Acne-Prone, Hyperpigmented, Parched Skin Rejuvenated - Chelsea, NY

I'll admit, I have been procrastinating on a proper skincare regimen for quite some time now. Albeit, my skin type is not the easiest to treat; I've been putting it off in fear that my attempts at remedying my issues will only worsen my skin. I have combination oily skin with occasional breakouts in my T-zone. My breakouts are intermittent, but rarely missed. To add insult to injury, my skin is easily hyperpigmented with the occasional rosacea--owing to its extreme sensitivity to any product I use (and that applies to skin on any part of my body, but particularly on my face).

Due to an onslaught of sleep deprivation and stress, not only have I neglected to moisturize properly, I have given up on any skincare regimen at all. Within two years, my eyes made friends with some new dark circles and this environmental combination has added 5 years to my skin's texture.

I have tried a solid range of products that have been recommended to me by other aestheticians in the past, and I'll be honest, I don't think it did anything to my skin. Not only that, it smelled funny. The recommendation was to be on this colorful skincare regimen involving a billion products that made my skin feel like a blotchy piece of cake.

I have always admired Korean and Japanese skin: the ideal skin type in Asia is smooth, light, supple, dewy, and moist. This is the kind of glow I plan to achieve. I am well acquainted with Asian products and layering techniques. I just don't know what suits my skin best. It seems that many American aestheticians are unaware of the advancement of cosmetology in Asia. My previous aesthetician didn't bother responding to my inquiries about being on products made in Korea. Recently however, I have started seeing a new aesthetician worth raving about.

Now, I firmly believe that there is a difference between a specialist who looks out for your particular skincare needs and one who simply tries to fish the money from your pocket to theirs.

I didn't think I could find one in New York, but I have. My personal aesthetician, Rebecca Weston took the time to listen to me rattle on about my skin, addressed my concerns, and created a personalized skincare regimen (involving Korean products!) to help me achieve my ideal skin type.

As aforementioned, I have not been nurturing my skin like I should have for the past 2 years. With my hectic schedule, I rarely have the patience. After this harsh winter, the condition of my skin calls for immediate intervention. I am BEYOND grateful to have met Rebecca right around this time.

Rebecca recommended me a mandelic peel. She fronted me with the difference between several peels, offering me my range of options with some added advice on which peel she felt would work best for my needs. My first step is to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, so she suggested the mandelic peel to function as an exfoliator in lieu of addressing my easily hyper-pigmented, sensitive skin type.

The experience was the most relaxing experience I've ever had at a cosmetic clinic. She was informative, understanding, empathetic, and intelligent. I was instantly at ease. Prior to the treatment, she gave me a run-down of what to expect prior to each layer she applied. I was grateful that she dedicated time to listen to my particular concerns and desired outcome. The entire procedure felt natural and organic! I genuinely enjoyed my time spent with her.

The first application of the peel made my skin feel tingly. There are areas of my face that were parched to the point of peeling prior to the treatment, so these areas were particularly sensitive. As the acid sunk into my pores, I felt my skin tighten very slightly before it was neutralized. Rebecca warned me that some people felt very slight discomfort during the deactivation of the acid, but this part didn't bother me at all. She applied the neutralizer twice to ensure that none of the acid remained on my skin. Once the peel was finished, she helped me apply an intense Elta moisturizer on my skin to solidify the treatment.

It is now one day post-peel and my skin already feels healthier and smoother. Tonight, I will begin my new skincare regimen with some Korean products with active ingredients including ginseng and document my results. Rebecca's advice is to prevent aging before the damage is done. It is always easier to preserve and prevent than to recover from damaged goods. I very much trust her with my skin. She is sweet, honest, and brilliant! I would highly, highly recommend her to anyone looking for supple, young skin! She is really a rare find, believe me.