John Denver—may he rest in peace—once crooned about sunshine on his shoulders, but he skipped the part about fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots on his face. In Durango, our cheeks, chins, lips, and noses bask in more than 300 days of this sunshine. This warmth is addictive, a glorious, devious drug that dapples our population of 19,000 tan, happy people. We look good. We feel good. And also, we need help.
Like our souls, our skin begs us for restoration and downtime. Winter’s shorter days and lower-angled light offer an opportunity to step out of the rays and into Aesthetics and Wellness of Durango, a medical spa in Durango’s North Main District. Owner and practitioner Sarah Packard-Normand created the Glow Up package to manage the not-so-celebrated aspects of solar energy.
The Glow Up features two brief in-office treatments scheduled two weeks apart. The first appointment is a chemical peel, a painless procedure that strips your skin of toxins and buildup. Practitioner Katie Bates will patiently explain what’s happening so there are no surprises. Yes, your face will be orange, like tanning-bed-goggle-face orange, for the four hours following your treatment. On day two, you’ll probably be ruddy, while days three through five are where the magic molting happens. It’s the opposite of glamorous. 
All great works of art require messes to get to the final masterpiece. Be patient. Let that old skin go. And get excited for step two of the Glow Up: it’s laser time! This appointment is scheduled at least two weeks after your chemical peel. Bring your game face for this one because lasers are, after all, lasers. The zaps feel like tiny rubber bands snapping tiny slaps, but it’s over in half an hour. The numbing cream eases the sting, while the image reflecting in the mirror might make you cringe. But do not worry; the best is yet to come.
To experience the full benefits requires a bit of bookend TLC for your skin. Slather on sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat the week before, the two weeks between, and the week after your final treatment. A week to two weeks after the lasers, your skin thanks you with a renewed visage, a fresh canvas to boost your confidence and energy. You’ll look in the mirror and think, wow, there I am! All glowed up with everywhere to go. 
“Our goal is your happiness,” Packard-Normand said. “It’s such an honor to deliver that goal with every patient and see their confidence increase when they have better skin and feel rejuvenated.”
Packard-Normand and Bates work alongside Nurse Practitioner Lorraine Roche, Medical Director Kelsey Hocker, and Patient Coordinator Amy Johnstone to ensure you have all you need to love the skin you were born with. Book a free 30-minute consultation to receive a customized plan.
Aesthetics also offers skin resurfacing, relaxing facials, injectables, and more advanced services, including two new lasers to address deeper, more persistent skin challenges. The Tri Lift Skin Tightening targets the Glamour Facial Muscles, giving you a naturally lifted look, while the AcuPulse CO2 Resurfacing Laser is the gold standard in CO2 laser treatments. Meanwhile, Wellness incorporates medical weight loss options and Hormone Replacement Therapy.
“The Hormone Replacement Therapy has been a game changer,” Packard-Normand said. “These treatments are reviving relationships. The wife will come in first because she’s perimenopausal, and six weeks later, her husband wants what she’s having. We joke that we’re making Durango horny again.”
Aesthetics and Wellness opened at 3057 Main Avenue in 2022 and serves as the heart of a health-based hub for men and women aged 20+. Clients can also book treatments at neighboring businesses Highland Nails, Wild Rose Aesthetics, or Pamela Hatten Med Spa.
Now, back to basking in that beautiful warmth. Just don’t forget the sunscreen.
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Bonus quote…
“I love feeling my best self and helping others feel their best self,” Normand-Packard said. “It’s a very rewarding industry. People continue to age and feel better because of what we offer. Our approach is less is more.”
