When I got into the field of medical aesthetics 10 years ago I had no idea how important medical-grade products were for your skin. Ok, y’all don’t judge me but I was that girl that went to bed without washing her face, used over the counter moisturizer, wore sunscreen sporadically and never wore a hat to protect my face. I know, right? I’ll never forget going to my first Obagi conference and walking out at the end of a full day of training with my full Obagi Kit! I felt like a kid in a candy store and was so excited to get started with my transformation. During my three months of peeling, red, irritated skin, I kept reminding myself what they kept repeating at training, “Your skin will look worse before it looks better”, and they were absolutely spot on. The results were worth every dead skin that fell from my face. My skin was smooth, my pores were smaller, my sunspots were gone and my overall appearance was healthier. It wasn’t until I had a friend come into the spa where I was working and ask me what I did to my skin? I told her about my Obagi experience and she went into her purse, pulled out her credit card and said: “I want what you have”. It was at that moment that healthy skin became my passion. I went to every conference I could go to and learned everything I could about skin and what products worked for every skin condition. As a nurse, I felt like it was my responsibility to educate and share my knowledge with every patient I saw. How could I let someone spend $1000 on a procedure to patch up the damage they did from not taking care of their skin. No matter what treatment a patient gets, having healthy skin is a must.
Your epidermis is the top part of your skin, and your skin is your body’s largest and fastest-growing organ. To create a truly effective anti-aging skincare plan, however, it helps to start with healthy skin care habits.
The benefits of healthy skincare habits include:
- Prevent (or clear up) a blotchy complexion
- Retain skin’s youthful firmness longer
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Keep complexion looking brighter and younger
- Avoid leathery skin
- Reduce skin cancer risk
Did you know your collagen starts breaking down in your 20’s?
Do you know the difference between medical-grade skincare and cosmeceutical skincare?
When I moved to Charleston and found a home at The Spa at West Ashley I was beyond excited when I saw they were selling ZO Skincare. Dr. Obagi used his many years of experience as a dermatologist treating skin to develop a skincare line that treats skin health restoration. ZO Skincare has a product for every skin type and every skin issue.
I was also thrilled when I met my colleague, Amanda Dantzler, Laser & Skincare Specialist, as she is as passionate about skincare as I am. Amanda has worked at The Spa at West Ashley for 7 years, helping patients tackle their skincare needs and is extremely knowledgeable on skincare and other treatments to complement anti-aging and other skincare concerns.
This month I am turning 57 and I am going to celebrate the occasion with a vampire facial. I have watched clients go in and out of Amanda’s room and rave about the vampire facial so I think it is time I check it out.
. Having healthy skin is key to a good treatment no matter what procedure you are having done. At The Spa at West Ashley, we know that finding a skincare regimen can be confusing because there are so many products out there. I can’t tell you how important using the proper products is for your skin. I would rather have a patient wait until they can afford a good product than to waste their money on a product that isn’t going to do anything to repair or treat their skin.
If you are ready to “Turn Back the Hands of Time”, schedule a free consultation with one of our providers. Bring in your products and join us for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as we sit and design a skincare plan that is right for YOU!
By Marilyn Horwath RN, BSN
