The Restorative Facialist

03/16/2026

Retinol vs Retinal — what’s the difference?

Vitamin A is one of the most powerful ingredients for improving skin, but not all forms work the same.

Two of the most common types you’ll see in skincare are retinol and retinal (retinaldehyde).

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Retinol

Pros:
• Stimulates collagen production
• Helps soften fine lines and wrinkles
• Improves skin texture and tone
• Helps with clogged pores and breakouts
• Widely available in many products

Cons:
• Requires multiple conversions in the skin to become active
• Works more slowly
• Often causes redness, dryness, peeling, and sensitivity
• Can be harder for sensitive skin to tolerate

Retinal (Retinaldehyde)

Pros:
• Only one step away from active retinoic acid, so it works faster
• Helps stimulate collagen and strengthen the skin
• Improves fine lines, pigmentation, and acne
• Generally less irritating than retinol
• Supports healthier, stronger skin over time

Cons:
• Typically found in professional or higher-end formulations
• Can be more expensive

✨ My personal preference: Retinal.

As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen and becomes thinner. Retinal helps stimulate collagen while improving tone, texture, and overall skin health — often with less irritation for most people.

Some of my favorite options I recommend to clients:

Retinol:
• Lemieux Retinol Serum
• SkinGenuity Step 2 Regenerative Serum

Retinal:
• Osmosis MD Correct Serum
• Osmosis MD Renew Serum

If you’re not sure which vitamin A your skin should be using, that’s exactly what I help my clients figure out during treatments and consultations.

Healthy skin is about using the right ingredients for your skin.

— Shannon, The Restorative Facialist

03/05/2026

✨ Around age 35, your skin quietly starts producing about 1% less collagen every year… and most people don’t realize it until they suddenly do.

You may notice things like:
• Skin feeling a little thinner
• Fine lines that didn’t used to be there
• Texture or larger pores
• Skin just looking… a little more tired

Your skin isn’t “failing.”
It’s simply not regenerating as quickly as it once did.

That’s where treatments like microchanneling come in.

Microchanneling creates tiny micro-pathways in the skin that trigger your body to produce new collagen and elastin. Think of it like waking your skin cells up and reminding them how to repair themselves again.

But what makes my Trifecta Microchanneling Facial different is what I infuse into those microchannels while your skin is in this regenerative state.

✨ Human Stem Cells
These help encourage skin cells to repair, regenerate, and behave more like younger skin.

✨ Exosomes
Think of these as tiny messengers that signal your skin to produce more collagen, calm inflammation, and accelerate healing.

✨ Liposomes + DNA Enzymes
Liposomes act like delivery vehicles, carrying powerful ingredients deeper into the skin, while DNA enzymes help repair environmental damage caused by things like UV exposure and pollution.

In simple terms, we’re not just treating the surface of the skin.

We’re supporting the skin at the cellular level so it can function healthier and stronger again.

Because at some point in our 30s we all look in the mirror and think…

“Wait… when did my skin start looking this tired?” 😅

The goal isn’t to change your face.
It’s to help your skin behave the way it did years ago.

Healthy skin will always look better than overcorrected skin. ✨

— Shannon
T.R.F.

02/21/2026

Got 35 minutes?
I’ve opened a few Glow Gaps in my schedule for women who need results but don’t have a full hour.

My Simply Dermaplaning session is the perfect skin reset:

• Precision dermaplaning
• Glow-boosting enzyme
• Deep serum hydration
• High frequency to tighten + purify + seal
💫 also includes my ahh-mazing Vitality Mat
All in 35 intentional minutes.
$95

This is for the woman who wants to walk out smoother, brighter, and visibly refreshed — without rearranging her whole day.

Limited spots available in between my longer appointments.
Message me “GLOW” to snag one 💫

02/20/2026

It’s more than a facial bed.
It’s where your body begins to exhale.

Every facial includes my Vitality Mat — designed to support your skin and your nervous system while you rest.

Beneath you, gentle infrared warmth wraps around tired muscles.
Red light glows softly, supporting healthy aging and cellular renewal.
Tourmaline and amethyst layers ground and calm.
PEMF technology pulses quietly, encouraging balance from within.

While I care for your skin…
the mat is working too.

✨ Supporting circulation
✨ Easing muscle tension
✨ Reducing inflammation
✨ Encouraging detoxification
✨ Calming the nervous system

You’re not just lying on a table.
You’re being restored from the inside out.

You may come in for results —
but you leave lifted, glowing, and deeply relaxed.

Corrective skincare.
Whole-body calm.
Restoration woven into every layer.

This is your reset. 🤍

02/12/2026

There is something sacred about quiet.

As mothers… as women… our minds rarely stop.
We’re holding schedules. Emotions. Responsibilities. Expectations.
Even in the still moments, we’re thinking about the next thing.

Inside my treatment room, you don’t have to hold anything.

You can close your eyes.
You can let your nervous system soften.
You can be completely quiet without needing to perform, respond, or solve.

Peace is offered here.

And if what you need instead is to vent?
To exhale?
To talk mom to mom, woman to woman?

That space is here too.

There is no right way to receive a facial in my studio — only what you need that day.

You’ll leave with glowing, lifted, restored skin…
but more importantly, you’ll leave lighter.

I’ve got you. 🤍

— Shannon Michelle
The Restorative Facialist

02/08/2026

My facials are not for everyone.

They’re not for someone looking for a quick in-and-out appointment.
They’re not for chasing trends or hopping from place to place.

They are for women who are tired.
Who carry stress in their face and shoulders.
Who want their skin to look better—but also want to feel better.

If that’s you, you’re in the right place.🗻💎

01/27/2026

Why I went solo ✨

After 24 years as an Aesthetician (yes… twenty-four 😅), I’ve learned a few things.

One of the biggest?
Your passion gets clearer with time—if you listen.

I’ve loved working alongside incredible therapists over the years. Truly. Talented, kind, wonderful humans. But life shifts. People grow. Seasons change. And eventually… so did I.

Somewhere along the way—between motherhood, entrepreneurship, and more sleepless nights than I can count—I realized exactly where my heart lives:

✨ Skin health
✨ Age-management
✨ Holistic, restorative care for women who are doing everything

Going solo wasn’t about stepping back.
It was about stepping deeper.

Deeper into my craft.
Deeper into results.
Deeper into the kind of one-on-one care I’ve always wanted to give—without distractions, without rushing, without burnout (for me or my clients).

Being a mother and a business owner has taught me a lot. Mostly that if you’re going to pour your energy somewhere, it better be aligned. And skin? Skin has always been my thing.

So here I am—still evolving, still learning, still obsessed with helping women feel confident in their skin… just doing it in a way that finally feels like home.

If you know, you know 🤍 -Shannon

01/22/2026

As I’ve stepped into a more intentional version of my work, a few things have shifted — services, booking, and how I care for you moving forward.

If you’ve had questions (or just want clarity), I’ve gathered everything in one place.

✨ Visit the FAQ to get grounded and up to date. Link in Bio.

01/22/2026

As I’ve stepped into a more intentional version of my work, a few things have shifted — services, booking, and how I care for you moving forward.

If you’ve had questions (or just want clarity), I’ve gathered everything in one place.

✨ Visit the FAQ to get grounded and up to date. https://therestorativefacialist.com/faqs

09/15/2025

✨ A New Chapter After 11 Beautiful Years ✨

After 11 years of love, laughter, and countless moments inside Spa B , it’s time for a bittersweet goodbye. 💛

At the end of this year, Spa B will be closing its doors. This decision didn’t come lightly, but it comes with so much gratitude for all the incredible clients and friendships we’ve built over the years.

Lynn will be fully embracing retirement 🌸, Emma will be leaving us at the end of the year to focus on her growing family 👶, and as for me, Shannon—I’ll be stepping into a new chapter of my own. Beginning February 2026, I’ll be continuing my passion as a solo practitioner and master facialist, right here in the same location, under a brand new, fresh name. I will continue to provide a restorative space dedicated to skin care, renewal, and the sanctuary you all deserve & have come to love over the years!

To each and every one of you who has supported us through the years: thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your trust, loyalty, and presence have meant everything. 💕

Here’s to new beginnings—for all of us. P.s. keep an eye out for all the new details on my solo venture coming soon!💫

With so much love and gratitude,
Shannon 🩷

08/14/2025

✨ Rare Last-Minute Opening! ✨
Tomorrow — Friday, August 14th at 4:00 PM — I have ONE spot open for my Skin Reset Facial (30 mins) with me, Shannon — Master Facialist.

This power-packed session combines:
💎 Dermaplaning – Gently removes dead skin + peach fuzz for instantly smoother, brighter skin.
💦 Hydrodermabrasion – Deeply cleanses, hydrates, and infuses nutrients for a fresh, radiant glow.

Perfect for an instant complexion refresh ✨
📅 Book now — link below before it’s gone! SPA-B.COM

07/23/2025