Skincare has been an ongoing topic of conversation on my blog since I wrote my first “Face Matters” post back in 2011. Over the course of the last four years I have shared all of the ups and downs I’ve experienced with my skin on my blog and it’s apparent that it’s something that is important to you guys too based on all of the feedback, comments and emails I have received.

The first time I tried to quit taking hormonal birth control without professional skincare help was a complete disaster and led to some pretty horrific cystic type acne. That scared me so much that it took me three more years to build up the confidence to try again. Luckily at that point I had been a patient at Carolina Facial Plastics for 6 months and felt like I had the best skincare routine going that I’d ever had in my life so it was worth a try.

(circa March 2014)

I was beyond excited that the result was much different this time and that minus a few regular breakouts here and there around the time of my cycle, my skin has remained clearer than ever. Now that I have hormones and skincare figured out (for now!), my main focus has been on the changing needs of my skin in my 30s.

A few weeks ago I went in for a skincare check-up at Carolina Facial Plastics. It had been well over six months since my last visit and I could tell that it was time for a refresh after a summer of sun, travel and a very stripped down skincare regime. They invited me to come back in to meet their new medical aesthetician, Terri Edson.

I loved Terri! She has over 10 years of experience working in medical offices as an aesthetician. She recently moved to Charlotte to join Dr. Kulbersh’s practice. She spent so much time with me discussing my skin and my lifestyle to design a treatment and an at-home plan that worked best for me. She recommended that I switch from the Image line that I had been using to MyBody Probiotic Skincare and we started with a MyBodyProbiotic Peel.

As I’ve mentioned before, don’t be scared of the word “peel.” You don’t emerge from these treatments red-faced with skin that peels for a week after (there are some treatments this strong but I don’t get them). Rather, you are left with glowing skin, an even skin tone and skin that feels like it’s “turned a new leaf” for lack of a better description. It’s like a really, really good exfoliating and brightening treatment.

Teri sent me home with a new four-step program from MyBody Probiotic Skincare. MyBody is focused on skincare that uses probiotics, prebiotics and their own special formulas to deliver natural, glowing skin instead of harsh ingredients and harmful products athat cause trauma and inflammation to change the skin. It’s a medical-grade skincare line that operates with a “less is more” mindset and that’s something that I can get behind.

Here’s my new routine under my new “Reverse It” Anti-Aging 4-Step Daily Kit + two added products.

AM:

1. Clean Routine Probiotic Revitalizing Cleanser
2. Future is Bright Probiotic Anti-Aging Hydrator
3. Protect & Serve Tinted Sun Shield SPF 30

PM:

1. Clean Routine Probiotic Revitalizing Cleanser
2. A-Team Retinol + Wrinkle Treatment (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), Glowbiotics Probiotic Instant Resurfacing Pads (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
3. Glowbiotics Probiotic HydraGlow Cream Oil
4. Future is Bright Probiotic Anti-Aging Hydrator

The two added products are the Glowbiotics Probiotic Resurfacing Pads and the Glowbiotics HydraGlow Cream Oil. I use the resurfacing pads on the nights that I don’t use the A-Team Retinol. Which on a related note has been great for me. In the past, I have had to give up retinols because they have been too strong on my skin but the MyBody is working great for me.

Here’s the info from the MyBody website on the resurfacing pads.

“Clinical strength probiotic resurfacing pads instantly help reveal radiant, youthful-looking skin with fewer lines, wrinkles, pores and blemishes. With regular use, these pads mimic the results of a clinical peel, but with virtually no downtime, irritation or excessive peeling.”

And the cream oil is just very hydrating for the skin. I need a lot of hydration in the colder, dryer months!

So far, so good with the new MyBody products and the new routine! I will give you another update a few months.

If you live in Charlotte, I will continue to recommend Dr. Kulbersh and his team at Carolina Facial Plastics for your skincare needs and if you don’t live in Charlotte I will continue to tell you that making an investment in your skincare is so worth it. Yes, there is an investment up front but the products last forever and the long-term payoff is so worth it.

I also want to quickly say that many plastic surgeons also offer amazing skincare services. Many friends and readers have shared that they were a little intimidated by walking into a plastic surgeons office and have been relieved to find that their care and treatment was solely focused on the skincare they were looking for! Don’t be scared!

Just remember, sometimes the hardest part is not the commitment or spending the money but actually making yourself do the routine at night when you’re tired and want to crash…especially if you’ve had a glass of wine or two! My advice is to knock it out early. Get your skincare done when you put your comfy lounging clothes on. It ensures you’ll get it done. And if you’ve been out…just make it happen anyway! The days of sleeping in your makeup need to end with college!

Tell me about your current skincare status, needs and routine. What challenges are you facing? What’s working? What do you have questions about?

This post is part of my ongoing partnership with Carolina Facial Plastics.