Hello, my dears! I hope you’re doing well, and that you’re thoroughly enjoying these first days of winter (or I guess Autumn, if you’re still on the West Coast!)!
If you’ve been following me on Instagram for a while, you probably know that I LOVE testing out new skincare products. One thing I haven’t done in years though, is to test out a whole skincare LINE.
I was gifted 6 products from Dr. Yates, MD Lifestyle (the in-house brand of a luxury med spa in Chicago), and I’ve been using them exclusively for 4.5 months! No cheating with any masks, serums, anything like that! I’ve continued to use the same makeup remover wipes that I have for the past 15 years, and moisturizing primer, and that’s it. I honestly do a little eye roll when people use skincare for 2 days and then make claims about it. It’s one thing to use a hydrating mask and substantiate that it helps with immediate moisture level.. It’s another to test out an anti-wrinkle or anti-acne product and claim your skin was transformed overnight! That’s why I wanted to do such an in-depth exploration of these products and their effects.

The products I received as recommended by my aesthetician Nikelle, are face wash, face polish, eye cream, moisturizer/sunscreen, neck cream, and a night cream. I had to wait a week after a chemical peel to start them, but after that, have used them every day since the beginning of June. Now, for a breakdown of all of the products:

Antioxidant Wash
This is a foaming wash, that you use a small amount of in your palms and work into a lather before lightly massaging in to skin and rinsing off. I didn’t find this to be an effective makeup remover, but my skin did feel very clean and not tight after using. The container is HUGE and wouldn’t be great for travel, but you could always pour some in to a travel-friendly container.
Scent (ratings on a scale 1-5): 4, pleasant and mild.
Cost: 3, it’s $47.50, which I find to be really steep for a cleanser, but you do get SO much product at 6.7 oz.
Packaging: 4, Easy to disperse, the label is very clinical-feeling (makes sense).
Would I repurchase: No, but only because I have other cleansers to use up first. This is a perfectly good face wash.
Overall rating: 4.

Brightening Polish
Very mixed feelings about this product. I use it in the shower, because I feel that’s the only way to get all the granules off (same with any face polish/physical exfoliator I use). The smell is… Off-putting. When in use, it smells like a mix of lemon cleaner and ammonia. I think the granules are really nice though, and kept my skin relatively blemish-free in the acne-prone summer months.
Scent: 1, not a fan.
Cost: 4, it’s a little higher than I normally spend for this type of product, but it’s also in the 6.7 oz. size, so not too bad.
Packaging: 4, same thoughts as above.
Would I repurchase: No, I think I can find similar products without that intense scent.
Overall rating: 3.

Total Eye Repair
I go through eye cream more consistently than any other product.. Although I’ll admit to never being loyal to any particular brand, because I generally feel like they all work pretty well for me! I look for hydration, line prevention, and some depuffing action. I feel like this one did a great job at all of the above, and I love the packaging. The pump dispenses the perfect amount of product every time. It is super pricey, but I’ve been using it for over 3.5 months, and I’m still not out of it.
Scent: 5, seems unscented to me, which I prefer for an eye cream.
Cost: 2, Wowza, at $97.50 for .5 oz.
Packaging: 5! Love the dispenser, although I wonder how “good to the last drop” it will be when I get to that point.
Would I repurchase: No, solely because of the price.
Overall rating: 4.

Antioxidant Moisturizing Sunscreen
I’ve had mixed results with 2 in 1 products like this, but I am LOVING this SPF/moisturizer combo. The moisturizer is so smooth and hydrating, and gives me a bit of that “glass skin” appearance. It isn’t heavy feeling or tacky, and just pleasantly sinks on in. One thing about the container is that the product does tend to gather and get a little crusty, so I will just unscrew the lid instead of popping the top. Doesn’t take any more time, and just as easy.
Scent: 5, I actually like the smell of sunscreen, and this one isn’t coconutty or too tropical.
Cost: 4, I think $45.50 for 4 oz. of product is quite reasonable.
Packaging: 3, for the aforementioned issue.
Would I repurchase: Yes! Would be happy to continue using this.
Overall rating: 4.

Phyto Repair PM
I was nervous that this rich cream would be too heavy on my skin, especially during the warmer summer months, but I was pleasantly surprised! I slept comfortably and didn’t wake up greasy, as sometimes happens. I will say that the packaging is great because it dispenses the perfect amount of product by pushing down on the top, and doesn’t expose the rest to air. I’ve noticed a small difference in the intensity of my laugh lines, which is my main trouble area.
Scent: 5, soft, pleasant and mild.
Cost: 4, I think $81.50 for the 2 oz. of product is reasonable, and I’m still on the same container after 3.5 months.
Packaging: 5, love the dispenser!
Would I repurchase: Yes, I think it’s a great product.

Firm RX Neck & Decolletage Repair
TBH, I don’t know if I can give this one a fair review. My weight has been fluctuating, so it’s difficult to judge the efficacy of something meant to tone the neck area. The packaging leaves something to be desired. When I picked it up a couple weeks into using it, the faux lid came off in my hand, and the rest of the product dropped to the floor, cracking the outside. Also, not a fan of having to stick something into the product to scoop it out. Will try to follow up on this product a couple months from now!

Overall, I think the standout from this line is the Moisturizing Sunscreen, I highly recommend it. These picks were selected just for me by Nikelle, and if you’re local, I’d recommend visiting her at Dr. Yates Med Spa for a 1 on 1 consultation and evaluation of your skin. Check out my progress over the last several months using these products! And side note, I think I look SO odd when I’m not smiling 😂 Hope you enjoyed my Dr. Yates, MD Lifestyle Med Skincare Review!

Don’t worry, I DID trim my brows after this 😆 I was growing them out to get them threaded!