If your calendar is already filling up with weddings, holiday parties, family photos and approximately 47 occasions where someone will inevitably say, “Let’s take a picture!” — this is your sign to start planning your skin now.

Here’s the thing about great skin: it usually isn’t a last-minute situation.

Some of our favorite skin treatments work gradually, build on one another, or are best done as a series. Starting in September gives your skin time to respond, recover and — most importantly — look like your skin, just refreshed, smoother and more radiant.

At Lapiel Laser Center in Chicago, we love creating treatment plans that combine different modalities to address different aspects of your skin. Think texture + tone + collagen + fine lines, rather than trying to make one treatment do everything.

So, what should you consider booking now?

1. SkinPen Microneedling: Start Building That Glow

If smoother, firmer, healthier-looking skin is on your holiday wish list, SkinPen microneedling is a great place to start.

Microneedling uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating the body’s natural healing response and encouraging new collagen production. Over time, this can help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture and acne scars. SkinPen is an FDA-cleared microneedling device with specific FDA clearances for facial acne scars and neck wrinkles.

And this is exactly why September is a good time to start.

SkinPen isn’t designed to be a one-and-done “instant glow” treatment. The magic is in the series. Giving your skin multiple treatments spaced appropriately apart allows the collagen-building process to continue over time.

At Lapiel, SkinPen treatments are customized to your skin and your goals — and we always recommend discussing the right treatment schedule with your provider.

Why we love SkinPen for holiday skin:

• Helps improve the appearance of skin texture
• Supports collagen production
• Addresses the appearance of fine lines
• Can improve the appearance of acne scars
• Creates a smoother-looking canvas for makeup
• Results continue to develop over time

Translation: September SkinPen = very happy December skin.

And if you’re considering a SkinPen package, now is the time to start thinking about it rather than trying to squeeze treatments into the weeks immediately before your big event.

Book a Free Consultation 

2. Chemical Peels: Your Shortcut to Smoother-Looking Skin

Chemical peels are another favorite when the goal is brighter, smoother, more even-looking skin.

At Lapiel, we offer Glytone Chemical Peels, which use professional-strength acid solutions to accelerate exfoliation and improve the appearance of skin tone and texture. Depending on the peel and your individual skin concerns, chemical peels can address concerns including hyperpigmentation, acne, uneven texture, fine lines and photodamage.

And no, you don’t necessarily need to be planning a dramatic “peeling” moment.

Professional peels can be customized in strength and formulation depending on the skin and the desired result. Glytone’s professional peel systems include ingredients such as glycolic, salicylic, mandelic and other acids designed to target different skin concerns.

At Lapiel, we typically recommend a series of peels when someone is looking to really improve their skin rather than simply scheduling one immediately before an event. Our current clinical skincare menu lists Glytone Chemical Peels as a 30-minute treatment.

Why start in September?

Because you have time.

A peel may involve some dryness or peeling afterward, and your provider will give you specific pre- and post-treatment instructions. Sun protection is especially important after a peel.

Starting earlier means you can work through a treatment series without trying to time your final appointment two days before your holiday party.

The goal isn’t to peel your face off for Christmas. It’s to have healthier-looking, more radiant skin by the time Christmas gets here.

3. Laser Skin Rejuvenation: Target Tone, Texture & Signs of Sun Damage

If you’ve been researching Moxi, BBL or laser skin resurfacing in Chicago, you’ve probably noticed that these treatments are often recommended for sun damage, uneven pigmentation, texture and signs of aging.

At Lapiel, we offer Laser Skin Rejuvenation as another option for clients who want to address the visible effects of sun exposure while also encouraging collagen production for smoother, firmer-looking skin.

While Moxi, BBL and other photorejuvenation treatments use different technologies and wavelengths, the goal can overlap: brighter, more even, healthier-looking skin. The right technology depends on what you’re treating, your skin type and the amount of downtime you’re comfortable with.

So…what actually happens during Laser Skin Rejuvenation?

This is the part we think clients should understand before booking.

The laser delivers controlled energy into the skin. That energy targets areas of unwanted pigmentation and sun damage, while also creating a controlled thermal response that stimulates the skin’s natural collagen-building process.

Over the days following treatment, the treated pigment comes to the surface and gradually sloughs away as the skin renews itself. You may temporarily notice that spots look darker, your skin feels rougher or you have some redness or mild swelling.

Don’t panic. That’s part of the process.

As that treated pigment sheds, you’re left with skin that looks brighter, clearer and more even. Meanwhile, the collagen-stimulating effects continue working beneath the surface, helping improve the appearance of skin firmness, texture and fine lines over time. Laser resurfacing is known to stimulate collagen and can improve the appearance of sun damage, uneven color and texture.

What about downtime?

This isn’t the kind of treatment we’d recommend squeezing in the day before your holiday party.

There is downtime, but for the type of rejuvenation we’re discussing, it is generally manageable. You can expect some redness and a temporary change in the appearance and texture of the skin as treated pigment comes to the surface and sheds.

And then comes the satisfying part: the shedding gives way to fresh-looking skin underneath.

Makeup can often help camouflage the temporary redness once your provider says it’s appropriate to apply it, but you’ll want to follow your individualized post-treatment instructions rather than trying to cover freshly treated skin immediately. Non-ablative laser treatments generally have substantially shorter recovery than more aggressive ablative resurfacing procedures.

And, as always with pigment-focused treatments, sun protection isn’t optional. Your skin is especially vulnerable to unwanted pigmentation during the healing process, so diligent SPF and sun avoidance are an important part of your results.

Moxi vs. BBL vs. Laser Skin Rejuvenation: What’s the Difference?

If you’re searching for Moxi or BBL in Chicago, you may be wondering whether there’s another treatment worth considering.

The answer isn’t that one technology is universally better than another. They’re simply different tools for different skin concerns.

Moxi is a fractional, non-ablative laser designed to improve skin quality, texture and pigmentation while stimulating collagen. It is often used as a lower-downtime resurfacing option.

BBL (BroadBand Light) uses intense pulsed light rather than a traditional laser. It is particularly useful for addressing pigmentation, redness and other signs of photodamage.

Lapiel’s Laser Skin Rejuvenation offers another approach to treating the visible effects of sun damage while incorporating collagen stimulation into the treatment.

So rather than asking:

“Which laser is the best?”

We’d rather ask:

“What does your skin need?”

Because two people can walk into the same Chicago med spa with completely different skin concerns — one primarily bothered by brown spots, another by texture and fine lines, and another by a combination of both.

That’s why we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all laser menu.

If you’re Googling…

“Moxi alternative in Chicago”
“BBL alternative in Chicago”
“Laser treatment for sun damage Chicago”
“Laser skin rejuvenation Chicago”
“How to get rid of sun spots”

…Laser Skin Rejuvenation may be worth discussing with a Lapiel provider.

A consultation allows us to look at your skin in person, talk through your goals and determine whether this treatment — or another option such as SkinPen, a chemical peel, BBL/Moxi-type technology, or a combination approach — makes the most sense for you.

4. Botox & Daxxify: Why Lapiel Carries Both

When it comes to smoothing wrinkles, Botox and Daxxify aren’t an either/or situation.

They’re both neuromodulators that work by temporarily reducing muscle activity that contributes to certain wrinkles — but they have different formulations, different FDA-approved indications and characteristics that may make one a better fit for a particular client.

That’s exactly why we carry both.

Botox: The Classic for a Reason

Let’s start with the one everyone knows.

BOTOX® Cosmetic has been around for decades and is one of the most extensively studied botulinum toxin products used in aesthetic medicine. It is FDA-approved for the temporary improvement of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the brows, crow’s feet, forehead lines and platysma bands in the neck.

At Lapiel, Botox is also used in areas such as the DAO (depressor anguli oris) as part of individualized treatment plans. Because DAO treatment is not one of the FDA-approved BOTOX Cosmetic indications, we’d describe this as an off-label aesthetic use.

Why might Botox be the right choice for you?

It can be a great option for someone who:

• Wants the tried-and-true classic
• Is looking to treat multiple areas of the face or neck
• Wants a treatment with an extensive history of clinical research
• Is already happy with their Botox results
• Prefers a pay-per-unit pricing structure

Lapiel Botox: $14/unit

And honestly? There is a reason Botox has remained a household name for so long.

It’s a classic for a reason.

Daxxify: The Newer Player With a Different Formula

Then there’s DAXXIFY®.

Daxxify is a newer neuromodulator with a different formulation. Instead of the traditional protein-based stabilizing approach used by some other botulinum toxins, Daxxify uses a peptide formulation designed to help the active ingredient bind to neurons and remain available over time.

It’s also known for its fast onset. In clinical studies, patients reported seeing improvement as early as the next day, with results typically appearing within two days. More than half of patients in pivotal studies had no or mild glabellar lines through six months.

Why might someone choose Daxxify?

It may be appealing if you:

• Want a fast onset (usually within 24 hours in most cases!)
• Like the idea of a peptide-formulated neuromodulator
• Have found that other neuromodulators don’t seem to last as long for you
• Want to explore an option that may provide a longer duration of effect for some patients
• Like the convenience of per-area pricing

Lapiel Daxxify: $750/area

One important distinction: Daxxify’s FDA-approved aesthetic indication is currently moderate-to-severe glabellar lines, so other areas may represent off-label aesthetic use depending on your treatment plan.

So…Which One Is Better?

This is where we don’t give you the annoying med-spa answer of “everyone needs Daxxify now!”

Because there isn’t one neuromodulator that’s right for every face.

Some clients are perfectly happy with Botox and have been using it for years. Others are interested in trying Daxxify because they want a faster onset or are looking for potentially longer-lasting results.

And sometimes the decision comes down to something much simpler: your treatment area, your history with neuromodulators, your goals, your budget and how you want your results to fit into your life.

That’s why we offer both.

How will you know which one is right for you?

That’s what the consultation is for.

At Lapiel, our Nurse Practitioners look at your facial anatomy, muscle movement, previous treatment history and goals before recommending a treatment plan.

Because we’re not interested in putting everyone in the same syringe.

We want your results to look like you — just refreshed.

The Secret? Don’t Treat Your Face Like a To-Do List.

One of the biggest mistakes we see with event prep is thinking:

“What treatment can I do right before my event?”

We’d rather have you ask:

“What can I start now to get my skin where I want it to be by then?”

Because the best treatment plan may involve more than one modality.

For example, your plan could include:

SkinPen → collagen + texture
Chemical Peel → exfoliation + tone
Laser Rejuvenation → pigmentation + overall rejuvenation
Botox/Daxxify → dynamic lines

Each treatment has a different job. Together, they can create a much more comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation.

And that’s where customization comes in.

At Lapiel, our experienced Nurse Practitioners and skincare professionals look at your skin, your concerns and your timeline before recommending a treatment plan.

Because your holiday skin should still look like your skin.

Just…really freaking good.

Your September Holiday Skin Checklist

If you’re hoping to look your best for holiday parties, family photos, weddings or end-of-year events, here’s your reminder:

 September: Start your SkinPen or peel series
 October: Consider laser skin rejuvenation if appropriate
 Fall: Schedule Botox or Daxxify with enough time for results to develop
 Throughout: Wear your SPF and follow your personalized skincare routine
 Before any event: Give your skin enough time to recover — don’t experiment at the last minute

Holiday skin isn’t made overnight. It’s made with a plan.

Ready to make yours?

If you’re in Chicago and want to build a personalized plan for smoother, brighter, more refreshed-looking skin before the holidays, schedule a consultation with Lapiel Laser Center in Lakeview.

Because December-you is going to be very glad September-you made the appointment.