How Med Spas Can Become The Ultimate Weapon in Your Anti-Agining Skincare Journey

It can be so challenging to find beauty within when or even self-care, from time to time, every other day, there seems to be a new skincare trend. There was slugging and glass skin, and there’s going to be so much more soon enough. So, in the pursuit of timeless beauty, the landscape of skincare has evolved (pretty rapidly) by introducing innovative approaches to combat the effects of aging. 

Now, there’s nothing wrong with this in the slightest; the biggest struggle for most is finding something that works, and if there are constant trends out and about, it’s just hard to find that. So, with that said, med spas like Elan Skin & Laser are blending medical expertise with spa-like experiences and have emerged as the ultimate weapon in the anti-aging skincare journey. 

Basically, it’s like a spa, but then hyper-ramped up to get the job done! It’s no surprise why they’re getting more popular with everyone. Just think about it for a moment: a regular spa usually cannot use high equipment on you for something like wrinkles. 

They’re usually not permitted to, but a med spa gives you that relaxing atmosphere while at the same time being able to perform some procedures on you with their fancy equipment like red light therapy, use high-frequency waves, and so much more. But how can these still be a secret weapon for anti-aging? Well, here’s what you need to know!

You’re Getting Expert Guidance

So, you need to keep in mind that med spas distinguish themselves by housing a team of medical professionals, including dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and skilled aestheticians. So this isn’t like a regular spa where you sit in a jacuzzi and then get a massage. So, instead, the presence of these experts ensures that professionals with in-depth knowledge of skin health and rejuvenation guide your anti-aging journey.

There’s Personalized Treatments

For the most part, with regular spas, you can expect that their view is “one size fits all.” But when it comes to med spas, they know for a fact that one size does not fit all in skincare. They prioritize individualized treatment plans tailored to your unique skin type, concerns, and goals. Whether you’re addressing fine lines, wrinkles, or uneven skin tone, a medical spa crafts a personalized approach to achieve optimal results.

The Technology They Use is Amazing

Seriously, they’re absolutely amazing! Med spas leverage the latest advancements in skincare technology, offering treatments that go beyond traditional spa services. Just think about it for a moment: from laser therapies and radiofrequency treatments to injectables, these advanced techniques provide targeted solutions for anti-aging concerns with minimal downtime. 

A lot of people think, “Well, I can just buy all of this stuff on Amazon,” but spoiler alert, what you buy from Amazon isn’t going to be nearly as strong or as effective as the tools and technology that the med spa owns. 

There’s a Holistic Approach to It

A lot of people think of regular spas and “holistic” being synonymous with each other, but honestly, it’s no different for med spas, either. Med spas often adopt a holistic approach to anti-aging, recognizing the interconnectedness of skincare and overall wellness. Sometimes, but not always, you can find that some of these will offer services such as lifestyle counseling, nutritional guidance, and supplements that may be integrated into your personalized plan, addressing aging from the inside out.

Cherry Blossom Infused Brightening Collection from Arbonne

The RE9 Advanced Brightening collection by Arbonne was developed to address the specific needs of dull, sallow, uneven skin tone and dark spots. Infused with clean brightening ingredients, the vegan products improve the appearance of skin glow, radiance, luminosity, and skin tone, as well as minimizing the look of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles with twice-daily consistent use.

Six high-performing products make up the collection, including a cleansing foam, lightweight serum, and SPF 15 mineral sunscreen. Featuring a proprietary Sakura Bright Complex, created with ascorbyl glucoside, a form of stabilized vitamin C, cherry blossom extract and birch leaf extract. Botanical-based emulsifiers, surfactants, and moisturizers also support the delicate skin barrier by increasing hydration.

Key Brightening Ingredients

  • The proprietary SakuraBright Complex, with dermatologist-recognized brightening ingredients, helps improve the appearance of skin glow and luminosity, minimizing the look of dark spots with consistent use
  • Cherry blossom extract promotes the appearance of skin radiance with hydration
  • Ascorbyl glucoside, a stabilized form of Vitamin C, brightens to help temporarily diminish the appearance of dark spots, improves the appearance of skin tone and helps revitalize the look of skin’s radiance
  • Birch leaf extract hydrates to help promote luminescent, flawless-looking skin
  • Licorice root extract hydrates, leaving skin with a vibrant, healthy-looking, natural glow

RE9 Advanced Brightening Cleansing Foam ($44):

This pearlescent cleanser suds just enough to gently remove makeup, dirt, and impurities, leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed.

RE9 Advanced Brightening Toner ($39):

This dual-phase toner and softening lotion provides gentle exfoliation to finish your cleansing routine while prepping your skin for the next step in your regimen. Botanicals provide essential hydration to ensure skin is looking fresh and glowing.

RE9 Advanced Brightening Serum ($65):

This concentrated serum is your portal to healthy-looking, radiant skin. Our proprietary SakuraBright Complex delivers essential nourishment to target the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone for a lit-from-within glow that begs to be noticed.

RE9 Advanced Brightening Protective Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen ($66):

Protect your luminous skin from UVA/UVB rays without the concentrated mineral formula that contains botanicals vital to supporting your skin’s radiance.

RE9 Advanced Brightening Eye Cream ($62):

Pat this on gently around the eye area to lock in moisture and help reduce the look of fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles. Our proprietary SakuraBright Complex helps the delicate skin around the eyes look brighter and more youthful.

RE9 Advanced Brightening Night Cream ($88):

An ultra-hydrating blend of botanicals, along with our proprietary SakuraBright Complex, deliver essential nourishment to maximize the skin’s natural repairative cycle and reduce the look of fine lines while you sleep.

Desiree Stordahl Skincare Expert Interview and Book

Desiree Stordahl is a best-selling beauty co-author, alongside legendary skincare expert Paula Begoun, dedicated to using her years of expertise to help people solve their skincare woes, from acne to wrinkles and everything in between. Desiree’s passion for all things beauty carries over to makeup with game-changing trends, tips, and tricks for flawless skin. Whether you need to know how to treat crow’s feet or under-eye circles, Desiree is your expert.

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1. How did you get started in the beauty industry?
The only way I can explain it is fate! Growing up I had my fair share of skin struggles, and my family was on a very limited budget so I needed products that I could buy over-the-counter that would really work.
Unfortunately, nothing seemed to do the trick so I turned to makeup to at least camouflage my breakouts. I got pretty good at doing makeup on myself and others, and my passion for all things beauty carried over into my school work…I still have a report from 8th grade called “Beauty by the Buck” where I analyzed whether or not expensive cosmetic products were better formulated than their drugstore competitors.
Fast-forward to the college years, I graduated with a degree in Communication Studies and went on to work in sales and marketing. All the meanwhile my struggles with acne didn’t let up… nor did my passion for skincare and makeup fizzle out. It was my dream to somehow work in the beauty industry, but I didn’t yet know how that would play out.
One fateful day I saw an ad to work for a “Paula’s Choice Skincare and Cosmetics Company” and several interviews with the legendary Paula Begoun later I KNEW this is where I belonged. Paula took me under her wing, trained me how to interpret cosmetic studies, made me promise to never tan again or she’d fire me  (true story) and taught me why so many skincare products didn’t work like they said they would and what to do instead. Once I got my skin under control I wanted to share that same life-changing info with others, and the rest, as they say, is history! Several years and two books later, here I am.
It feels so serendipitous that everything fell into place at the right time, but really, when I reflect back it’s clear that actually my whole life had been preparing me for this role. God had my plan in motion from the get-go—I just didn’t know it!
 2. What are some of the best beauty products to have radiant skin?
Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) leave-on exfoliants are game changers. By gently getting rid of the built up layer of dead skin cells, BHA and AHA exfoliants help smooth wrinkles and reveal the radiant skin hiding under a dull complexion. And don’t let the “acid” part of their names scare you… they’re actually gentler on your skin than using a scrub!
In the realm of makeup, a good highlighter works wonders for a youthful glow. Becca Cosmetics makes some of the best luminizing products out there, and just a couple strategically placed highlights can really liven up a drab complexion.
For the days I go without makeup but want a hint of luminosity, I love the Resist Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment from Paula’s Choice. It’s formulated with ingredients that fade discolorations for a more even skin tone + it contains mineral pigments that instantly revitalize and brighten the complexion.
3. Share with us the appropriate age for women to start using anti-aging products?
There isn’t a hard and fast rule, but if you want to keep your skin looking as young and healthy as possible, it pays to start using anti-aging products from the moment you earn your own money to buy them! Think of it like a healthy diet. You wouldn’t prolong eating nutritious, antioxidant-rich foods until you’re in your 40s, right? The same should go for skin. The earlier you start using products loaded with anti-aging ingredients such as antioxidants, retinol, peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, etc., the better off your skin is going to be in the long run.
Above all else, start wearing sunscreen on a daily basis no matter what your age. That’s the #1 way to halt the signs of aging!
 4. What are the top 5 wrinkle creams and skin tighteners?  
It’s hard to pick the top five when there are so many great formulas out there, but here are some great wrinkle-fighting and skin-firming options based on the research behind their ingredients:
In terms of traditional “skin tighteners”, the tightening effect of many of these types of products comes from a high amount of film-forming ingredients, which make skin feel tighter temporarily, but skin “feeling” tighter is not the same as making a real change for the long run. However, with products like those mentioned above, you can create healthier, younger-looking skin, and in some cases, increase firmness.
5. In your book, you mentioned natural ingredients that are bad for the skin.  Could you share a few here?
There are many natural ingredients that are brilliant for skin, but there are also many that do much more harm than good. For instance, despite their popularity essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, and jasmine contain volatile, fragrant compounds that incite pro-aging inflammation to the skin. Citrus extracts, such as lemon, grapefruit and orange, should also be avoided due to their sensitizing/irritating effect that impairs the skin’s immune response. Other natural ingredients to watch out for include witch hazel, ylang ylang, arnica, and balm mint oil, just to name a few.
If you’ve ever used products with these kinds of ingredients and wonder why they don’t appear to be problematic for you, keep in mind that research has demonstrated that you don’t need to see or feel irritation for it to be causing damage below the surface layer of skin. They’re sneaky in that way—speeding up the signs of aging without you knowing it.
6. How can readers learn more about your expertise and wonderful book?
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