As you may have seen on my Instagram stories, I had a chance to visit Duncan Dermatology a few weeks ago to check out their brand-new SkinCeuticals SkinLab space, try out one of the signature treatments, SkinBright, as well as get the Custom D.O.S.E serum! Basically, the best day in beauty adventures this beauty lover/nerd could ask for! I have received the Custom D.O.S.E evaluation and serum for the first time about six months ago and have been hooked ever since! I’ve been so eager to see the improvements my skin has had since my last Custom D.O.S.E. formulation, aside from what I could see with the naked eye.
ONE | THE SKINSCOPE LED
Enter the SkinCeuticals SkinScope LED. This is the first part of your custom assessment and one that truly blew me away! If you think you know every issue your skin has, think again, because the SkinScope LED gives you a major reality check on your skin’s actual condition. As shown in these photos, a special LED light is shone inside an otherwise totally dark 360 mirrored globe, illuminating every pore and detail of your problem areas. (yikes!) “It shows visible and underlying skin imperfections including accumulated sun damage dehydrated and thinner skin areas, uneven texture, and poor desquamation.” This gives your dermatologist a clear picture of your skin’s needs. As I mentioned, I first experienced the SkinScope 6 months ago and SO happy to report that my sun damage appears to have decreased dramatically since then, after using the Custom D.O.S.E consistently every night! Really made my day to see that.
TWO | THE SKINBRIGHT TREATMENT
After my assessment it was time for my SkinBright treatment, which combines a HydraFacial MD with a SkinCeuticals Micropeel. (More facts on the HydraFacial HERE which made me a life-long fan) I cannot highly recommend incorporating this treatment into your ongoing skincare regimen enough. Even if you are using the best products, you are only doing half the job. If your skin is not optimally primed to receive them, you are just wasting your money! I used to think facials were a luxury item which I could not justify getting on a regular basis, but after learning all the facts on skin resurfacing, proper exfoliation and extraction of dead skin cells, there is just no going back for me. Just think about it as skipping a few dinners out with friends every few months! See, easy peezy! Trust me, you will see a big difference once you think of this as an ongoing part of your skincare.
THREE | CUSTOM D.O.S.E
Now that my skin has been primed and polished like a happy little diamond, it was time for the grand finale, the Custom D.O.S.E! This is a serum that is created from 2,000 different possible formula combinations and features 15 different ingredients to address every type of skin concern. Think couture skincare! There are three steps to the process:
ONE – Professional evaluation. As I’ve outlined above, you get to have a one on one consultation with a skincare professional and talk about all of your skin concerns. I spoke with Dr. Carlos Wolf who also works at Duncan Dermatology. Together you will come up with the best formula which will address all of your needs. Your Custom D.O.S.E will consist of these 4 parts: Base, Exfoliating, Brightening, and Enhancing.
TWO – Real Time Dispensing. You will see your Custom D.O.S.E created and mixed right there in front of you. Another bonus is that you are getting the absolute freshest ingredients that never saw any shelf life!
THREE – Ongoing Treatment Plan. This has been my favorite part and I am here to tell you that IT WORKS. After using the Custom D.O.S.E diligently and now getting another bottle I am so happy with the results I have seen. Especially because I honestly did not think that some of my deep sun damage was even reversible. The elasticity in my skin has also changed completely. I can’t wait to come back in 90 days and see the ongoing progress. Like getting your report card and being an A student! Your formulation will also change with every visit based on your progress and any new concerns. After my SkinBright treatment I also received a full skincare routine recommendation, which I want to share below. My main concerns were discoloration, dry skin, and aging. Nothing better than not having to play the guessing game with your skincare!
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
After posting the details of my visit on IG stories you guys had so many questions, I want to make sure I answer all of them in case I haven’t covered everything in the above.
HOW MUCH IS THE CUSTOM D.O.S.E.? It varies by practice but will cost around $195. If you think about the fact that you are getting 5 products in 1, I would say it’s an absolute steal!
HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TO GET IT REFILLED? The Custom D.O.S.E. will last about 90 days.
IS HYDRAFACIAL DIFFERENT FROM A REGULAR FACIAL? WHY IS EVERYONE SO INTO IT? Yes, and I am such a huge fan! The Hydrafacial MD uses water to resurface the top layer of your skin and suck out all the gunk and dead cells, to promote new cell turnover. I am such a nerd and always ask to see my water tube after, so I can marvel at all the crap that just came out of my face. Why do I love it above any other facial: because water is used for suction, there is virtually zero discomfort, redness or potential damage to the skin, even while getting all the deep dead cells out, so it’s perfect for any skin concern even acne and very sensitive skin. In fact, it was introduced as an answer to microdermabrasion being too harsh on some skin concerns.
I AM ON A BUDGET? CAN I GET JUST ONE OR TWO OF THESE PRODUCTS AND SEE ANY DIFFERENCE? If I were to recommend 2 products to invest in, it would definitely be the Custom D.O.S.E and the C E Ferulic. The magic duo! The C E Ferulic is like a shield which will protect you all day from all of the things living in today’s world will throw at your skin. It also makes your SPF way more effective! If you want a visual explanation, there is an amazing video HERE of an apple which shows the process of oxidizing with and without C E Ferulic, which blew my mind! The Custom D.O.S.E at night (if you go with the retinol option) will work its magic to promote cell turnover, fight existing damage and exfoliate your skin for the next day.
WHERE DO I GO TO GET THE CUSTOM D.O.S.E? You can find a SkinCeuticals SkinLab near you HERE!
A big thanks to SkinCeuticals for partnering on this post!
