You’ve probably spent hundreds of dollars on serums and creams that promised glowing skin but delivered almost nothing. The problem isn’t your skin—it’s that most products lack the clinical-grade ingredients needed to actually change how your skin behaves. SkinBetter science uses pharmaceutical-level formulations that work with your skin’s biology, which is why Beauty & Fly trusts it to deliver the visible results our clients expect.
Table of Contents
- What Makes SkinBetter Science Different
- The Core Products That Transform Your Skin
- Building Your Results Driven Routine
- Pairing SkinBetter Products with Professional Treatments
- Why Medical Guidance Matters for Skincare Success
- Your Path to Visible Skin Transformation
- Common Questions About SkinBetter Science Products
What Makes SkinBetter Science Different
Not all skincare products work the same way, even when they claim to fix the same problems. The difference often comes down to who makes them and what’s actually inside the bottle. SkinBetter science was created by dermatologists and plastic surgeons who spent years working in pharmaceutical companies before starting their own skincare line. These aren’t beauty bloggers or celebrities slapping their names on products—they’re actual doctors who understand skin at a medical level. At Beauty & Fly, we carry SkinBetter science because Catherine Curtin knows that medical-grade products deliver the kind of results her patients are looking for.
The Pharmaceutical Difference
When doctors create skincare, they approach it differently than regular beauty brands. They use clinical studies to prove their products actually work, not just marketing claims. Here’s what sets medical-grade skincare apart:
- Higher concentrations of active ingredients that penetrate deeper into your skin
- Formulas tested in actual clinical trials with real before-and-after measurements
- Ingredients that are stable and won’t break down sitting on your bathroom counter
- Quality control standards similar to prescription medications
Why You Can’t Buy It Everywhere
SkinBetter science products are only available through licensed medical professionals like the team at Beauty & Fly. This isn’t about being exclusive—it’s about making sure someone with training helps you pick the right products. Your skin is unique, and what works for your friend might not work for you.
Medical professionals can look at your specific concerns and create a routine that actually makes sense. They also know which products work well together and which ones might cause problems if you mix them wrong.
Medical Grade vs Drugstore Skincare
| Feature | Medical-Grade (SkinBetter science) | Over-the-Counter Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ingredient Strength | Higher concentrations proven effective | Lower concentrations, often minimal |
| Clinical Testing | Backed by published studies | Limited or no clinical data |
| Where to Buy | Only through licensed providers | Any store or online retailer |
| Professional Guidance | Customized recommendations included | Self-selected based on marketing |
| Results Timeline | Visible improvements in weeks | Minimal or slow results |
The bottom line is simple: medical-grade skincare costs more upfront but delivers actual results instead of just nice-smelling lotions. When you’re ready to see real changes in your skin, that’s when products like SkinBetter science start to make sense.
The Core Products That Transform Your Skin
Most people don’t realize that the biggest difference between drugstore skincare and professional-grade products isn’t just the price tag. It’s the concentration of active ingredients and how those ingredients are delivered into your skin. SkinBetter science products are formulated with technology that actually changes how your skin behaves at the cellular level, which is why dermatologists and aesthetic practitioners like Catherine Curtin at Beauty & Fly choose to carry this line. The formulations are designed to work with your skin’s natural processes rather than against them. You’re not just putting something on top of your skin and hoping for the best.
The Core Products That Transform Your Skin
The AlphaRet technology is probably the most talked-about innovation in the SkinBetter lineup. It combines a retinoid with an alpha hydroxy acid in a way that gives you all the benefits of retinol without the typical redness, peeling, and irritation that makes most people quit after two weeks. Your skin gets smoother and firmer, but you can actually stick with the routine because it doesn’t feel like your face is on fire.
- InterFuse treatment serums target specific issues like deep lines around your eyes and rough texture
- Alto Defense Serum uses 19 antioxidants to protect your skin from environmental damage throughout the day
- Even Tone Correcting Serum works on stubborn dark spots and uneven pigmentation that won’t budge with regular products
The Alto Defense Serum deserves special attention because it goes beyond what a basic vitamin C serum can do. While vitamin C is great, it’s just one antioxidant fighting against pollution, UV exposure, and all the other things that age your skin daily. This formula combines multiple antioxidants that work together, kind of like having a whole team protecting your skin instead of just one player.
| Skin Concern | SkinBetter Product | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Fine lines and wrinkles | AlphaRet Overnight Cream | Stimulates collagen without irritation |
| Dark spots and uneven tone | Even Tone Correcting Serum | Reduces melanin production |
| Environmental damage | Alto Defense Serum | 19 antioxidants neutralize free radicals |
| Deep expression lines | InterFuse Treatment Cream | Targets specific areas with concentrated actives |
What makes these products different is that they’re designed to actually change your skin over time, not just make it look better for a few hours. The ingredients penetrate deeper and stay active longer, which means you’re getting real results instead of temporary improvements.
Building Your Results Driven Routine
The order you apply your skincare products matters more than most people think. You can have the best products in the world, but if you’re layering them wrong, you’re basically wasting your money and time. The general rule is to go from thinnest to thickest consistency, but with SkinBetter science products, there’s a bit more strategy involved. Your morning routine should focus on protection since you’re about to face UV rays, pollution, and everything else the day throws at you. Your evening routine is when the real repair work happens because your skin cells regenerate faster while you sleep.
Building Your Results-Driven Routine
Morning routine at Beauty & Fly typically starts with a gentle cleanser, followed by the Alto Defense Serum for antioxidant protection. Then you’d apply any treatment serums for specific concerns, and finish with a moisturizer and sunscreen. The Alto Defense works best when it’s the first thing on clean skin because those antioxidants need direct contact to do their job properly.
- Cleanse your face with lukewarm water
- Apply Alto Defense Serum while skin is still slightly damp
- Layer on any targeted treatment serums
- Seal everything with moisturizer
- Always finish with broad-spectrum SPF
Evening routines are where you bring in the heavier hitters like AlphaRet. Your skin is more receptive to active ingredients at night, and you don’t have to worry about sun sensitivity. Start with the same cleansing step, then apply your treatment serums. AlphaRet should be the last step before bed because it works best when nothing interferes with its absorption.
The biggest mistake people make is starting too strong too fast. Even though SkinBetter products are formulated to be gentler, your skin still needs time to adjust to powerful actives. Begin by using AlphaRet every third night for the first two weeks, then every other night, then nightly as your skin builds tolerance. Most people start seeing visible changes around the six to eight week mark, but the improvements continue for months as your skin continues to renew itself.
Pairing SkinBetter Products with Professional Treatments
Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough in the aesthetic world. The treatments you get at a medical spa like Beauty & Fly work better and last longer when you’re using the right products at home. It’s not just about maintaining results between appointments. The right skincare actually prepares your skin to respond better to procedures and helps it heal faster afterward. Catherine Curtin has seen this connection firsthand over her 18 years in aesthetic medicine, which is why she’s particular about the products she recommends alongside treatments.
Pre-treatment preparation can make a significant difference in how your skin responds to procedures. Using products with AlphaRet technology for a few weeks before microneedling or laser treatments helps your skin cells turn over faster, which means you’re working with healthier tissue. The results tend to be more dramatic because you’re not fighting through layers of damaged cells to get to the good stuff underneath.
- Start SkinBetter products 2-4 weeks before scheduled treatments
- Discontinue retinoids 3-5 days before aggressive procedures
- Use Alto Defense Serum consistently to strengthen skin barrier
- Even Tone Correcting Serum enhances pigment-focused treatments
After treatments like the NOUVAderm laser or VI Peel at Beauty & Fly, your skin is in a heightened state of renewal. This is actually the perfect time to introduce treatment serums because your skin is more receptive to active ingredients. Catherine typically recommends a specific post-treatment protocol that includes gentle SkinBetter products to support healing while maximizing the improvements you just paid for.
The combination of microneedling with PRP and SkinBetter products is particularly effective because you’re stimulating collagen production from both directions. The microneedling creates controlled injury that triggers your skin’s repair response, while the topical products provide the building blocks your skin needs to create better quality collagen. Patients who follow this combined approach tend to see improvements that last longer and look more natural than either treatment alone.
Why Medical Guidance Matters for Skincare Success
Most people pick skincare products the same way they choose shampoo—by reading labels and hoping for the best. But your skin is far more complex than your hair, and what works for someone else might actually make your concerns worse. Professional skin analysis can reveal underlying issues like barrier damage or early signs of aging that you’d never spot in your bathroom mirror. At Beauty & Fly, Catherine Curtin uses her 18 years of aesthetic medicine experience to identify these hidden concerns before they become visible problems.
The DIY Approach vs Professional Guidance
Here’s what happens when you go it alone versus working with a medical professional:
| DIY Skincare Selection | Professional-Guided Approach |
|---|---|
| Guessing based on marketing claims | Customized analysis of your specific skin type and concerns |
| Risk of product conflicts causing irritation | Carefully selected products that work together safely |
| Trial and error wastes time and money | Targeted solutions that deliver faster results |
| No adjustment when skin changes | Ongoing monitoring and protocol updates |
The difference becomes obvious when you consider how many active ingredients can interact badly. Mixing the wrong retinoid with certain acids can leave your skin red and peeling for weeks.
How Personalized Protocols Work
Beauty & Fly creates custom SkinBetter science routines based on several factors that most people never consider. Catherine evaluates your skin during a one-on-one consultation, taking time to understand your lifestyle, budget, and realistic goals. This isn’t a quick sales pitch—it’s a detailed conversation about what your skin actually needs.
The personalized approach includes:
- Detailed assessment of skin texture, tone, and underlying conditions
- Identification of potential sensitivities before they cause problems
- Strategic layering of products for maximum absorption and effectiveness
- Clear instructions on when and how to use each product
- Follow-up adjustments as your skin responds and improves
Medical-grade products like SkinBetter science contain higher concentrations of active ingredients than what you’ll find at department stores. That potency means better results, but it also means you need expert guidance to avoid overdoing it. Catherine’s experience helps clients get the benefits without the irritation that often comes from using professional products incorrectly.
Your Path to Visible Skin Transformation
The difference between skincare that works and skincare that sits on your bathroom shelf comes down to two things: proven formulations and knowing how to use them. SkinBetter science takes the guesswork out of the first part with products backed by clinical research and real results. But even the best products need the right application and timing to deliver what they promise.
That’s where professional guidance makes all the difference. At Beauty & Fly, we help you figure out which products actually match your skin’s needs and how to layer them properly. Most people don’t realize they’re using the wrong concentration or applying products in an order that cancels out their benefits.
The key to seeing real improvements is consistency paired with the right routine. SkinBetter science products work when you use them correctly over time, not as a quick fix. We’ve seen clients struggle for months with products that weren’t right for their skin type, then finally see changes within weeks once they switched to a personalized approach.
You can find SkinBetter science at both our Bronxville and Bridgehampton locations, and Catherine can walk you through exactly what your skin needs during a consultation. Sometimes the smallest adjustment in your routine creates the biggest shift in results.
Still have questions about which products might work for your specific concerns? Let’s break down some of the most common ones.
Common Questions About SkinBetter Science Products
Choosing the right skincare line can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re investing in medical-grade products. Here are answers to the most common questions we hear from clients about SkinBetter science products at Beauty & Fly.
How long before I see results from SkinBetter science products?
Most clients notice visible improvements within 4 to 6 weeks of consistent use, though some products like the AlphaRet line may show subtle changes even sooner. Your skin needs time to respond to active ingredients and complete its natural renewal cycle. For best results, stick with your routine for at least 8 to 12 weeks before deciding if a product is working for you.
Can I use SkinBetter science products if I have sensitive skin?
Yes, many SkinBetter science formulations are designed to be effective yet gentle enough for sensitive skin types. The brand uses advanced delivery systems that minimize irritation while still delivering powerful active ingredients. Catherine Curtin can help you select products that match your skin’s tolerance level and gradually introduce stronger formulations as your skin builds resilience.
What makes SkinBetter science different from other medical-grade skincare brands?
SkinBetter science stands out because of its focus on innovative ingredient combinations and patented technologies that you won’t find in typical drugstore or even many professional lines. The brand invests heavily in clinical research and testing, which means each product is backed by real data showing measurable improvements. Plus, these products are only available through licensed medical professionals, ensuring you’re getting authentic formulations with proper guidance on how to use them.
Can I purchase SkinBetter science products without a consultation?
While some practices may allow direct purchases, at Beauty & Fly we recommend at least a brief consultation to ensure you’re selecting the right products for your specific concerns. Catherine takes time to assess your skin type, current routine, and goals so you don’t waste money on products that won’t work for you. This personalized approach is what sets medical-grade skincare apart from over-the-counter options.
How do I get started with SkinBetter science products at Beauty & Fly?
Getting started is simple. You can book a consultation at either our Bronxville or Bridgehampton location through our online booking system. During your visit, Catherine will evaluate your skin and create a customized product regimen that fits your budget and lifestyle. Many clients combine SkinBetter science products with in-office treatments like Microneedling or NOUVAderm laser for even better results.

