Questions Lauren McGehee, lead nurse injector at Skinlab Injectables, hears almost daily: Which natural treatments will bring the most benefits? How can I look my best and most youthful without looking “done”? 

Not looking “done” is the Holy Grail, isn’t it? It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of overcorrecting when aging an issue. It’s understandable; sometimes we just panic. Luckily the brilliant founders and staff at Skinlab Injectables want to help us. “One key is to start preventative treatments when you’re a little younger,” McGehee says. Small maintenance treatments scheduled regularly will yield ongoing, subtle results which build over time. “Natural procedures tend to take a little longer before you see results than other types of treatment, but results are long-lasting, she says, Skinlab has a number of natural treatments.” 

SkinPen Microneedling and Platelet Rich Plasma 

This natural treatment harnesses the skin’s own ability to heal itself. Textural challenges like large pores, fine lines and crepiness respond well to microneedling and PRP. The treatment involves making hundreds of tiny, superficial punctures in the skin. By tiny, we mean from half a millimeter deep to two millimeters at most, and yes, you’re numb for this part.  A hyaluronic acid serum or a patient’s own Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is applied topically to optimize collagen production. The result? You’ll enjoy better, smoother, plumper skin texture starting a few weeks later. SkinPen Microneedling is best done in batches of three treatments, spaced a month or so apart. 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) instead of Traditional Filler

Not everyone is a good candidate for traditional filler, especially under the eyes. Using your body’s own miracle serum, Platelet Rich Plasma, instead of filler is a fantastic natural option. Fun fact: nobody is allergic to their own PRP, so you never have to worry about a reaction. Injecting PRP into a trouble spot will, over the course of three to five treatments, thicken the skin and plump things up. Great for sinking under the eyes, on the neck or chest.

IV Hydration

“Dehydration is a chronic problem that’s often overlooked in skin care,” McGehee says. Skinlab is determined to eradicate dehydration in a thoroughly modern way. Once thought of as the sole provenance of the hugely hung-over, intravenous hydration delivers a customized dose of vitamins and gives skin a boost of glow. Hydration delivered this way is extremely efficient and goes right to the parts of the body that need it most, especially skin. “You could definitely do this 24 hours before a big event to see plumper, smoother skin,” she says. IV hydration is also a fantastic après-travel regimen, because of the antioxidants and immune-boosting vitamins delivered.

“There are also a handful of things you can do right now to improve your looks overnight without spending a dime,” McGehee says. They’re the tried and true, recommended by mothers everywhere, not especially sexy tactics, but they work. Get enough sleep, as in eight hours per night. Drink water. Exercise. Use sunscreen every day. “Everyone looks better after a good night’s sleep,” McGehee says. “And good hydration plumps up the skin.”

photos: Melissa Marshall