When you go to a spa for a facial, are you getting the results you want—skin glowing with health? When you plunk down that plastic card at (choose one or more) Neiman’s, Saks, Bloomies, Barneys, Nordstrom, Fred Segal, Beauty Collection, or Sephora for the latest in skincare, are you happy with the results you are seeing?
Is your skin loving it and getting better every day?
If not, maybe you need a "skintervention"!
While you are inundated with ads and information about plastic surgery, lasers and pricy prescription topical treatments, there is an alternative.
Medi-spas.
What is a medi-spa?
It’s the “step up” from the traditional spa. According to the 1-800-MediSpas.com website, a medi-spa works under the supervision of a physician and the personnel are licensed in their field of practice and have had years of training. Typically medi-spas aren’t as fancy or pampering as a traditional day-spa. They do more serious—even aggressive– skin treatment to help banish dark spots; control acne; and slow down the hands of time via chemical peels along with other types of treatments. Often they are partnered with dermatologists or plastic surgeons for injectables and laser treatments as well as even more options.
How does one find a medi-spa?
Spa-Finders Magazine, local regional beauty/fashion magazines, New Beauty Magazine (a bi-annual beauty encyclopedia of treatments from head to toe) often feature listings and ads for various medi-spas in your local area as well as destination spots. One can spot newspaper ads as well but the best way to find a good medi-spa is by word of mouth.
In the last couple of years, I have had friends who started going to medi-spas for treatment that have kept their skin looking fabulous. After prying the information out of them (and I do mean prying!! A chisel and hammer would have been easier and faster), they were getting light chemical peels paired with dermaplaning.
Their skin looked terrific and the skincare they used seemed to be more effective. I as definitely "on the hunt" to find out who and where they were going.
Finding a good aesthetician is like finding a four —leaf clover or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—and not everyone will share for fear that their aesthetician will get booked out.
One of my friends passed on the name of her medi-spa aesthetician ( thank-you Cynthia!!) and suggested I give her a phone call and ask some questions– and I did call. After speaking to the aesthetician, I decided to take the plunge and made an appointment with Cosmeticare’s Sharon Shelton in Long Beach, Ca. office.
She’s the “secret weapon” behind many a celebrity face in Hollywood. Celebs make the trip south to Long Beach (about 40 minutes) to get a star-quality facial that leaves them with glowing skin and looking years younger. While the surroundings aren’t fancy–across from the esteemed Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, celebrities and socialites drive down because they know Shelton is a fabulous aesthetician.
Why would I do this? I haven’t been happy with my skin for the last year or so. Hyper-pigmentation due to sun exposure (inevitable here in LA, despite using sunblock) and my skin’s texture was just not terrific regardless of skincare—and I tried plenty. When I met with Sharon, I was not surprised at the more clinical setting. I was encouraged that it was extremely clinical without the typical “foo-foo”accessories; the focus was on making my skin looking fabulous. Sharon had some of the most respected products names on her shelves. We thoroughly discussed my skin, medical history, skin treatment history (oh that was fun! She lost count on the number of product lines I had tried.) and other questions to fill out my history. Sharon was quite thorough in describing the process of the light peels from the prep to the dermaplaning (a light scraping of the top layer of skin with a fine scalpel) to the two different acids and then the final steps. She included all the precautions about wearing sunblock and covered the type of skincare to use—and not use. Sharon made sure that I had her number to call anytime in case I had any questions or reactions.
I had one facial and the dermaplaning was cool. While it sounds scary, it’s painless and great because it takes off that dead top layer of skin allowing the other treatment steps to better penetrate the underlying skin. The dermaplaning made everything more effective—peels and my skincare! The first treatment took a little over an hour because of the introduction. I emerged looking pink. Thankfully, I had remembered to bring sunblock because at this point, the skin is extremely vulnerable.
The next day I noted that my skin was exceptionally smooth! Skincare absorbed more quickly; makeup went on smoothly. I didn’t even need primer, though I used it. Products that I thought weren’t doing anything suddenly came to life and I had a “lightbulb” moment when I saw that the dark spots were fading. I was so pleased with the results that I signed up for a series of five peels—allowing me to get a price break.
For those who have gone through these light peel facials with dermaplaning, this review might be “ho-hum”. I have had tons of facials before—nothing ever came close to this type of facial. I have never experienced someone with the level of expertise that Sharon has — because most don’t have that experience and training. She has a few key “products” that she recommends to her clients—products compounded exclusively for you by a pharmacist. These products are specific to include all the ingredients you want (and none that you don’t want or need) in amounts that make the products exceptionally effective. I loved the product I got for the hyper-pigmentation because not only was it extremely effective, it was much less for than anything I had purchased from department stores, spas or drugstore lines.
Why is Sharon Shelton so special? She treats everyone like a celebrity. Sharon wants your skin to look great. She even called me a couple times to check on me after a couple of peels and to answer any questions that I had. She provides lots of interesting skincare educational tid-bits.
Typically a medi-spa peel treatment in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach or Brentwood costs at least $150. A price of $175-200 isn’t uncommon. Shelton’s prices are less—MUCH less. While every person’s treatment is individual, the treatment might be 50% less than typical Beverly Hills prices—even with the cost of the drive.
Cosmeticare
Sharon Shelton
Skin Renewal Specialist
2664 Atlantic Avenue (between 28th and Willow)
(Off the 405 at Atlantic, going south)
Long Beach, Ca.
562.595.0418
So get on the phone, call Sharon Shelton and tell her you heard about her from \Stevie at Fashiontribes.com You will wind up getting great facials, exceptional skincare and for less money. It’s a deal you cannot beat! HONEST!! Would I lie to you? She’s fabulous and I know I have sent a lot of people there. !
See you at Sharon’s medi-spa!
Stevie Wilson
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