SELF CARE PROFESSIONAL AESTHETICIAN MELISSA COX OF SWETNAM COSMETIC SURGERY SHARES HER SECRETS TO SENSATIONAL SKIN

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One of the best kept secrets at SWETNAM COSMETIC SURGERY, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is the wonderful Melissa Cox, a genius when it comes to skincare. Winter is upon us, and with the drier colder weather and the new challenge of mask-wearing to add to our seasonal skin care woes, we recently chatted with Melissa to talk skin care tips, safe treatments and local living. We all deserve a little self care after 2020, and Melissa provided the expert guidance we need to make smart choices and care for ourselves during the winter days ahead. We hope you’ll learn as much as we did from the interview below!

Aesthetician Melissa Cox provides a cleansing HydraFacial treatment to local small business owner Becca Brisiel of Maude (who also happens to be a fashion and beauty contributor for The Scout Guide Northwest Arkansas).

The Scout Guide: We know you offer a long list of treatments at Swetnam, from micro-needling to lasers and tons of facials. Can you tell us your very favorite treatment right now?

MC: My favorite thing to do is a DERMAPLANE AND HYDRAFACIAL COMBINATION. Dermaplane gets that top layer of dead skin off the face and it leaves your face nice and super smooth. Paired with the HydraFacial, which gets the gunk out of the pores, it leaves the skin glowing. You have that combo and you will really achieve that “Wow” factor, and you leave our office literally glowing.

TSG: Can you tell us a little bit about the safety protocols you are enforcing to make sure that your clients can relax and feel safe in their treatments?

MC: Of course! We are taking safety very seriously, being a doctor’s office too, this is very important to us. Before any treatment, you will receive a phone call to screen for symptoms, then we take your temperature before you enter the building. The same goes for all of us who work here! We are blocking out a longer period of time between each treatment so that we can thoroughly sterilize each room.

TSG: You always do a great job recommending the perfect product. What is your favorite product right now, especially for the dryness and breakouts caused by mask wearing?

MC: Everybody is always kind of dry this time of year, and face masks can make that worse for some of us. OBAGI HYDRATE is a really good moisturizer that I love. My other favorite product for dryness is COLORESCIENCE PEP UP, which is full of antioxidants to help hydrate skin. Both of these are great products for moisturizing skin and work well with masks. If you are experiencing breakouts with the masks—and who isn’t—then you’re going to want to check out the OBAJI CLENZIDERM line. Clenziderm products have salicylic acid, which will help with the breakouts.

TSG: We’re all looking for holiday gifting ideas to promote self care in our friends and family. What do you recommend?

MC: This brings me back to the Dermaplane HydraFacial combo! This is also a treatment where you really can’t go wrong, plus it’s good for every skin type. It’s a great starting point and a gift that will work for anyone, and just brighten their day. We can always build on their skin care from there based on personal needs.

TSG: Beyond that, what is the newest latest and greatest treatment at the medspa?

MC: The CO2 COOL PEEL LASERS are really exciting. This laser has all the effects of a chemical peel without the down time. It helps to refresh the skin, takes off the top layer of dead skin and reveals a glow. It smooths skin, helps with fine lines, spots, and it’s a great refresher to get that top layer of dead skin off.

TSG: Can you give us some every day skin care tips?

MC: Stick with your new products for at least six weeks. A lot of people come in and use a product for two days and then they get frustrated. It takes six weeks of consistent use in your skin care routine for you to see changes. And of course, it is so important—even in the winter—to use a physical sunscreen every day. Avoid chemical sunscreens, and choose a physical sunscreen that contains zinc and titanium, which reflect the sun’s rays.

Melissa is a fitness fan and loves to teach group fitness classes including spin, core and weightlifting.

TSG: Can you share a little bit about your local loves?

MC: In my spare time, I’m a group fitness fangirl! I teach group fitness classes at FAYETTEVILLE ATHLETIC CLUB, including spin, core and weightlifting classes. Back in 2012, I lost a lot of weight in group fitness classes and now I love to pay that forward by teaching classes, helping people see changes and feel better about themselves. When I’m not teaching classes or working at Swetnam, I’m often out on the Greenway cycling, or participating in all the local bike races. My family loves local dining, so we can be found at some of our faves like FEED AND FOLLY or CHEERS AT THE OPO of course. Plus, I’m a huge fan of DOOMSDAY COFFEE, which has the best breakfast tacos ever! 

We all deserve a little self care this winter, after the year we’ve had! Whether you’re looking for a gift or wanting to treat yourself, make an appointment with Melissa for SPA TREATMENTS and NON-SURGICAL SERVICES by calling 479.966.4174.

SWETNAM COSMETIC SURGERY and SWETNAM COSMETIC AESTHETICS offer everything from PRP FACIALSHYDRAFACIALSDERMAPLANINGVEIN THERAPY and BROW TRANSFORMATIONS (wax + tint) to COOLPEEL LASERCO2 LASERS and DERMAPEN MICRONEEDLING procedures. Don’t forget to shop their full list of SKINCARE PRODUCTS too (click HERE for Swetnam staff favorites)!