jawline is noticeably more defined, and the area around the mouth looks sharper. You can even see that the distance from the sides of the nose to the ears has shortened. The cheeks have been lifted, and the eyes appear noticeably larger!
Even though the “before” photo was taken with makeup on, the bare-faced “after” photo shows skin that looks more vibrant, alive, and full of youthful radiance.”
Kaori:
I can’t believe this much change came from just one treatment! It’s amazing!
Ara:
I’m delighted to hear that you’re pleased. I’m still learning every day, but when a customer is amazed by the results and says, “I can’t wait to show my family,” as they leave the trailer, it truly makes me feel that being part of the launch of 2Gether Beauty was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Ara’s Tips for Beautiful Skin
Her radiant, carefree smile and glowing skin are truly reminiscent of a young girl.
“Visible results”—your treatments truly live up to those words. Ara herself has skin as soft and flawless as a baby’s. Do you have any special skincare secrets or routines you swear by?
Ara:
I have oily skin. I used to struggle with frequent breakouts. These days, I use retinol products that contain PHA. The gentle peeling effect helps promote skin turnover and prevents clogged pores. I also make sure to exercise regularly.
PHA stands for polyhydroxy acid, known as a gentler “second-generation fruit acid” with exfoliating, moisturizing, and antioxidant properties. In the b.glen lineup, products that serve this purpose include the Reset Mask, a sheet mask that removes dead skin cells and clears out pores, and QuSome Retino A, a serum formulated with skin-conditioning retinol and three types of vitamins.
These are must-have items for anyone aiming for skin like Ara’s.
And exercise? How often do you work out each week?
Ara:
I do strength training at the gym about four times a week. I can lift a 250-pound (113 kg) barbell!
I’m also mindful of my diet. Sugar can trigger inflammation in the skin, so I avoid it. I generally eat very little, just one meal a day and a protein shake.
The fact that you can lift 113 kg is astonishing, especially coming from someone as delicate and graceful as Ara. Truly, “beauty doesn’t happen overnight!” Your disciplined lifestyle must be the secret behind your porcelain-like skin. And yet, through your treatments, you manage to create beauty in just one hour!
So finally, Ara, what does true beauty mean to you?
What is true beauty?
Ara’s sincerity shines through in every word she speaks
Ara:
To me, true beauty comes from the power to choose for yourself. Or it’s the ability to trust yourself. Not living by someone else’s standards or simply meeting others’ expectations, but choosing your happiness. That kind of freedom and responsibility makes someone truly beautiful.
Your skin can be the starting point. When you feel more beautiful, you start to cherish yourself and gain confidence. It may seem like a small joy, but it nurtures a sense of self-love and care. That’s the kind of support I want to offer.
Through 2Gether Beauty, I plan to continue spreading that circle of wonderful people across the U.S.