Posted by Jamie McGuire
on October 18, 2025
I don’t do lasers, chemical peels, Botox, fillers, or any medspa treatments. At 43, my skin strategy is simple: nervous system + nutrition + barrier health + smart tools. It’s calmer, cheaper long-term, and it supports my entire body—not just my face.
Why I don’t do medspa “quick fixes”
A lot of in-office treatments stress or injure skin to force a result. My approach is the opposite: build resilience—inside and out—so skin acts younger because the body is better supported.
Also: the price of one laser series or a few rounds of injectables can fund a year of whole-body upgrades that continue to pay off.
My personal experience, do what’s right for you.
What I Do Instead (and Why It Works):
1) Buccal Face Massage
What I do: Intraoral and external massage to release facial tension, improve lymph flow, and soften patterns that pull the face downward.
Why: Tension + stagnant lymph = puffiness, dullness, and “pulled down” features. Release can visibly de-puff and lift—especially the cheeks, around the jaw and nasolabial area.
How often: 1–2×/month; or you can learn how to do it at home, but the relaxing benefits of having a massage are beneficial for your nervous system and a better result.
Instead of: Chasing filler for “lift.”
Cost: $120–$250/session.
If you are in the Tulsa/Oklahoma area, here's where I go: The Skin Bar - I get the 90-min, massage only buccal facial.
2) Red Light (Photobiomodulation)
What I do: 10–15 minutes, 5 days a week. Panel on chest/neck; handheld on face, hat for scalp.
Why: Red/near-infrared light can support mitochondrial function, circulation, and calm—great for tone, recovery, and glow.
How often: 4–6×/week, 10-15 minutes per area.
Instead of: Repeated inflammatory treatments. I’d rather energize cells than injure them.
Cost: $250–$1,000+ one-time cost (quality panel/handheld).
The red light devices I use + supporting products to enhance the red light results.
3) Consistent (At-Home) Skincare
What I do: Stick to a consistent AM & PM routine using high performance products and tools.
Why: Hydrate, even skin tone, smooth texture, nourish skin, regenerate & promote cell turnover.
How often: Every. Single. Day. Morning and night.
Instead of: Going in for an in office facial once every 4-6 weeks for a 60-80 min treatment. A consistent, effective at home skincare routine is where you see real, long term transformation.
Cost: $150–$450 every 2-3 months, depending on what I am using or what I need replenished. I can usually go a few months without ordering anything and then will need to restock 2-3 things at a time. Different products go faster/last longer. Some things I use twice a day, some once a day, some 1 pump, some 2 pumps, so it's always a different cost depending on usage.
4) Dermarolling (At-Home Microneedling)
What I do: Use my professional-grade roller, paired with high performance, non toxic, professional serums.
Why: Micro-stimulation encourages skin renewal & amplifies the results of your products by up to 500%
How often: 1-3×/week
Instead of: Spending $200-$700 a session or $500-$1,500 with PRP/PRF a session - not sustainable to do every month.
Cost: $27 a month if rolling 2-3 times a week. You can roll 1x a week and that is still effective. Tip: purchasing more rollers = bigger discount.
5) Bone Broth
What I do: Mineral-rich, collagen-dense chicken bone broth every morning before caffeine.
Why: Collagen/gelatin (glycine, proline) for gut lining + skin elasticity, with trace minerals that support hydration.
How often: Daily if you can.
Instead of: Eating oatmeal that strips your body of minerals/spiking your cortisol with caffeine on an empty stomach.
Cost: Homemade $1–$2/serving; store-bought $4–$7 and not as many nutrients or benefits.
Here is the recipe for my homemade collagen broth.
6) Collagen (Supplement)
What I do: Clean collagen peptides. Sometimes I don't have the time to make my collagen broth.
Why: Supports skin, hair, joints; balances muscle-meat aminos.
How often: Most days.
Instead of: Booking the filler appointment - build healthy collagen to restore volume loss.
Cost: $1–$2/serving.
7) High-Protein Meals
What I do: Animal protein as the bulk of each meal. I don't count or weigh my food, but as long as the biggest portion of my meal is protein (animal protein), that's what matters.
Why:
- Keeps muscle on you → a naturally “lifted” look and steadier metabolism.
- Feeds collagen + keratin → firmer, bouncier skin and stronger hair/nails.
- Stabilizes blood sugar → fewer cravings and less inflammation that shows up on your face.
- Actually satisfies you → less snacking, more consistency.
How often: Daily.
Instead of: “Glowing skin” smoothies or BS plant protein that spike blood sugar and crash you later.
Cost: Varies; often less than snack-heavy eating.
See my full grocery guide inside my Healthy Skin Ebook
8) Sleep (Deep & Consistent)
What I do: 7.5–9 hours, consistent sleep/wake, cool + dark room, no screens after sunset or one hour before bed, earlier dinner, mineral/electrolyte nightcap, castor pack, no alcohol.
Why: Night is when skin repairs collagen, barrier, and antioxidant defenses turn on. Good sleep lowers cortisol/inflammation and reduces glycation that makes skin look dull. Better sleep = better skin & appearance.
How often: Nightly (non-negotiable).
Instead of: Chasing under-eye filler or peels to fix a tired face. Protect, prioritize and optimize your sleep.
Cost: $0. Helpful extras: blackout curtains/eye mask ($15–$80), magnesium ($15–$25).
My night time magnesium sleep drink mocktail
9) Strength Training (Weights + Walks)
What I do (not great at being consistent, but what I recommend): 2–4×/week full-body lifts (squat, hinge, push, pull), progressive overload, plus daily walks (aim 8–10k steps).
Why: Muscle is a youth hormone. Lifting improves insulin sensitivity, posture, and circulation, so nutrients get to your skin and lymph actually moves. More lean mass + muscle = a naturally “lifted” look, steadier metabolism, and better recovery for skin and joints.
How often: Lifts 2–4×/week; walk daily.
Instead of: Paying for “tightening” or contouring sessions. Build structure under the skin and your face/body look younger from the inside out—and it lasts.
Cost: $0 with bodyweight/bands; a kettlebell or gym pass if you want ($20–$200/month).
10) Supplements & Peptides (personal experience)
What I do: Cycle and vary depending on what I need. Examples: GHK-Cu (skin/hair), BPC-157 (repair/gut), TUDCA (bile/liver support), NAD patches sparingly (I’m sensitive).
Why: Various purposes depending on what supplement/peptide I am using. Supplements and peptides fill gaps, support repair, and reduce systemic stressors.
How often: Different combinations, daily, in cycles.
Instead of: Treating skin symptoms while ignoring the internal terrain.
Cost: $30–$300/mo depending on protocol.
Work with a practitioner; source quality; start low and monitor.
11) Face Tape
What I do: Strategic taping at night to soften (not stop) wrinkles.
Why: Face tape (kinesiology) tape works by softening lines over time because it stretches and elongates the tissue and muscle and essentially retrains them to not shorten/scrunch creating those inset wrinkles over time.
How often: 4-5 nights/week.
Instead of: Neuromodulators to paralyze movement. I retrain patterns instead.
Cost: $15–$20/month.
12) Being Sober
What I do: I don't drink (anymore). I've been sober since March 2024.
Why: Because alcohol is poison. It's not good for anyone to drink alcohol. I miss drinking, but I'm not good with moderation and it affected my health deeply. Without it I get better sleep, have less inflammation, my gut/liver aren't struggling, overall just better health and it reflects in the way I look and feel today.
How often: Daily choice & discipline. It's not easy and takes a strong will to care more about your body than giving in to a drink.
Instead of: Trying to “repair” alcohol’s effects with health issues later.
Cost: $0 (saves money).
13) Responsible Sun
What I do: No direct sun exposure for longer than 10-20 mins during peak hours, then hats/shade and mineral SPF on face/neck/chest.
Why: Burns and time spent in the sun age your skin faster.
How often: Daily.
Instead of: Relying only on SPF and blasting your skin with direct sunlight for hours at a peak times or hiding from all sun (not my approach).
Cost: Hats $20–$40; mineral SPF $15–$125.
The mineral SPF I LOVE and wear daily. Fun fact: This SPF also protects the skin from blue light damage (screens).
14) Zero Lasers, Zero Chemical Peels, Zero Botox/Filler, Zero Surgery
What I DON'T DO: Have never touched an invasive laser or chemical peel to my skin. Stopped botox in 2024 and haven't had any facial surgeries (yet).
Why: I want less trauma, fewer side effects, and improvements that reflect a healthier system (not a quick band-aid). When you prioritize sleep, lower stress, replace minerals, have a healthy gut, and barrier, your skin behaves younger naturally.
Cost saved: See below.
What a med spa budget looks like:
My stance: many in-office treatments rely on controlled injury, can be temporary, and don’t build whole-body health. For the same money, you can fund a full-body plan that actually supports your skin and health long term.
Typical “maintenance” at a medspa (US ranges)
Treatment (common cadence) |
Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Botox 20 units every 3 months (80u/yr) | $1,000–$1,600/yr |
| 1 syringe filler (often 1x yr) | $600–$1,800/yr |
| Fractional laser package (series of 3) | $1,500–$4,500/yr |
| Microneedling (3 sessions) | $600–$1,200/yr |
| Chemical peel (1-3) | $300–$800/yr |
Estimated yearly total: $4,000–$9,000+
…and that’s before tip/fees, downtime, or managing side effects.
My point: for the cost of one “quick fix,” you can build an entire, holistic routine that keeps paying you back.
Instead, you could spend that $4k–$9k on things that support your skin (and health)
-
Face tape — do it 5 nights/week to soften expression lines
Cost: $180–$360/yr
Instead of: injecting $1000+ a year on toxins
-
Buccal facial massage — lymph + jaw release to naturally lift/de-puff and calm your nervous system
Cost: $120–$250/session
Instead of: spending $1000+ a year on fillers
-
Bone broth every morning — collagen/gelatin + minerals that support gut + skin long term
Cost: homemade $365–$730/yr (daily mug)
Instead of: injecting more fillers that never go away and make you look worse later
-
Red light + responsible sun — energize cells, align circadian rhythm, look rested
Cost: quality panel/handheld $300–$1,000 one-time
Instead of: lasers that cause inflammation and trauma
-
Derma roller 1–3×/week + high-performance products
Cost: device $27 + serums $240–$720/yr
Instead of: expensive laser/microneedling packages you won’t maintain regularly
-
Full-body massage / lymphatic drainage — detox, circulation, real stress relief (your face shows this)
Cost: $80–$150/month
-
Professional-grade, non-toxic skincare — rebuild and strengthen your barrier long term
Cost: $600–$1,800/yr
Instead of: quick-fix peels that cause inflammation, trauma and thin skin
-
Instead of alcohol + eating out → spa/sauna/bodywork
Cost shift: even $100–$300/mo redirected = $1,200–$3,600/yr toward real self-care
-
Internal testing + targeted supplements/peptides
Cost: $500–$2,000/yr + supplements/peptides $360–$2,400/yr depending on protocol
Why: Optimize your health from all aspects. Know your body, test don't guess.
Shift your mindset:
This might sound like more, but it’s cheaper in the long run, more sustainable, and better for you than the “medspa cycle.” Even a “light” med spa plan, one laser package a year, 20 units of Botox every 3 months, filler once a year, adds up. And for your health? It did nothing. It cost a lot, stressed your skin/body, and risked more than you realize. Invest in things that support your body and skin rather than chasing the quick fixes. Your face will show it and the rest of you will feel it.
My Foundational Schedule:
- Daily: protein-first breakfast, minerals, morning light walk, red light 10–15 min, effective skincare, smart sun
- 2–3×/week: dermarolling
- 4-5x/week: RLT
- 1–2×/month: buccal facial massage & full body massage
- 5x/week face tape
- Most days: bone broth, collagen, sober
- Rotated: peptides/supplements
- 1-2x/year: internal testing/lab work
FAQs
I want a quick fix. Isn’t this a slower plan than just getting a laser or Botox?
Yes, and that’s the point. I’m creating a strong, healthy foundation that will have long term results. Not something temporary or damaging that I will have to live with later on. Results are steadier and tie back to true health.
Do you ever do facials or medspa services?
Never. And this is coming from someone who worked in medspa offices for years and why I am uncovering the bs behind what these "treatments" that are actually doing to harm your skin (and bank account) long term.
What if I want a tiny tweak?
Your face, your choice.
xo,
Jamie