Most of my friends, and many people I meet outside of work, do not do any type of med spa treatments, or use professional skin care products. No facials, no peels, no Botox, no retinoids. I never really bring up all the treatments and products we offer here because I figure if they were interested, they would ask, and I also understand money can be a big barrier to medical spa treatments. But even just some small changes in a skin care routine can make a huge difference in your skin. Here’s a few great options for improving your skin, and all but the Botox are $95-$300.
Dermaplaning is a quick and simple procedure that’s under $100 and makes a huge difference in your appearance. Getting that peach fuzz off makes you look glowing with or without makeup. It also exfoliates and promotes skin cell turnover. This can be done every four weeks.
You might also consider the Skin Ceuticals MicroPeel which is a three-step process that includes dermaplaning, a customized chemical peel, and a cryo ball which is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial freezing procedure that also leaves your skin feeling cool and tight. No downtime for either.
Dermaplaning $95
Skin Ceuticals MicroPeel $200
Some products really do work. If you’re looking for dramatic changes, you will need to eventually partake in professional treatments like lasers, Botox and/or fillers. However, you can definitely improve your skin quality and clarity with physician-dispensed products. A few staff favorites that have great results are Skin Ceuticals CE Ferulic or Skin Better’s Alto (both antioxidants) Skin Better’s AlphaRet (a retinoid), and as protection we LOVE the new Skin Better Tinted Sunscreen (it has antioxidants too).
Our staff is divided as far as which antioxidant we prefer: CE Ferulic or Alto. Personally I have used CE for over 15 years and I just love it. I like how the serum goes on and it gives me a nice glow. Alto is more of a creamy consistency and also includes a lot of anti-inflammatory ingredients, making it a great choice for people who have redness.
In general, antioxidants help speed up the skin’s natural repair process and inhibit further damage from UV rays. They can also act as a preventative for further sun damage, and they can help your skin heal faster after laser or microneedling procedures.
CE Ferulic: $160
Alto: $145
Retinoids are vitamin A derived products, and actually change your skin quality over time. They exfoliate, help with skin cell turn over and production of newer, more pliable and healthy skin. Retinoids also increase the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen. They give the skin a more hydrated and firmer appearance. I like Skin Better’s Alpha Ret but you can always ask about a prescription strength retinol at your appointment. You will definitely notice a positive change in your skin when retinols.
Skin Better now has three types of Alpha Rets: the original, Intensive (extra glycolic acid for increased cell turnover) and Clearing (for people with acne-prone skin). There are also Exfoliating Peel Pads that can be used in conjunction. They include a variety of acids and just help bump up the efficacy of the other Alpha Ret products.
Alpha Ret: $110
Peel Pads: $95
If you do only ONE thing for your skin, use a good sunscreen. Because why bother improving with other products or procedures if the sun is just going to break it down! Skin Better’s ToneSmart SPF 75 sunscreen lotion in a pump is lightly tinted, can act as a primer for foundation, or use it instead of foundation. It also has a great antioxidant profile, so there’s even more sun protection. I use mine with their Tone Smart compact too.
Skin Better’s ToneSmart SPF 75 $75
Botox. It does more than smooth wrinkles. Botox/Dysport/Xeomin have been shown in studies to increase skin’s pliability and elasticity, making your skin appear more hydrated, supple and youthful. Researchers wanted to find out how Botox affects two features of the skin that weaken as we get older: pliability (stretchiness) and elasticity (the ability to recoil). The pliability and elasticity of each woman’s skin was assessed at baseline, two weeks, two months, three months, and four months after they had a Botox injection. They found that Botox injections increased both the pliability and elasticity of the skin for up to four months. After four months, the skin returned to baseline levels (which is usually the timeframe for the effects of Botox wearing off). So it not only smooths your wrinkles but it does positively change the quality of the skin.
Cost on Botox can vary greatly from person to person based on things like skin quality and desired results.
Microneedling (especially with PRP) has little downtime (a few days of redness and dryness) and gives immediate and long-lasting results.
Immediate results: Healthy glow to the skin from the increased circulation, smoother skin, improved clarity
Long-term results: more pliable, firmer skin from collagen production
It works by stimulating the production of new collagen as the tiny needles make microscopic channels in the skin, triggering the body’s healing response: it stimulates the skin to regenerate and repair itself naturally. The result is increased blood supply to the skin layers and the formation of more collagen and elastin (which give your skin elasticity and firmness). This treatment also allows for topical agents to be delivered directly into the deeper skin layers. Typical products used are Neocutis’s Hyalis, a pure hyaluronic acid with growth factors, or your own platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Immediately after the treatment you will be red for about one day, and then you will notice better skin quality and clarity.
Doing a series of treatments can make dramatic changes to skin texture and pigmentation, even greatly diminishing acne scars.
Skin Pen: $300; Skin Pen with PRP $600.
We have quarterly sales and Monthly Specials as well where you can find all these treatments and products discounted.
