'Cellular Intelligence' Means Fighting the Anti-Aging Battle Before It Starts
Cellular Intelligence Med Spa
At some point over the last year, I had an "OMG moment" about watching my 20s drift further behind and my 30s quickly approach. Anyone who knows me knows I've been skin obsessed for the last decade - huge floppy hats in the sun, thick layer of SPF even in the winter - and I started thinking about how everything's supposed to change in upcoming years. For someone with uber-sensitive skin that flairs up in red rosacea with one false move, adding a new treatment to a working plan was stressing me out and causing preemptive blemishes. Thankfully, I had the good fortune of meeting Cellular Intelligence, one of Chicago's newest Gold Coast Med Spas, and I've started working with them to plan my skin's battle against the ages as well as correct and cleanse any imbalance that occurs in changing the routine.
Cellular Intelligence invited me to receive their signature Derma Flash Plus Facial Treatment and discuss this whole process with aesthetician Beth Potts. The medical-grade facial takes about one hour, and even though I've had this treatment in the past, I took this opportunity to discuss mid 20s anti-aging with Beth as she tailored the entire experience to my skin's needs.
Let me break it down:
- Cleanse. Beth worked a thick cleanser into my skin and wiped the slate clean with a warm towel filled with lavender and green tea aromas.
- Exfoliate. The signature derma plane treatment involves drying the skin and then using the edge of a scalpel to gently scrape away a thin layer of dead skin and those tiny, invisible hairs. It's pain-free and at one point, even tickled a little. Removing the dead skin allows new skin cells to generate and reach the surface. Young, healthy skin cells = youthful, healthy skin. Plus, I always feel clean and refreshed for weeks following this treatment.
- Correct. Beth massaged an incredibly gentle, enzyme-based mask into my sensitive skin. It immediately felt warm, and my skin adjusted within seconds as she massaged to activate the mask.
- Calm. Using a CO2 lollipop, she cooled my skin to relieve any sensitivity and take down the redness.
- Hydrate. Top off the skin with an Intraceuticals Oxygen Treatment. Using an oxygen wand, Beth hydrated my skin to improve elasticity and remove fine lines and wrinkles. The oxygen is the vehicle to push the antioxidant-rich serum into the pores. In my case, she delivered Atoxolene, which is great for people with either dry or wrinkled skin, mine being the former. It gives deep-level hydration with Hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and peptides to visibly reduce fine lines and give skin a fuller, more healthy appearance. The oxygen gave me an overall squeaky-clean feeling and natural glow.
Beth remains drawn to medical-grade facials because they infuse the relaxing atmosphere with products and treatment processes that achieve visible results. A calm environment with polite staff and comfortable bedding are part of Cellular Intelligence, but what's most important is what's happening at the top of the chair, where it's all business to make sure the treatment's effects are long-lasting, desired results. We discussed the fact that I really should be thinking about the next decade and how to maintain full, healthy, glowing skin. She recommended the following preventative measures:
- Wear SPF. Sun damage presents itself on a deeper level and may not become visible to the eye for years to come, so prevent that "Oh No!" moment from happening down the road and wear daily SPF.
- Remove makeup at night. Ladies, we are no longer in college, and according the Beth, we hit an age when falling asleep with makeup is completely unacceptable. So drag yourself to the bathroom and wash it off!
- Start using anti-wrinkle, anti-aging products alongside receiving regular treatments. I admitted to not using an eye cream (gasp!) and was politely scolded (tsk tsk!). The thin skin around the eyes is often one of the first areas to show signs of aging. It's sensitive and soft - perfect for fine lines to easily appear. So start wearing eye cream ASAP in your 20s and ward off crow's feet in your 30s and 40s.
- Practice an overall healthy lifestyle. You want healthy skin, so treat your body nicely. Drink plenty of water and get a little shut-eye - rest and restoration will wear nicely on your face the next day.
Luckily, I was told that only one tiny wrinkle could be found cropping up along my eyes, and Lumiere Bio-Restorative Eye Cream with PSP is now a daily routine. I've always dreaded the day when I would attempt to postpone the arrival of tiny, little wrinkles because I'm not keen on attempting to stay frozen in time a la Nicole Kidman or looking slightly distorted with inflamed Lisa Rinna lips. Aging gracefully with healthy, happy skin is my comfortable middle ground, and I've found a discreet, inviting environment and effective vehicle for that measure. These regular treatments with an integrated product regimen to care for my skin's deep-seeded health and protection keeps my worries at bay, and that's a youthful, inner glow that can't be fake.
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