Sari's Journey

Real People, Real Skin

Read real clients stories, see their transformation

Sari's Journey

" As I have maintained striving for healthy skin over the course of many years, I often get asked what products I use or what treatments I do. Although it seems like this would prompt a straightforward answer, there isn't just one definitive answer to the question. Each of the daily efforts I make to continue to care for my skin are vital components to my overall skin health, however, I feel it's equally important to mention and discuss the many things I consistently don’t do, as these factors contribute to the overall health of my skin as well."
Maintaining results from previous treatments, suppressing melasma, controlling hormonal acne, stimulating collagen and preventing age related concerns.

Objective:

Maintaining results from previous treatments, suppressing melasma, controlling hormonal acne, stimulating collagen and preventing age related concerns. .


History:

  • Age 49
  • Profession - Operations Manager at Radiance Advanced Skincare & Laser
  • Established Client with Kelly since 2016


Previous Product Regimen:

Obagi NuDerm Skin Care Line

  • Face Wash
  • Toner
  • Vitamin C Serum
  • Exfoliant Cream 
  • Hydroquinone Cream
  • SPF 30+
  • PCA Décolletage & Neck Cream 
  • Prescription Tretinoin (Retinol)


Current Radiance Product Regimen:

AM

  • Sensitive Cleansing Milk (Control Corrective) 
  • Meri Stem Serum (Circadia) - Face/Neck/Chest 
  • Alto Advanced Defense & Repair (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum (PCA) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Even Tone Correcting Serum (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Chest
  • Techno Neck Perfecting Cream (Skinbetter Science) - Neck
  • Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Emergency Eye Lifting Serum (Circadia) - Upper Eyelid 
  • Interfuse Eye Treatment Cream (Skinbetter Science) - Upper & Lower Eyelid 
  • Elta MD UV Clear-Tinted SPF 46  (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Hyaluronic Acid Lip Booster (PCA) - Lips
  • Lipid Body Treatment (Epicutis) - Arms/Legs 
  • Nutrafol Women’s Balance Oral Supplements (Nutrafol) - 4 Capsules Daily

PM

  • Vitamin Veil Facial Cleansing Oil (Circadia) - removes mascara, too! 
  • Refining Foam Cleanser (Skinbetter Science) - double cleanse after Vitamin Veil
  • Lipid Cleansing Gel (Circadia) - substitute for Refining Foam Cleanser when feeling dryer 
  • AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads (Skinbetter Science) - 1x per week
  • Detoxifying Scrub Mask (Skinbetter Science) - Face, as needed 
  • Serum 71 (Circadia) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Alto Advanced Defense & Repair (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Even Tone Correcting Serum (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Chest
  • Techno Neck Perfecting Cream (Skinbetter Science) - Neck
  • InterFuse Eye Treatment Cream (Skinbetter Science) - Upper Lid 
  • EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream (Skinbetter Science)  - Under Eyes only 
  • Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment (Skinbetter Science) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • Hyaluronic Acid OverNight Mask (PCA) - Face/Neck/Chest
  • AlphaRet Body Overnight Cream (Skinbetter Science) - Legs/Arms/Back of Hands
  • Babe Lash Eyelash Growth Serum (Babe Original) - Lash Line
  • Babe Brow Eyebrow Growth Serum (Babe Original) - Eyebrows
  • Nutrafol Hair Serum (Nutrafol) - Scalp Treatment
  • Omnilux LED Light Therapy device - Neck/Décolleté


In-Office Treatments - 0ver the course of two years:

  • PRP Hair Restoration & Tear Troughs - series of 4 with annual maintenance 
  • 1 Sculptra Treatment - Lower Face 
  • Xeomin - approximately every 4 months 
  • Sylfirm X (RF Microneedling) with Exosomes - Face/Neck, series of 3 with annual maintenance 
  • Skin Pen (Microneedling) - series of 3 
  • 3 Chemical Peel (BioRePeel) - Décollete, always in combination with Sylfirm X 
  • 3 IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) - Brown & Reds Spots, Face/Chest 
  • Laser Hair Removal - 8 treatments with bi-annual maintenance
  • Brow Mapping with Tint - as needed 
  • Dermaplaning - approximately every 6 weeks or as needed


Sari's Testimonial:

My skincare journey began almost 20 years ago in 2005, exactly one year after the birth of my second child at age 28. With my second pregnancy I developed melasma (specifically Centrofacial Epidermal Melasma), aka pregnancy mask, in addition to struggling with hormonal acne. And full disclosure, I was a dedicated sun worshiper up until this point, as in full blown baby oil (with the occasional use of olive 0il) with lemon juice in my hair and tanning bed membership, so all of this damage would soon surface, as well. At this stage of my very developed melasma, I was left feeling frustrated and desperate, so I scheduled an appointment to be seen by a dermatologist. It was recommended by the dermatologist that I consult with a cosmetic surgeon, who at the time specialized in treating melasma and other skin conditions, as any treatment for melasma and acne was considered cosmetic, therefore it was an out of pocket expense. This was my first introduction to professional grade skin care products and medical aesthetics. As hesitant as I was, due to the sticker shock of the product kit that was highly recommended by the doctor, I trusted the physician as she was kind, compassionate and knowledgeable… and it may have helped that she had porcelain skin! So, I made my first “big girl” skincare purchase, the kit cost $450 (I will never forget!) and trusted the process. I learned that consistency and patience was key. The biggest challenge for me (besides spending $450 on skincare in one shot) was managing the severe dryness and flaking during the duration while my skin acclimated to being on a prescription retinol. Another difficult aspect was learning how to balance being in the heat and sun as I had two active young children at the time. By the end of my treatment plan my melasma was no longer visible and my hormonal acne had improved. I had noticeable results by the 12 week mark, significant results at 6 months, and by the end of the year I no longer had any visible melasma. I continued to stay the course with implementation of professional skin care products. I learned of the importance in suppressing my melasma, as it is a chronic skin condition that will remain dormant and can resurface at any given moment, especially when instigated by heat, sunlight, stress and hormone fluctuations. Within this timeframe I had received my first microneedling treatment and a couple of light chemical peels to follow. This investment in my skin, financially, emotionally and the time commitment is what prompted my passion for skin health. I became highly motivated in furthering my knowledge to better understand how external and internal factors impact my skin, along with genetics, while learning and understanding as much as possible scientifically, even down to the cellular level. As a result, I had a newfound appreciation for my skin in recognizing that being it is our largest organ of the body, I needed to help to support it better so it can in turn optimally support me. 

Fast forward to 2016 and meeting Kelly! I was an Operations Manager for a Day Spa, which had a Medical Spa located below, which is where Kelly worked. After forming a personal relationship with Kelly, I began to see her for IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments to treat the broken capillaries on my cheeks, which has an amazing side benefit of stimulating collagen! Kelly also performed laser hair removal on my lower legs, which was a game changer for me and quite a personal treat! I then proceeded to receive PRP injections by Kelly for my scalp to support hair growth, as I am genetically predispositioned to have Androgenic Alopecia, also known as female pattern hair loss. Although I was currently not experiencing excessive hair thinning, knowing it would be an issue at some point I chose to be proactive by utilizing my own platelets as preventative measures. I continue to maintain treatments and also take Nutrafol daily, which aids in preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes the hair follicles to overreact to androgens. DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink and miniaturize, resulting in finer and thinner hair, it shortens the hair growth cycle, then eventually causes permanent hair loss. With my current routine of maintenance PRP treatments, daily Nutrafol oral supplements, and nightly Nutrafol scalp serum application, I have experienced minimal shedding with new hair growth. Nutrafol has also helped beyond my hair as it has improved my skin as well in that I no longer experience painful hormonal acne along my chin and jawline. At age 48 I was still struggling periodically with this issue, but have not experienced any flare ups since being on Nutrafol! My results have been substantial enough that I will continue to use Nutrafol religiously, especially as I will be entering the menopause journey sometime soon as Nutrafol aids in mitigating the unpleasant side effects of menopause such as hot flashes, hormonal imbalances and hair thinning. Needless to say, this will be a forever fixture in my routine. 

As I have maintained striving for healthy skin over the course of many years, I often get asked what products I use or what treatments I do. Although it seems like this would prompt a straightforward answer, there isn't just one definitive answer to the question. Each of the daily efforts I make to continue to care for my skin are vital components to my overall skin health, however, I feel it's equally important to mention and discuss the many things I consistently don’t do, as these factors contribute to the overall health of my skin as well. I’d also like to highlight and emphasize that my skin journey has been a work in progress for over 20+ years and counting!

I DO:
  • Maintain a consistent at home skincare routine with professional grade products, which I reevaluate periodically as needed based off of the change in season and my current skin needs
  • Prioritize my skin routine while listening to podcasts, using it as a way to decompress
  • Daily oral supplements, such as Nutrafol, Magnesium, B12, D3, K2, Fish Oil and Probiotics, NAD+, Amino Acids, etc. I order all of my supplements with confidence from Fullscript, which is available at Radiance through Kelly!
  • Consume 80-100 grams of protein per day in various types of forms
  • Focusing on eating a clean diet about 80% of the time, allowing myself the things I love in moderation, while limiting sugar intake (or at least trying to!)
  • Hydrate first thing in the am with warm lemon water, followed by an electrolyte/salt mixture, then continue regular water intake throughout the day
  • Limit caffeine intake to 1 cup of coffee per day
  • Sleep next to a humidifier 
  • Use silk pillow cases, regularly washing them to avoid bacteria build up
  • Sleep with my hair in a loose bun to keep it off of my skin
  • Selecting an impactful collagen building treatment each year, such as Sylfirm X. My goal this year is to do Sculptra. 
  • Continually educating myself on skincare, advanced medical aesthetics and gut health to maintain and optimize my results
  • Prioritizing long term skin health, rather than a quick fix or fill 
  • Minimal makeup, using mineral makeup to promote skin health, only adding color correctors to the areas that bother me such as my under-eyes. Although I appreciate a full face of makeup on others, I’ve always felt it does not look quite as nice on me, which is the motivation for me to keep my skin as healthy as possible to minimize the coverage needed.

I DO NOT:
  • Smoke or frequently consume alcohol, with the exception of a couple of glasses of wine about 2x per year
  • Do not stay in direct sun without an oversized hat, sunglasses and SPF
  • Minimize sun exposure in its height 
  • Minimize heat exposure as it will cause my melasma to resurface. I invested in window tinting for my vehicle to keep the temperature cooler inside and to minimize penetrating rays. I also utilize my car starter in the summer to cool my car off before I enter it. I have found that even a quick burst of heat will resurface my melasma, so this has been key. 
  • Don’t over exfoliate, I've learned this from trial and error, so I’ve implemented products that provide a chemical exfoliation over time rather than manually exfoliating too frequently. 

In maintaining my skin I try to focus on in office collagen inducing treatments and have accepted that with some of these treatments comes downtime, but for me it's worth the temporary discomfort to gain great results. I have also normalized the healing process, however, I will acknowledge this is much easier to do working in the aesthetics industry. I like to address my particular concerns with treatments such as Sylfirm X (RF Microneedling), PRP, IPL and Sculptra. I prefer these types of treatments due to their high effectiveness for natural skin rejuvenation. I am a huge fan of stimulating my own collagen and at my age my collagen (or lack of) needs all the encouragement it can get! 

I realize that my routine may seem overwhelming for many and it may not be for everyone, but through trial and error I have found that this is what works for me and it has become second nature. I think it’s important to mention that I did not purchase all of my skincare products at once, either. I gradually purchased each product individually over time and because of this I tend to fall on a schedule that allows me to continue to repurchase them at different times, making it much more financially manageable. I also choose to spend more on my overall health, which includes my skin, rather than on frequent shopping, eating out or Starbucks runs. As I’ve gotten older my priorities have significantly changed, so as a result the things that are important to me become easier to achieve. I still indulge in the occasional iced latte or a cathartic TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Home Goods excursion, but I consider these to be more of an occasional treat. I’ve also learned to just embrace the downtime associated with certain treatments, I’m a guaranteed bruiser, so it is what it is. But more importantly, after 20 years I have successfully trained my husband to accept and embrace it as well! I have found that sharing my experiences with others is not only helpful to them, but also helpful to me as well as it provides me with better insights from many different perspectives. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my journey and as always, I’m happy to share my expertise and experiences to help you achieve your skincare goals, too!

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