Better Than Ever

The best beauty treatments trending now

By Laurel Sutherland | Feb. 29, 2020

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and let’s face it — there’s no beholder as critical as the one scrutinizing herself in the mirror every morning. If you’ve got something standing in the way of greeting that gal with an approving smile, don’t beat yourself up; do something about it. Northern Express scoured the region to find the latest and greatest cosmetic treatments trending now, and what we found is this: From fine hair to fine lines, there’s a new fix available — and the pros and people trying it swear it’s better than what’s come before.

Brow Lamination                                                                                                                     Alchemy Esthetics, Traverse City                                                                                                 $70, 45 minutes                                                                                                                      Expertly styled and tinted no-maintenance eyebrows for 1 month+
Cosmetic leaders on the East and West coasts are loving brow lamination, and it’s finally hit the northern Michigan beauty scene at Alchemy Esthetics. This game-changing technique delivers more defined, lifted, fuller eyebrows without the pain or permanence of micro-blading, or tattooing, or the frequent upkeep pens and brushes require. Think of it as an eyebrow perm. Here’s how it works: Eyebrow hairs are given a fuller look through repositioning, tinting, and lamination. Within a 45 minute session, eyebrows are transformed to appear slick, fuller, and shiny. Laminated brows remain perfectly defined, lifted, and tinted for six to 8 weeks. 

https://www.facebook.com/Alchemy-Esthetics-356043414965926/

Natural Beaded Hair Extensions
Radiance Salon and Spa, Petoskey                                                                                         $1,200–$1,300 for initial application, 2+ hours                                                                                                    Luxurious, seamless hair extensions for fuller, natural-looking hair 
If you’ve ever dreamt of having more voluminous hair, natural beaded hair extensions could be your magic beauty elixir — and Radiance is the only salon north of Fenton licensed and certified to provide them. These 100 percent human hair extensions require no glue, so they are non-damaging to natural hair. Instead, the extensions are carefully woven into your natural hair. The beaded design and weaving technique distributes the weight of the extensions so that they work especially well with fine hair. Since the extensions can be dyed, the cost and treatment time depends on your custom coloring needs. Depending on care, you can expect them to last 9 months to a year with lifts every 6-8 weeks. (Maintenance lifts vary in cost, from less than $200 to more than $500, depending on the number of extensions you require.)

https://radiancesalonandspabh.com/

Mei Zen “Beautiful Person” Facial Rejuvenation (pictured above)| Kara Schaub L.Ac, MSTOM at Imagine Health, Traverse City                                                                                                                $150 per one-hour treatment, twice a week for five weeks,                                                                  A natural and effective alternative to Botox. Goodbye chemicals: hello needles.
When you imagine acupuncture with 80 needles, you might think torture chamber. However, Schaub tells us that many of her patients fall asleep during this trademarked acupuncture protocol. During the treatment sessions, about 80 needles are placed in apex points across the face. Needles may also be placed elsewhere in the body to balance energy. The needles are situated carefully in the dermis to create micro traumas that stimulate skin to produce more collagen and elastin. This natural facelift delivers reduced inflammation and fine lines, as well as glowing, hydrated skin. Beyond those perks, Kara’s patients report a boost in mood and cosmetic results that last for two to six years. Ideal maintenance is one treatment per month. 

https://www.imaginehealthtc.com/

Deluxe HydraFacial | Spa Grand Traverse, Acme Township                                                  $200–$300, 25–80 minutes                                                                                                        Clinical-quality anti-aging and hydrating facial meets spa relaxation bliss 
The HydraFacial is like getting five facials in one session. It uses a patented vacuuming wand technology to cleanse, extract, and hydrate your skin. Choose from the Signature HydraFacial (cleaning, exfoliation, and hydration), Deluxe (Signature plus wrinkle and pigmentation balancing), or Spa Grand Traverse’s Platinum HydraFacial (Signature and Deluxe plus lymphatic drainage, targeted boosters, and LED light therapy). Go for the facial renewal, stay for the  amenities of Spa Grand Traverse (think sauna, hot tub, hot tea, and a soft robe and slippers). In addition to the facial, the spa staff will educate you on your before and after photos and counsel you on the best skin care regimen for your skin. When you leave, you will immediately see reduced inflammation and fine lines, smaller pores, and an undeniably dewy glow that lasts for six to eight weeks. 

https://www.grandtraverseresort.com/spa/hydrafacial

Plasma Pen Wrinkle Treatment | Great Lakes Plastic Surgery Center, Traverse City           $350–$4,000, 30 minutes to 3+ hours, depending on wrinkle treatment needs                                   An incredibly effective, non-surgical, clinical wrinkle-reduction treatment  
This new, non-surgical approach to treating wrinkles is hyper-focused on your individual wrinkle treatment needs. Clinicians use a handheld Plasma Pen device that converts electrical energy into electrostatic energy to deliver targeted fibroblasts to your dermis. Those fibroblasts stimulate collagen and elastin production and promote skin strengthening and lifting. The results are an immediate and dramatically reduced appearance of wrinkles. Note: It is not uncommon to experience some swelling and scabs for 1 to 5 days following the procedure, so plan accordingly. The clinicians at GLPSC suggest a full consultation before the procedure to assess how your unique complexion might be impacted by the treatment (e.g. darker skin tones may hyper pigment). Treatment results are virtually immediate and last about three years. 

https://www.glpsc.com/