MEDICAL-GRADE Skincare · PEARL DISTRICT, PORTLAND
sKINCARE THAT HOLDS YOUR RESULTS
We carry Alastin Skincare and skinbetter science because they do what drugstore products can't: higher concentrations of real actives, delivery systems that get them where they need to go, and formulas built to work alongside the treatments we perform.
Authorized retailer · Fitted to your skin · Paired with your treatments · No pressure to buy the whole line
WHY IT’S DIFFERENT
WHAT “MEDICAL-GRADE” ACTUALLY MEANS
There's no FDA definition of the term, so we'll tell you what it means to us. These lines use active ingredients at concentrations that do something measurable, in delivery systems that carry them past the surface, tested on the formula rather than on one ingredient in isolation. They're sold through providers because somebody should be looking at your skin before you spend money on a retinoid.
That last part is the real difference. A shelf at a department store can't tell you that the product you're reaching for will make your melasma worse. We can.
Concentration that matters
Active ingredients at levels shown to change skin, not at trace amounts added so they can appear on the label.
Delivery, not just ingredients
An active that sits on the surface does nothing. Both lines are built around getting ingredients into the skin.
Tested as formulated
Clinical studies on the finished product, not a study of one ingredient borrowed to sell a different formula.
Fitted by a provider
You leave with what your skin needs, in an order that won't irritate it, and with a plan for adding the next thing.
WHAT WE CARRY
TWO LINES, CHOSEN FOR DIFFERENT STRENGTHS
We don't stock either line because a rep talked us into it. Alastin is the one we reach for around procedures and for rebuilding structure; skinbetter solves the retinoid problem and does the best tinted mineral SPF we've used. Most routines end up borrowing from both.
BY GALDERMA
Alastin Skincare®
Built around TriHex Technology, a blend of peptides and botanicals formulated to help clear out fragmented collagen and elastin and support the skin's production of new. That's why it shows up in our pre- and post-procedure protocols: it works on the same repair process our treatments trigger.
Regenerating Skin Nectar
Before & after procedures
Restorative Skin Complex
C-RADICAL Defense Serum
HA Immerse Serum
Renewal Retinol
HydraTint Pro Mineral SPF 36
TransFORM Body Treatment
Daily lines & firmness
Vitamin C antioxidant
Hydrating, plumping
Texture & tone
Tinted daily sunscreen
Crepey skin, body
PROVIDER ONLY
skinbetter science®
Built around AlphaRet, a patented molecule that bonds a retinoid to a lactic acid so the two are delivered together. The result is retinoid-level change with markedly less peeling and redness, which matters if you've tried a retinoid before and gave up on it.
AlphaRet Overnight Cream
The retinoid, most skins
AlphaRet Intensive
Mystro Active Balance Serum
Trio Rebalancing Moisture
Stronger, once tolerated
Alto Defense Serum
Even Tone Correcting Serum
sunbetter Mineral SPF
Antioxidant, calming
Discoloration, no hydroquinone
Stressed, reactive skin
Barrier repair
100% mineral, tinted
Stock rotates. If you're after a specific product, text us before you drive over and we'll confirm it's on the shelf.
YOUR ROUTINE
FIVE STEPS, NOT FIFTEEN
Almost every effective routine is the same short list. What changes is which product fills each slot, and that's the part worth a conversation.
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanse | Gentle cleanser | Gentle cleanser, twice if you wore makeup or SPF |
| Treat | Antioxidant serum | Retinoid |
| Target | Brightening or peptide serum | Peptide or recovery serum |
| Moisturize | Lighter moisturizer | Richer moisturizer |
| Protect | Mineral SPF 30 or higher, every day | — |
If you only do two things: wear sunscreen every morning and use a retinoid at night. Everything else is refinement.
WITH YOUR TREATMENTS
SKINCARE AND TREATMENTS DO DIFFERENT JOBS
An IPL clears the sun damage you already have. Skincare is what keeps it from coming back. Microneedling builds collagen in a few concentrated sessions; a retinoid keeps the process running the other 360 days of the year. Neither one substitutes for the other, and patients who do both get results that last noticeably longer.
It also runs the other way. What you're using at home changes how your skin responds on treatment day, which is why we ask about your products before we ever fire a device.
Pause actives before treatment
Retinoids and exfoliating acids generally stop about five to seven days before laser, IPL, or microneedling, and go back on once your skin is calm. Your provider will give you the exact window.
Support the repair afterward
Regenerating Skin Nectar is formulated for use around procedures, which is why it's in our post-treatment instructions rather than a generic moisturizer.
Sunscreen is the whole ballgame after IPL
Pigment that took years of sun to create will come back with a few unprotected weekends. Daily mineral SPF is not optional after a photofacial.
Melasma needs a careful hand
Heat and aggressive actives can both make it worse. If that's your concern, we build the routine before we consider any device.
WORTH KNOWING
WHY THESE AREN’T ON AMAZON
Both brands sell through licensed providers and authorized sites, and neither authorizes third-party marketplace sellers. When you find one of these products listed at a steep discount, it is usually one of the following, and you have no way to tell which.
RISK
Counterfeit
Refilled packaging, or a formula that has nothing to do with the label. You're putting it on your face.
RISK
Expired or heat-damaged
Retinoids and vitamin C degrade. A product that spent a summer in a warehouse or a delivery truck may be inert.
RISK
No guarantee
Brand satisfaction guarantees and returns apply to authorized purchases only. Buy it elsewhere and you're on your own.
THE ALTERNATIVE
Buy it from a provider
We're an authorized retailer for both lines. Fresh stock, correct storage, and someone who can tell you what to do when your skin flakes in week three.
HOW WE DO IT
BUILDING YOUR ROUTINE
01
Bring what you use
Photograph your bathroom shelf or bring the products in. Half of what we do is telling people what to stop using.
02
We look at your skin
Concerns, skin type, history of pigment or sensitivity, and what your schedule will realistically tolerate.
03
Start with two or three
Not a full line. We start where the change will be biggest and add from there once your skin has adjusted.
04
Adjust as you go
Check in at your next appointment or text us. Retinoid too strong, cleanser too stripping, anything not working, we change it.
WHY STYLE AESTHETICS
we’D RATHER SELL YOU THREE PRODUCTS THAT WORK
Retail is not what keeps the lights on here, which means nobody on our team has a reason to talk you into a seven-step regimen. If sunscreen and a retinoid are what your skin needs, that's what you'll leave with.
Our providers are national GAIN trainers for Galderma, teaching facial anatomy and technique to other medical professionals. The same standard applies at the skincare shelf: recommendations come from what the formula does, not from what we're overstocked on.
Authorized for both lines
Alastin Skincare and skinbetter science, purchased through the brands, stored correctly, current dating.
Planned with your treatments
Your home routine and your in-clinic plan are built as one thing, not handed to you separately.
Every skin tone
Routines for pigment-prone and deeper skin tones are built to avoid the actives and the heat that cause rebound darkening.
A new Pearl District clinic
Come in and swatch a tinted SPF in real light at NW 10th & Northrup.
QUESTIONS
SKINCARE FAQ
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No. You're welcome to come in, ask questions, and buy what you need whether or not you've ever had a treatment with us. Consultations are free either way.
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Usually both, in different slots. Alastin's TriHex products are our go-to around procedures and for rebuilding structure; skinbetter's AlphaRet is the retinoid we reach for first, and their mineral sunscreens are the ones patients actually keep wearing. We'll tell you which products from which line at your consultation.
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Common, and usually a dosing problem rather than a skin problem. AlphaRet pairs the retinoid with a lactic acid in a single molecule, which tends to be far better tolerated. We also start you at two nights a week and build from there, instead of nightly out of the gate.
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Hydration and smoothness within days to a couple of weeks. Texture and fine lines from a retinoid take about eight to twelve weeks. Pigment is the slowest, often three months or more. Skincare rewards consistency, not intensity.
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No, and we won't sell it to you that way. Sunscreen and a retinoid do most of the work. An antioxidant in the morning is the usual third. Everything past that is refinement for a specific concern.
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Retinoids are off the table during pregnancy, and most providers advise avoiding them while nursing. Gentle cleansers, hyaluronic acid, mineral sunscreen, and most antioxidants are generally fine. Check with your OB, and tell us so we can build around it.
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Usually yes, for a few days. Retinoids and exfoliating acids typically pause about five to seven days before laser, IPL, or microneedling, and resume when your skin has settled. You'll get specific instructions with your appointment, so don't guess.
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Higher active concentrations, delivery systems that get those actives into the skin, and clinical testing on the finished formula all cost more to make. Whether that's worth it depends on the product. We'll tell you where spending more actually changes the result and where it doesn't.
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Alastin is a Galderma brand, so purchases can be tied into the same ASPIRE Galderma Rewards account as your Restylane, Dysport, and Sculptra treatments. Ask us to set it up or link your existing account.
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Tell us. Bring it back in and we'll work out whether it's purging, irritation, or the wrong product, then adjust. That conversation is the reason to buy from a provider in the first place.
lET’S LOOK AT WHAT YOU’RE USING
Bring your products or a photo of them. We'll tell you what's earning its place, what to drop, and what to add. No pressure, no obligation.
Style Aesthetics · 1130 NW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
Skincare recommendations are made after a skin assessment and a review of your health history and current products. Cosmetic skincare products are not drugs and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results vary. Some ingredients, including retinoids and exfoliating acids, are not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding or alongside certain treatments and medications. Discontinue use and contact us if irritation develops. Product availability is subject to change.
