Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Facial?

A facial is a professional cleansing, exfoliating, pore purifying, anti-aging treatment of the skin on the face, neck and chest, décolleté done by a licensed professional using professional grade products. There are several variations of facials at the skin care studio including express, detoxifying, anti-aging, moisturizing, brightening, deep pore cleansing, nano facials, hand, back, butt and mons pubis facials and more. A typical facial deeply cleanses and brightens up the skin by gently exfoliating away dead skin cells, rebalancing, nourishing, treating, protecting and hydrating the skin as well as stimulating collagen and elastin and helping to remove toxins through lymph drainage. The objective of facials and treatments at the skin care studio is to attain and then maintain soft, healthy, even toned, even textured, unblemished, well-hydrated, glowing skin.

Who Can Benefit from a Facial?

Anyone with skin! I have pre-teen clients as well as 86 years young clients. All genders and races. No matter how sensitive / sensitized or “hard to treat” your skin is, it will benefit from a facial. My facials are customized to target your individual skin needs at each appointment. If you have sensitive skin, only the most gentle, healing, calming, rebalancing treatments and products will be used to calm and heal it. If your goal is to clear up your acne, I can guide you toward facials and treatments that will help you achieve that goal. Be sure to communicate clearly with me exactly what you want to get out of your visits so I can do my best to help you reach those skin goals.

How Should I Prepare for a Facial?

Read your confirmation e-mail for specific instructions and / or directions to the studio. Stop using any strong, sensitizing products such as glycolic acid, retinol (Retin-A, tretinoin), hydroquinone, Differin, clindamycin, doxycycline, etc. at least 5-7 days before your appointment to avoid complications and an adverse reaction. On the day of your facial, come in with or without a clean face, ready to relax.

What Can I Expect During My Facial?

Though there are many types of facials available, a basic customized facial may include the following steps, based on your skin’s needs: double cleansing, skin analysis, double exfoliation (scrub and enzyme), massage, extraction of blackheads and other impurities, a head, neck, décolleté and shoulder massage, mask and application of treatment products targeted to your skin type, conditions and your concerns.

What About Home Care?

It’s best to use high quality products designed for your skin type and conditions. If you are coming in for facials / treatments it is best to support those treatments with good ingredients targeting your specific concerns. I offer samples and recommendations to those that want them. The products I carry are all safe, non-toxic, do not contain any harmful ingredients such as parabens, silicones, chemical scents, colors or unnecessary fillers. They are designed to create change in your skin cells. The goal being healthy, nourished, balanced, clear skin with less blemishes, clean pores, even tone and texture. They are not tested on animals and are all made and packaged in the U.S.A.

Do you Have Packages, Like for Teens or Brides?

Of course I do! I have packages and series’ for just about everything! Check out my list of services, including treatments, series and packages here

What are Anti-Aging Treatments?

Some anti-aging treatments available at the skin care studio are:

A wide variety of facials and facial series, treatments such as HydraFacials, NanoFacials, chemical exfoliation and High Frequency / LED treatments.

Some anti-aging tools available at the skin care studio are:

The My Skin Buddy tool, LED face masks with or without a neck attachment and microcurrent toning, high frequency wands and electrodes, the eye rejuvenator tool and at home treatment kits.

What is Light Therapy? Who Can do it?

LED and Infrared light therapy each offer powerful treatment solutions for skincare and pain relief. The skin benefits of different colors of LED light have been identified through a broad array of studies. The most often cited study is the Whelan study, published in 2001 by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, which found that LED light helped speed up wound healing.

Red LED light is most often used for general skin improvement and to reduce the visible signs of aging and scarring left by blemishes or surgery. Red light boosts blood flow while spurring the production of collagen and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)(cell energy), improving skin tone and texture. Blue light has been shown to destroy acne bacteria. Green light helps to reduce redness and acne. Yellow, white, cyan and purple are other beneficial LED colors used.

Like anything else, one treatment will not fix your issue. A series of regular treatments will provide the best results when using either light therapies as it takes time to create change in cells and tissue. After a series of 8 is complete, monthly maintenance appointments are needed to maintain the results. For all skin types. Pregnant women must be ok’d by their doctor first, to be safe.

Will I Peel After a Peel?

Not necessarily. Your skin may not shed at all or you may shed like a snake. That depends on the strength of the peel, how dry your skin is, what type of peel you got, how many layers you did, your pre and post treatment care, climate, environment and whether or not you want to peel. It is possible to rejuvenate the skin with a chemical peel without peeling. I have had great results with sensitive skin showing redness and texture issues with a series of peels, acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation. All respond well to peels without necessarily peeling. Again, it all depends. Be clear when getting one done whether or not you are comfortable shedding and if so, how much or little.

What is Microdermabrasion? Who Should Get it?

I do both crystal and diamond tip microdermabrasion. It is like a fine sand-blasting of the surface of your skin with gentle suction, followed up with the diamond tip, which is more refining. I apply a calming, nourishing mask afterwards, treatment products and protection. Microdermabrasion is best for those with fine lines, wrinkles, scarring from acne and chicken pocks, light discoloration. It is not for those with active acne, distended capillaries or sensitive / sensitized skin. Add on to your facial to enhance results.

What is a HydraFacial? Who Should Get it?

It is a non-invasive treatment, also called hydradermabrasion, involving microdermabrasion-like exfoliation paired with serums infused into the skin. Known for its three-step process, the HydraFacial works to deep-clean, exfoliate, and hydrate your skin. This professional procedure helps treat a variety of skin conditions, including acne, dryness, and wrinkles and improves tone, texture and appearance of the skin in one treatment. The serums used depend on your skin and condition.

What is a ReZENerate Facial? Who Should Get it?

Often confused with microneedling due to its pen-like design, but the similarities end there. The Rezenerate NanoFacial is non-invasive and pain-free, involving no downtime, making it appealing for those seeking gentle yet effective skincare enhancement. It uses the WandPro device and “True Blue Tips” with nano-sized pyramids to gently vibrate and tap the skin’s outer layer, enhancing hydration and product absorption without interference to your daily routine.

Microneedling uses needles to create controlled skin injuries, reaching the dermis to initiate a wound cascade. This process can be uncomfortable, often requiring a numbing agent, and may result in redness, swelling, bleeding, and a need for several days of downtime.

The use of nanotechnology increases the average serum absorption rate of 2-10% to 40-50%! Using Rezenerate’s WandPro and ‘True Blue’ tips, licensed professionals suspend the skin’s waterproof barrier function for 15-to-20 minutes transforming clients’ skin into a highly receptive “sponge” soaking up needed nutrients. This infusion effect enables estheticians to deliver superior results to their clients in a shorter timeframe without discomfort or downtime.

What About Prepping the Skin for Treatment?

That’s a great idea! It is essential to properly prepare your skin before your treatment to ensure the best results. Fine lines and sun damage will fade, acne, skin tone and texture will improve. Begin the process of brightening, rejuvenating and treating the skin at home before your treatment so your skin will respond better to the treatment received. Experience healthy skin with a radiant glow. I have pre and post treatment kits available here

Where are you Located?

I am located inside of Phenix Salon Suites in the Southpark area of Charlotte, North Carolina. The salon suites are on the 2nd floor of the complex. When you come in, go left. I am around the corner on the right in suite 131.

How do I Book an Appointment?

Go here to book your appointments. You may also email me at suzie@theskincarestudio.org with a few dates and times, your full name and contact information.