Questions answered, with prices and sources
Kay writes these guides to answer what clients ask before booking: what a treatment costs in Melbourne, FL, how many sessions it takes, and what the evidence shows. 82 guides so far.
Published · By Kay Woodson82 guides
FaceAcne in your 40s: why now, and what to do about it
Why breakouts come back in your 40s, hormonal vs bacterial acne, look-alikes such as fungal acne and rosacea, home care, and when to see a doctor.
Read the guide
FaceWhat are the benefits of facials?
The real benefits of facials: cleaner pores, smoother skin, calmer nerves and a plan for home. What facials cannot do, the cons, and when they pay off.
Read the guide
Skin educationBenzoyl peroxide vs salicylic acid: which one for your acne?
Benzoyl peroxide vs salicylic acid: what each one clears, the strengths sold without a prescription, the AAD's 2024 ratings, benzene, and darker skin tips.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningNon-surgical skin tightening: what each option can and cannot do
Non-surgical skin tightening compared, from sunscreen to radiofrequency, ultrasound and microneedling, when surgery is the answer, and where XERF sits.
Read the guide
BodyWhat is body sculpting, and is it the same as body contouring?
What is body sculpting, and is it the same as body contouring? What the FDA says, the 4 goals it covers, and Karisma's EMS and Endermologie prices.
Read the guide
FaceFacial before your wedding: a 6-month skin timeline
When to get a facial before your wedding: a 6-month skin timeline, when to stop peels, what six facials cost, darker-skin tips, and HydraFacial compared.
Read the guide
BodyCellulite on your buttocks: what the largest trials show
Cellulite on the buttocks: why it shows there, what 843 women in two placebo-controlled trials teach about any claim, home care, and options in Brevard.
Read the guide
BodyCellulite on your stomach: why it shows and what can help
Cellulite on the stomach: why lean women get it too, what a weight-loss study found, why belly cellulite gets less research, and what a studio can do.
Read the guide
BodyCellulite on your legs and thighs: why it shows and what helps
Cellulite on legs and thighs: why thighs show it first, how to grade yours, when it may be something else, and which thigh treatments have FDA files.
Read the guide
BodyHow much does cellulite treatment cost? Studio and physician prices
Cellulite treatment cost compared: Endermologie at $150 a session, Cellfina and Avéli at physician practices, and what a year adds up to.
Read the guide
FaceHow much is a chemical peel? 2026 prices by depth
How much is a chemical peel in 2026? About $230 light, $660 medium and $2,698 deep, US averages. Florida figures, series totals, and Karisma's price.
Read the guide
FaceChemical peel aftercare, day by day
Chemical peel aftercare day by day: what a light peel looks like from day 0 to day 7, when flaking starts, what not to do, and Florida sun protection.
Read the guide
Darker skinChemical peels and microdermabrasion on dark skin
Chemical peels and microdermabrasion on dark skin: what studies on skin types V and VI found, test spots, the season with fewer side effects, what to ask.
Read the guide
FaceChest wrinkles: sun lines, sleep lines and what helps
Chest wrinkles: sun lines vs sleep lines, what sunscreen, retinoids and sleep position can do, what changes for darker skin, and medical options compared.
Read the guide
FaceCircadia skin care: what it is and who can buy it
Circadia skin care explained: founded in 2001 by Dr. Peter Pugliese, built on the skin's daily rhythm, sold only to licensed pros. How Karisma uses it.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningCrepey skin on your arms: what causes it and what can help
Why arms turn crepey, what lotions and retinol can do, which devices hold FDA clearances naming the upper arms, when an arm lift fits, and what Karisma can do.
Read the guide
Darker skinDark underarms and inner thighs
Dark underarms and inner thighs: how friction, shaving and deodorant darken folds, when velvety skin needs a doctor, and what lightening studies found.
Read the guide
FaceWhat is a deep cleansing facial?
A deep cleansing facial targets clogged pores: cleanse, exfoliate, soften, extract, calm. What it clears, what it cannot, and how often to book one.
Read the guide
Skin educationDehydrated skin vs dry skin: how to tell the difference
Dehydrated skin lacks water, dry skin also lacks oil. How to tell which you have, what drinking water really does, and what helps in a Florida dry season.
Read the guide
FaceDermaplaning vs microdermabrasion: which suits your skin?
Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion: a blade that shaves off peach fuzz, or crystals and suction that buff the surface. Who each suits, prices, darker skin.
Read the guide
Darker skinDoes dark skin need sunscreen?
Does dark skin need sunscreen? Yes. What melanin blocks and misses, why visible light darkens deeper skin tones, and how to find a tint with no white cast.
Read the guide
BodyDry brushing and cellulite: does it really help?
Does dry brushing help cellulite? Why skin looks smoother for an hour, what brushing does do, how to do it safely, and the extra care darker skin needs.
Read the guide
BodyDoes Endermologie work for cellulite?
Does Endermologie work for cellulite? What the FDA clearance says, three published studies in plain words, LPG's own claim, and a realistic result.
Read the guide
BodyEndermologie at home or in a studio?
Endermologie at home: LPG's Wellbox [S] costs $1,299 and has no FDA 510(k) of its own. How it compares with a $150 studio session, and who each one suits.
Read the guide
BodyHow much does Endermologie cost and how many sessions?
Endermologie at Karisma: $160 for the first visit, then $150, plus a $45 suit. Packages of 3 to 12 sessions, how many sessions studies used, US prices.
Read the guide
BodyEndermologie vs CoolSculpting, cavitation and Emsculpt
Endermologie vs CoolSculpting, cavitation and Emsculpt: skin, fat or muscle, what each FDA file says, what helps cellulite. Karisma offers Endermologie.
Read the guide
BodyEndermologie vs lymphatic drainage vs wood therapy
Endermologie, lymphatic drainage and wood therapy side by side: machine or hands, who performs each, what the evidence says, and which one Karisma offers.
Read the guide
FaceWhat is an enzyme facial?
An enzyme facial uses papaya or pineapple enzymes to lift dead skin without acids. How it works, how it compares with peels, and what the studies show.
Read the guide
FaceFine lines under your eyes: why they show first, and what helps
Why fine lines show first under the eyes, how to tell them from bags, hollows and dark circles, what home care can do, and which treatments need a doctor.
Read the guide
BodyYour first Endermologie session: what to expect and side effects
Endermologie side effects and your first session at Karisma: what studies report, who should not book, the $160 visit step by step, and how it feels.
Read the guide
FaceWhat to do before a facial and what to expect at your first one
What to do before a facial, what happens at your first one, and what not to do after: sun, new products, retinoids, and a 60-minute first visit at Karisma.
Read the guide
Skin educationFlorida skin care: humidity, sun and salt
Florida skin care for the Space Coast: 74% average humidity, summer UV of 10 to 11, sand and salt water. A routine that fits, and darker-skin changes.
Read the guide
FaceForehead wrinkles: why they form and your options
Forehead wrinkles: moving vs resting lines, why heavy eyelids can deepen them, home care that helps, and medical options. Karisma offers no injectables.
Read the guide
FaceGua sha benefits: what the research supports
Gua sha benefits checked against the research: brief de-puffing, a 2 mm contour change in one trial, no firmer skin, and care points for darker skin.
Read the guide
BodyHow long do Endermologie results last? Weeks, unless you keep going
How long Endermologie results last: why the change is temporary, what the AAD and LPG say about upkeep, and what a monthly visit costs at $150.
Read the guide
FaceHow long does a facial last?
How long does a facial last? 60 to 90 minutes in the chair, then a timeline on your skin: redness, flaking, purging and the 30-day cycle, with sources.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningHow long does XERF last? An honest timeline
How long XERF lasts: published data stop at 3 months, and 12 to 18 months is a doctor's opinion in the press. Timeline, upkeep and cost at $1,500.
Read the guide
FaceHow often should you get a facial?
How often should you get a facial? Every 4 to 6 weeks fits how skin renews, and less often still helps. Yearly costs at $125 and $225, plus a Brevard plan.
Read the guide
Skin educationHow to find your skin type with two at-home tests
How to find your skin type at home: the wash-and-wait test, the blotting test, the five types dermatologists use, and why your type changes with age.
Read the guide
FaceHow to get glass skin
How to get glass skin: what the K-beauty term means, a 5-step routine built on barrier, hydration and SPF, what skincare cannot do, and darker skin advice.
Read the guide
BodyHow to get rid of cellulite: what actually works
How to get rid of cellulite, honestly: why 80 to 90% of women have it, what the AAD says works, what helps a little, and what to skip, creams to lasers.
Read the guide
Skin educationHyaluronic acid benefits: what the trials show
Hyaluronic acid benefits, trial by trial: better hydration and elasticity at 0.1%, why molecule size matters, what oral HA showed, and what it cannot do.
Read the guide
FaceHydraFacial vs microneedling: surface care or collagen work?
HydraFacial vs microneedling: one cleans and hydrates the surface, the other makes tiny wounds to rebuild collagen. Downtime, 2026 prices, and darker skin.
Read the guide
FaceHydraFacial vs a regular facial: what is the difference?
HydraFacial vs a regular facial: a branded machine protocol, or a facial built by hand for your skin. Steps, cost ($209 average vs $125), who each suits.
Read the guide
FaceWhat is a hydrating facial?
A hydrating facial layers water-binding ingredients under ones that seal it in. What is in it, who it suits, how Brevard's dry season changes things.
Read the guide
FaceHyperpigmentation around the mouth
Why skin around the mouth turns darker: lip licking, toothpaste, lip products, perioral dermatitis, melasma, hair removal, and when to see a doctor first.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningIs XERF worth it? What reviews and research show
Is XERF worth $1,500? What the FDA file, two small human studies and online reviews really show in 2026, who XERF may suit and who should wait.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningJowls without surgery: an honest look at the options
Can jowls lift without surgery? The three kinds of jowl surgeons describe, an honest look at exercise, creams, devices and fillers, and XERF at Karisma.
Read the guide
Skin educationLarge pores on your face: why, and what helps
Why pores on your face look large: oil, age, sun and sagging skin. What makes them less noticeable, what cannot shrink them, and research on Black skin.
Read the guide
FaceWhat does an LED facial do?
What an LED facial does: blue, red and near-infrared light, what 31 trials found, how home masks compare, eye safety, and what changes for darker skin.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningLoose skin after pregnancy: what changes, month by month
Loose skin after pregnancy: what the first year usually looks like, when to judge your skin, what creams and devices can do, and when a surgeon fits.
Read the guide
Skin educationMelasma vs hyperpigmentation vs sun spots
Melasma vs hyperpigmentation vs sun spots: where each shows up, its shape and color, who gets it, if it fades, and why telling them apart changes the plan.
Read the guide
Skin educationMenopause skin changes: what shifts, and who can help
Dryness, sagging, breakouts, facial hair and slow healing: skin changes in perimenopause and menopause, what helps at home, and which doctor to see.
Read the guide
Skin educationA men's skin care routine in four steps
A men's skin care routine in four steps: wash, moisturize, sunscreen, a kinder shave. How men's skin differs, label tips, and notes for darker skin.
Read the guide
FaceMicroneedling vs a chemical peel: which fits your goal?
Microneedling vs a chemical peel: needles that trigger collagen, or acids that lift dull surface skin. What each fixes, downtime, 2026 costs, darker skin.
Read the guide
Skin educationNiacinamide benefits: what the studies show
Niacinamide benefits, study by study: less oil at 2%, fewer dark spots and fine lines at 4 to 5%, a stronger barrier, what it cannot do, darker skin notes.
Read the guide
BodyNon-surgical body contouring: what works and who it suits
Non-surgical body contouring explained: freezing, ultrasound, radiofrequency and injections, the sessions each needs, who it suits, what to try instead.
Read the guide
Skin educationAn oily skin care routine for Florida summers
An oily skin care routine for the Space Coast: what to wash with, which moisturizer and sunscreen, actives that cut shine, and tips for oily, darker skin.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningOzempic face: lost volume, loose skin, and what helps
Ozempic face explained: why fast weight loss on GLP-1 medicines can hollow the face and loosen skin, why it lasts, and which options add volume or tighten.
Read the guide
Darker skinPost-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on melanin-rich skin
Why post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation lingers on darker skin tones: what sets it off, brown vs blue-gray marks, how long each lasts, and how to prevent it.
Read the guide
Skin educationYour post-summer skin reset, week by week
A post-summer skin reset for Florida, week by week: check your skin, calm it, add one active, then a facial once the hard sun eases. Costs and darker skin.
Read the guide
BodyCellulite treatments compared: why February is the month to start
Cellulite treatment options compared by lead time: how many sessions, when change shows, how long it lasts, and a February to Memorial Day plan for 2027.
Read the guide
FacePuffy eyes: causes, quick fixes and when to worry
Puffy eyes: fluid vs fat, why mornings are worst, what a cold compress, sleep and less salt can do, allergy puffiness, and when swelling needs a doctor.
Read the guide
Darker skinRazor bumps and ingrown hairs on the face
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs on the face: why curly hair grows back in, a shave that causes fewer bumps, women and chin hair, when to see a dermatologist.
Read the guide
Skin educationRetinol for beginners: how to start without irritation
Retinol for beginners: a pea-sized amount at night, every other night at first, then moisturizer. What early weeks feel like and what darker skin needs.
Read the guide
Skin educationSebaceous filaments: what they are, and why not to squeeze
Sebaceous filaments vs blackheads: what the gray dots on your nose are, why a squeezed one refills in about 30 days, and what makes them less visible.
Read the guide
Skin educationSkin barrier repair: signs of damage and how to heal it
Skin barrier repair, step by step: signs of a damaged skin barrier, what breaks it, which ingredients help, how long healing takes, and darker-skin notes.
Read the guide
Skin educationSkin care for women over 50: a short plan you can keep
A short, dermatologist-sourced skin care plan for women over 50: what changes, a morning and night routine, how much sunscreen, skin checks on deeper skin.
Read the guide
Skin educationSkin cycling: the four-night routine, explained
Skin cycling is a four-night routine: exfoliant, retinoid, two rest nights. Who coined it, what the evidence shows, and how to adapt it for darker skin.
Read the guide
BodyWinter skin care for snowbirds on the Space Coast
Winter skin care for snowbirds in Brevard: why skin acts up after the move south, a two-stage routine, what changes for darker skin, and a season plan.
Read the guide
BodyThe stages of cellulite and how doctors grade them
The stages of cellulite, from the 1978 Nürnberger-Müller scale to the 2009 Hexsel score and the 2020 trial scale. How to check yours, what stage 4 means.
Read the guide
Skin educationVitamin C serum for dark spots
Does vitamin C serum fade dark spots? How it works, the 10 to 20% range, why the label and pH matter, how long it takes, what changes for darker skin.
Read the guide
FaceWhat can an esthetician do in Florida?
What a Florida esthetician can and cannot do: facials, peels, dermaplaning and lash lifts yes; needles, lasers, injections no. Plus how to check a license.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF aftercare: the dos and don'ts
XERF aftercare: what Cynosure says, the redness and swelling to expect, sunscreen, retinoids, makeup, workouts, and when to call, from dated sources.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningHow much does XERF cost in Melbourne, FL?
XERF costs $1,500 a session at Karisma Esthetics in Melbourne, or $3,000 for two. What the price includes, what changes it, and the US range.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF for the body: why Karisma keeps to the face and neck
XERF on the stomach, arms and thighs: what the FDA file says, why every published study is face and neck, and why Karisma uses it on the face and neck only.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF side effects and who should wait
XERF side effects so far, what it feels like, the fat loss question and who should not book, from the FDA file, two small studies and the maker's trial.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF vs microneedling vs HIFU: three quick comparisons
XERF vs microneedling vs HIFU: how each works, its FDA rule, sessions, recovery and skin tone data. Karisma in Melbourne, FL offers XERF only, at $1,500.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF vs Morpheus8: with needles or without
XERF vs Morpheus8: surface radiofrequency vs RF microneedling, FDA files, the 2025 FDA warning and skin type limits. Karisma offers XERF only, at $1,500.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF vs Sofwave: depth is the real difference
XERF vs Sofwave compared: depth, energy, FDA clearances, session time and what each maker claims. Karisma in Melbourne offers XERF only, $1,500.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF vs Thermage: two frequencies or one?
XERF vs Thermage FLX: the FDA file that links them, power, tips, comfort, results and price. Karisma in Melbourne offers XERF only, $1,500 a session.
Read the guide
Skin tighteningXERF vs Ultherapy: heat from radiofrequency or ultrasound
XERF vs Ultherapy: radiofrequency vs focused ultrasound, FDA files, sessions and what each maker claims. Karisma in Melbourne, FL offers XERF only, $1,500.
Read the guide