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The Who What Wear Podcast
Celebrity Aesthetic Provider Vanessa Lee Shares the Skin and Bodycare Treatments Worth Trying in 2026
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- [00:00]
Vanessa Lee
Foreign.
- [00:11]
Podcast Host (Narrator)
Welcome to the who what Wear? Podcast, your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors and tastemakers who are shaping the ever evolving world of fashion. I'm who what Wears Co Founder and Chief Content Officer Hilary Kerr and today on the podcast I'm joined by Vanessa Lee, who is a celebrity medical aesthet provider and the founder of the Beauty Concept bar the Things We Do. Vanessa is one of the most highly sought after aesthetic providers in Hollywood and for good reason. She's one of the few who puts natural outcomes at the forefront of her services. Vanessa is incredibly knowledgeable about every treatment under the sun, so I was eager to have her join the POD and give us the intel on the most efficacious science backed services to try in 2026. Plus she shares her tangible fail proof tips to improve your skincare routine, post holidays and all year long.
- [01:13]
Hilary Kerr
It's all coming up on who what Where. Vanessa, I'm so excited that you're here. Welcome to the pod.
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Vanessa Lee
I'm so, so happy to be here. Thank you for having me.
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Hilary Kerr
Truly my pleasure. Okay, so full disclosure, I am deeply familiar with your work and a patron of your business, the Things We Do. But for anyone who is not a client like myself, can you share a little bit about how you got your start in beauty and skincare and really what your expertise is?
- [01:52]
Vanessa Lee
Yes, totally. Okay, so I'm Filipino American, first generation and my mom was like, you want to go to school for art? And I was like, yes. And she was like, wrong answer. We're going to nursing school. And I was like, you know what, let's just do this. I can do art on the side and maybe after like a year or two I can ditch the nursing thing and go full time with writing and creating and all of that stuff. I was also always the girl in junior high and high school to do everyone's hair and makeup for all the dances and I loved that part so, so much. Just like being in a room filled with girls and getting ready and the conversations and all of that. And I knew earlier on that my superpower was helping women feel confident and feel good about themselves. So ended up doing the nursing route. Was working at a plastic surgery office when I first started, but was working in their minimally invasive wing. This was back in 2008, 2009, where the business that it is now is not what it was back then. Our industry, minimally invasive aesthetics has really only been around for about 20, 25 years and I've been in it for about 17 years. So everything was just starting to happen, and it was so exciting. And I just started at a place where they were like, listen, we can pay you really cheap because you have no experience. We're going to teach you a bunch of things. Some of it was really awesome. Some of it was kind of scary. And as soon as I had my legs underneath me, I was like, you know what? I'm going to start saying no to some of these things because I really want to make sure that at the heart of things, I am a patient advocate. And that's what we learn in nursing school is, you know, if you're seeing that a doctor has put in an order that maybe doesn't align with the symptoms that you're seeing with this patient you've been spending so much time with, you've got to have a conversation with that doctor and just be like, this is what I think we should do. Instead, what do you think about it? And collaborate with your team. So working in plastic surgery was really, really interesting, but also was a time where the housewife shows were really taking off and I was working in Newport beach. And it was a very specific aesthetic that I was constantly surrounded with. And I was like, I don't know if this is what I meant when I wanted to make women feel more confident. So I started to really understand that I needed to create something else with my patients. And I wasn't sure what that was yet. So I started working in dermatology instead of plastic surgery. After a couple of years of that, I found that it was the same thing. I also was told by one of my bosses, you should speak to women like they are, are extremely old and ugly, and you should let them know that they need all of these different things that we offer and tell them about all the packages and let them know if they do it today, we'll give them special pricing. And if they walk out, then, you know, poo poo for them. They get to just walk around looking old and ugly and really harp on those things. Immediately I was like, am I going to leave this industry completely? Because now I've been to like four or five different offices and it's the same thing over and over. When in interviewing process, it was like, we're here to help people, we're here to take care of people, and it's a great company. And then at around 10 years, I had become known as kind of the black sheep. Wherever I went, like, people were hiring me because they were like, hey, she's got this huge following as far as, like, patient clientele, but she's a pain in the ass. She always says no to patients. She's talking about skincare and taking up so much of the injection time. And people were just hiring me, I think for the clout and IG and social and stuff like that. But they didn't enjoy working with me, which is fine. I'm an Aquarius. I don't really care. I just want to do a good job and fulfill a purpose. And I felt really good taking care of patients the way that I felt like I was meant to, and how I would want to be taken care of, by the way, and how I would want my mom and cousins and best friends to be taken care of. So after 10 years, there is one incident where I had had it. A woman came in with her 15 year old daughter and she said, I would like you to do a consultation for my daughter. She wants lip injections. And we're doing this for her 16th birthday that's coming up and I'm her mother, so I can go ahead and sign off. So everything's fine. We've talked about this. And I was like, your face is still changing. You're a baby. Like, you're beautiful. And like, let's not do this, let's hold off on it. And the mom had a huge problem with me and so I was like, I need to talk to my boss. So it was a dermatologist I was working for at the time and I was like, hey, can you just have my back on this for a second? And she was like, the mom signing off, it's legal, just do it. And I was like, I'm done, this is it. And so I ended up leaving very shortly after. And six months later, I opened up the things we do in 2018. So knew nothing about business. But right after that conversation, went to my local bank and I asked for a humongous loan. And they were like, you're gonna get a tiny fraction of that. And I was like, great, thank you. And typically in dermatology practices, in med spa practices, cosmetic derma, all of that stuff, it takes usually three to five years to get out of the red to become profitable. And we hit that in our first year. It takes usually years to hit a million in revenue for smaller practices. And we hit 3.2 million within our first year in business. And it was because we started off by saying to patients, hey, we're only going to do what serves you and whatever doesn't serve you, whatever your requests are, sorry, but we are going to kindly reject that. And just guide you into a place that is true to your features. And what I want to do is honor your favorite characteristics and make you feel good about yourself and make sure that your skin is glowing and as healthy as possible. And it served us really well. So now we've been in business for over six years, and we have five locations, and we're opening up three this year. And we're just so excited.
- [07:55]
Hilary Kerr
That is amazing on so many levels. And I know that the world of cosmetics in general, like, it's a wild west. You really have to pay attention to who you're seeing, what their point of view is, and then align yourself with the right practice. So, yeah, one of the things that I love about your work so much and everything that happens at the things we do is the fact that you place natural beauty. It's not about, like, augmenting to distortion. It's about a really thoughtful, balanced, natural look. How did you develop that philosophy? Especially considering that when you started and in the first decade plus of your career, people were asking for, and I'm sure people still do ask for things that are outside of that aesthetic.
- [08:44]
Vanessa Lee
Yeah. So I think my North Star in all of that was probably ever since I was younger, my mother has always hyped me up. One thing that she has, has always taught me is that if people are making you feel a certain way about how you look and you feel like you need to change yourself to fit into something for somebody else, you're losing your way. And that's not it. She'd be like, oh, they're just jealous of you. There's nothing wrong with you. And she would just tell me, like, people love these features. People want this stuff, and you have it. Just focus on your studies, focus on your purpose. You're good. And so as I came into my womanhood, when I would see some of my friends or some of my peers lose themselves in magazines or wanting to look like other people, I found myself being like, no, baby, we're good. Do you understand that? Like, we've got personality, we're cute. We're fulfilling our hotness journey over time. We're living our lives like we're good. So I did always want to transfer that energy to my patients in patient care. So what I look like is a reflection of how I feel on the inside. And that really, to me, is dependent on the emotions I most display. It's not about how big my lips are or how much I can change the angle of my jawline. It's how can I honor my Round face features that I get from my grandma, my aunts, you know, all of that. But also at the same time, if I'm looking tired or sad and angry and I don't feel that way, that's the stuff that I want to address for myself and for my patients.
- [10:18]
Hilary Kerr
That makes sense.
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Vanessa Lee
I like that.
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Hilary Kerr
So obviously there are lots of services that our audience is probably familiar with like micro needling and peels, but you also have a range of services that are a bit more niche. And also one of the things I love is that you very thoughtfully add to the roster as the technology and science and results are coming through. So talk to me about some of the newer market offerings or some of the things that you really believe in that maybe are not as widespread that you are an early adopter for.
- [10:51]
Vanessa Lee
Yeah. So 2018, when we opened, our number one sought after treatment was prfm, which stands for platelet, which we love. Platelet rich fibrin matrix, also known as PRFM is a growth factor and the next generation treatment of what we can do with prp. By the way, it's offered at the same price, PRP and PRFM at our office and we have not done a single PRP treatment since we've opened because it's a no brainer. You get so much more of the growth factor in your skin. It helps thicken and rejuvenate the skin without adding any kind of like unwanted fullness or shaping of the face. That's not what we're going for. We're going for skin health. So it really helps address crepey skin that's starting to pop up in the under eye area. It's addressing the perioral ritids or like those smoker lines. And I like to take a tiny stamper and gently micro stamp it into the skin with micro needles. I like to inject it all over my face and I also like to use it post microneedling radio frequency and post picosure treatment. It's just a beautiful skin growth factor that's autologous. So it's coming from your own system.
- [12:00]
Hilary Kerr
Got it. Is there anything else that you are really excited about?
- [12:05]
Vanessa Lee
Oh my gosh, there are so many things. There are threads also. I love threads so much and they get a wonky reputation in our industry and I completely understand why. So with polydioxinone threads, PDO threads, there are collagen building threads and there are facial lifting threads that actually lift the tissues in the face where fat pockets are starting to move downwards and are displaced. We can go ahead and lift those up. So when Threads debuted here in the US we had these companies selling threads to us, and it was like the blind leading the blind. Even if it was facial plastic surgeons who were teaching these techniques, we were not learning it from people who had mastered these techniques for 10, 15 years before us. And that was the problem. There's a much higher learning curve with threads than there is with filler and Botox. With threads, you have to make sure that you have the right threads, the right measurement of threads, and the right thickness of threads and the right barbs of threads because there's so many different combinations. So there's a lot more variation in variables that you have to control in order to get a great result. That being said, I was like, I want my gels lifted without surgery, but I'm surely not going to go to these people who are fucking everybody up. So what I'm going to do is get a training from a South Korean plastic surgeon just to make sure that we're learning from who has just nailed it and mastered it for decades before us. So I did that, and our staff really just became known as like the kids who do it right on the block when it comes to threads. So I always love when I see these green screen videos of aesthetic practitioners and different doctors being like, I think they have had a facelift and they've probably had xyz. And I'm like, oh, my God, these are my patients, first of all. And they have not had a facelift. And so there's so many more people that I think have benefited from caring and careful techniques with threads from the things we do. So we love the threads so much. I was just threaded a couple months ago. Love my lift.
- [14:06]
Hilary Kerr
Okay, so I know that you're not like trend oriented, but at the same time you really are interested in like new technology and new opportunities. So talk to me about some of the shifts that you've seen both in what patients want and also in like newness for the practice that you are excited about now in 2026.
- [14:28]
Vanessa Lee
Okay, so I'm going to run it back. I love a trend, but I very rarely fall for things that don't work. I will try it, but here's what I won't do for patients. I won't do something that's completely new to market and is lacking scientific evidence and just be like, yeah, I heard this is really great. Let's put it in your face. That's happening a lot right now in our industry.
- [14:49]
Hilary Kerr
Still the wild west.
- [14:50]
Vanessa Lee
Oh my God, it's still the Wild West. And now that people are really into the conversation of biostimulators and bioregenerative treatments, they're just like, this is from an animal. This is from an umbilical cord. We can put all of this stuff in your face. Sure. We can inject it, even if on the syringe it says do not inject. It's the craziest place to be. Here's what patients are asking for, though. This year, patients are realizing that they have, in the past, focused so much on injectables and have not paid attention to what their skin actually needs on their face and their neck. And they're like, oh, my God. I might have a tighter face shape, or I might have the higher cheekbones that I wanted, but also, like, all of the sun damage over the years. We live in Southern California, right? So even if you're wearing sunscreen as much as possible, we're getting that sun. We're at the beach. We're outside with our kids.
- [15:40]
Hilary Kerr
We're driving our cars.
- [15:42]
Vanessa Lee
We're driving our cars for five hours a day. So the sun damage, the brown spots, the unevenness in the skin tone, the thinning of the skin, the drying out of the skin, the rosacea that's popping up because of the sun damage in our diets, the stress acne, the anxiety acne, all of that stuff. So that's what we've been paying attention to. So we've brought on the Picosure Pro laser. So In March of 2025, I was in Korea. I was actually there for education. So I had a mini fellowship out there with two plastic surgeons. And of course, my one free day, I was like, fuck me up, fam. I'm gonna do a million treatments while I'm out here. Let's do all the things, baby. So I show up at this really prestigious clinic, and they were like, okay, so tell us what your concerns are. Is it, you know, facial sagging? Is it this or that? And I was like, no, I've taken care of all of those things. The one thing I cannot master as a woman with skin of color and someone who is out in the world and driving, I need to get rid of this sun damage. And I've tried chemical peels. I've tried everything. I've done cosmelan and, like, I can't peel for three weeks twice a year. So please tell me your best treatments for getting rid of sun damage now. And they were like, okay, well, you want to do the Picosure Pro then? And I was like, baby, give me 14. Like, yeah, let's do it. So ended up doing the pico, and I was like, I don't know. This is not hurting.
- [17:06]
Hilary Kerr
You know, I was like, so therefore, it can't possibly be working.
- [17:10]
Vanessa Lee
Yeah. I was like, I'm not in pain. I don't think this is going to work. But, you know, doing it for the plot, like, great experience, I guess. After one treatment, I was like, holy moly bajoli. After two weeks, I saw a clearance of brown spots that I had tried getting rid of for over a decade. And I was like, I don't understand. I didn't have any peeling. I didn't have any of this stuff. So how Picosure works is it uses an acoustic sound wave that hits the skin at a trillionth of a second, and it breaks apart any kind of skin cells that are unhealthy and usually hyperpigmented cells. Right. If you have natural freckles, those may lighten a bit, but they're going to stay. That's a part of you. It's a healthy cell. If you have sun damage on top of those freckles, that is hyperpigmentation and unhealthy. Now, your macrophages from your lymphatic system, it's these cells that are sent from your immune system are going to internally attack and eat those old hyperpigmentation, and you are going to release it through your lymphatic system. So it all happens internally. Nothing is happening to the surface of the skin. It is so amazing. And I was like, hold on. Why is this not the most famous laser in my home country of the US of 8? And I realized in speaking to the manufacturer, Cynosure, it is incredibly expensive of a machine. In fact, they don't even love to talk about it that much because one of the reps was telling me, we actually have to grow a part of this machine, so we have to farm a part of this crystal that goes in. It is not super lucrative for us. It's really expensive for us to make these machines, and it's expensive for everyone to buy them. And I was like, I don't care. It's the best. So we ended up buying one three weeks after I got back because I was like, this is amazing. And now all of our locations are going to have them. Paid them off almost immediately because patients were like, listen, we don't want to go through the downtime of all of the flaking and CO2 stuff and all the chemical peel stuff. We want to Be able to like, live our lives and get to it. And also it's a safe laser for all skin types. So Fitzpatrick Scale 1 through 6, everyone can get this safely.
- [19:14]
Hilary Kerr
That's amazing.
- [19:15]
Vanessa Lee
So it's a beautiful treatment.
- [19:17]
Hilary Kerr
Quick question, does that work for melasma?
- [19:18]
Vanessa Lee
Oh, my gosh. Picosure is FDA approved. It's one of the only lasers in the U.S. i think there's one other for melasma. So it works beautifully for melasma and it's called Picot toning in Korea because it does help tone the skin in two different ways. So toning as far as like, even toning the skin and toning as far as like, you are getting texturally a tightening and softening of the skin so your skin is slightly tighter because of the neocollagenesis that you're getting from it at the same time. And you're also getting this glossy glassiness to the tissue. So it's an all around laser. But it is most famous for how it treats hyperpigmentation and is used for and approved for melasma, which is so difficult to treat.
- [19:59]
Hilary Kerr
Stubborn as hell, that melasma.
- [20:01]
Vanessa Lee
Yes, stubborn. Also, there's another treatment I did out in Korea called Onda. So I was out there and they're like, is there anything that you want to reduce fat or tighten skin? Because I was only talking about face in my consultation and I was like, well, I'm getting a tummy tuck and a breast lift later on this year, so let's talk about arms, I guess. And she was like, yeah, we do this treatment and you're gonna. I hated this too. They were like, it's Barbie arms. I was like, what? What's happening with the Barbie arms? And then like, am I gonna turn it to like a tiny plastic? And they're like, it's fat reduction and skin tightening simultaneously with this machine. And I was like, how much does it hurt? It's like always about the pain for me. And they were like, oh, it's very comfortable. So went and had the treatment done. It took about 30 minutes, no numbing. They put this beautiful jojoba oil on the back of my arms because that's where I was really holding on to some fullness even after my 40 pound weight loss journey. Shout out, Manjaro. A dermatologist started wanding the Onda machine over the area that we put the oil on. And he was like, okay, and you're done. There was a warming and heating sensation to the point where it got a little too hot. Is when we were done already. So it never was too much for me or overwhelming with discomfort. And he was like, yeah, in about a week to two weeks, you're going to start seeing the tightening and you'll start seeing up to around 8 to 12 weeks slimming in your arms. Onda technology is a nanowave technology where this same technology has been used in physical. Physical therapy. Diathermy is what it's called since the 1940s. And also Onda is created by. You're gonna love this so much. Deca in Italy. And I looked up the CEO. I was like, I gotta get in touch with this company. And I saw all of these photos pop in with him in the Pope rest in peace. So I reached out to him and I was like, I just gotta tell you, I loved my results so much, and I just wanna say kudos to you. How did you guys come up with this? Can you put me in touch with a scientist? And also, what's with all the Pope photos? And he goes, oh, our lasers are used to preserve some of the art in the Vatican. And so the Pope, just to say thank you, let me into the headquarters. And I was like, well, look at that. So these Barbie arms are also related to Vatican art. That's crazy. I was like, I love this machine. I would love to purchase as soon as you guys have this available. And he was like, actually, would you do us the honors of being the first to debut it? And I was like, stop it, Paolo. Yes, 100%. So we are going to be the first in the US it is now FDA approved onto Cool Waves. And I'm gonna be putting that puppy back on my arms for one more session. And then I've got some other areas to just kind of tighten up. It's beautiful.
- [22:41]
Hilary Kerr
Oh, my gosh.
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Vanessa Lee
I love that.
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Hilary Kerr
That's so exciting. And I'm always interested in, like, if it doesn't hurt, is it really working? Yeah. So the fact that you're, like, within the range of comfort and efficacious is like the dream situation, right?
- [22:55]
Vanessa Lee
Yes. And it works on cellulite. So that is a treatment that we have not had successfully in the US We've come out with qwo, the injectables. It caused too much bruising and hyperpigmentation. It was intolerable for people. This treatment is also approved for improving cellulite and also treating the fibrous septae that are holding down that fat. Mesh, basically.
- [23:17]
Podcast Host (Narrator)
Like the mesh, right?
- [23:18]
Vanessa Lee
Yes, yes, yes. It smooths and releases that kind of tension, pulling everything down. The connective tissue releases that and also minimizes the fat that is bulging through that mesh. At the same time, it's tightening skin. So coolsculpting. We knew that it got rid of skin. There was a lot of like weird, wonky adverse events and all of that stuff. But for the people that it worked for, we knew that it was getting rid of fat pockets, but it was not tightening the skin. So there's a lot of these things that we've had here in the US that were like almost. This is truly, for me, revolutionary. I've never been impressed by a body treatment like this.
- [23:53]
Hilary Kerr
This is so exciting. I love all of this. As you look ahead to 2026, are there any things, whether it's from skin care or procedures that you think will gain traction in the new year?
- [24:05]
Vanessa Lee
Yeah, I think we're looking to the east right now in terms of what they're leading with. You know, with everyone going to Korea, with all of the science and innovation, there are a few things ingredient wise that I think exciting. Have you heard of Volupiline?
- [24:21]
Hilary Kerr
Yes, because I'm a nerd.
- [24:23]
Vanessa Lee
Good for you, Hilary. I love a nerd, but tell me.
- [24:26]
Hilary Kerr
More about it because like I have general working knowledge but nothing in depth.
- [24:30]
Vanessa Lee
Okay, so Volupholene is a plant based ingredient that works on adipose proliferation. So what that means is the fat cells that you have in a certain area become slightly more robust and respond to the Volupilin topical that you're placing on. So right now I think there are a couple of companies here in the US that have incorporated Volupiline, but I think we're going to see a lot more of it next year. I also think that we're going to see a lot more of prebiotics and probiotics for skin because we have been trying to acid wash the skin so much for so long and just to.
- [25:05]
Hilary Kerr
Strap the skin barrier in, doing that. Right. Which leads to thousands of other problems.
- [25:09]
Vanessa Lee
Just to strip it and listen, hey, that was what we knew from our dermatologists in the industry and what they were allowed to work with as well, and what we had available. So it's no fault to anyone, but I think things like alpha glucan oligosaccharides, prebiotics for skin that allow the healthy fauna and bacteria be able to flourish. And also things that kill the harmful bacteria are one of those things that are inexpensive and it's accessible to everyone. And we just have to look to different ingredients to protect the barrier as much as possible. And it's only going to become more prolific in our industry because that's how Korea leads also. They have so many, many fatty acids, so many ceramides, so many sprays that just work on, like hydration, protection, plumping the skin. And the attention is not on. Let's use all of these acids with our retinoids and our retinols all at the same time. You know, that's just not the move for them. And I think we're going to learn from our Eastern counterparts, which I'm so excited about.
- [26:12]
Hilary Kerr
Very exciting. So we've just gotten through holiday season, and I think probably a lot of our listeners might have been indulging a little bit more, whether that's in partying a little bit more or out in the sun or skiing where it's really dry. Either way, they're seeing some effects on their skin. What are some of the things that you think people should consider for a skin care reset? What would you recommend?
- [26:39]
Vanessa Lee
Okay, number one is something that is so easy and is not going to cost anyone very much at all. And we can start incorporating today is we have to start having more broths. I personally have one meal as a broth or a soup a day. And that is the Asian way in Chinese medicine. If we look at the diets in China, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, there are so many soups, right. So if you think about the diets out in Asia, close to around 40% is water based. And it's nutritious water, too. It's broths with all of these nutrients, minerals and vitamins from all of the different ingredients. The Western diet here in the US is only around 19% water. We're very dry, and then our weather is dry, and then we're not drinking enough water. We're having tons of caffeine and we're.
- [27:35]
Hilary Kerr
Putting acid on our skin, and then.
- [27:37]
Vanessa Lee
We'Re acid girls and we're doing all of those things. But if we just start hydrating with our meals, okay, just having more soup, having more broths. Every Sunday, I grab a bag of beef bones, which is usually like seven bucks. If you're at Whole Foods, it's 16 bucks. Okay, so bring it to a boil, turn it down to a simmer, two to three hours. Just let that sit. Add what you want in there, salt and pepper, maybe a little rosemary, maybe a little thyme, maybe not. I just put those same things, plus like an onion and a carrot. And then I just drink that all throughout the week. And I have like a congee soup here and there. And I'm telling you, that's something I started incorporating last year since I've been really serious about my Chinese medicine studies. I'm a certified face reader in Eastern medicine. That is something I started to incorporate last year. And my skin has never been less red, more plump. And yes, I've been keeping up still with my PRFM and my VIVACE treatments. I've always done those things. But this year I've seen a major shift in my skin and really it's because I've been eating my skin care and that was trendy on socials. Right. Eat your skincare by like drinking and eating things that are meant for your body and your constitution. So that's one thing. Topically, I think that we need to be using ceramides and fatty acids like how we were discussing earlier. I think that even your cleanser needs to have fatty acids and ceramides in it. Your cleanser should also be a treatment for the winter time because if you're using the stuff that you use in spring and summer, it's just still too stripping. So I would look to the fatty cleanser from the things we do. I would look to Astera, I would look to Anua, I would look to all of these Eastern brands and also very basic brands like, like Cerave has fatty acids and ceramides. But I think that's what we need to be focusing on is back to the basics and the fundamentals. What can we do to make sure that we are nourishing the skin and feeding it and adding to it instead of taking away during these cold months.
- [29:34]
Hilary Kerr
And it's also nice the way that you're looking at it is holistically. So it has to be a cumulative effect. You can't just have like Cheetos all day every day and expect to not eventually see that on your skin as well. Even if you're using really expensive or really efficacious products. Products, right?
- [29:49]
Vanessa Lee
Absolutely. My girlfriend Kat has this company called Ritual Supplements for Everybody. And they have a supplement that's Hyacara and it's meant to internally help your skin become plumper, healthier, smoother, dewier, all of the things. And they do extremely well with this product. And it's because it's not just stuff that we're putting on topically on the skin, it's all the stuff that we're treating on the inside as well.
- [30:17]
Hilary Kerr
And that's one of the things I think like really looking at skincare from that 360 perspective from like what you're eating all the way through to making sure you're putting that sunscreen on because you can't do all this stuff to your skin and then leave it to be unprotected. I see the difference. When I am approaching beauty in that way also just feels better.
- [30:34]
Vanessa Lee
Can I say this also? We are set up for failure in the US when it comes to skincare and getting to know ourselves and our bodies in our health. Health and what's good for us when it comes to rejuvenation, because it is so hard for us to get these very simple diagnostic tests for health that are made to be the normal in a lot of different other countries. So my takeaway from Korea in March, when I went there earlier last year, was I was also able to make a little bit of time one evening to go to a hospital and get a full health scan. I think I got like, like 12 tests done. And it was so affordable and it was so efficient. And I saw my blood work. I got my first mammogram. All of these different things, and that is the norm in Korea, is to know your body markers, know your health, know your body really well. If you ask your typical American what their blood type is, we have no idea. In Korea, everyone knows their blood type because it has so much to do with the foods that you respond well to and what you're naturally allergic to or what your spleen can handle. All of that. When I went to Olive Young in Korea, there's a huge section for supplements, vitamins, and rows and rows of these tiny packets of gelatin. And the gelatin has, like, omega 3s and it has, like, edible PDRN and it has all of these different things. And I was looking at what was inside all of these women's baskets, and it was a bunch of supplements, some skincare, lots of really fun makeup. In the US we are so compartmentalized, we separate all of that stuff. What I'm hoping to do, because at the things we do, we have Dr. Bryant, we have our naturopathic doctor. We refer out to Daphne Lim, our licensed acupuncturist we've been working with since we open, we refer to licensed therapists. If you need emotional support or you're showing signs of body dysmorphia, all of that should not be a weird, fun beauty concept art experience. That should be the norm. And I'm hoping to push that throughout the entire industry this next couple of years.
- [32:35]
Hilary Kerr
Vanessa, I love that. I think that's amazing.
- [32:38]
Vanessa Lee
Thank you. It's a mission.
- [32:40]
Hilary Kerr
So for our listeners, is there Anything else that should be on their radar for 2026? Are there products that they should be excited about? What should be on everyone's radar, whether it's available today or in the near future?
- [32:52]
Vanessa Lee
Yeah. So I think that the things that you might be apprehensive about listeners that you have heard of, but you know that the things we do is really great at things like, like Threads, PRFM skin boosters, Onda Picosure, combining those things with vivace. And just I think what we can take away from the east is the way that they combine treatments so efficiently and so safely. Because here in the US we're scared of a lot of things because when we get one new thing, we go balls to the wall, crazy with it and we overdo it. It's like, well, how can we do the most of this? You know? And what we really specialize in at the things we do is customizing a treatment plan for you that gets your skin to the next level of health and a healthy glow and something that lasts for you. I don't want you to come in 10 times a year. I want you to be able to live your life outside of the clinic fully and wholly and enjoying yourself because your rejuvenation process has worked for you and has longevity and duration to it. So come in. Let us help you get to know yourself a little bit more when it comes to your skin integrity, your skin type, your face shape, the thirds of your face, the things that you love in your face that draw attention to the parts of your lineage that you really love. Those things talk to us about them, we can guide you, and then come and see us maybe a couple of times, and then you're off to live your life.
- [34:19]
Hilary Kerr
I love that. Well, Vanessa, it is always a pleasure to catch up with you. I think your point of view and what you're doing. Everyone who I've worked with at the Things we do is amazing. And I appreciate your time because I know how crazy busy and in demand you are. So thank you for making time for myself and for our who, what, where audience today. It means the world to me.
- [34:42]
Vanessa Lee
Thank you for having me. It's such an honor to spend time with you. You are a pioneer in this industry. I love your journalism, Hillary. I love you. You're amazing. Thank you. Thank you for.
- [34:58]
Podcast Host (Narrator)
A huge thank you to Vanessa Lee, aesthetic provider and the founder of the Things We Do. Make sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode. And while you're there, I'd also be so grateful if you'd rate and review us. If you have any guest suggestions or any other feedback, drop us a line@podcastwhowhatwere.com or you can find us on social at whowhatwere. See you next Wednesday on the who what, Where Podcast. This episode was produced by Hillary Kerr, Summer Hammeris and Natalie Thurman. Our production assistant is Raven Yamamoto, our editor is Ko Takasuki Chernovin. Our audio engineers are at Glen Canyon Audio, and our music is by Jonathan Leahy.