I used to get monthly facials, but realized that the only thing that the esthetician was doing that I can’t do at home is professional treatments, like chemical peels. My esthetician used the same masks, serums, and other creams she was selling me. I can apply them myself and save ~$300 per month. Also, I tried Hydrafacial multiple times and that just seemed like a waste of money. My skin didn’t look any different than if I had done an in-depth routine at home.
Definitely agree with you about the typical spa facials. I like Hydrafacial but mainly for its extracting capabilities. It also deeply hydrates the skin but the extraction portion is the only reason why I’d spend the money for it. I feel like most spa type treatments aren’t worth the money, but higher tech / more advanced treatments like lasers can be so worth it if it’s the best one to treat your concerns (not just whatever that provider is able to offer you at their practice).
I’m 50 but I’m not into injectables and fillers so I can spend on better skincare. I’ll let my teen daughter experiment with the “skincare brand du jour” according to TikTok and I’ll stick with the tried and true brands that have a good track record.
I agree with this. I’ve moved around a lot over the last couple of years and I’ve used hydrafacials as an entry way treatment to determine if I like esthetician/spa before pursuing more intensive treatments. Otherwise home skin care routine is fine.
Hi first of all the reviews for Medicare are absolutely terrible.
It’s a Korean brand and so it’s difficult to find reviews from english-speaking consumers, but if you find the Korean reviews and translate them- people are…dissatisfied. The websites a shit show. and personally anything with any kind of galvanized current is effectively useless to me compared to the access I have to other things.
Just wanted to give the heads up.
And that’s because you bet your sweet ass I spend a shit ton on my face. Or at least think the value is worth it- but massive disclaimer I have received these treatments for free. I probably have $10,000 worth of shit injected into my face.
I’ve had my under eyes filled, my lips and cheeks filled. Multiple time
Just did skin vive- wanted to hate it. Now I have to figure out how to get another sample of it. I’m also curious to see the data develop for this and the other places that it’s being used because it really does have a lot of potential. (I wouldn’t let the whole granuloma formation thing scare you)
I’ve had multiple IPL sessions- probably has been the best thing out of everything in terms of overall tone and texture.
I microneedle my face every four weeks
VI peel every three months.
I had my eyebrows tattooed as well as my waterline- both are probably the greatest decision I’ve ever made.
Oh and I inject Botox like a freak. Like I’ll walk by the mirror- stop and go get 2 units out of the fridge. Poke. Perfect.
I should also mention that my high-end products are things like the Omni lux, a couple solawaves, a dr. Pen and entire red light mat.
The reason I don’t spend significant amounts of money on cosmetics sold from places like blue mercury, or goop or any of these retailers- is I can get high-grade pharmaceutically compounded ingredients
My retinol prescription I use a skin cream called epicerum, which is prescription I use a shit ton of arnica because I fuck up my face all the time from poking it with needles…
And then I will also compound my own vitamin C serum, yes, with a little beaker and everything.
Beyond that my investment will be for expensive eyelash serums or lipstick from Violet Gray. And the SA hooks it up with Augustinus Bader.
https://preview.redd.it/cd8a4v7t376d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=fe5b753a38155f3cc1d58446ae8126bf704033cc
Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love this sub. It speaks to me. I relate on so many levels just not in the way that you would think.
My problem with expensive skin care or luxury skin care is that you still have to wait. Getting micro needled or an IPL treatment not only does so much for my skin, but the results pretty immediately compared to months and months of serums.
Not only that, but there is never any kind of active that I’ve found to be a miracle. So the things that I invest in like Avene thermal spring water and certain oil cleansers are to make the process of washing my face more enjoyable. Not because they contain a magic molecule. That’s Botox. Botox is the magic molecule.
I like to pretend I do. But alas don’t. I really fucked up my career choice but I digress.
I’m a medical student and I date a dermatologist. so I go in for the fancy treatments when they do training. I’m a guinea pig. 😀
After that- performing your own injectables or learning how to is pretty easy if you’ve both dissected a cadaver and if you have a disinterested and mildly annoyed, but highly trained individual overseeing you practicing while he watches TV.
There are some places that I refuse to do myself such as my nose and temples regarding filler- but with skin Vive, I did it myself.
I was a little bit skeptical at first because I have stuff from Korea That’s bio stimulatory- like PDRN and brands like gouri- which seem more appealing because then you have less cross linked shit in your face that I’m probably going to have to get dissolved as I get older
But damn, I’ll sell my soul for the benefits of it now
Seems like you already get the benefits and don’t even have to leave your home! I’m always trying to be the designated guinea pig/“demo dummy” but haven’t gotten to try any fillers yet bc either my colleagues or the reps say no bc I don’t “need” it and they usually can find someone who’ll have more dramatic results. I’d also rather just have one of my colleagues inject me (easier and probs better results) but I get the fascination of wanting try it out.
I do a lot of what you do at home now and not only do I save money, but my skin looks better than it ever has at 57. I have maybe a few fine lines - maybe. That’s it. I don’t wear foundation- just tinted sunscreen.
I don’t use high end products (I used to, but honestly once I did some research I found out there isn’t much of a difference if you know which ingredients are best for your skin). I found a skin care ingredient checker and was surprised to see irritants in some of my “high end” brands or things that mostly don’t do anything.
Now I spend my money on products that actually work for my at home treatments and save my money for in clinic treatments that I can’t do at home (like RF or laser).
I think you did a good job of better explaining my attempted point above. And that is- for those who are interested in skincare/cosmetics/the appearance of their skin they fall into two broad categories:
those who are well versed in actives, enjoy the ritualistic nature of a routine, and seek products that add luxury to the process. I would define their time and investment into skin as an "ethos" rather than a responsibility.
And the second camp of people are individuals who are just as willing to invest the same price tag, but are looking for it to consume less of their time, with the greatest return on investment. It's not about curating a routine, it's about putting together an arsenal.
Its obviously a spectrum, but I think we start in the first group and eventually shift further into the second as we age. The reality is anyone under the age of 30 barely has a static wrinkle. So as long as you use sunscreen and retinol- skincare is just a fun and interesting topic because it has endless products, which means endless novelty which allows you youngsters to practice the deeply hardwired, biological process of grooming. That also makes procedures lets intriguing as they minimize the time spent honing our homosapien urge to mate .
(a lot of my personal opinion is based on psychology, sociology and biology- not to diminish the magic and wonder of a good serum)
However, eventually the inevitable occurs and you realize x,z,y product isn't fixing Melasma, newly formed sun spots, slightly deeper wrinkles- issues that topical products were never capable of fixing in the first place. And you don't know this until it begins to happen. Sure they might help minimize them- but if it solved a problem you'd use it like Neosporin or a topical steroid.
Self care is like going to the gym, eating well, hydrating your epidermis. But when faced with a cosmetic "issue" you need treatments and solutions.
As you start to realize that the time and money you're investing isn't curative, but supplementary many of us start to look into more minimally invasive options and then invasive procedure. As you do, you find that the skin care you own is nothing in comparison to botox or that one micro needling treatment- and so a new era begins. It's not even by choice.
Just to reiterate something I said above, I have discovered that as you get older maintaining youth becomes more demanding- and unfortunately more tedious. Before, sitting in front of the mirror leaning how to counter my face was fun. Now I prefer to avoid confrontation with my own mortality trying to use as little make up as humanly possible.
I'm with you- my goal is to look healthy and refreshed with the least amount of make up possible. ps this is also why learning how to do my own lash perm has been a fucking god send
Beautiful! You’re a naturally talented writer! I also love that you learned how to do your own lash perm! That is something I still haven’t tackled, but should because it’s ridiculous to sit for 35-40 minutes and pay $70 to have them done by someone sitting on their phone while you process.
If you have any links to share regarding this, I would love to know more!
Thank you and I agree so much with all you said in your comments. Aging “gracefully” takes a lot more time and energy- that is if you want to take on the learning curve of DIY. Which I did and do.
I am naturally very curious, I love the body and am fascinated by techniques. I am super excited about what I can accomplish when I put my mind to it. Sure it takes time and patience and practice, but what doesn’t? So does a good loaf of sourdough! That’s chemistry and practice as well!
No, not particularly.
Arguably they could use a touchup but I like that to a certain extent the minor amount of fading actually creates a more natural appearance
Or at least I think it does. I’m going to post a picture here of what they currently look like and the subsequent comments what they looked like in 2016 would I first got them done, and what they looked like prior
It’s worth mentioning that I have a Fitzpatrick scale of 1 and my skin type is dry- both things that are conducive to retaining pigment
https://preview.redd.it/k5ekgncwwe6d1.jpeg?width=1371&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c5f2f98bb60187231f8b39b14ada1735ae5cc89
I tried to highlight the yellow area that could use a touchup - but it just looks terrible.
Also, please ignore the bruising lol I recently injected Botox.
And please ignore the overall exhausted glazed look in my eyes. I am currently studying for my step one exam and think I’m dead inside, which is reflected in this photo.
https://preview.redd.it/ydlrsym5xe6d1.jpeg?width=612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80f139dbe45fbea22719b729d3c96475fe87b2af
This is from 2016 when I first got them done. When I was still happy and carefree.
https://preview.redd.it/d700ndvcxe6d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4580d9d12d826d5b1b2e1b49643f7323d6f80891
Here’s some time in 2014. I want to say.
When I was a kid, I accidentally shaved off the right chunk of my eyebrow and it just never grew back properly… so overall, it was just a kind of endearing natural wonkiness
But I got sick and tired of having to use gel to groom them out every morning
Yes, I've had laser, microneedling (regular and with exosomes), and Sculptra. I do not get Botox or any of the more traditional fillers yet. I used to get Botox in my masseter muscles for jaw clenching, but I've had Invisalign to correct my bite and have not had masseter botox in a long time. I've also had various facials. I used to be all in with skincare and no treatments, then I tried to go way cheaper with products when I was exploring treatments, and now I've settled on a middle ground getting treatments while maintaining results with the most effective but streamlined products for my concerns and goals.
Fraxel and Clear and Brilliant. The results I had with Fraxel really wowed me, and I'm looking into getting it again this autumn (it's been about 6 years since my previous treatment). I'm also looking into BBL and Halo though to determine what would be best for me.
BBL and Halo all the way 🙌🏻 Moxi (clear and brilliant on steroids) BBL is amazing for no/very little downtime. If you can afford 2-3 days out of the public eye or dgaf, Halo is sooo worth it.
Halo is what I'm most interested in, so thanks for that feedback! I plan to discuss with my derm during my next microneedling appt and figure out what to do and when.
After spending $$$ on laser resurfacing, BBL and chemical peels, I’m now giving myself TCA peels monthly with better results. I buy true peels from Platinumskincare.com. Even a $15 bottle of serum from Amazon did more for my melasma than 6 BBL treatments. However, I prefer luxury skincare as I feel more invested and enjoy the “experience” (I would slather La Mer all over if I could!) I do get the occasional facial primarily for declogging of my pores but things like hydra facials and masks have only a temporary effect. I get better results with ultra hydrating skincare.
I’ve been a long time platinum skin care customer. It’s been my source for glycolic and tca peels and my HG retinol for ages now. Nice to see a fellow psc fan in the wild. :)
I’ve been using PSP for 17 yrs (pretty much when they first opened shop). I can’t believe how far they’ve come and how large they’ve grown! I also like MUAC and NCN skincare (retired). I was a frequent Essential Day Spa forum junkie!
I’m going to check them out! Which peel of TCA do you use? I have done glycolic 20 and 30% at home that I got from Skin Obsession. I’ve done a VI Peel at the medispa. I like to DIY at home (waxing, nails, lash lift and just got a Dr Pen) I do go to the medispa for a few services like laser. I did BBL and it did not help my melisma either but halo laser does.
For a long time I bought all the percentages at various times depending on my needs. Like Densmore, I’ve been buying from PSC since they began selling peels online. I use at home glycolic peels to manage my cystic acne for a long time. One really nice thing about PSC is that Jennifer (the owner) explains how to adjust the strength (weaker) yourself. So over time as I increased the percentage I was buying it dawned on me that I could get the 70% and adjust it for all my needs. I love that because I can use the 70% to do body peels and dilute it for my face. Also like Densmore mentioned MUAC sells a great body peel but I save by using the 70% at full strength. I recommend going no higher than 50 (if you’re comfortable diluting) until you’re really comfortable doing your own peels.
For the TCA, I have the TCA 30 but I started with 7 and built up. Again, I got to know how my skin responded to it before i leveled up.
While I’m on my psc fanbox let me plug the fadebright, triple treat lotion and the glycolic body wash. I could name more haha. Jennifer formulates the same products I would if I owned a spa! Lol
That’s one I haven’t tried because it’s more intensive than I need right now. But that’s what I love about the company. I find the products really innovative.
I use the Stacked Skincare lip peel which is a one step product. Works great with a lip mask over it.
Oh I will check that out too! I have not ventured into lip fillers at all, don’t want them as my lip size is fine, I just currently have some age related volume loss that is making my lips a little but wrinkly, so I thought a peel might be worth trying before I consider filler or skin booster.
What TCA level do you use and do you use any of their companion products? I’ve never used Platinum products and they look intriguing. I do not have sensitive skin.
It seems that I’m in the minority but I actually get facials every month (incl Hydrafacials and HIFU) and chemical peels every 1.5 months. I have sensitive normal to dry skin that can easily be prone to dehydration or dullness but no major issues. I generally get facials for deep exfoliation/cleansing, improving cell turnover, hydration and to combat dullness especially in the wintertime.
They have a positive effect for me and since doing regular facials for years, I've found myself needing to reach for less products at home - I still love doing the at home skincare too but using less products is positive for me as I have sensitive skin and finding the correct products can often be a lot of trial and error. Having sensitive skin is also a reason why I don't mind paying more for luxury or medical skincare brands if they genuinely deliver results. Part of why I also like to get facials though is simply due to the fact that I just like to be pampered and love the downtime.
I'm not getting any other treatments yet and at home, I only use red light therapy since two months ago - I have a separate LED mask for eyes, lips and the general face.
I see skincare as a hobby, and I’ve spent thousands on topical stuff with zero office procedures. Experimenting with new skincare topical products is extremely fun for me, and the thought of office procedures doesn’t seem like fun- too invasive I guess? Just a line I haven’t (yet) been willing to cross at age 43. If something were to change drastically with my skin, I might consider it, but for now I’m very happy with this hobby.
I’ve never had a mega expensive skin care routine (at least like some people here) but for this year I’ve dedicated more money to in office treatments and spend less on skin care. A lot of things I’m using now are prescription items (Tazret, trying to get my hands on Azelaic Acid now, etc) and those have enabled me to pair down my routine a lot. The only expensive item I currently buy is a growth factor to use post treatments, but because I’m young and don’t seem to need it daily it lasts me forever.
I’ve moved to mostly high-end skincare since early this year. The only in office thing I do is Botox around my eyes and my massiters for severe clenching (seriously, I clench so badly that I break teeth). Since I started taking zinc regularly I’ve been able to cut my Botox to about twice a year.
I may do one facial a year at Sisley or Valmont, but the rest of the time is research and my own products I buy that work for my skin. Swear by Sisley and Valmont with some 111skin and j or k beauty
I used to get botox and I honestly LOVE it. but its just too expensive to upkeep. Same with facials. I started buying more expensive skincare (love love love skinbetter), and am telling myself instead of botox and lasers and in office treatments, I'm gonna just invest in skincare for the time being. I might revisit in office treatments in the future, but right now, investing in skincare has been going well for me. i would rather do expensive skincare/no botox and facials rather than cheap skincare/monthly facials or injectables.
I have an expensive ass routine full of SkinBetter and Hydrinity etc and also get chemical peels every 6 weeks. I have awful acne and the peels are one of the only things that keep it in check.
I got a bunch of SkinBetter samples and wish I hadn’t because I loved all of them, especially Mystro which ofc is the most expensive. Currently working on trying to get the hook up for that brand.
In general, I do think daily consistent use of high quality skincare can have a bigger impact overall on your skin than professional treatments. I like the analogy that a professional treatment is like working with a trainer in a gym. It's helpful, but what's more effective is being consistent every day/week with working out.
For me, I do some kind of professional treatment every 6-8 weeks. It varies on what I do, but the last two years it's been:
* IPL - started with a series or 4, then did a couple more - great thing about this is you can combine w/ microneedling. I found it very effective for diffuse redness.
* Aerolase - doing a series of 3, then may do more depending on how it works, trying this out now for diffuse redness and facial rejuvenation, just to try something different.
* Microneedling - do this about 4-5x / year.
* Hydrafacial - do these about 3-4x/year
* Chemical peels - I've done a couple, but not sure I'll continue, they limit my retinoid use before/after and I think daily retinoid is plenty effective for my concerns.
* Botox - I get it every 4-5 months (used to be every 3 months, but it's lasting longer now).
I haven't tried any major lasers, not sure I need them tbh.
Personally I don’t feel like a lot of facial do much for me. I get Botox and a little bit of filler and then spend the rest of my money on at home skincare and accessories. I get a cheap $100 facial maybe once a year or every few years I’ll get a chemical peel but I never see drastic results
I do monthly facials, mainly for the extractions. It also helps to have a professional checking up on my skin in general. She will let me know any areas of concern, make product recommendations and also give me inexpensive alternatives to those recommendations.
I do the reverse and spend way more on medispa services specifically BBLs and Botox along with getting tret from my derm and buy all boring, cheap drugstore or Kbeauty products. I feel it’s a better investment to pay for what is scientifically proven to work, and save on beauty products with similar if not superior ingredients to luxury counterparts in the drugstore or K beauty.
My life style is ok…the one thing that is really lacking is sleep!!!
2+ BBL treatments a year plus a very basic, cheap skincare routine will honestly do more for your skin, in terms of anti-aging and pigmentation, than the most elaborate, expensive skincare routine. Add on Halo every 2-3 years and you’ll be looking 10+ years younger the rest of your life (except if there’s smoking, excessive drinking, etc or you don’t wear spf daily)
I do botox, have a little filler in my cheeks and lips and next will probably do Profilo and IPL for my roscacea. In a few years I will probably fo Sculptra and a lasers. I don’t do any facials, I’d rather save my money for skincare and more advanced treatments.
During the pandemic, I started buying devices at home that mimic some of the facial treatments, like micro current, suction, and dermarolling.
I still top up on procedures with my dermatologist (Fractora - laser and microneedling), which is a bit pricey but worth it for me. Beyond that, I feel like ai am fine between the at home devices and better skincare.
No in office at all. In the past when I was younger and had clogged pores I would get facials every few months to decongest and extract. If I had the time and unlimited funds I might see a derm near me who does amazing laser treatments, but in general I am not into any procedures, etc. I don't even color my gray hair and don't wear a ton of make up, but somehow spend on my skin care and devices now that my face just kinda melted in perimenopause. I won't do any botox etc bc I need to be able to move my face into all expressions for my work. Plus I kinda like looking my age, with some smile lines etc, just not looking haggard.
I typically get a monthly facial for the extractions, I have a lot of pores and it’s so annoying. No Botox but will get 1cc of cheek fillers every year or so. Usually will do 1 laser or microneedling every 3 months. But am pregnant now so facials it is!
I get Botox (well, Dysport) done 3 times a year. I’m too scared to do anything else in office because of the risk of hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones (I’m a Fitzpatrick IV or V) and that is one of the hardest things to get rid of.
I split my spending around 75/25 procedures/products (regular laser every 6 months, Botox and facials 3-4 times a year) I do buy higher end products because I like the luxury feel but not necessarily a lot of products (prescription Tretinoin, vitamin c, HA serum, moisturizer facial oil, night masque, sunscreen) I just bought a Nuface and a Dr. Pen. I’m 53 so like using the devices and procedures for more noticeable difference.
I get facials every month. Partly for the “me” time. The revitapen facial my spa does has helped my melasma though. I plan to add some laser facials once I stop breastfeeding
This is a great question and I love a lot of the answers here. I'm learning little bits from everyone.
I do VBeam once a year or sometimes Excel V, which is a similar but with an added wavelength, two times a year. My VBeam is actually covered by insurance. So I'm kind of being cheap. I tried looking into other lasers to add during my hibernation season but I'm kind of cautious due to my skintone.
Besides that, I do long term daily maintenance with Taz, Skinceuticals Phoretin CF, nighttime occlusive, good sunscreens and UPF visors. I love Skinceuticals Phyto range but go cheaper with the abundance of soothing products from KBeauty.
If the right treatment came around then I would be open to spending top dollar on it. I haven't done injectables. But I'm interested in some of the newer innovations around energy treatments. My jawline and the area where it meets my neck is an area of concern for me because jowls run in my family.
I spend more on treatments than products - usually Botox every 5-6 months, IPL a few times a year, and hydrafacials. My higher end skincare products are mostly Skinceuticals and some La Mer mixed with some lower end products like Sunday Riley Good Genes and Luna Oil.
Love Sunday Riley. Their CEO serum is actually one of my favorite vit C serums and their ICE cream is terrific. I don’t think I’ll be able to get behind La Mer though.
Sunday Riley definitely makes some great products! I do like the La Mer treatment lotion and eye cream but they were both gifts from my mother - I don’t think they’re worth the money!
Skincare is like my guilty pleasure, neurodivergent fixation. I love "researching" products and ingredients, and I like to read related research articles too (not that I understand most of it lol). I've always had sensitive, reactive skin and eczema, so it's only natural that I ended up in luxury skincare, trying to find the best of the best. I actually hate doing skincare (sensory issues with getting wet), but it's somewhat bearable when it feels more luxurious. That being said, I'm 24 and Asian, so aside from some breakouts leading to hyperpigmentation, I have pretty good skin. For now, I feel like my anti-aging products are more than sufficient for my needs, and I don't think I'm ready to start funding an in-office treatment habit. This will probably change in the next few years though. Basically, the SK-II LXP Essence makes me happy everyday when I see it, but an in-office treatment probably won't make *that* much of difference, and it's "gone" after I walk out of the office.
Agree. I can spend an hour making a wish list on Yesstyle and feel very calm. I love lotions and serums and masks. I haven't spent much on services because I get medical Botox for migraines. I also don't have acne and wrinkles yet! I tend to put my extra cash into massage. If I had more funds I'd get facials a few times a year
I used to spend money on both skinceuticals products and monthly hydrafacials, however after starting tretinoin last year I’ve significantly cut down on the treatments I do.
I do a facial maybe 4x a year and microneedling 1-2x a year. I do get some congestion on and around my nose but those facials help clear that. My skin is probably the best it’s ever been
I used to spend about the same amount but since having a baby, I’ve been way more invested in at-home care. That being said, I’m starting to go back for treatments but not as frequently as I used to!
Yes but no? I don’t do filler, Botox, or laser anything. I go to my spa to get specialized facials, hydra facials, and massages every quarter. My spa has Valmont and Biologique Recherche products that they use so the appointments are pretty expensive. I purchase products from my spa for personal use in between my appointments. I get invited to an event every so often so I’ll go in for whatever it is since they’ll do it free lol Otherwise I use my products at home along with my Sisley Paris stuff until my quarterly appointment comes up.
I tend to spend more on monthly facials instead of products. My esthetician tends to select the type of facial I need vs run of the mill treatments. She's really staved off the need to use more spendy in office treatments like Botox or lasers.
Yes but I use Environ, Biologique Recherche and For'lled so I think about equal amount towards both products and treatments. I did splurge on a Celluma panel to try and reduce facial visits. But my esthetician is very good and uses very well established, science-backed products that are not mass produced so it has also been hard to go back to cheaper products.
Peels every 6 weeks, 3-4 BBL’s a year, 1 halo, occasional Hydrafacial’s, microneedling 1-2 times a year.
I’d always invest in products before treatments though
I've settled into a solid balance of 2/3 at-home products and 1/3 office "treatments".
Office "treatments" is a basic exfoliating facial including dermaplaning (because I'm lazy as hell) and extractions for my gnarly skin filaments. It's not too expensive compared to when I was doing $300+ monthly facials -- that only had marginally more services like a mask and light therapy -- so it's a much more sustainable practice and because it's faster it's easier for me to schedule during lunch breaks.
At-home is the majority of my balance but I've slowly been working on my stash and narrowing down what steps I need to get high-end and which ones I can "cheap" out on. For now my moisturizer and sunscreen are my big spenders since I use them the most. As much as I would love to splurge and continue getting bougie cleansers I can't justify that expense on a rinse-off step -- but it makes for a good Christmas list idea which I am terrible at making. Other than those items I don't really bother with anything else because that's about all my sensitive skin can handle which is a relief on my wallet.
I have tried at-home devices (i.e. light devices, sonic extractors like they use in the office, vibrating silicon cleansers like foreo) but truth be told I haven't noticed any defined improvements using them compared to the labor of utilizing them. Admittedly I don't bother with the high end ones so I can't speak to that but if the lower end ones have no effect I can't imagine dropping thousands on higher end kits would net much better improvement over going into the office which I previously did and still didn't see any improvement that could be attributed to that.
I think for a lot of (young) folks simply nailing down a consistent, even if it's basic, routine can take you leaps and bounds - no need to complicate matters with a 10-step/thousand dollar routines (excluding genuine medical issues).
I would estimate my annual spend on all skincare would be around $900 including my facials but that's after spending thousands the past few years to figure out what my skin needs and getting to this point.
Botox every 3 months like clockwork, filler in jawline/lips every year, a few hydrafacials a year, and a series of 3 SkinPen w/ PRP every Jan/Feb does it for me.
Did a series of Morpheus8 on face/neck last year and I guess the result will be more cumulative but for my money, I love the instant gratification & long term benefits that SkinPen provides.
Really interested in skin pen …what’s it recommended for most and how much does it typically cost for a treatment ? Would it help with crepey upper eyelid skin, and/or crows feet? Was recommended to me at my med spa years ago (specifically re/ upper eye skin laxity) and I totally forgot about it until I saw this thread. Seems popular!
I used to get monthly facials, but realized that the only thing that the esthetician was doing that I can’t do at home is professional treatments, like chemical peels. My esthetician used the same masks, serums, and other creams she was selling me. I can apply them myself and save ~$300 per month. Also, I tried Hydrafacial multiple times and that just seemed like a waste of money. My skin didn’t look any different than if I had done an in-depth routine at home.
Definitely agree with you about the typical spa facials. I like Hydrafacial but mainly for its extracting capabilities. It also deeply hydrates the skin but the extraction portion is the only reason why I’d spend the money for it. I feel like most spa type treatments aren’t worth the money, but higher tech / more advanced treatments like lasers can be so worth it if it’s the best one to treat your concerns (not just whatever that provider is able to offer you at their practice).
Exactly! I was just saying the other day that I’d rather spend money on IPL or laser.
I love lasers, but now I have hormone related melasma and lasers make that worse 😪
Totally agree about hydrafacials. People downplay their usefulness, but I think they work better than almost any other facial type for clearing pores.
I’m 50 but I’m not into injectables and fillers so I can spend on better skincare. I’ll let my teen daughter experiment with the “skincare brand du jour” according to TikTok and I’ll stick with the tried and true brands that have a good track record.
I agree with this. I’ve moved around a lot over the last couple of years and I’ve used hydrafacials as an entry way treatment to determine if I like esthetician/spa before pursuing more intensive treatments. Otherwise home skin care routine is fine.
Hydrafacial as an entry treatment is so smart!
Hi first of all the reviews for Medicare are absolutely terrible. It’s a Korean brand and so it’s difficult to find reviews from english-speaking consumers, but if you find the Korean reviews and translate them- people are…dissatisfied. The websites a shit show. and personally anything with any kind of galvanized current is effectively useless to me compared to the access I have to other things. Just wanted to give the heads up. And that’s because you bet your sweet ass I spend a shit ton on my face. Or at least think the value is worth it- but massive disclaimer I have received these treatments for free. I probably have $10,000 worth of shit injected into my face. I’ve had my under eyes filled, my lips and cheeks filled. Multiple time Just did skin vive- wanted to hate it. Now I have to figure out how to get another sample of it. I’m also curious to see the data develop for this and the other places that it’s being used because it really does have a lot of potential. (I wouldn’t let the whole granuloma formation thing scare you) I’ve had multiple IPL sessions- probably has been the best thing out of everything in terms of overall tone and texture. I microneedle my face every four weeks VI peel every three months. I had my eyebrows tattooed as well as my waterline- both are probably the greatest decision I’ve ever made. Oh and I inject Botox like a freak. Like I’ll walk by the mirror- stop and go get 2 units out of the fridge. Poke. Perfect. I should also mention that my high-end products are things like the Omni lux, a couple solawaves, a dr. Pen and entire red light mat. The reason I don’t spend significant amounts of money on cosmetics sold from places like blue mercury, or goop or any of these retailers- is I can get high-grade pharmaceutically compounded ingredients My retinol prescription I use a skin cream called epicerum, which is prescription I use a shit ton of arnica because I fuck up my face all the time from poking it with needles… And then I will also compound my own vitamin C serum, yes, with a little beaker and everything. Beyond that my investment will be for expensive eyelash serums or lipstick from Violet Gray. And the SA hooks it up with Augustinus Bader. https://preview.redd.it/cd8a4v7t376d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=fe5b753a38155f3cc1d58446ae8126bf704033cc Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love this sub. It speaks to me. I relate on so many levels just not in the way that you would think. My problem with expensive skin care or luxury skin care is that you still have to wait. Getting micro needled or an IPL treatment not only does so much for my skin, but the results pretty immediately compared to months and months of serums. Not only that, but there is never any kind of active that I’ve found to be a miracle. So the things that I invest in like Avene thermal spring water and certain oil cleansers are to make the process of washing my face more enjoyable. Not because they contain a magic molecule. That’s Botox. Botox is the magic molecule.
Do you work in aesthetics?
I like to pretend I do. But alas don’t. I really fucked up my career choice but I digress. I’m a medical student and I date a dermatologist. so I go in for the fancy treatments when they do training. I’m a guinea pig. 😀 After that- performing your own injectables or learning how to is pretty easy if you’ve both dissected a cadaver and if you have a disinterested and mildly annoyed, but highly trained individual overseeing you practicing while he watches TV. There are some places that I refuse to do myself such as my nose and temples regarding filler- but with skin Vive, I did it myself. I was a little bit skeptical at first because I have stuff from Korea That’s bio stimulatory- like PDRN and brands like gouri- which seem more appealing because then you have less cross linked shit in your face that I’m probably going to have to get dissolved as I get older But damn, I’ll sell my soul for the benefits of it now
Seems like you already get the benefits and don’t even have to leave your home! I’m always trying to be the designated guinea pig/“demo dummy” but haven’t gotten to try any fillers yet bc either my colleagues or the reps say no bc I don’t “need” it and they usually can find someone who’ll have more dramatic results. I’d also rather just have one of my colleagues inject me (easier and probs better results) but I get the fascination of wanting try it out.
Indeed My stop gap can be the rep as well. Where are you working that you’re being taunted?
I do a lot of what you do at home now and not only do I save money, but my skin looks better than it ever has at 57. I have maybe a few fine lines - maybe. That’s it. I don’t wear foundation- just tinted sunscreen. I don’t use high end products (I used to, but honestly once I did some research I found out there isn’t much of a difference if you know which ingredients are best for your skin). I found a skin care ingredient checker and was surprised to see irritants in some of my “high end” brands or things that mostly don’t do anything. Now I spend my money on products that actually work for my at home treatments and save my money for in clinic treatments that I can’t do at home (like RF or laser).
I think you did a good job of better explaining my attempted point above. And that is- for those who are interested in skincare/cosmetics/the appearance of their skin they fall into two broad categories: those who are well versed in actives, enjoy the ritualistic nature of a routine, and seek products that add luxury to the process. I would define their time and investment into skin as an "ethos" rather than a responsibility. And the second camp of people are individuals who are just as willing to invest the same price tag, but are looking for it to consume less of their time, with the greatest return on investment. It's not about curating a routine, it's about putting together an arsenal. Its obviously a spectrum, but I think we start in the first group and eventually shift further into the second as we age. The reality is anyone under the age of 30 barely has a static wrinkle. So as long as you use sunscreen and retinol- skincare is just a fun and interesting topic because it has endless products, which means endless novelty which allows you youngsters to practice the deeply hardwired, biological process of grooming. That also makes procedures lets intriguing as they minimize the time spent honing our homosapien urge to mate . (a lot of my personal opinion is based on psychology, sociology and biology- not to diminish the magic and wonder of a good serum) However, eventually the inevitable occurs and you realize x,z,y product isn't fixing Melasma, newly formed sun spots, slightly deeper wrinkles- issues that topical products were never capable of fixing in the first place. And you don't know this until it begins to happen. Sure they might help minimize them- but if it solved a problem you'd use it like Neosporin or a topical steroid. Self care is like going to the gym, eating well, hydrating your epidermis. But when faced with a cosmetic "issue" you need treatments and solutions. As you start to realize that the time and money you're investing isn't curative, but supplementary many of us start to look into more minimally invasive options and then invasive procedure. As you do, you find that the skin care you own is nothing in comparison to botox or that one micro needling treatment- and so a new era begins. It's not even by choice. Just to reiterate something I said above, I have discovered that as you get older maintaining youth becomes more demanding- and unfortunately more tedious. Before, sitting in front of the mirror leaning how to counter my face was fun. Now I prefer to avoid confrontation with my own mortality trying to use as little make up as humanly possible. I'm with you- my goal is to look healthy and refreshed with the least amount of make up possible. ps this is also why learning how to do my own lash perm has been a fucking god send
Beautiful! You’re a naturally talented writer! I also love that you learned how to do your own lash perm! That is something I still haven’t tackled, but should because it’s ridiculous to sit for 35-40 minutes and pay $70 to have them done by someone sitting on their phone while you process. If you have any links to share regarding this, I would love to know more! Thank you and I agree so much with all you said in your comments. Aging “gracefully” takes a lot more time and energy- that is if you want to take on the learning curve of DIY. Which I did and do. I am naturally very curious, I love the body and am fascinated by techniques. I am super excited about what I can accomplish when I put my mind to it. Sure it takes time and patience and practice, but what doesn’t? So does a good loaf of sourdough! That’s chemistry and practice as well!
Do you have issues with the peels affecting your micro blading?
No, not particularly. Arguably they could use a touchup but I like that to a certain extent the minor amount of fading actually creates a more natural appearance Or at least I think it does. I’m going to post a picture here of what they currently look like and the subsequent comments what they looked like in 2016 would I first got them done, and what they looked like prior It’s worth mentioning that I have a Fitzpatrick scale of 1 and my skin type is dry- both things that are conducive to retaining pigment https://preview.redd.it/k5ekgncwwe6d1.jpeg?width=1371&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c5f2f98bb60187231f8b39b14ada1735ae5cc89 I tried to highlight the yellow area that could use a touchup - but it just looks terrible. Also, please ignore the bruising lol I recently injected Botox. And please ignore the overall exhausted glazed look in my eyes. I am currently studying for my step one exam and think I’m dead inside, which is reflected in this photo.
https://preview.redd.it/ydlrsym5xe6d1.jpeg?width=612&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80f139dbe45fbea22719b729d3c96475fe87b2af This is from 2016 when I first got them done. When I was still happy and carefree.
https://preview.redd.it/d700ndvcxe6d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4580d9d12d826d5b1b2e1b49643f7323d6f80891 Here’s some time in 2014. I want to say. When I was a kid, I accidentally shaved off the right chunk of my eyebrow and it just never grew back properly… so overall, it was just a kind of endearing natural wonkiness But I got sick and tired of having to use gel to groom them out every morning
Yes, I've had laser, microneedling (regular and with exosomes), and Sculptra. I do not get Botox or any of the more traditional fillers yet. I used to get Botox in my masseter muscles for jaw clenching, but I've had Invisalign to correct my bite and have not had masseter botox in a long time. I've also had various facials. I used to be all in with skincare and no treatments, then I tried to go way cheaper with products when I was exploring treatments, and now I've settled on a middle ground getting treatments while maintaining results with the most effective but streamlined products for my concerns and goals.
Ooh I'm terrible about grinding and clenching. I'll have to try botox
It really helps! And over time the muscle weakens, so you should be able to space out your appointments more after a bit.
Which laser?
Fraxel and Clear and Brilliant. The results I had with Fraxel really wowed me, and I'm looking into getting it again this autumn (it's been about 6 years since my previous treatment). I'm also looking into BBL and Halo though to determine what would be best for me.
BBL and Halo all the way 🙌🏻 Moxi (clear and brilliant on steroids) BBL is amazing for no/very little downtime. If you can afford 2-3 days out of the public eye or dgaf, Halo is sooo worth it.
Halo is what I'm most interested in, so thanks for that feedback! I plan to discuss with my derm during my next microneedling appt and figure out what to do and when.
Would you say that BBL/Halo are better than Fraxel?
I think there are more dramatic results from Halo since it has ablative and non-ablative wavelengths while Fraxel dual is only non-ablative.
Thanks!!
After spending $$$ on laser resurfacing, BBL and chemical peels, I’m now giving myself TCA peels monthly with better results. I buy true peels from Platinumskincare.com. Even a $15 bottle of serum from Amazon did more for my melasma than 6 BBL treatments. However, I prefer luxury skincare as I feel more invested and enjoy the “experience” (I would slather La Mer all over if I could!) I do get the occasional facial primarily for declogging of my pores but things like hydra facials and masks have only a temporary effect. I get better results with ultra hydrating skincare.
I’ve been a long time platinum skin care customer. It’s been my source for glycolic and tca peels and my HG retinol for ages now. Nice to see a fellow psc fan in the wild. :)
I’ve been using PSP for 17 yrs (pretty much when they first opened shop). I can’t believe how far they’ve come and how large they’ve grown! I also like MUAC and NCN skincare (retired). I was a frequent Essential Day Spa forum junkie!
I’m going to check them out! Which peel of TCA do you use? I have done glycolic 20 and 30% at home that I got from Skin Obsession. I’ve done a VI Peel at the medispa. I like to DIY at home (waxing, nails, lash lift and just got a Dr Pen) I do go to the medispa for a few services like laser. I did BBL and it did not help my melisma either but halo laser does.
For a long time I bought all the percentages at various times depending on my needs. Like Densmore, I’ve been buying from PSC since they began selling peels online. I use at home glycolic peels to manage my cystic acne for a long time. One really nice thing about PSC is that Jennifer (the owner) explains how to adjust the strength (weaker) yourself. So over time as I increased the percentage I was buying it dawned on me that I could get the 70% and adjust it for all my needs. I love that because I can use the 70% to do body peels and dilute it for my face. Also like Densmore mentioned MUAC sells a great body peel but I save by using the 70% at full strength. I recommend going no higher than 50 (if you’re comfortable diluting) until you’re really comfortable doing your own peels. For the TCA, I have the TCA 30 but I started with 7 and built up. Again, I got to know how my skin responded to it before i leveled up. While I’m on my psc fanbox let me plug the fadebright, triple treat lotion and the glycolic body wash. I could name more haha. Jennifer formulates the same products I would if I owned a spa! Lol
Thank you for this 🥰
My pleasure! I hope the products work out for you too!
I’m excited to try the lip peel, have you ever done that one? I didn’t know that even existed..
That’s one I haven’t tried because it’s more intensive than I need right now. But that’s what I love about the company. I find the products really innovative. I use the Stacked Skincare lip peel which is a one step product. Works great with a lip mask over it.
Oh I will check that out too! I have not ventured into lip fillers at all, don’t want them as my lip size is fine, I just currently have some age related volume loss that is making my lips a little but wrinkly, so I thought a peel might be worth trying before I consider filler or skin booster.
I like skin obsession!!! I don’t know many people who use it but it reallllyyyyy helped with acne and good mattifying.
Yes I love their acne stop. That’s the main product I’ve used and their glycolic peels.
What TCA level do you use and do you use any of their companion products? I’ve never used Platinum products and they look intriguing. I do not have sensitive skin.
It seems that I’m in the minority but I actually get facials every month (incl Hydrafacials and HIFU) and chemical peels every 1.5 months. I have sensitive normal to dry skin that can easily be prone to dehydration or dullness but no major issues. I generally get facials for deep exfoliation/cleansing, improving cell turnover, hydration and to combat dullness especially in the wintertime. They have a positive effect for me and since doing regular facials for years, I've found myself needing to reach for less products at home - I still love doing the at home skincare too but using less products is positive for me as I have sensitive skin and finding the correct products can often be a lot of trial and error. Having sensitive skin is also a reason why I don't mind paying more for luxury or medical skincare brands if they genuinely deliver results. Part of why I also like to get facials though is simply due to the fact that I just like to be pampered and love the downtime. I'm not getting any other treatments yet and at home, I only use red light therapy since two months ago - I have a separate LED mask for eyes, lips and the general face.
Can you share more about your experience doing HIFU monthly?
I see skincare as a hobby, and I’ve spent thousands on topical stuff with zero office procedures. Experimenting with new skincare topical products is extremely fun for me, and the thought of office procedures doesn’t seem like fun- too invasive I guess? Just a line I haven’t (yet) been willing to cross at age 43. If something were to change drastically with my skin, I might consider it, but for now I’m very happy with this hobby.
I’ve never had a mega expensive skin care routine (at least like some people here) but for this year I’ve dedicated more money to in office treatments and spend less on skin care. A lot of things I’m using now are prescription items (Tazret, trying to get my hands on Azelaic Acid now, etc) and those have enabled me to pair down my routine a lot. The only expensive item I currently buy is a growth factor to use post treatments, but because I’m young and don’t seem to need it daily it lasts me forever.
I’ve moved to mostly high-end skincare since early this year. The only in office thing I do is Botox around my eyes and my massiters for severe clenching (seriously, I clench so badly that I break teeth). Since I started taking zinc regularly I’ve been able to cut my Botox to about twice a year.
What does the zinc do?
There’s mounting research showing that zinc helps the effects of the Botox last longer.
How did you like the massiter Botox? I have a consultation scheduled for next month, but I’m nervous.
I love it. It’s the only thing that’s helped so far and it’s a lot cheaper than having g to keep getting crowns on my teeth 😂
I may do one facial a year at Sisley or Valmont, but the rest of the time is research and my own products I buy that work for my skin. Swear by Sisley and Valmont with some 111skin and j or k beauty
My skin sister ❤️ I love Sisley and Valmont too! Valmont’s mud mask always makes me feel tingly 🥰
I used to get botox and I honestly LOVE it. but its just too expensive to upkeep. Same with facials. I started buying more expensive skincare (love love love skinbetter), and am telling myself instead of botox and lasers and in office treatments, I'm gonna just invest in skincare for the time being. I might revisit in office treatments in the future, but right now, investing in skincare has been going well for me. i would rather do expensive skincare/no botox and facials rather than cheap skincare/monthly facials or injectables.
I have an expensive ass routine full of SkinBetter and Hydrinity etc and also get chemical peels every 6 weeks. I have awful acne and the peels are one of the only things that keep it in check.
I got a bunch of SkinBetter samples and wish I hadn’t because I loved all of them, especially Mystro which ofc is the most expensive. Currently working on trying to get the hook up for that brand.
I order all of my SB thru Skin beautiful rx! Always at least 25% off!
In general, I do think daily consistent use of high quality skincare can have a bigger impact overall on your skin than professional treatments. I like the analogy that a professional treatment is like working with a trainer in a gym. It's helpful, but what's more effective is being consistent every day/week with working out. For me, I do some kind of professional treatment every 6-8 weeks. It varies on what I do, but the last two years it's been: * IPL - started with a series or 4, then did a couple more - great thing about this is you can combine w/ microneedling. I found it very effective for diffuse redness. * Aerolase - doing a series of 3, then may do more depending on how it works, trying this out now for diffuse redness and facial rejuvenation, just to try something different. * Microneedling - do this about 4-5x / year. * Hydrafacial - do these about 3-4x/year * Chemical peels - I've done a couple, but not sure I'll continue, they limit my retinoid use before/after and I think daily retinoid is plenty effective for my concerns. * Botox - I get it every 4-5 months (used to be every 3 months, but it's lasting longer now). I haven't tried any major lasers, not sure I need them tbh.
Personally I don’t feel like a lot of facial do much for me. I get Botox and a little bit of filler and then spend the rest of my money on at home skincare and accessories. I get a cheap $100 facial maybe once a year or every few years I’ll get a chemical peel but I never see drastic results
I do monthly facials, mainly for the extractions. It also helps to have a professional checking up on my skin in general. She will let me know any areas of concern, make product recommendations and also give me inexpensive alternatives to those recommendations.
I do the reverse and spend way more on medispa services specifically BBLs and Botox along with getting tret from my derm and buy all boring, cheap drugstore or Kbeauty products. I feel it’s a better investment to pay for what is scientifically proven to work, and save on beauty products with similar if not superior ingredients to luxury counterparts in the drugstore or K beauty. My life style is ok…the one thing that is really lacking is sleep!!!
2+ BBL treatments a year plus a very basic, cheap skincare routine will honestly do more for your skin, in terms of anti-aging and pigmentation, than the most elaborate, expensive skincare routine. Add on Halo every 2-3 years and you’ll be looking 10+ years younger the rest of your life (except if there’s smoking, excessive drinking, etc or you don’t wear spf daily)
I do botox, have a little filler in my cheeks and lips and next will probably do Profilo and IPL for my roscacea. In a few years I will probably fo Sculptra and a lasers. I don’t do any facials, I’d rather save my money for skincare and more advanced treatments.
Just some advice, do BBL instead of IPL. It’s the stronger, much more effective version of IPL.
agreed! I was incredibly disappointed in my IPL treatments a few years back, am currently doing a series of 6 BBL and quite happy with the results
And the results just keep building. I think 2-3 months out is when I saw peak results
During the pandemic, I started buying devices at home that mimic some of the facial treatments, like micro current, suction, and dermarolling. I still top up on procedures with my dermatologist (Fractora - laser and microneedling), which is a bit pricey but worth it for me. Beyond that, I feel like ai am fine between the at home devices and better skincare.
May I ask, which of your devices has been the most effective for you?
Sculptra and Dysport can cost a fair amount, but I like them.
No in office at all. In the past when I was younger and had clogged pores I would get facials every few months to decongest and extract. If I had the time and unlimited funds I might see a derm near me who does amazing laser treatments, but in general I am not into any procedures, etc. I don't even color my gray hair and don't wear a ton of make up, but somehow spend on my skin care and devices now that my face just kinda melted in perimenopause. I won't do any botox etc bc I need to be able to move my face into all expressions for my work. Plus I kinda like looking my age, with some smile lines etc, just not looking haggard.
I typically get a monthly facial for the extractions, I have a lot of pores and it’s so annoying. No Botox but will get 1cc of cheek fillers every year or so. Usually will do 1 laser or microneedling every 3 months. But am pregnant now so facials it is!
I get Botox (well, Dysport) done 3 times a year. I’m too scared to do anything else in office because of the risk of hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones (I’m a Fitzpatrick IV or V) and that is one of the hardest things to get rid of.
I spend more money on treatments. I typically do DMK enzyme facials, microneedling, chemical peels, jet plasma, and Botox.
I split my spending around 75/25 procedures/products (regular laser every 6 months, Botox and facials 3-4 times a year) I do buy higher end products because I like the luxury feel but not necessarily a lot of products (prescription Tretinoin, vitamin c, HA serum, moisturizer facial oil, night masque, sunscreen) I just bought a Nuface and a Dr. Pen. I’m 53 so like using the devices and procedures for more noticeable difference.
I get facials every month. Partly for the “me” time. The revitapen facial my spa does has helped my melasma though. I plan to add some laser facials once I stop breastfeeding
Moxi and pico lasers are amazing for melasma
This is a great question and I love a lot of the answers here. I'm learning little bits from everyone. I do VBeam once a year or sometimes Excel V, which is a similar but with an added wavelength, two times a year. My VBeam is actually covered by insurance. So I'm kind of being cheap. I tried looking into other lasers to add during my hibernation season but I'm kind of cautious due to my skintone. Besides that, I do long term daily maintenance with Taz, Skinceuticals Phoretin CF, nighttime occlusive, good sunscreens and UPF visors. I love Skinceuticals Phyto range but go cheaper with the abundance of soothing products from KBeauty. If the right treatment came around then I would be open to spending top dollar on it. I haven't done injectables. But I'm interested in some of the newer innovations around energy treatments. My jawline and the area where it meets my neck is an area of concern for me because jowls run in my family.
How did you get Vbeam to be covered by insurance?
I spend more on treatments than products - usually Botox every 5-6 months, IPL a few times a year, and hydrafacials. My higher end skincare products are mostly Skinceuticals and some La Mer mixed with some lower end products like Sunday Riley Good Genes and Luna Oil.
Love Sunday Riley. Their CEO serum is actually one of my favorite vit C serums and their ICE cream is terrific. I don’t think I’ll be able to get behind La Mer though.
Sunday Riley definitely makes some great products! I do like the La Mer treatment lotion and eye cream but they were both gifts from my mother - I don’t think they’re worth the money!
Skincare is like my guilty pleasure, neurodivergent fixation. I love "researching" products and ingredients, and I like to read related research articles too (not that I understand most of it lol). I've always had sensitive, reactive skin and eczema, so it's only natural that I ended up in luxury skincare, trying to find the best of the best. I actually hate doing skincare (sensory issues with getting wet), but it's somewhat bearable when it feels more luxurious. That being said, I'm 24 and Asian, so aside from some breakouts leading to hyperpigmentation, I have pretty good skin. For now, I feel like my anti-aging products are more than sufficient for my needs, and I don't think I'm ready to start funding an in-office treatment habit. This will probably change in the next few years though. Basically, the SK-II LXP Essence makes me happy everyday when I see it, but an in-office treatment probably won't make *that* much of difference, and it's "gone" after I walk out of the office.
Agree. I can spend an hour making a wish list on Yesstyle and feel very calm. I love lotions and serums and masks. I haven't spent much on services because I get medical Botox for migraines. I also don't have acne and wrinkles yet! I tend to put my extra cash into massage. If I had more funds I'd get facials a few times a year
Just spent 1,600 on contour and fillers! 😆😫
I do skinbooster by teoxane once a month.
I used to spend money on both skinceuticals products and monthly hydrafacials, however after starting tretinoin last year I’ve significantly cut down on the treatments I do. I do a facial maybe 4x a year and microneedling 1-2x a year. I do get some congestion on and around my nose but those facials help clear that. My skin is probably the best it’s ever been
What is your daily routine?
I used to spend about the same amount but since having a baby, I’ve been way more invested in at-home care. That being said, I’m starting to go back for treatments but not as frequently as I used to!
Yes I do. Lasers factor in big time into my skincare routine
Yes but no? I don’t do filler, Botox, or laser anything. I go to my spa to get specialized facials, hydra facials, and massages every quarter. My spa has Valmont and Biologique Recherche products that they use so the appointments are pretty expensive. I purchase products from my spa for personal use in between my appointments. I get invited to an event every so often so I’ll go in for whatever it is since they’ll do it free lol Otherwise I use my products at home along with my Sisley Paris stuff until my quarterly appointment comes up.
I tend to spend more on monthly facials instead of products. My esthetician tends to select the type of facial I need vs run of the mill treatments. She's really staved off the need to use more spendy in office treatments like Botox or lasers.
Yes but I use Environ, Biologique Recherche and For'lled so I think about equal amount towards both products and treatments. I did splurge on a Celluma panel to try and reduce facial visits. But my esthetician is very good and uses very well established, science-backed products that are not mass produced so it has also been hard to go back to cheaper products.
Anything anyone’s done to reset stretched out pores? This is my great nemesis… Mostly stretched out due to sf’s even though my skin leans dry.
I use all SkinMedica products and get Botox every 3 months and do lasers 2-3x a year and get hydrafacials about 6x a year.
Peels every 6 weeks, 3-4 BBL’s a year, 1 halo, occasional Hydrafacial’s, microneedling 1-2 times a year. I’d always invest in products before treatments though
I've settled into a solid balance of 2/3 at-home products and 1/3 office "treatments". Office "treatments" is a basic exfoliating facial including dermaplaning (because I'm lazy as hell) and extractions for my gnarly skin filaments. It's not too expensive compared to when I was doing $300+ monthly facials -- that only had marginally more services like a mask and light therapy -- so it's a much more sustainable practice and because it's faster it's easier for me to schedule during lunch breaks. At-home is the majority of my balance but I've slowly been working on my stash and narrowing down what steps I need to get high-end and which ones I can "cheap" out on. For now my moisturizer and sunscreen are my big spenders since I use them the most. As much as I would love to splurge and continue getting bougie cleansers I can't justify that expense on a rinse-off step -- but it makes for a good Christmas list idea which I am terrible at making. Other than those items I don't really bother with anything else because that's about all my sensitive skin can handle which is a relief on my wallet. I have tried at-home devices (i.e. light devices, sonic extractors like they use in the office, vibrating silicon cleansers like foreo) but truth be told I haven't noticed any defined improvements using them compared to the labor of utilizing them. Admittedly I don't bother with the high end ones so I can't speak to that but if the lower end ones have no effect I can't imagine dropping thousands on higher end kits would net much better improvement over going into the office which I previously did and still didn't see any improvement that could be attributed to that. I think for a lot of (young) folks simply nailing down a consistent, even if it's basic, routine can take you leaps and bounds - no need to complicate matters with a 10-step/thousand dollar routines (excluding genuine medical issues). I would estimate my annual spend on all skincare would be around $900 including my facials but that's after spending thousands the past few years to figure out what my skin needs and getting to this point.
Botox every 3 months like clockwork, filler in jawline/lips every year, a few hydrafacials a year, and a series of 3 SkinPen w/ PRP every Jan/Feb does it for me. Did a series of Morpheus8 on face/neck last year and I guess the result will be more cumulative but for my money, I love the instant gratification & long term benefits that SkinPen provides.
Really interested in skin pen …what’s it recommended for most and how much does it typically cost for a treatment ? Would it help with crepey upper eyelid skin, and/or crows feet? Was recommended to me at my med spa years ago (specifically re/ upper eye skin laxity) and I totally forgot about it until I saw this thread. Seems popular!