Beyond Skin Basics with Beth Casse

I’m a complete skincare minimalist. It’s not that I don’t think taking care of your skin is a good idea, it’s more that skincare doesn’t really fit on my plate of priorities. Up until a few months ago, I knew I needed to be be doing “skin stuff”, I was just not willing to put in the time to learn what I should be doing. As you dewy, pristine-skinned people probably already know, the lack of care and attention starts becoming apparent at a certain age. I started noticing sunspots, fine lines and a duller tone. Hmmmm…

The time had come to do something. The problem was, I had no idea where to start. My logic was that I stopped reading magazines like Allure about 15 years ago. I have missed out on 15 years of information. Where could I go for the Cliff Notes version?

Right around the time all these thoughts were swirling through my head, I had the fortune to meet Beth Casse, the owner and founder of Beyond Skin here in Ocala. A friend gifted me with a 1 hour facial with Beth. Based on past experience, I saw facials as a relaxation procedure where the aesthetician smothers creams and wipes them away for an hour. I usually get antsy and want to jump out of the chair after 30 minutes. My session with Beth was so surprisingly different! She started addressing problem areas right away (hello, sun spots). Her approach was therapeutic, which made the time feel productive. I also picked up that she is on the same wavelength regarding health and wellness, which put me at ease that I was in good hands.

Ever since then, I have been trying to visit Beth once a month for half hour session. I got several gift certificates for my birthday in August and have been using them for these half hour treatments. I feel great afterwards, and always learn a ton. Beth is so patient with me as I ask her all sorts of questions.

When I asked Beth if she would be willing to share her wisdom on the blog, she happily agreed. The interview below is just a handful of the questions that I have been itching to ask. If you are anything like me and are curious about all these different products and which ones are right for you, I think you will get something out of it as well.

Meet Beth

Tell us a little about what you do and how you got into this line of work.
I provide what I would consider to be high-tech facials, a happy medium between a visit to the dermatologist and a spa facial. I suddenly began struggling with my skin when I turned 19….hormones and diet played a factor but I didn’t know that at the time. I went through doctors and aestheticians and I felt like there was a missing link, thus began my so far 13 year expedition into the skincare world and most recently the opening of Beyond Skin. Ive evolved into a Skincare professional and it has taken years of training, trial and error to be able to confidently call myself one.

Have you always been interested in skincare/beauty?
I was a bit of a tomboy growing up and really into sports. The struggle with my own skin at the age of 19 peaked my interest.

What is your unique philosophy and approach to skincare and beauty?
What I’ve learned in the 13 years practicing in this field is that education is not a destination, but a life-long journey. I work with my clients to develop a program designed for long-term skin maintenance, a lifestyle of healthy skin preservation, and most importantly: results. I believe that skin is as unique as the face it covers and that one formula or regimen does not fit all. That’s why each treatment is custom tailored to fit my client’s needs. My multi-dimensional approach incorporates the most advanced skin solutions that include LED photomodulation, dry and wet dermabrasion, enzymes, radio frequency, pure oxygen and more. I can effectively reverse the physical manifestations of aging and repair damaged skin by stimulating cellular regeneration from deep within the tissue. The result is hydrated, healthy and radiant skin.

Cleansing

Let’s start with the basics. How many times a day should someone wash their face?
It’s never to late to start practicing healthy skin habits. Cleansing your face twice a day is an essential starting point.

Describe what I should be doing when I clean my face. And what type of products should I use?
First, pre cleanse to get rid of makeup and anything else on top of the skin. Use a cleansing balm or oil ( oil attracts oil), wipes or a makeup remover, really work it in there and then rinse with warm water. I recommend using a fresh clean white washcloth for every cleanse, this is also a great exfoliant.  Now you are ready for the second pass. Use either a gel, foam or cream cleanser ( gel or foam is for normal to oily, cream is best for normal to dry) work it into the skin for a minute or two and then rinse.

Ok, I washed my face. What am I supposed to do afterwards?
In the morning: cleanse, tone, eye cream, serum, SPF. Then, in the evening: cleanse, tone, eye cream, serum, moisturizer

What am I looking for in a serum or moisturizer?
A serum or moisturizer can be a Retinoid, Retinol, Vitamin C, hyaluaronic acid, AHA/BHA. It depends on your skin type and the season. I recommend evaluating your skin when you are done using a product to ensure you still need it. If a problem is corrected, then get on a healthy and clean maintenace program.

Cleansers, serums, moisturizers, face oils, eye cream, night cream, day cream – so many things! How should someone prioritize what they do?
I always ask what the client’s biggest concern is and go from there. If it’s something like melasma, hyperpigmenation, acne, wrinkles I tend to get the client on a 2 month transformation system with products and suggest services, once the concern is corrected we maintain with very simple and clean products. If a client simply wants to rejuvinate their skin and postpone any further cellular damage, I try not to overwhelm them. I’ll suggest ONE product that I know will give them the results they are looking for. From there we prioritize.

Skincare Products and Ingredients

I keep seeing hyaluronic acid mentioned. It sounds scary. What is it? 
Hyaluronic acid is a component of your own skin tissue but in skincare products it is a synthetic version. It will boost skin’s moisture content, reduce inflammation, and help prevent moisture loss.There are a few types of hyaluronic acid. Some companies use just one, some use a few. Keep in mind it is just one ingredient and the skin will benefit from a variety of ingredients…but this is a great ingredient to look for in your serum or moisturizer.

What are some of the latest products on the market that you are liking?
Right now I am loving One Love Organics. Their products are clean, eco-friendly and cruelty-free. I’ve also been digging Korean beauty products lately. I follow the blog, The Klog, which is all things Korean beauty. I am constantly sampling new products from Birchbox and NewBeauty TestTube, two companies that offer incredible home delivery service of skincare/wellness samples. 

What about exfoliation? Good/Bad? How often should one exfoliate?
There are two common types of exfoliation. The first is physical or manual: scrubs, microdermabrasion, washcloth or my least favorite…the Clarisonic. Exfoliation with a scrub can be done 1-2x per week. The second type is a chemical exfoliation which involves enzymes, beta or alpha hydroxy acids. These chemical exfoliations can come the form of a toner, serum or cream. Chemical exfoliators can be used almost every night.

Skincare Treatments

What about chemical peels? Who are they good for?
The older we get, the less frequently our cells naturally turn over. A regular monthly chemical exfoliation will lift away dead cells and trigger a chain reaction. A few days after a peel is applied, the topmost layer of the epidermis sheds and signals the living cells below to multiply and move up, increasing collagen production, creating more hyaluronic acid, hosting only healthy oils and low bacteria. I offer about 20 different types of chemical or enzyme peels and customize the blends specifically for the clients needs and skin type. It’s a great non-invasive option that results in brighter, refreshed skin tone.

What procedures have you seen make the most impact on skincare minimalists?

1. Micro-needling with radio frequency with PRP (platelet rich plasma). I could write a novel on the benefits
2. Radiant Peel by Axia Medical. This may be hands-down the best medium depth chemical peel I’ve come across so far.
3. LED light therapy by LightStim. This therapy benefits mostly every client as it kills bacteria, enhances blood flow and accelerates healing time by mimicking a process similar to photosynthesis.

What products or procedures do you feel people go overboard with?
Laser. I believe in a long term approach versus the trauma of laser. Between frequency based treatments, microneedling, and monthly customized facial treatments you can get the same results at 1/2 the price. And hardly any downtime. If someone is a canidate for laser I will refer them elsewhere.

What do you recommend for someone who is a skincare minimalist (or lazy)?
Come in for monthly treatments and let me do the work 🙂

What types of non-cosmetic things have you seen make a big impact on someone’s appearance?
Hydration, sleep, mental wellness.

Isn’t it crazy how knowledgeable she is? I really hope you have learned as much from Beth’s passion and experience as I have. If you already knew all this, then at least you can laugh at how clueless I was!

If you are local to the Ocala area, give Beth and her team at Beyond Skin a call to schedule an appointment. I promise you will not be disappointed. And…if you still have some people on your Christmas list, they would probably really love a gift certificate!

Let me know if you want to learn more from Beth in the coming months. While this blog is not going to turn into a beauty blog anytime soon, I will certainly take you along for the ride as I learn.

Posted by Ale & filed under Learning. This post has 5 comments.