Acupuncture Aesthetics is a merging of my background as a licensed Acupuncturist and Aesthetician. This is where Acusthetics Inc was born.
I am absolutely convinced that maintaining youthfulness requires "working out" the muscles of the face, just as we do to preserve our figures via exercising.
Unfortunately, there isn't much out there that does this for our faces.

In my opinion, Cosmetic Acupuncture (Sub-muscular technique), Microcurrent, and Microneedling are the holy grail of preventing aging, repairing current signs of aging, lifting, sculpting, plumping, and toning the face- all non-surgical cosmetic treatments. And I absolutely love to do all of these things, because they undoubtedly work!

Acupuncture Aesthetics Offerings:

* Advanced Sub-muscular Cosmetic Acupuncture: - 5-15 treatments (depending on age/incorporation of other Acusthetics modalities) can reverse 7-10 years off the face. This technique aids to build collagen, sculpt and tone the face, and can even help minimize scars and hyperpigmentation concerns. I am certified with hands on training by Michelle Gellis AP, LAc, MAc, DipLAc, a leader in the cosmetic acupuncture world. "Contraindications listed within Patient Intake Forms."

* True Microcurrent: using the 7e Wellness Professional Medical Grade Myolift MD: This is a FDA cleared true microcurrent machine that is clinically proven to work on
toning, lifting, alleviating hyperpigmentation, and even offers lymphatic drainage and acne treatments. I have recently been integrating cosmetic acupuncture
treatments alongside Myolift MD and am quite honestly astonished at the results so far. Contraindications listed within "Patient Intake Forms."

* AcuMicro Microneedling & Nanoneedling Device and TCM Serums- Machine depth 0.25 mm - 2.5 mm for use on face and body. Nanoneedling can be used on lips
and eye area! A variety of TCM Acumicro serums will be infused into the skin during this procedure, utilizing Apple Stem Cells, Chinese Herbs, Hyaluronic acid/Veg
glycerin, niacinimide, peptides, and other ingredients custom to your specific needs. Contraindications listed within "Patient Intake Forms"

See ingredient lists of AcuMicro topicals below ⬇️

APSTEM® - STEM CELL BUILDER
PING GUO

Concentration: 5% Apple Stem Cells

TCM Actions: Tonify Facial Qi

Biomedical Actions: Promote The Reproduction Of Facial Cells Under The Epidermis

If you are one who passionately seeks the latest in skin-care products, you no doubt have heard about apple stem cells; those of the famous Uttwiller Spatlauber trees of Switzerland are scientifically proven to activate the epidermal cells of the skin to start self-renewing at a rate similar to that of early youth. This action thwarts the skin from developing lines and wrinkles, sagging, and appearing unhealthy or dull.

Unfortunately, not all of the wholesale products claiming to offer the benefits of these apple stem cells are the same, which is why we are so honored to offer lab-grade stem cells.

Our Formula (AcuMicro):
Our Stem Cells are natural, pure, and without preservatives. They are among the most potent extracts of the sought-after apple stem cells, and have been combined with other effective and natural compounds to create optimum results. Our experts have formulated a daily-use serum that includes the natural ingredient PhytoCellTec, an extract of the Uttwiller Spatlauber fruit. They also have added several other skin0boosting compounds – also chemical free and natural – to our serum, including fatty acids and rosehip seed oil high in antioxidants such as vitamins A and E. We also include 100% pure hyaluronic acid (HLA) to allow the skin to hold onto high amounts of moisture (about 1,000 ml per gram of HLA); and lecithin with linoleic acid and others vitamins for the skin.

How It Works:
Skin ages in more than one manner. One of the most destructive process in the skin is the slowing of the epidermal cell renewal process. The process slows over time and, therefore, our skins begins to amass more dying cells that new ones. This allows us to begin to develop sagging skin, wrinkles, and lines. And, it is part of the damage that occurs because of exposure to UV rays.

Ingredients: Water, vegetal glycerin, hyaluronic acid, xanthan gum gel (from fermented sugar), apple stem cell culture, lecithin, citric acid (from limes), ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin C ester), tocotrienol (vitamin E), potassium sorbate (natural preservative from mineral salt)

COLLAGEN XG+® - COLLAGEN BUILDER
XIANG GU

Active Ingredient: Xiang Gu (Lentinus Edodes Extract or Shiitake Mushroom extract)

TCM Actions: Facial Qi Strengthener, Expel Wind, Best For Dry Deficient Skin

Biomedical Actions: Natural Collagen & Elastin Builder

Collagen XG+® (Xiāng Gū) contains a shiitake mushroom extract that thwarts collagen deterioration and improves the organization, quality, and structure of collagen, all of which are linked to a firmer and smoother complexion.

The amount of collagen in our skin decreases, as we age, and enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) increase. This leads to signs of again, such as reduction of firmness or roughness. Collagen+™ acts as a strong anti-oxidant that lessens damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as lipid peroxidation. It assists with type I collagen synthesis and increases PLOD1 levels, which adds to protein quality while reducing carbamylation, the degradation of protein, to many is considered a hallmark of aging. It also reduces degradation of collagen by MMPs and glycation, the bonding of sugar molecules to protein.

A study, over 56 days with 19 female volunteers aged between 41 and 55, reported a cream with 2%.

Those who applied Collagen XG+® twice daily reported improvement of firmness and a reduction of neck folds, along with a smoother appearance of the décolleté, neck, and face, and a decrease in the appearance of roughness. Also noted was an improvement in skin recovery after distension, a quality associated with younger skin, which means the skin bounces back quickly.

In Vitro:
In vitro research has shown that synthesis of type I collagen increased by 36.5% with 1% Collagen+ An increase of 21.9% PLOD1 with 3% Collagen XG+®
2% Collagen XG+® reduced carbamylation by 75.9%, would could lead to less deterioration and improved organization of collagen.

Key Benefits:
Encourages firmer appearance of neck, face, and décolleté
Increases the synthesis of collagen
Decreases the deterioration of collagen
Improves the quality of collagen
Prevents the degradation of matrix proteins, such as collagen and elastin
Acts as an anti-oxidant
Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Sodium Citrate, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phytic Acid

ELASTIN FL+® - ELASTIN BUILDER

Deputy Herb In Topical Formula Combination.

Active Ingredient: Fu Ling (Poria Cocos)

TCM Actions: Spleen & Kidney Qi Deficiency Commonly Seen With Older Thin Skin

Biomedical Actions: Natural Collagen & Elastin Builder. Best For Damp Acne Prone Greasy Skin & Older Thinning Skin.

Elastin FL+™ is a multi-purposed active component that builds skin thickness, microcirculation, and radiance. And, it lessens the appearance of wrinkles characteristic of aging. It is best for menopause or mature skin.

Fu Ling is a celebrated fungus in traditional medicine of Asia, where it is used as an antioxidant and purifying and softening agent. The part used in Elastin FL+® is the sclerocia (mycelium), which is rich in triterpenes and polysacchrides (pachyman).

Elastin FL+® Target Dermal Structures
Hyaluronic acid is an essential glycosaminoglycan of the dermal and epidermal extracellular matrix that works directly on tissue repair and cohesion.
CDRR: trans-membrane glycoprotein which acts as the main receptor of hyaluronic acid and maintains its homeostasis that acts as the principal receptor of hyaluronic acid and sustains its homeostasis. Interaction between this receptor and hyaluronic acid makes possible cellular differentiation and strengthens tissue union.
During menopause and aging, expression of hyaluronic acid and the DD44 receptor diminishes, leading to reduced skin firmness and thickness, and cell renewal.
Mature FL intensifies the expression of this receptor, thus improving the hyaluronic acid binding the dermis and epidermis.
Collagen IV maintains the skin’s mechanical stability because it is a crucial element of the dermal-epidermal junction.
Age reduces collagen and menopause even more accentuates this loss. Mature FL enhances the expression of Collagen IV and strengthens skin stability.
SPRR is a family of small proteins located in the dense envelope of the epidermis.
Because of aging and menopause, these proteins become over-expressed and this leads to important skin imbalances.
Elastin FL+® diminishes the expression of SPRR and improves the appearance of mature skin.
Elastin FL+® rolls back aging’s effects in skin microcirculation, radiance, skin thickness, and firmness, resulting in a younger and more radiant skin.

Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Poria Cocos, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

OCULUS INFRAORBITAL® - HAI ZAO

Active Ingredient: Hai Zao (seaweed from the coast of spain)

TCM Actions: Moves blood and interstitial fluid. Resolve damp fluid Retention

Biomedical Actions: Helps clear bilirubin and fluid buildup around the eyes. Gets Rid Of Eye bags, Dark Circles & Puffiness.

Liquid retention because of higher permeability of blood vessels causes eye puffiness to appear. When added to bilirubin accumulation, from hemoglobin breakdown, induces vascular pigmentation and, therefore, dark circles. Further, deterioration of skin support proteins, such as collagen and elastin, contributes to heightened visibility of such signs, in addition to wrinkle development.
Decreases vascular permeability to ameliorate eyebags and dark circles
Stimulates bilirubin degradation to reduce vascular pigmentation that leads to dark coloration under the eyes
Stimulates production of elastin and type I collagen by dermal fibroblasts
Reduces glycation of collagen to sustain elasticity and strength of the dermis
In vivo, it improves the appearance of all signs of aging in the eye contour area, including puffiness, wrinkles, and dark circles
Oculus InfraOrbital® is a new cosmetic active that provides complete care of the eye contour area by lessening fluid extravasation and increasing degradation of bilirubin. It also improves collagen and elastic synthesis and decreases formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) for a younger and brighter look. Isolated from a naturally occurring marine microorganism isolated in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife Island, Spain, it is produced by through biotechnology, so there is no extracting or harvesting from nature.

The Science:
The look of the eyes transmits attractiveness and beauty. It is essential in interpersonal communications. The delicate skin around the eyes becomes thinner, as we age, and therefore it is more susceptible to age-related changes. Eye puffiness appears because of liquid retention, as a consequence of higher permeability of blood vessels When that is added to bilirubin accumulation from hemoglobin breakdown, it induces vascular pigmentation and, therefore, dark circles. Further, the deterioration of skin support proteins, such as collagen and elastin, it contributes to increased visibility of such signs, as well as the development of wrinkles.

In Vivo Test on Volunteers:
A panel of 21 females (22-54 years old) with dark circles apples, once a day for 28 days, a placebo cream on one side of the eye contour area and a cream with 1% Oculus InfraOrbital® on the other side, twice a day. The vascular component (red color) of dark circles was then calculated from high resolution photographs obtained under cross-polarized light.
The active ingredient reduced the vascular component of dark circles by 1.5% and was 35.7% more effect than the placebo.
A group of 20 females (aged 41-66), showing eyebags, used a cream with 4% Oculus InfraOrbital® marine ingredient, twice a day for 28 days, on half the face around the eye and a placebo cream on the other half. Fringe projection technique was used to evaluate eyebags volume. The results were evident after 14 days, reducing them by 8.2% after 28 days.
A panel of 18 females (aged 40-54) applied a placebo cream or a cream with 2% Oculus InfraOrbital® on crow’s feet wrinkles of one eye or the other, twice a day for 14 days. Measurement of in vivo skin topometry of crow’s feet was performed by fringe projections. Oculus InfraOrbital® provided a general smoothing effect by reducing roughness by 9%, mean wrinkle depth by 8.75%, and maximum wrinkle depth by 9.8%.

Cosmetic Benefits:
Reduces vascular permeability to ameliorate eye bags and dark circles
Enhances bilirubin degradation to reduce vascular pigmentation that causes dark coloration under the eyes
Promotes [production of elastin and type I collagen by dermal fibroblasts
Lessens glycation of collagen to maintain strength and elasticity of the dermis
In vivo, it improves the appearance of all signs of aging in the eye contour area, including puffiness, wrinkles, and dark circles.

Ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Seaweed Extract, Butylene Glycol

LUMOS BRIGHTEN®
ZAO LEI

Active Ingredient: Zao Lei (Formulated algae from the coast of spain)

TCM Actions: Moves Blood & Fluid

Biomedical Actions: Clears melanin pigmentation from the skin. Gets Rid Of Age Spots and Melasma

Acts on perse stages of melanin deposition and production in the skin to improve luminosity and decrease visibility of hyperpigmented areas to balance out the skin tone
It has reduced melan-A protein levels (40%), thus interfering with development of melanosomes
Diminishes the amount of human tyrosinase protein by up to 48.9%, and its activity by 24.3%
Decreases the amount of melanin pigment produced by melanocyte in culture by 61.3%
In acting on melanocytes, resulted in a 69% lower uptake of particles (phagocytosis)
Neutralizes hyperpigmentation, that which is related to age spots, in reconstituted epidermis

Research Study:
22 Asian female volunteers (38-53 years old) with hyperpigmented regions in skin applied a cream with 2% of the active ingredient ingredient or a placebo cream twice a day for 8 weeks.
Applied at 2% in vivo, provided brightness by increasing luminance (L*) (2.5%) and inpidual topological angle (ITA) (15.3%), and decreased contrast of dark spots by 12.7%, leading to a great improvement in evenness.
The treatment shrank the area of dark spots (6.9%) and decreased their melanin content by 61.1%.
Lumos® is a new cosmetic active that acts on various stages of melanin production and deposition in the skin to improve luminosity and decrease visibility of hyperpigmented areas to even out the skin tone. Providing a brightening effect, this extract homogenizes skin complexion by reducing the melanin content, contrast, and size of dark spots.

The process by which melanocytes produce melanin – melanogenesis – and distribute it in the skin is complex and includes multiple steps. Activation of various signaling pathways in melanocytes results in gene transcription of perse key melanogenic proteins. Melanosomes them form and melanin is synthesized within them. When these vesicles mature and filled with pigment, they are transferred to keratinocytes.
Lumos® consistently modulates sever steps that provide pigmentation. It regulates gene expression of melanogenic signaling proteins to reduce the formation and maturation of melanosomes, reduces tyrosinase levels and activity, and reduces melanin update by keratinocytes. Further, it induces the expression of genes involved in DMA repair, which is necessary due to the loss of UV-protective pigment.

In Vitro Test:
Reduced melan-A protein levels (40%), thus interfering with development of melanosomes.
Diminished the amount of human tyrosinase protein by up to 48.9% and its activity by 24.3%.
Decreased the amount of melanin pigment produced by melanocyte in culture by 61.3%.
Acting on melanocytes, resulted in a 69% lower uptake of particles (phagocytosis) in keratinocytes.
Neutralized WNT-induced hyper-pigmentation (related to age spots) in reconstituted epidermis.

Cosmetic Benefits:
Helps provide a more even skin toneHelps prevent hyperpigmented or dark spots, which often are early signs of aging, especially in Asian skin. Helps lighten the complexion

Ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Algae(plankton) Extract, Butylene Glycol

SENESCENCE 75+® - CHEN PI GANXIBAO
noun
the condition or process of deterioration with age.
loss of a cell's power of division and growth.

Active Ingredient: Chen Pi Ganxibao (Orange Stem Cells)

TCM Actions: Boosts Primal Kidney Qi Essence Of Facial Cells

Biomedical Actions: Helps cells regain their ability to grow and divide. Best For mature older or thin skin as due to recovered skin elastic properties.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: NORTHERN SPAIN

Research has shown that orange stem cells combat principal signs of skin aging by providing the skin a more firm and thicker appearance.
Using exceptional, high-quality orange stem cells from Northern Spain

Senescence 75+ anti-aging skin care ingredient from Northern Spain, is made from orange stem cells and works by organizing the inner structure of the skin for a younger appearance. In facial formulations, it organizes and re-densifies the dermis structure, repairs the extracellular matrix, and improves cellular adhesion. The result is skin that recovers the elasticity it had 12 years ago, with a softer and more velvety complexion, plus a younger appearance.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells found in all multi-cellular organisms. In plants, stem cells are capable of regenerating the entire plant. The stem cells used in Senescence 75+ are sourced from renewable plant material in a sustainable and ecological process, without genetic modifications or solvents.

Benefits:
Renews skin appearance. Fewer wrinkles and improved overall appearance
The skin recovers the elastic properties it had 12 years ago
Skin is smoother and more silky

Research Study:
A group of 20 women between 41 and 55 years old applied a 3% formula of orange stem cells twice a day for 56 days against a placebo formula. After this period, they observed, among other benefits, a 17.5% increase in skin elasticity.

Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Callus Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum

REJUV XUE CAO® - JI XUE CAO
Assistant Herb In Topical Formula Combination.
Active Ingredient: Ji Xue Cao (Formulated Asiatic Pennywort Herb)
TCM Actions: Clear Heat, Resolve Swelling, Remove Toxicity

Biomedical Actions: Helps Speed Up Facial Repair Process Post Microneedling

Rejuv Xue Cao® is used to support faster healing of scratches, small wounds, and superficial burns, as well as an anti-inflammatory for insect bites, minor itching, and eczema. It is traditional used in the management of dermatological conditions in its area of origin.

Active ingredients are pentacyclic triterpenoids, which have activating and regulating functions. They act on the collagen present in many organs. Major components in skin are collagens type I and II. Aging in the skin is related principally to a decrease in type I collagen levels that also plays a principal role in wound healing. Research shows that the main constituents of Rejuv Xue Cao® – Asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside – increase collagen synthesis. Beyond stimulating the synthesis of collagen, it also improves the skin’s tensile strength.

Ingredient: Water, Vegetable Glycerin, Asiatic Pennywort Herb Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Disclaimer of AcuMicro TCM Serums:
Caution use with pregnancy. Please always test all serums in a small area first. If any reaction occurs please discontinue use. Topical Use Only. Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional skin care provider.

California Prop 65 Statement: The following statement is made in order to comply with the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. This product is not known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.