My mother always told me to take care of my skin. She said, “Martha, you will be so glad that you did.” Of course, at twenty I had only a vague notion of what she meant; something like one day in the far-flung future I would graduate from zits to wrinkles and everything in between was called skin care. I listened, I cleansed, I exfoliated, and I used sunscreen. Every year it paid off just like my mother said. My face, my neck, and décolletage maintained a youthful glow and resilience.
Fast forward to long about now (let’s just say past forty). I have a very clear picture of what she meant, visible to me every morning. What began as simple facials one decade slowly advanced to “dermabrasion” (don’t ask), and then onward to micro-needling—each step helpful in its own way. But time being what it is, and wanting to keep that pearly sheen, I realized I was ready for the next level.
That’s when I met Karin Otto, a local skin-care professional whose thoughtful, measured approach immediately put me at ease. She looked at my skin and offered clear, honest feedback—nothing dramatic, nothing sales-y—just a straightforward recommendation that laser treatments might be the next logical step.
I’d heard about laser before and was admittedly intimidated. She could tell. She explained the method she uses and what it’s designed to improve: tone, texture, and collagen production. My main question, of course, was: how much will this hurt? She assured me the discomfort was manageable and the aftercare similar to tending to a mild sunburn. She wasn’t wrong.
I was numbed beforehand, and while the treatment felt strange—quick, hot little prickles—it was brief. I had redness for a couple of days and wasn’t eager to be seen, but as it faded, I could already see the refinement in my skin. The aftercare serum helped the new skin along and within about five days the evidence disappeared, leaving behind a firmer, smoother version of the face I remembered. Karin suggested a series of three sessions spaced a few weeks apart for the best response. What I can say is that the results felt thoughtfully tailored, not rushed or formulaic.
Even if you think skin care is superficial or vain (and I’ll fully admit to some vanity), the skin is, after all, the body’s largest organ. Keeping it healthy is part of overall wellness. The face is both a compass and a window—worth tending along with everything else we rely on to move through the world. For me, this small investment has been a meaningful shift. I’m grateful to look in the mirror and see a version of myself that feels more like me, rather than the changes I wasn’t ready to accept just yet.
This experience reminded me that caring for your skin is really just caring for yourself — and sometimes it helps to have someone knowledgeable in your corner. Karin is not only skilled in her own practice, she also serves as a clinical trainer, sharing her expertise with other professionals who want to learn the laser techniques she uses. From my now-experienced perspective, that kind of generosity is a gift to anyone who values thoughtful, attentive skin care. To learn more about the treatments Karin provides, visit FaceBoutiqueBoise.com.