Beauty trend sweeping the Valley as more people believe less is more

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Doctors and aestheticians are responding to a new beauty trend by offering more natural techniques that treat the skin but don't invade it.

Board certified dermatologist, Dr. Edgar Macias greets clients at his Northeast Fresno office to help them feel at ease. Many of them, like Lori Knebel are a little nervous, seeking a cosmetic treatment for the first time.

"I've raised three kids and my husband and I recently became empty nesters and I thought, ok, I'm gonna start doing something for myself."

Although Knebel has more time for herself she still works as a nurse and does not want to undergo any invasive procedures that would require recovery time.

Dr. Macias said the beauty business is changing with the changing tastes of clients. So dermatologists are going back to the basics.

"There's a big movement towards more natural products, more natural way of achieving some of these results."

But more natural doesn't mean less innovative. Dr. Macias offers a state-of-the-art facial that combines high-tech with low maintenance.

"Her skin will feel like it's breathing, it'll be deeply cleansed, it will firm, tighten, and plump the skin," said Megan Anderson, Aesthetician.

Anderson gets Knebel ready for the hydra facial. It promises to reverse skin damage while protecting the skin, through a technology called vortex action.

Anderson inserts vials of nutrients such as antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid into the hand wand which infuses those serums into the skin, while pulling out impurities.

You can see the process in action at the end of the wand that touches Knebel's face.

The HydraFacial delivers three services in one, a chemical peel, a microdermabrasion, and a facial, but Dr. Macias said this goes where no facial has gone before, extracting impurities in the skin that can't be reached with traditional methods.

"This technology allows us to use them all together at the same time and give us the same results all at once with no down time in a really, really relaxing environment and no pain and no discomfort."

And clients can see the results in a collection container with the removed impurities from their skin floating in the solution.

The process takes only 30 minutes and Knebel said it felt like a spa treatment.

"It was very relaxing, my skin feels tingly and alive and it feels clean. Probably the cleanest it's ever been."

And the price of the HydraFacial-- $150. Compared to several hundred for injectable fillers or even thousands for surgical procedures.

Dr. Macias also offers an automated micro-needling process with the micro pen. Called "Hollywood's hottest secret", a numbing cream is applied to the skin, then the battery-operated device uses micropoints to deliver tiny injuries to the skin. The skin then produces collagen to repair itself.

"One of the results that we get with the MicroPen is to firm and tighten the skin and reducing the appearance of pores. That's a really big complaint that patients have is they feel like their pores are really large."

The MicroPen cost about $300 per treatment, but skin care doesn't stop at the office. Dr. Macias recommends a home regimen that includes two key ingredients-- retinol and vitamin c.

"Retinol acts at a molecular level to change a cell's DNA or to boost the production of collagen within the cell. By doing that, we're able to erase fine lines and wrinkles."

Dr. Macias said the goal of non-invasive beauty techniques is to renew and refresh but not to redo.

"People will notice but they won't really know what you had done and that's the key. They'll say you look well rested, your hair is different, your makeup is different."

Knebel said she is already enjoying the benefits of beauty on a budget.

"Looking a little younger, a little brighter, smoother."