Save Money With Med Spa Services That You Can Do At Home

Facial Peels:

Peels can take years off of your face. A peel often has dramatic results, including a reduction in fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, discoloration, and acne scars. By using an over-the-counter version you can get similar results at home without paying hundreds of dollars. When performed at a med spa it is often necessary to return for follow-up treatments. Some even require the application of pre-treatments over a period of time.

A Trichloroacetic Acid, or TCA, peel is considered a medium chemical peel and works on deep layers of the skin. Medical grade TCA peels are now available without a prescription. Most bottles contain several applications so that you can perform regular sessions at home. It is recommended that a person start first though with lighter peels, such as Gycolic acid and Alpha-hydroxy peels, which can be purchased in a range of strengths. Once the skin is used to the lighter peel, there will be less chance of irritation when moving up in strength.  An option for those who suffer from acne is a Salicylic acid peel. Continued use can banish acne and reduce scarring. Peels are available at certain beauty stores, online retailers, and even in take-home packages at med spas.

Laser Hair Removal:

Home laser hair removal is becoming increasingly more common. Thanks to FDA approved devices that can be found in stores and through online retailers (see the link above for reviews), you can be hair-free without stepping foot outside of your door. In most cases, you will see less hair growth in as little as 90 days and permanent, smooth results in six months. The convenience is unparalleled, because regular sessions are needed in order for the process to be effective. By going the do-it-yourself route you will save the time and money that is inherent in med spa treatments. Med spa laser hair removal can cost up to $200 per treatment for small areas and up to $900 per treatment for larger areas. Devices created for home-use tend to cost under $400 and provide as many treatments as necessary.

Microdermabrasion:

Microdermabrasion relies on tiny grains that buff away the top layers of skin to make the skin smoother, decrease the appearance of scars, and get rid of fine lines and wrinkles. At med spas, the procedure averages about $100 per session. However, there are a slew of effective, wallet-friendly, at home versions (see reviews a the earlier link). Home microdermabrasian systems are widely available and can be purchased at drug stores, beauty stores, department stores, and online retailers. The cost can be as little as under $20 and the product usually contains several treatments. Mild formulas can be found in the form of cleansing disks, while the more expensive, stronger formulas often come with a mechanical tool that recreates the effects of an in-office treatment.

Light Therapy:

The same light therapy devices offered in spas are also available for home use. Acne lights in particular tend to be FDA cleared and are reported  to be effective, while anti-aging light are reported to be effective as a preventative treatment. The difference in price between home light therapy and spa services can be huge, with a single spa treatment costing as much as half of the cost of one of the more affordable home devices.

Savvy shoppers can have the med spa experience at home. No appointments, no waiting areas, and no astronomical bills, make at-home treatments the convenient, easy, and affordable way to go. Products are available at stores, online, and through med spas, making comparison shopping simple. As science evolves, med spa services, such as peels, laser hair removal, and microdermabrasion, can be extremely effective even when performed in your own bathroom.

(Carleen Pruess Coulter is a beauty and technology blogger. She lives in the Chicago area and writes for several beauty and fitness blogs, including Beauty and Fashion Tech, which focuses in part on technological advances in beauty.)