I announced one month ago that I’m partnering with Carolina Facial Plastics for one year to blog about my experience of “being the best me” in exchange for complimentary services. I’ll be writing a monthly post updating you on my skin care routine in addition to other (non-surgical!) products and services that I try. Many of you responded to my last post that anti-aging and adult acne skin care routines are something you are very interested in so I’m excited to share this yearlong journey with you.
Step one of this partnership was meeting with Dr. Kulbersh and his director of skin care, Dede Wick. We spent over an hour discussing my goals, what I like and dislike about my skin and face and what my goals are around aging and the appearance of my skin and face. To be honest, it was hard to sit on a table in a doctor’s office holding a mirror and pointing these things out but they were so kind and just listened to me without pushing anything on me. It definitely helped me get clear on a few things…the main thing being some self-love and recognizing that I’m happy with the way things are now but I’d love to enhance as I age.
I posted this in my intro post but I’ll state it again here. My two main goals for this partnership are…
- As much preventative care as possible to help with the aging process. Over the last couple of years I have definitely started to notice my skin changing in texture, tone, volume, fine lines, etc. I want to have glowing, radiant, youthful skin for as long as possible and I know there are so many things I can do to help with that.
- The ability to manage my hormonal acne without the use of birth control.
The final step of our consult was taking photos so that we could document where I was at the beginning of the yearlong project and so that Dr. Kulbersh and Dede could visually show me the possibilities via a computer program. It was really weird to see my face up close and personal like that. I noticed so many places that my face is asymmetric but it was actually beautiful and made me feel uniquely my own self.
A week later I had my first appointment with Dede for my first facial and to kick off my new skin care routine. Her first course of action was to strip my current routine down to bare bones. She wanted to give me a clean slate to build from so that we could slowly add to see what works and doesn’t work for my skin.
She totally listened to me when I told her that it’s all I can do to stumble out of bed and wash my face and brush my teeth before my early morning classes and clients and gave me a super simple morning routine. Cleanse with Image Ormedic Organic Balancing Facial Cleanser, Image The Max Eye Creme and Image Prevention Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 to kill two birds with one stone…sun protection and light coverage that’s perfect for the gym.
My night routine was equally as simple. Cleanse with Image Reconstructive Facial Cleanser, Image The Max Eye Creme and Image The Max Creme.
The Image line features medical grade skin care products that are paraben free and never tested on animals. Let’s talk about the benefits of using medical grade skin care products. I had to educate myself on this and wanted to share it with you as well.
– Medical grade skin care products can only be purchased through a physician and the FDA monitors what can be dispensed through a physician. Anything else is considered over the counter.
– The strength of the active ingredient is higher in medical grade products.
– Superior delivery systems that allow the active ingredients to penetrate into the dermis. Over the counter products sit on top of the dermis and provide more of a short-term moisturizing benefit.
After getting squared away with my new skincare routine, it was time for a treatment. The goal of the year is for me to have an at-home routine that is supplemented with monthly peels/facials. These peels can lighten and brighten the skin, firm and tighten improve the appearance of fine lines and even the skin tone.
We started with Carolina Facial Plastic’s “The Signature Facelift Peel.” It is a basic vitamin C and glycolic acid peel that is gentle but its enzymes speed up your cellular turnover and brighten, tighten and lighten your skin.
Brighten, lighten and tighten it did! I didn’t even have to wear makeup for the rest of the day. My skin was glowing. Again, this is a gentle peel so no burning during the treatment or redness after. Just radiant skin!
I was sent home with a post-treatment care kit to use for 2-3 days.
Check out this totally makeup and product free selfie that I took after my evening shower on the day of the peel. My skin has not looked this clear and healthy in a very long time.
It’s only been two months but I’m already thrilled about working with Carolina Facial Plastics and the results I’ve seen so far.
Do you use any medical grade skin care products? Have you ever had peel treatment?
