ZO® Skin Centre kicked off it’s grand opening celebration the last week of May. This is a new evolution for Zein Obagi, world reknown dermatologist – to take skincare to most people by putting together a retail store in major malls for skin care and treatments with that ability to see an MD on site by appointment. The first Zo Skin Centre launched in one of my favorite places: Fashion Island, Newport Beach.
Who:
The first ZO® Skin Centre is co-owned by Dr. Zein Obagi, Founder of ZO® Skin Health and ZO® Medical and the globally renowned leader in skin health science, and, Dr. Aaron Kosins, a highly credentialed expert on skin care, cosmetic dermatology, plastic and cosmetic surgery, and medical aesthetics.
“Our goal is to work with each person who visits our ZO® Skin Centre to help them break the routine habit of buying skincare products based solely on advertising and brand marketing,” said Dr. Obagi.
ZO® Skin Centre will become the ultimate destination for exceptional, state-of-the-art skin treatment and rejuvenation, based on the groundbreaking principles of Dr. Obagi, whose methods for restoring skin health today are considered the gold standard.
Disclosure: In the process of attending these events and seeing Dr. Kosins from the ZO Skin Centre, I have received products and time with the doctor to measure my progress in clearing up my skin. Much of what I have received has been gratis- without cost to me. Some products were part of the gift bag from the luncheon that all guests got. Others were given to me at the time of the first visit. I have also purchased some products to replace those I have used up.
While I have talked about the grand opening before, this post is the beginning of a series of posts on the ZO Skin Centre as skin health resource for products and treatments like facials, manicures and fun stuff along with the ability to see an MD and get md level treatments as well. This series heads back a couple of months before the store opened.
Dr. Obagi and his staff hosted a fabulous lunch event at Fig & Olive down in Fashion Island. More than just press and bloggers, it was full of local influencers in the greater Orange County area for a lunch and presentation.
With a social hour before and a chance to meet members of the Obagi team and then lunch in a private room filled with sunlight, flowers — and lots of women, we had an amazing lunch! I scored a seat at the table with Mrs. Obagi and other members of the marketing team. I was able to garner a lot more information about the roll-out.
After lunch, there was a great presentation from Dr. Obagi and his partner in the Fashion Island ZO Skin Centre store, Dr. Aaron Kosins.
Dr. Zein Obagi
Moderator Keylee asked Dr. Obagi and Dr. Kosins about this evolution in providing serious skincare in an easy to get to location that is open 7 days as week.
Dr. Aaron Kosins
What’s interesting about this particular event was that Dr. Obagi has tons of before and after photos of patients in a slide show format so that you can see how his products and treatments are so crazy-great and the results are nothing short of phenomenal. At this point in the event, I was very interested in learning more about the new Obagi collection specifically for the Skin Centres. These products are ‘top of the line’ with efficacious ingredients married with cutting edge technology. The ZO Skin Centre isn’t just about products but there are treatments that are available including facials, massages, and more MD directed treatments that would be done in the Skin Centre. Think of it as every Obagi product you might want to buy in one place + spa treatments + direct contact with Dr. Kosins or Dr. Obagi by appointment. When the presentation was over, we had dessert and then we were gifted goody bags filled with fabulous products.
I circled back after the event to talk to marketing further to see if I could do a series on this new store including the new ZO Skin Centre collection and seeing Dr. Kosins for an evaluation. I explained I would run this series here on my blog. Because the store wasn’t yet finished and it was mid-April when I saw Dr. Kosins for an evaluation in the Obagi offices in Laguna Beach. It was a gorgeous drive along Pacific Coast Highway but a long one given that it goes through the heart of Laguna Beach. Dr. Kosins is Dr. Obagi’s partner in the first store to launch. He is a gifted doctor, a plastic surgeon in Irvine, CA who received an MBA and MD from UC Irvine. He’s sharp, on-target with technology and medical advances and wants to make sure every patient walks out with a treatment they need to have beautiful skin.
This was like any doctor’s office and I filled out all the paperwork necessary to create a file on me. This might seem strange to let a doctor I had never met evaluate my skin, have him prescribe treatment (read topical products) and commit to this for the long haul. However there was a method to my madness. I knew I had skin issues. I have rosacea and while it has been pretty well managed for about 5 years, in the last 2 years, I was visibly pink (and red).
Despite having on foundation and no blush, I am pink in this photo.
I came in with my makeup on but I had to wash everything but my eyemakeup off so that Dr. Kosins could do a real evaluation of the issue. I was hoping to do something about some lines and possibly an injectable. He saw other things to do first and actually– despite my hesitation- he was on target.
1) hyperpigmentation issues
2) rosacea
3) acne and cystic acne
4) skin texture was off with very visible pores
The prescription was about a 3-4 month regimen that was based on Obagi Skin Health products. The regimen he prescribed included:
1) Cleanser: Foamacleanse Gentle Foaming Cleanser
2) Exfoliation– done once a day in the evening with Offects® TE-Pads Acne Pore Treatment
3) MELAMIN™ Skin Bleaching & Correcting Crème (hyperpigmentation)
This is applied twice a day with a very specific amount. It’s one of the pivotal products for me.
4) Ossential® Daily Power Defense
This is another key product. I use it after I use the Melamin.
5) Oclipse® Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 – This should not be a surprise to anyone that a sunblock/primer is part of the regimen.
At night I add in 2 more products:
6) MELAMIX™ Skin Lightener & Blending Crème
Another hyperpigmentation cream to be mixed with another product.
7) Complex A — a tiny tube that I use rather sparingly mixed with the Melamix. It kicks a lot of things into gear (if I understood the explanation correctly)
All of this is what I use every day. I am very frugal with my product use but that said, I also did what Dr. Kosins said for me to do.
He even had me take a picture of the amount I should be using of the Melamix and Complex A together. He was very descriptive in telling me that if I had extra Melamin to apply it with my finger to my pigmented areas like I was painting the spots. He explained that I would get red and start peeling. Little did I know that he meant that it would happen fast.
Dr. Kosins also requested that I get some blood work done because he wanted to put me on a low-dose of Accutane to help clear up the acne/cystic acne issues and retexturize the skin. I had a chunk of paperwork to fill out because this pharmaceutical is tightly controlled. Not just anyone can dispense this and I had to be part of the IPledge program to assure that I am aware that the pills can cause birth defects and other side effects. Since this is a much lower dosage than usual, I was not adverse to taking it. However I did do my homework on the side effect profile and what to expect while taking it. The drug would dry out my skin, causing my lips and skin to peel and flake. It accentuates and temporarily makes lines and wrinkles worse all of one’s face. ( Lovely, huh). Dr. Kosins made sure that I knew all the “side effects” that were actually the results he was looking for.
That day I saw Dr. Kosins in Laguna, I walked out with a bag full of skincare and I started clearing other products out of my vanity to be able to get to these products.
By the time I saw Dr. Kosins again one month later (visit #2) my skin had changed some — not a lot, but some– because I got very concerned that the Melamix and Complex A were making me very red and I looked like I had been in the sun all day. My skin was tender and generally being difficult. So I backed off on my applications until I saw him again. (I should have called and left a message with my questions>. However when I did see him again and explained what I had done, Dr. Kosins explained that it was supposed to do that, and it was part of what he had explained that would happen with my skin. So when I left with a script for the Accutane (after seeing and approving my blood work), I got busy trying to find a pharmacy that would fill it- since not every pharmacy does. There is a reason for the iPledge and it’s also used by pharmacies that dispense Accutane. I also have learned to get used to dry red skin and learn that my skin is changing because of it.
This is the end of post #1 on the ZO Skin Centre and the ZO Skin Health products. There is another post coming which should cover visit #3 and probably #4. I will tell you that my skin is changing a lot. It’s not a quick change but the changes I am seeing make it worth the time and effort. It is less expensive than an IPL and there is no downtime. I cover the redness with a full coverage foundation with SPF 50 in a cream formula because I don’t want to scare anyone by being red.
I wish to express my appreciation to Dr. Obagi, Dr. Kosins, the Obagi staff and the Zo Skin Centre staff for their patience while I put this all together and got to a point where changes are occurring which is about 2.5 months and it will be longer before I go to maintenance skincare regimen. Now the ZO Skin Centre is open in Fashion Island and it’s really lovely and the staff is friendly and helpful. Pictures are taken from visit #2, #3 and most likely #4.
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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I will be interested in knowing how the brightening product works…this is a big deal for me.
It’s so good to hear your progress using the ZO skin line. We are a new MedSpa in orange CA and are probably one of the first MedSpa to carry the ZO product lines as well. We are also a physician led medical spa. After meeting with Dr and mrs Obagie, We firmly believe in Dr Obagie philosophy and that’s why we carry his products exclusivly.
It’s so interesting to read that you stopped the regime temporarily. However, You are not the only client that stops treatment due to the redness and sever peeling, but most people don’t realize that is part of the reaction people get. Looking forward to hearing about your follow up visits!
Hello Mary! Thanks for the comments. I am very interested in learning about your medi-spa. I too have met Mrs Obagi and she is a great representative for the effectiveness of her husband’s products. I stopped using the products for less than 4 days because I was going to be part of a conference where I would be video-taped. I did not want to have “peely” skin or lips on the video. However the night after the conference was over, I started immediately back up. I want the skin peeling to occur and I know that my lips peeling means that the treatment is working. I have another month or so of topical treatments and 2 months of the oral meds.. then I head into maintenance. Dr. Kosins is quite pleased at how my skin is evolving. I can see it too.