I turned 46 this past weekend. It’s wild to think I haven’t had a drink of alcohol since I was 43! Cutting out alcohol remains one of the best decisions of my life. The joys of an alcohol-free life have been endless.
I name glowy skin as one of these joys, but let’s be real. Alcohol removal alone isn’t enough to keep our skin looking its best. I’m always intrigued by the skin routines of others, so I thought I’d share mine in this birthday blog post.
No to high-end skin products
I completely support friends who choose to make this investment, and Sephora will always give me a high ... but high-end skin products are not for me. I’ve been a faithful user of Ceravé Hydrating Facial Cleanser for years. I buy over and over again, typically with CVS ExtraCare coupons. I’m also a fan of Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer. The price is right, and it’s fragrance-free and dermatologist-recommended.
Yes to dermaplanes
I’d rather spend the money on dermaplanes. Facials are fun and relaxing, but ultimately, I’m there for the dermaplane – the part where the esthetician scrapes all the dead skin off your face. I met the talented Liz Smith of Beauty Aligned Esthetics when we were shop neighbors on West New Market in the Village of WestClay. She is now my go-to woman for dermaplanes! I love Liz! If you’re new to facials, know that you can typically schedule a dermaplane alone for a portion of the facial pricetag. Dermaplanes are also a great option if you’re crunched for time.
Yes to laser treatments
For a heftier investment, I’ve enjoyed amazing results with BBL and Moxi laser treatments at John Aker Aesthetics. I completely trust Danusia Vargas, RN at John Aker Aesthetics, with giant lasers on my face. Here is how I would distinguish between BBL and Moxi based on my personal experience. BBL was more uncomfortable with no downtime. Imagine a rubber band snapping on your face. Moxi was painless with a week's downtime. The Epionce aftercare kit was a huge help to tame my tomato-face.
No to injectables
As someone who has battled autoimmune issues for over 25 years, I have a complicated relationship with needles. Picture lots of blood draws, subcutaneous drugs, and years of infusions. While I tolerate them, I pretty much hate needles. It seems weird to me to actively choose needles in my face. Here is where I land. Injectables can compromise our ability to communicate empathy with our faces, and I’m in the empathy business at Loren’s Alcohol-Free.
Yes to surgery
Andee and I have been fortunate to enjoy much media attention since opening in the summer of 2022. It wasn’t long before I became hyper-critical of my appearance in photos. Can you relate??? I had been intrigued by a procedure called an upper blepharoplasty recommended by Danusia at Dr. John Aker’s office. I had the procedure in September 2022 and haven’t looked back. My only regret is not having it done sooner. I love the entire staff at the Aker Aesthetics, and they have been wonderful supporters of the store.
This blog post reflects my personal plan. I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with my perspectives. Add that to the joys of an alcohol-free life – caring less and less about what people what think! Everyone should do what makes sense to them. Planet Fitness isn’t the only no-judgment zone. It’s the same at Loren’s Alcohol-Free.
Kristin Patrick, Co-Founder
Loren’s Alcohol-Free Beverages
Photo by Kelsey Curtis on Unsplash
