Skin Care at Monaco MedSpa

in Midtown Miami, FL

Sometimes all it takes is the right combination of products and professional treatments to transform your skin. At Monaco MedSpa in Miami, FL, we are passionate about skincare, which is why we offer the best professional-grade masks, peels and skincare products that can help address different skincare concerns, perfect your complexion, and help you feel more confident about your skin.

Our Skincare Products

At Monaco MedSpa, we are proud to offer Alastin, PCA, Skinmedica, Defenage, and Monaco MedSpa’s own skincare line. These are currently some of the most effective medical grade skincare creams on the market. Non-medical grade creams sold at department stores cost about the same without the medical benefits of targeting specific anti-aging enzymes and receptors in the skin and without having transepidermal delivery systems. Non-medical grade creams also have inactive ingredients that can cause irritation, which in turn can cause rosacea and hyperpigmentation. Dr. Barrueta personally uses and only recommends medical grade creams.

From skin-perfecting peels to skincare masks, at-home products, and facials, at Monaco MedSpa we offer a variety of different products that can help address some of your most stubborn skin concerns and help you finally achieve a complexion you can feel confident in. If you need the help of an expert who can design a treatment plan that helps you reach your aesthetic goals, you’ve come to the right place. Our skincare expert, Dr. Barrueta, will evaluate your skin, listen to your concerns, and determine your skin type. Then, she will create a skincare regimen just for you, using a combination of medical grade creams and products, prescribed medications, and/or ipl/laser treatments, so that you can finally improve your complexion and experience your best skin complexion to date. She will tailor your treatments to treat your melasma, rosacea, acne, dry skin, eczema, aging skin and whatever other skin ailment that may be affecting your skin.

Monaco MedSpa Skincare Products

Monaco MedSpa is proud to offer a large selection of medical grade skincare products carefully selected by Dr. Barrueta. Monaco MedSpa Skincare products are made using the highest concentration of each ingredient possible in order to get you transformative, anti-aging results. Our products are manufactured in the US in a state-of-the-art, FDA-registered, cGMP-compliant facility. This means that they are properly tested and efficacious. In addition to cGMP and FDA testing requirements, Monaco MedSpa Skincare products are also clinically tested. We are also part of the green leaf program, meaning all Monaco MedSpa Skincare products are free of many common irritants and harmful ingredients. Monaco MedSpa Skincare products do not contain any sulfates, hormones, parabens, imidazolidinyl urea, petrolatum, propylene glycol, cocamide DEA, Prop 65, formaldehyde, 1-2 dioxane, hexylene glycol, or decelyne glycol.

Monaco MedSpa’s Skincare line includes over 60 products and kits that treat every skin condition from acne, to sensitive skin, to rosacea, to melasma, to aging. They include antioxidant creams and serums such as the Vita C & E Serum that is almost half the price of our competitors and is made with the same ingredients and efficacy; biopeptide growth factor creams containing stem cell stimulating growth factors made from fibroblasts and stromal cells; lip plumping hyaluronic acid serums; needle free hyaluronic acid serums that increase elastin and collagen production by over 190%; acne creams and serums that use groundbreaking acne-clearing ingredients that penetrate deep within the pores, leaving you with a blemish-free complexion; highly effective and protective SPFs, some of which target aging while others target acne; hyaluronic acid booster creams that also have antioxidants and that are specially formulated, with a proprietary Transepidermal delivery system that provides intense hydration, promoting softer, smoother and more radiant looking skin; and, much more.

We have also developed a Hair Regrowth Kit that includes a shampoo, conditioner, and serum, that uses an advanced technology that blocks the production of DHT and stimulates collagen production for better hair follicle anchoring. It also contains ingredients that decrease pro-inflammatory scalp cytokines. Hair loss is most often a result of a disruption in the hair growth cycle due to an increase of DHT hormone, a loss of tissue integrity around the hair follicle, and scalp inflammation. By addressing the main causes of hair loss, the Hair Regrowth Kit prevents hair loss and stimulates hair growth, resulting in fuller, thicker and healthier looking hair.

PCA Skincare Products

We offer several different treatments and products from PCA, a medical grade skincare line. Whether you’re looking for a take-home product that can help improve the appearance of your skin, or you want to schedule a PCA facial mask treatment or peel that will improve your skin without causing inflammation and irritation, we can help determine which PCA products, facial masks, and peels are right for you. You can rest assured that our skincare experts will help design a treatment plan that’s right for you. Once you experience one of our facials and begin using the at-home products that are right for your skin, you’ll watch your complexion slowly improve, brighten, and achieve an envy-worthy glow.

Alastin Skincare Products

Alastin Skincare offers a superb range of post-procedure creams that help recycle and repair collagen and elastin. Alastin Skincare is owned by Galderma, the makers of Dysport and Restylane fillers, two of the most popular injectables in the US. Alastin products are paraben, gluten, and cruelty-free. Their products contain peptides and botanicals that help replenish the skin while supporting skin renewal. Whether you are looking for creams for your daily skincare routine or for some of the best post-procedure creams available, Alastin has both.

Skinmedica Skincare Products

SkinMedica is a popular and effective, medical grade skincare line designed by the Allergan brand, which brought the world Juvéderm and Botox, two of the most popular cosmetic injectable lines in the beauty world. SkinMedica is known for its powerful and effective skincare products and treatments, and we’re proud to offer the SkinMedica Products and the Skinmedica Vitalize Peel here at Monaco MedSpa.

Defenage Skincare Products

Defenage is an America-based medical grade skincare line that focuses on anti-aging skincare. They have developed a proprietary molecule called Defensins, that helps turn back the hands of time. Defenage has designed many different products that will not only improve your facial complexion, but also the skin on your neck, hands, and body. The Defenage skincare line offers products that are effective and that will transform your skin. We are proud to offer this line, and our skincare experts can help you choose the right products from this skincare line that will help address your specific needs so you can experience beautiful skin.

Aging Skin

Dr. Barrueta recommends a combination of anti-aging creams based on a person's age. The first and foremost anti-aging product everyone should use according to Dr. Barrueta is a good SPF that contains zinc oxide of at least 8%. The sun‘s UV rays damage the skin’s DNA, leading to a faster loss of elastin and collagen, which are the two molecules in your dermis that create skin tightness and a youthful look. So the first thing for anti-aging is prevention with a good, medical grade SPF.

In your 20s you should start perfecting your skincare regimen. It’s time to leave behind your teenage products, as your skin becomes thinner as you age. Now is the time to adopt good skincare habits and start getting facials. Start balancing your oil production by incorporating both AHA/BHA-containing creams and moisturizers into your skincare regimen. You will definitely need to start using a moisturizer. If you have oily or combination skin you should use a light oil-free moisturizer. You should always remove your makeup before going to bed, as impurities trapped in your makeup can contain free radicals that trigger premature aging and sagging skin by damaging your collagen.

In your 20s you should also be applying sunscreen every day as UV rays are the number one cause of wrinkles. Your SPF should be 30 or higher and should contain zinc oxide 8%. You also need to start arming your skin with antioxidants that have vitamin rich ingredients like vitamin C and E to fight free radicals in the environment that lead to skin DNA damage, which in turn leads to wrinkles. You should also exfoliate regularly, use an eye cream, and use skincare products that contain retinoids, glycolic acid and niacinamide. These all will increase cell turnover and help prevent pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles. The skin around your eyes is very thin and delicate and is the most prone to developing lines and wrinkles. Therefore you should invest in a medical grade eye cream. And let’s not forget to drink a lot of water daily. This keeps your skin hydrated from the inside out and the skin needs hydration to create collagen III and elastin, the two “youth” skin molecules.

In your 30s you should know your skin type by now and use a cleanser specific for your skin type. You should be applying SPF at all times outdoors and indoors, as photons from artificial lights and blue light from cell phones can damage your skin’s DNA and cause premature aging, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. You should be applying all your creams and spf to your face, neck and chest decolletage as well. Your neck and chest decolletage have very thin skin and can age as fast or faster than your facial skin. You should be applying antioxidant serums and creams with vitamins C and E, products that have retinoids or tretinoin, and you should invest in a good medical grade eye cream. At this age, you should start using a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, which will retain the moisture in your dermis - your skin and dermis need water/moisture to keep making collagen III and elastin molecules.

In your 40s, as in your 30s, you should be using a gentle cleanser, eye creams, moisturizers with antioxidants, antioxidant serums and creams with vitamin C and E, SPF at all times with zinc oxide 8%, non-irritating retinoids/tretinoin, skin brightening serums with niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid serums. At this age now you need to start using peptide-based growth factor creams, which stimulate your own stem cells to make new epidermal skin and dermis.

In your 50s you need a solid skincare routine if you don’t have one by now. You need a hydrating cleanser which contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid and/or niacinamide in the morning and an exfoliating or enzymatic cleanser in the evening. You will also need to be using antioxidant vitamin C & E serums and creams, hyaluronic acid serums and creams, eye creams and retinoids or tretinoin daily. In the morning, you should layer on products that contain hyaluronic acid or lipids to retain moisture. Ideally, you should also be using moisturizers that boost collagen and elastin production, that contain peptides, growth factors, and molecules that stimulate your own stem cells to produce new collagen III and elastin. For those with sensitive skin, you may use phyto retinols, which are plant-based retinol alternatives. Last but not least everyone should be wearing SPF at all times.

In your 60s your skin will become noticeably drier and thinner. You’ll start noticing the skin on your neck is aging quickly. At this age, we have lost most of the skin molecules that retain water in our skin, such as hyaluronic acid. The skin now starts feeling itchy and dry, which makes fine lines and wrinkles look more pronounced. In addition, at this age there is an enormous loss of elastin and a shift in hormones that can trigger facial hair and dark spots in the face, neck, chest, hands and arms to become more pronounced. It is important to use creams and serums that are hydrating, that stimulate stem cells, that have antioxidants, and that prevent pigmentation.

In your 60s, 70s, & 80s and it’s all about hydration, antioxidant vitamin C and E-based serums and creams, growth factor and peptide creams, thick moisturizers with hyaluronic acid, eye creams with squalene to provide extra moisturize to the eyelids, creams that stimulate stem cells and that treat and help prevent pigmentation.

Acne

Acne has many causes including hormonal, hereditary, medications, diet, too much sun, masks, the use of oil-based beauty products, stress and anxiety, your partner’s beard, or touching your face too much (fingers have dirt and bacteria that clog glands). During your skincare consultation, Dr. Barrueta will identify the cause of your acne and recommend treatments that target your specific causes of acne.

At Monaco MedSpa we have formulated the Acne Defense Kit which includes the Acne Control Serum, the Clarifying Cleanser which exfoliates dead skin cells, the Acne Correction Pads, and the Clear Defense SPF 45 which is a fast absorbing SPF that is oil-free and lightweight. More info on these products can be found below in the Monaco MedSpa Skincare Line Section.

Melasma

Melasma is a skin condition where dark pigment called melanin is seen as dark blotches of skin or as areas of hyperpigmentation. To treat melasma Dr. Barrueta uses a variety of methods which may include prescribed medication, medical grade creams, chemical peels, microneedling, and/or Morpheus8 treatments, depending on whether you have dermal or epidermal melasma or a combination of both.

In the recent past, melasma was thought to be hard to treat. However Dr. Barrueta has discovered a way to successfully treat melasma, given she has melasma herself. She prescribes medications that inhibit melanocytes, thereby decreasing the production of the dark pigment called melanin which causes the dark spots. Then she simultaneously prescribes or recommends topical exfoliating agents which slowly slough off the melanin from the outermost epidermal layer. This gentle exfoliation of the melanin pigment can be achieved with either chemical peels and/or exfoliating creams. Once a person is prone to melasma they must continuously use creams to inhibit melanocytes even once all the pigment has been removed from their outermost epidermal skin layer, otherwise melasma can and will return. Each treatment needs to be customized to the individual.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness, bumps and capillaries to appear on the face. It is often mistaken for acne. Most recently it has been found to be a possible allergy to skin mites and skin bacteria. Although there is currently no permanent cure for rosacea, it can be managed and kept at bay with prescription and medical grade creams.

There are different types of rosacea. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is characterized by redness, visible blood vessels and increased skin sensitivity. Papulopustular rosacea is characterized by redness, acne-like breakouts and swelling of the face. This last type is often confused with acne, but, actually, it is a chronic inflammation that is causing the acne-like breakouts.

In the most recent studies, cited by the National Rosacea Society, microscopic Demodex mites were found to occur in greater numbers in those people with rosacea. Demodex mites are a natural part of the ecological community of microorganisms that live within and on our body and are found on the skin of all humans. Evidence suggests that an overabundance of these mites may possibly trigger an immune response in people with rosacea and that the skin inflammation may be also caused by certain bacteria associated with these mites. In people with rosacea the mites were found to be most plentiful in the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead when their papules and pustules were biopsied.

They have also found a bacterium associated with the mites, called Bacillus oleronius. One effective treatment for rosacea includes antibiotics that destroy B. oleronius. Staphylococcus epidermidis is another type of bacteria that normally lives on our skin that may also play a role in the development of rosacea.

The research is still ongoing. Currently Dr. Barrueta treats Rosacea with prescribed topical antibiotics and antiparasitic compounded creams, sulfate-free non-irritating cleansers, zinc oxide SPFs, retinoids, and barrier medical grade creams containing lipids, fatty acids, and ceramides. For immediate reduction of facial blood vessels and telangiectasias , Dr. Barrueta recommends IPL and/or Morpheus8 treatments. However, without additional medicated creams, the rosacea will return. Therefore, she also urges all her patients to adopt a good rosacea skincare regimen for life.

Eczema

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes itchiness, scaly patches, and dry skin. Eczema patients can have patches of skin that are extremely dry and crusty. There are many eczema triggers including extended exposure to dry air or extreme heat or cold, some types of soaps and shampoos, laundry detergents and fabric softeners, fabrics such as wool or polyester clothing, surface cleaners and disinfectants, fragrances, metals in jewelry and utensils, formaldehyde, some antibacterial products, some dyes, and dust mites.

Emotional stress can also trigger eczema. Eczema symptoms: itchy, dry sensitive skin; inflamed discolored skin; rough leathery or scaly skin; scaly patches; and areas of swelling. Emollient moisturizers, antihistamines, and topical steroid creams are some of the eczema treatments that are recommended by Dr. Barrueta.