At C. Skin Co. Medical Aesthetics, skin care is part of your wellness plan—not an afterthought. We sat down with co-founder Carolyn Lebeis to talk about a new era of skin care rooted in education, prevention, and feeling like yourself.
Q. Can you start by telling us a little bit about your company and what makes it different?
A. C. Skin Co. Medical Aesthetics is an aesthetic practice focused on skin health and wellness. Yes, we offer things like Botox, facials, and waxing, but what really sets us apart is that we treat skin as your largest organ, not just a cosmetic concern. It’s not a one-time visit. We look at skin care as a lifelong journey—from early years through later life—and we think in terms of a treatment plan, the same way you’d get a plan from your primary care doctor. In aesthetic medicine, there’s also the question of how we can enhance your natural features in a way that still feels like you. Our brand is education-driven so people can make informed decisions about treatments that fit their health, goals, and comfort level.
Q. On your website, you talk about “a new era of skin care.” What do you mean by that?
A. There’s so much information out there—social media, influencers, ads—that people are overwhelmed. They’re constantly asking, “What product is right for me? What service should I be getting?” This new era, for us, is about stepping back. You don’t need all the things. Some options may be right for you, and some may not. Our job is to sort through that with you. It’s a less-is-more approach: find what truly serves your skin, teach you why, and then let you decide.
Q. You say skin care is health care, not vanity. How does skin care fit into overall wellness?
A. When we talk about skin care, we’re also talking about medical issues like skin cancer, which can affect anyone, anywhere—hands, face, neck, back, everywhere. We think about skin the way you would think about any other organ. I’m an elder millennial; I grew up in the tanning-bed era. Now we know better. For me, becoming a mother really drove home the power of sunscreen and prevention. And that’s year-round, not just in the summer. You’re still exposed on cold, gray days in Maine. A big part of what we do is preventative medicine—education, sunscreen, medical-grade products—so we can hopefully prevent problems before they show up or catch them earlier in the aging continuum.
Q. Can you walk us through some of the science and technology behind what you do and how that translates into results?
A. We partner with Cynosure Lutronic, one of the world’s leading laser companies, and that allows us to use studied, customizable technology to treat different skin and hair concerns safely. With lasers, you’re creating a controlled thermal injury in the skin, so safety and training are absolutely crucial. We type your skin on a universal scale, discuss how you heal, whether you scar or burn, and then build a plan based on that. Each treatment can be adjusted—the wavelength, the spot size, the settings—so it’s tailored to your skin. Plus, we only use FDA-approved injectable products, like Botox from Allergan Aesthetics, which has thousands of clinical trials behind it. Some med spas have drifted from their medical roots. We’re intentional about bringing it back to: What does the science say, and what is safely within our scope to treat?
Q. What are some of the most common reasons people come in?
A. The sentence we hear all the time is, “I woke up one day, looked at my face, and thought, ‘I don’t know how this happened, and I don’t know where to start.’” Something about their appearance starts to bother them, and they finally decide to ask for help. On the surface, that might sound like vanity, but self-worth and self-confidence are deeply tied to health. For clients struggling with depression, anxiety, or seasonal affective disorder, sometimes even a simple facial can be a reset. These kinds of services can have a positive impact beyond the mirror.
Q. Can you talk a little about prevention and rejuvenation—where they meet—and how your approach might differ for people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s?
A. Prevention starts with the basics: teaching people about their own skin and what it needs. We work with medical-grade lines designed to repair and protect at a cellular level. From there, we discuss “pre-juvenation,” namely, collagen stimulation—how do we maintain what you have for as long as we can? That might be as simple as sunscreen and a smart home routine in your 20s, and then adding in-office treatments as you move into your 30s, 40s, and beyond. Nationwide, we’re seeing people move away from always wanting fillers and toward approaches that help the body do more of the work on its own. For us, whether you’re 28 or 68, we start in the same place: a complimentary consultation and an honest conversation. Trust is everything, and that begins with communication.
Q. We live in Maine; we have harsh winters. What are your go-to tips for caring for skin through a Maine winter?
A. Sunscreen every single day—rainy days, cold days, gray days, days when you’re just in the car—because you’re still exposed to rays. We can often tell which side of someone’s face is their driving side. I recommend SPF 50 or higher, with reapplication—and not just on the face. You have to get the front and back of the neck, ears, hands, and even the tops of your feet if they’re exposed. If you’re sensitive to SPF, hats and physical protection are really important. And then it’s pairing that with medical-grade skincare, especially a daily functional moisturizer that actually helps your skin hold onto moisture. In a Maine winter, the number-one complaint we hear is, “My hands are so dry, my face is so dry.” Hydration and barrier support are key to keeping skin youthful, supple, and healthy.
Q. Is there anything you haven’t shared that you want people to know?
A. It's important to remember our communities in Maine are small. As a business owner, my goal is to partner with other businesses within this industry and beyond. We need to work together—there are plenty of faces and plenty of skin to go around. If we support one another, we strengthen the whole industry and elevate the level of care people receive. When we work together, we're better. I hope to continue moving this industry toward collaboration because we can all be successful together.
"For us, whether you’re 28 or 68, we start in the same place: a complimentary consultation and an honest conversation. Trust is everything, and that begins with communication."