Skin by Stephanie helps clients achieve their skincare goals
by CHRISTINA ANDREWS / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS
COMPASSION INFORMS EVERYTHING Stephanie McChesney does as an aesthetician, from her in-depth evaluations of a client’s skin to the thorough and personalized protocols she creates to ensure those in her care enjoy tangible improvements in their skin appearance.
Even McChesney’s in-person treatments reflect her compassion for her clients. She begins sessions with reflection and prayer because, as she says, “These practices put the client in a great space, a calm and relaxed mindset, which in turn means better results from their treatments.”
McChesney has been a clinical aesthetician for 30 years. She is a leading expert in skincare and in using peptides and other active ingredients to improve the health and beauty of skin. McChesney’s prescriptive products are designed with each client’s needs in mind, with the quantity of each ingredient adjusted for their specific skin type, age, activity level and their aesthetic goals. As a client’s skin changes throughout the treatments, McChesney adjusts ingredient levels to challenge the
skin and continually maximize the results.
McChesney began her journey as a clinical aesthetician working at top destination spas Doral Saturnia and the Fisher Island Club in Miami. In this capacity, she worked on international dignitaries and celebrities such as Oprah, Danny Aiello, and Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford. McChesney’s current practice continues to be private and exclusive, with clients added to the roster through referral.
Getting to know the client is one of the most important aspects of McChesney’s work. “In order to achieve the best results, I need to understand what my client does in their daily home and work life, how much time they spend outside versus inside, what types of lighting they are exposed to, and much
more,” says McChesney. She then pulls together a prescriptive sheet for the client, which outlines the treatments and at-home routines they should adhere to for the best results. She notes, “While the treatments at my practice are important, 50% of the improvements in the skin are a result of the customized products that are applied in the client’s daily routines.”
In determining a course of treatment and setting goals, McChesney discusses with the client what they do and do not want to invest in related to their skincare, and these goals are reviewed and adjusted each year. “My goal is always to treat the root causes of skin problems, which sometimes takes more time,”
she says. “Quick fixes are typically invasive and problematic, so I encourage clients to work for long-lasting results, results that can be built upon.” For those not in South Carolina, McChesney offers virtual consultations, enabling her to assist people all over the country in arriving at the proper treatments and products for their skin types.
McChesney considers herself a personal skincare trainer. She makes recommendations to clients that extend beyond their in-person treatments and at-home protocols. She looks at their vitamin intake based on their skin conditions and will recommend more or less of particular vitamins—more antioxidants for acne and higher vitamin C for skin repair, for example. She will often give guidelines on food and water intake and will, of course, prescribe specific treatments and products based on the client’s needs. She also advises on other aspects of a client’s lifestyle that impact skin quality, such as the use of silk pillowcases, sleeping on one’s back, types of laundry detergent and hair products to use, and she recommends a frequency of treatments appropriate for the client’s skincare goals and wallet.
Treatments offered at Skin by Stephanie target the face, neck and decolletage for antiaging and corrective work. Problems addressed include fine lines, wrinkles and elasticity, as well as rosacea and redness. Some are concerned about acne and pimples and their potential for scarring, yet others are looking to eliminate brown spots, sunspots and photoaging or need care for skin post-surgery. McChesney has an arsenal of effective skincare tools, including microcurrent, red light and oxygen therapies, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and more.
Outstanding among these is Full-Body Red Light Therapy, a state-of-the-art therapy most commonly used for skin rejuvenation. LED light therapy creates healthier skin cells, which result in a more youthful appearance. By supporting the skin’s natural cellular regeneration, red light therapy has been found
to be an effective treatment for stimulating collagen production, resulting in firmer skin, and for increasing elastin production, which helps tighten the skin and decrease wrinkles.
McChesney’s Science Ceuticals skincare products are also highly effective in treating a variety of skin challenges with their “high active ingredient” formulas that work by penetrating the skin at a cellular level. “Science Ceuticals are ‘cosmeceutical,’ both cosmetic and synergistic,” McChesney explains. “My goal was to create products for all ages, genders and skin types and for light to melanin-rich skin.”
The full line of Science Ceuticals products has been grouped into four systems, each addressing specific concerns. There is the Anti-Aging Skincare System, Skincare for Sensitive Skin, the Brightening Skincare System and the Acnetic Skincare System. Each system’s unique combination of products includes everything from cleansers and astringents to masks, moisturizers and corrective formulas. Science Ceuticals’ clean products contain pure active ingredients, powerful peptides and elements for skincare protection, and they are free of the harmful chemicals and additives found in many over-the-counter
products. In closing, McChesney says, “My goal is to give my clients compassionate, quality care and to help them build strength and beauty through good health, effective regimens and through the
use of our wholesome Science Ceuticals products.” *
Christina Andrews is a freelance from the Napa Valley who specializes in personal and business bios, food and wine, visual arts, music, hospitality, the event industry, community interest stories, obituaries and political satire.
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