STYLING THE SHOOT

By Leslie Peck

It is no secret that medical spa treatments are on the rise in the past decade.

There are many reasons women and men are booking regular spa appointments to ensure they put their best face forward. The increasing work from home environment has many professionals rethinking their close-up appearance while on camera. Social media has also created a boom in how we view and present ourselves to the public as online images have become our yellow pages to peers, colleagues and the general public.

Although there are many things we can do from home, there are certain services you definitely need a professional’s expertise. New med spas are opening each year and most of them are booked weeks out with the following services. If you haven’t ventured into the world of medical spa treatments, it’s never too late to start.

What are the best services to book and why? Here are some of the top appointments to get on your schedule in 2023.

Leslie Peck is a local makeup artist, aesthetician and lash artist with almost two decades of experience. She has worked 11 seasons of NYC Fashion Week as well as several beauty shoots while living in New York City. Leslie also has experience in TV, film, print and celebrity makeup in Los Angeles. She specializes in bridal makeup, skincare education and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in 2007. 1FACIALS Facials are so much more than a fluffy spa service with steam, hot towels and cucumbers on your eyes. Facials should be a staple in your schedule the same as getting your teeth cleaned. Think of your routine facials as a customized, deep clean for your face. Great add-ons for any facial are microdermabrasion, dermaplane or a hydration facial.

• Microdermabrasion. Using a slightly rough instrument to glide over the skin, microdermabrasion removes dead skin and cleanses pores to gently resurface the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.

• Dermaplane. This is the best facial to create a buttery, smooth, glowing appearance to the skin. A blade is used to exfoliate, clean the pores and remove dead skin along with all of the vellus hairs on the face which allows product to go deeper into the pores. Dermaplane will not cause the hair on the face to grow back any different than it was originally.

• Hydration Facial. This is a non-invasive treatment for removing black heads and resurfacing the skin while pushing hydrating ingredients into to the layers of the dermis

2MICRONEEDLING

This treatment involves tiny skin pricks to cause the skin to produce extra collagen to repair the newly damaged skin. This speeds up cellular rejuvenation, which can smooth fine lines and wrinkles as well as help with age spots, sun damage and other concerns. Typically, multiple sessions are necessary for best results.

3PHOTOREJUVENATION OR IPL

Consult with your medical aesthetician or dermatologist about scheduling an IPL. It is good for most skin types but there are a few exceptions. This treatment only takes about 15 to 20 minutes, has minimal pain and typically has great results after one to three treatments. There isn’t much downtime, but you do have to be careful with sun exposure soon after an IPL.

4PEELS

Consult a medical aesthetician to find the best peel for your skin. A series of peels may be necessary over a few months to achieve the desired results. The most common peels range from light to medium to deep. • Light. An alpha-hydroxy acid peel is quick and has little to no downtime. This peel goes only into the top layer of skin and is safe for all skin types. The AHA peel is great for rejuvenating, clearing mild blemishes and brightening the skin. • Medium. Glycolic or trichloroacetic acid are used to go into the middle layers of the skin to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, precancerous skin growths and keratosis. This peel takes 30 to 45 minutes and may require oral pain medication to help with discomfort. A medium peel may have up to a week of downtime. • Deep. Phenols are the chemicals used in deep peels, which are the most complicated of all the peels. This type of peel may require general anesthesia, IV pain killers and can take 60 to 90 minutes. There will be several days of downtime, but the results will be the most dramatic. This peel is best done under the care of your dermatologist.

5HAIR REMOVAL

Getting rid of unwanted hair is one of the top services in the spa industry today. These options include waxing, sugaring, electrolysis and laser hair removal. Most hair removal treatments have little to no downtime, however, side effects can include red, irritated or sometimes slightly swollen skin. Electrolysis and laser hair removal may cause skin discoloration on certain skin tones or with sun exposure too close to treatments. Skin discoloration can be temporary or permanent.

way to remove hair on the face and body. It is great for anyone that does not have sensitive skin and is not using Accutane, Differin, Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Salisylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide. Waxing has great results but always let your service provider know what medications and treatment you are using to avoid damaged skin.

• Sugaring. This is the most organic form of hair removal and best for all types of skin. Sugar is a paste made of water, sugar and lemon. It is safe for anyone to use on any part of the body. The results typically last longer than waxing because the direction the hair is pulled is more likely to get the hair from the root. This is best for sensitive skin.

• Electrolysis and Laser. Both of these treatment have a higher rate of permanent hair removal with multiple treatments. It is best to make sure to see someone that is certified in these types of hair removal.

6BOTOX AND FILLERS

Botox and fillers are a great way revive a youthful appearance and temporarily smooth lines and wrinkles. • Botox. Botox is an injectable used to temporarily relax the muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. This can be used to prevent wrinkles and to smooth out existing wrinkles. There is very little to no downtime and only takes a few minutes for the service. Typically, you would need to get Botox every three to six months to maintain the desired look. • Fillers. Fillers can be used in various areas of the face to plump and smooth lines. Unlike Botox, fillers can last longer – a few months and in some cases, a few years. Fillers may cause bruising, bleeding and swelling and typically hurt more than Botox.

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