New Skincare Clinic Is Helping Locals Glow From The Inside Out

This Patch article is sponsored by MySkin Paramedical Face & Body Clinic.

MySkin is a new, boutique-style skincare clinic in downtown Milford specializing in advanced skin treatments for the face and body. We also offer body massage.

Patch had a chance to talk with Elle Powell, a licensed esthetician and owner of MySkin Paramedical Face & Body Clinic.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town, or how long has your organization been around in the community?

Powell: MySkin Paramedical Face & Body Clinic just opened its doors in June 2021, so we are truly a new business, and the Milford community has been so warm and welcoming. I have spent a lot of time in Milford over the last several years, and I have grown to really love the town and its vibrant downtown community, so this is where I wanted to open MySkin Paramedical.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Powell: I became a licensed esthetician in 2001 and never looked back! I’ve always loved everything about skin and how to care for it, so when I was getting back into the workforce — once my sons were in school I decided to go to esthetic school.

I attended Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics in New York City and received my post graduate degree shortly afterwards at the Dermal Institute. I immediately started working in a plastic surgeon practice, and most recently, spent the last 14 years as lead esthetician at Greenwich Medical Spa.

Since the beginning, inside and outside of work my life has revolved around my passion for the skin and making it healthy. I suffered from acute acne well into my late twenties, and there weren’t many options at that time for clearing the skin without harmful drugs or drying ingredients.

However, I found a small spa in New York City owned by Hungarian estheticians and they cleared my skin. They didn’t speak a lot of English, and even if they did, the spa culture was way different back then, very, very secretive. They just laid you down on the table and they did their thing without explanation of the treatment! It’s much different today, where clients are extremely savvy about skincare, and they expect to be educated on products as well as services. A good relationship between you and your esthetician is essential. It is a true, trusting partnership.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Powell: If I had to sum up my business mission to a stranger in five words, it would be: Healthy skin is a lifelong journey! Okay, that’s six, but pretty close! Occasionally, I’ll have new clients who think they can fix all their issues in one facial. That’s like expecting to get a perfect body after one workout. It just doesn’t work that way. It takes time and commitment to achieve goals. No matter what it is.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Powell: As with any new business, the hardest challenge is just getting the word out that you are open and ready to take appointments! After that, it’s all about building trust and relationships and, most importantly, results.

I have taken my 21 years of experience and incorporated what I have learned and practiced into my clinic. I know what works and what doesn’t. I can truly change the skin from the inside out, and take 10 years off of your look, or clear up your acne or rosacea without harmful drugs or injections. Unfortunately, so many still think it’s just about continually exfoliating the skin with chemical peels and microdermabrasion, for example. But ultimately, this will be more damaging in the long-run since you are ruining your skin’s natural barrier in this process by constant exfoliation.

At MySkin Paramedical Face & Body Clinic the focus is about rebuilding the skin from the inside out and getting it to function on all cylinders again. If you don’t change what the skin is producing underneath, it will keep on producing all those things you don’t like on the surface.

So, as you can see, it’s insane to think you will change anything (at least not forever) by just exfoliating the top layer. So, whether it’s age management, acne, pigmentation, eczema, rosacea, reactive/dry skin, we take it all on and bring it back into balance, homeostasis.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Powell: The most satisfying part of my job is seeing how happy my clients are after their skin has been revised. Some of them have tried so many things in the past and I was their last hope. I get so much satisfaction in helping them finally achieve their goals.

Of course, I also have a special place in my heart for my acne clients — since I went through terrible acne myself. But, at the end of the day, I feel like I have truly made a difference in people’s lives and there’s nothing more satisfying than that. To me, this isn’t just a job, but it’s a vocation, it’s my entire life, my passion. If I’m not here at the clinic, I’m continually researching the newest modalities or attending trade shows or skincare conferences.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Powell: My business is a small, intimate, boutique-style space. With the pandemic still looming over us, this is attractive to clientele who appreciate that there are not large numbers of people coming through the doors on a daily basis. Because it’s an intimate setting, I have the ability to spend more time with each client when necessary, and all my treatments are customized for the individual’s needs, without, costly add-ons. For example, my acne facial includes LED Phototherapy, as well as hi-frequency.

In addition, my focus is more on rebuilding the skin by working on the internal structures and functions of the skin — not just simply exfoliating the surface, which is damaging in the long term. Also, my modalities are unique to Connecticut. Even my product line, DMK, which uses highly sourced botanicals from around the world, is new to Connecticut but has been around for 45 years and is very popular in over 35 countries. You’d have to go into NYC or LA to find similar modalities.

Lastly, most of my treatments have no downtime, and this applies to my body treatments as well, and even my microchanneling device has very limited downtime compared to microneedling. And, I only have one massage therapist — who is truly a magician when it comes to everything body. What this means for our clients is that they are seeing the same therapist each time you come in so she truly gets to know you and your body from head to toe!

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Powell: My best piece of advice to success is impeccable customer service. I believe in great communication and especially being a good listener. If a client comes in and tells me they had a rough week and just wants to de-stress, I make sure that happens.

Moreover, if you say you’re going to do something, do it! If I tell you I’m going to send you the treatment plan by the end of the day, I do it; if I say I’m going to call, I do it. My tagline on my FaceBook page is, “The Thinking Esthetician, but I’d also like to be known as “The Dependable Esthetician”!

Big things like delivering results is of course extremely important, but I think the little things matter too. I always leave a bottle of water and a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate, (dark chocolate of course), in the room for each client. Or have flowers ready for a client who just lost their mom, or loved one. Little touches from the heart truly go a long way.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about? If so, what details can you share and what makes it so exciting?

Powell: Because MySkin Paramedical only opened up a few months ago, in a way it seems like everything I’m doing is a new project. From joining The Chamber of Commerce and meeting other entrepreneurs, to learning about marketing and social media. Right now, it’s all about getting the word out that MySkin Paramedical Face & Body Clinic is open and ready to deliver great results for your body, mind and spirit!

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community? If so, tell us about them.

Powell: Yes! Super excited to be having my “Ribbon Cutting” ceremony and Grand Opening/Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 8 p.m.

The ribbon cutting is going to be at 4 p.m., and the Grand Opening starts at 5 p.m. I want to make it informative, but fun too; a place where we can all connect. We’ve been planning since August, and we’re having swag bags, “Spin the Wheel” every half hour for lots of give-aways, demos of some of our services, and, of course, music and refreshments. And we’re truly excited to introduce our new state-of-the-art facial analysis system that measures your pores, bacteria, UV damage and wrinkles. I hope all the Patch readers will join us!

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Powell: Patch readers can find out more about MySkin Paramedical Face & Body Clinic through our website at www.myskinmilford.com where appointments can be booked online. You can also find MySkin Paramedical Face & Body Clinic on Facebook where you can also book appointments online. I’m also on Instagram, twitter and Tiktok.

Or, better yet, please, just stop by when you’re in downtown and say hello! MySkin is located at 50 Broad Street, Milford, CT, right in between Edward Jones and Parklane Opticians and adjacent to Colony Grill. You can call us at 203-283-0531.