My External-Self Journey with Q Esthetics

Erin Smith

As a mom of four, you can easily get caught-up in the daily tasks that make a large family run smooth. While busy with daily schedules and home chores, I feel privileged to put my family first; however, by doing so, I have often put myself on hold.  Many parents would say it’s all for love, and I agree that it is; but bits and pieces have fallen from the core of my identity, further than I thought. When It comes time to put everything back together, it’s hard to know what to do, to look and feel my best. My journey first began with fertility issues, when trying to build my family. Years of hormonal treatments to obtain our gorgeous dream family, also took a large toll on my skin and body.

Filling the ‘well’ of parental tiredness and self-care shouldn’t come as a threat or with guilt as a mom, but it does. I struggle with the thought that spending time on myself means spending less time with my family. I don’t know why or where it comes from, and I can’t really explain or feel that I need to … yet, I do.  The privilege of getting pregnant, having kids, raising a family and exponential love – ultimately comes with less sleep, lots of snacking, late night online reading and learning…etc. One day I looked up and noticed that I looked a bit more tired than the night before and wanted to fill that ‘well’ a bit more. What would I feel like if I loved who looked back? …and not due to self-grudge – as I’m proud of myself – but rather a “Wow, you look great!” kinda feeling.

So, one day I happened to come across this $10,000 Makeover Contest for Q Esthetics – and BAM! I WON? WHAT? I felt like this was the universe saying to me … “No more excuses Erin! Go fill your ‘well’!” …And so, I did. If I had just received $10,000 in cash, it would go to my family and bills. So, $10,000 all on me?! … I was overwhelmed with how I was going to handle it at first, but I soon found it much easier not to worry! lol!

My kids are currently 6, 4 and my youngest – the twins – are 2. I am now in a place where I would like to explore some new entrepreneurial ideas and feel like a fresh new makeover would help me feel more at ease with myself – and more at ease being back in the adult networking world.

Here is how the amazing staff and team at Q Esthetics helped me:

Q Body Sculpt

A program involving both a healthy lifestyle with The Good Diet, and fat loss treatments with Vanquish, I was excited to begin this journey. I set my goals with Dr. Melissa Hershberg who oversaw my weight loss; and I’ve already lost 15 lbs and counting! Each week on top of this, I did a one-hour Vanquish treatment, that significantly reduced my midsection; especially my ‘love handles and muffin-top’ build. With The Good Diet, my days consisted of:

• Great morning chocolate shakes made my day with a shot of espresso I was set for at least one to two hours lol
• Lunch I had soups in a travel mug and so I had it on the go with the kids, EASY!
• The chocolate bars are like Snickers and super satisfying!!
• Dinners I ate clean: chicken with coli flour rice and some vegies and had lots of sweet paper in the daytime.

My Start Point 168-170

The Vanquish machine is used to ‘blast fat’ and were the one-hour treatments I cherished each week with the girls at Q Esthetics. The treatment works by heating up the fat cells, blasting them away, and metabolizing them naturally through your body’s lymphatic system. After 3 sessions my muffin top was coming down! It was AMAZING! I loved the results! One tip: drink plenty of water before your treatment; if you don’t, you will feel the heat. However, the sensation is no worse than a deep tissue massage. It’s a good pain, so just breath.

After 8 sessions, I am excited to see that I have less of a muffin top in my mid-section. I was surprised because after 2 individual pregnancies, and one with twins, I was curious how much it would actually change.  My overall confidence was changed when I fit into jeans I hadn’t worn in 8 years, and others that I hadn’t gotten into since I was married – 12 years ago! AMAZING!!!

CHEMICAL PEEL

The chemical peel helped balance my skin and lessen any redness. The treatment felt interesting; first, like a cold and freshly-washed sensation, then a bit hot – but not uncomfortable. It was very refreshing and quite relaxing, and my skin didn’t peel a lot – just enough to tell that it had worked.

 

LASER RESURFACING FACIAL – with PICOSURE

I had a Laser Facial, with Q Esthetics’ Picosure, that helped get rid of my rough sandpaper-like skin. Prior to my treatment, I could literally scrub my face and it would still feel terrible; oil in some areas, very dry in others. The Picosure laser helped balance and smooth my skin, and really helped to reduce the pores around my nose! It was funny – the numbing cream that was applied prior to treatment, made my face so numb that I couldn’t feel my cold winter day runny nose! lol (No really, this made me laugh out loud.) However, it helped – because I didn’t feel a thing from the laser.

 

Xeomin®

Time for Xeomin® – the facial that keeps on giving! I was scared to try Xeomin®. I didn’t want to look plastic, like the image we often see in marketing. My kids would often ask “Mom, are you mad?” – due to my thick brow lines that seem to appear mostly when I’m concentrating or in sunlight (…so, ALL the time). I needed to soften my look; to reflect that I was either just thinking, or that I couldn’t see due to the glare from the sun – lol. We injected a few units between my brows and around my eyes. As I’m 39, my crow’s feet are starting to scratch their way in, so getting Xeomin® helped to lessen these lines, and it looks great! It didn’t hurt, looks very natural, and I love it!

 

FACE & NECK LIFT – with ULTHERAPY

I highly recommend this procedure! Ultherapy is a cool ultrasound treatment, that provided me with a face and neck lift; one that I needed more than I thought. There is a lot of pressure involved in this treatment, so if you can manage this you will surely see results. Results are only supposed to show after 3 months, but I feel like I can see them already, so who knows where I will notice more lift in 3 months?! Can’t wait to see!

During the Ultherapy treatment, you feel a very firm squishy-face kind of pressure with the ultrasound wand – to get deep into your face. This is not super cozy, but well… we could all laugh at the ‘fishy-face’ I made – lol! It does shock a bit and feels like a knot being loosened by an elbow during a deep tissue massage – a good hurt! It was over soon enough, and the lasting face and neck lift will be worth it, so hang in there! Deep Breaths.

 

ALUMIER MD Skincare

Wonderful skincare line, easy to use and makes my skin feel so fresh and renewed. I look forward to putting the cream and moisturizer on in the morning and at night – it makes my day. The eye cream has a nice texture and has helped the fine lines around my eyes. The Alumier products make your face glow, and I posted about this on social media when I first tried them!  Also, since I started using these, I have not had breakouts like I used to.

FILLER – with TEOSYAL

Filler…what can I say… it was probably the treatment I was most scared about. I am SO relieved and happy to say that this process was well worth it! I could not believe the immediate transformation of my entire face; and as the filler started to relax, so did I!

We started by filling my temples, something I never would have thought of; softening my eyes, reducing lines and resulted in a more youthful look. Then my dream happened… my eye wells were filled! I was immediately amazed at how quickly the divots under my eyes disappeared; the divots that had made me look so tired in photos. I had tried makeup, but nothing took away from the fact that this area sinks more and more with age. Now my under-eyes are full and looking fresh! We also filled my cheeks, making me look happy, and my lips to make them softer. And as much as I love my laugh lines, we filled these as well – resulting in an overall refreshed and rejuvenated look!

WOW! Overall, I wake up, don’t put any makeup on, and get compliments from strangers; “you have great skin!” It’s natural and looks amazing. This process was a bit painful, if you are doing it all in one shot, but quite relative to many other forms of pain. If you can stand the immediate prick (just count to 10), then you will forever love the results.

SKIN TIGHTENING – with PELLEFIRM

Pellefirm‘s skin tightening treatment helped reduce the stretch marks on my tummy; mostly the result from carrying my children. After having my kids, I was left with this loose skin – ‘ponch’ as I call it. Yes, I am proud of my body’s abilities, but would also like for my jeans not to fold over anymore. This process did help firm my skin, and with a few treatments I can see how this would tighten a lot more for sure.

Q MAX FACIAL

I am going to be receiving Q Esthetics’ exclusive Q Max Facial before my reveal, and from what I’ve heard, I look forward to many of these for years to come.

Q Esthetics has gifted me this amazing makeover and it will forever impact the way I feel and see myself, in such a positive and healthy way.

After undergoing my treatments, I felt a feeling of accomplishment. It’s done! I like the fresh look I have. I can also still have fun with makeup, but now it’s more to enhance and enjoy; rather than to cover-up and conceal. From here, I will continue going to the gym, lifting weights, Yoga, keeping up with my skincare, and keep feeling great! Diet, exercise and something for the soul! It’s only a problem if it bothers you. If it doesn’t bother you, don’t fix it.

On my journey with Q Esthetics, I feel empowered to look my best, which in-turn makes me feel my best.  From this, I have started my new entrepreneurial endeavors, including my own online shop, and look forward to participating in networking groups and really living this new mom-of-4 life with my kids. I am healthy, happy and no longer feel any barriers that added to my shyness. It makes it fun to run and play with my kids as much as I’ve always wanted to, for them and for myself.

Love yourself, parents. For all the work it takes to parent great kids and form amazing families, taking time to love ourselves is great for everyone. We all need to fill the ‘well’ and take that time now and then. -And that’s OK!