Medical-Grade Skin Care in the Quad Cities
Take-home skin care recommended by your aesthetician, sold in-clinic, and chosen for your actual skin. The stuff that works between facials. The stuff that protects everything we did in the treatment room.
5.0 on Google · 100+ reviews · Physician-led · Bettendorf, IA
What Is Medical-Grade Skin Care?
Medical-grade (or "professional") skin care is sold through licensed aestheticians and medical providers. The active ingredients are at higher concentrations than what you'll find on a drugstore shelf, the formulas are tested for efficacy (not just safety), and the products penetrate deeper than retail brands can.
The difference is real. The right medical-grade retinoid will outperform any "anti-aging cream" you'll find at the mall. The right vitamin C will actually brighten your skin instead of just sitting on it. The right sunscreen will protect what you're paying to fix.
At Mint, every product on our shelves is hand-selected by Lori Caruso, our aesthetician. Nothing is for sale because a sales rep pushed it.
You've Spent a Lot on Skin Care That Doesn't Work
The beauty industry is full of products that promise everything and deliver nothing. You've probably tried at least five "anti-aging serums" that did absolutely nothing for your skin.
You've probably wasted money on products that smelled great but had no active ingredients at meaningful concentrations.
The fix isn't more products. It's the right ones, used consistently, at the strength your skin actually needs.
How We Recommend
Skin Care at Mint
Step one | Book a skin consult, or come in for a facial
Your aesthetician evaluates your skin and identifies what's working in your current routine and what isn't.
Step two | Get a personalized routine
We don't believe in 12-step routines. Most patients do best with 4 to 6 well-chosen products: cleanser, antioxidant serum (usually vitamin C), retinoid, moisturizer, and SPF.
Step three | Pick up what you need in-clinic
Or shop the simpler OTC options like cleansers and moisturizers without a consult.
Who Medical-Grade Skin Care Is For
Mint skin care is for adults who:
Want results, not pretty packaging
Are tired of buying products that don't move the needle
Are doing facials, microneedling, or peels and want to extend the results
Have specific skin concerns (acne, melasma, sensitivity, anti-aging)
Don't want to spend an hour every morning
Want to actually wear sunscreen because we recommend one they'll like
Want a provider who will tell them honestly when their current routine is fine
What's Included
Foundational categories:
Cleansers (gentle, exfoliating, acne-clearing)
Antioxidant serums (vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid)
Retinoids (prescription-strength tretinoin, gentler retinols for new users)
Moisturizers (hydrating, barrier-repairing, anti-aging)
Sunscreens (mineral, chemical, tinted)
Eye creams
Targeted treatments (brightening serums, acne spot treatments, peptide creams)
Pricing
Most patients spend $80 to $200 building out a complete routine. Individual products vary in price based on active ingredients and concentration.
Brands available
Selected medical-grade lines hand-picked by our experts and rotated based on what's producing the best results for our patients.
What to Expect
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For your skin consult
30 minutes with Lori (no appointment fee if you're getting a facial, otherwise a small consult fee)
Skin analysis and review of your current routine
Specific product recommendations with reasons why
Take-home plan you can use to shop in-clinic
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For your skin routine
Most patients do best with 4 to 6 products total
Morning routine: cleanser, vitamin C, moisturizer, SPF
Evening routine: cleanser, retinoid (start 2 to 3 nights/week), moisturizer
Adjustments made every 3 to 6 months based on how your skin responds
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Real results over time
2 to 4 weeks: skin texture and tone start improving
8 to 12 weeks: noticeable changes in fine lines, pigmentation, and overall brightness
6 months and beyond: the compounding results that justify the investment
What Our Patients Actually Say
Skin Care Curated By A Real Aesthetician, Not a Sales Rep
Every product on our shelves is hand-picked by Lori Caruso, our licensed aesthetician. Lori doesn't carry products because a brand rep sold them in. She carries products because they actually work for our patients.
Mint is led by Dr. Sanjay Sundar, MD (Medical Director) and Rachel Sundar, RN (Founder), with Nurse Practitioner Nikki Goff, DNP, on the clinical team. When a patient's skin concerns overlap with hormonal, nutritional, or systemic issues (which is often the case with adult acne, melasma, and stubborn pigmentation), our team coordinates skin care with hormone optimization, supplements, and wellness protocols.
Ready to Use Skin Care That Actually Works?
Book a skin consult or stop by to shop our shelves.
More About Medical-Grade Skin Care at Mint
Mint Aesthetics + Wellness carries a curated selection of medical-grade skin care products at our Bettendorf, Iowa clinic. Medical-grade skin care is sold exclusively through licensed aestheticians and medical providers, contains higher concentrations of active ingredients than retail products, and is tested for efficacy at delivering measurable skin results.
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Mint's skin care selection covers cleansers, antioxidant serums (vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid combinations), retinoids (from gentle starter retinols to prescription-strength tretinoin), moisturizers, sunscreens (mineral and chemical), eye creams, and targeted treatments for hyperpigmentation, acne, and aging. Pricing ranges from $25 to $300 per product, with most patients building a complete routine in the $80 to $200 range.
Every product carried at Mint is selected personally by Lori Caruso, the clinic's licensed aesthetician and skin care lead. Products are chosen based on demonstrated results for Mint patients across a range of skin types, concerns, and goals. Brand rotation is updated regularly based on patient outcomes.
Mint offers skin consultations for personalized routine recommendations, with a skin assessment included at no extra charge with any facial booking. The clinical team coordinates skin care recommendations with the broader wellness program when applicable, addressing systemic contributors to common skin issues like adult acne, melasma, sensitive skin, and stubborn pigmentation. Hormonal contributors, in particular, are often a missing piece of a stalled skin care routine.
Mint is led by Dr. Sanjay Sundar, MD (Medical Director) and Rachel Sundar, RN (Founder), with Nurse Practitioner Nikki Goff, DNP. The clinic serves Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, Eldridge, LeClaire, Walcott, Silvis, Colona, Milan, Muscatine, Clinton, Iowa City, Aledo, Cambridge, Kewanee, Geneseo, and surrounding Quad Cities communities. Skin care products are sold in-clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Medical-grade skin care is sold through licensed providers, uses higher concentrations of active ingredients than retail products, and is formulated to penetrate the skin's barrier and produce measurable changes. Retail products are often diluted to meet shelf-life and safety regulations for general consumer use.
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Authentic medical-grade brands restrict distribution to licensed providers. Products listed for sale on Amazon or third-party retailers are often counterfeit, expired, or repackaged from older batches. We buy direct from the manufacturer.
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Most patients do best with 4 to 6 products total. Cleanser, antioxidant serum (vitamin C), retinoid, moisturizer, and SPF. Sometimes a targeted treatment. We don't believe in 12-step routines.
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Often yes, but not always. A great cleanser and a great moisturizer can be relatively affordable. Where the investment matters most is in your retinoid, vitamin C, and sunscreen. We'll tell you honestly which of your existing products are fine and which ones are worth upgrading.
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No. Skin care is available to anyone, member or not. Personalized recommendations require a quick skin consult or facial.
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Some products produce noticeable changes in 2 to 4 weeks. The bigger results (fine lines, pigmentation, overall skin quality) build over 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use.
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Most products are stocked for in-clinic pickup. Some can be shipped on request.
Related Services
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Facials, Dermaplane + Chemical Peels
In-clinic treatments that your home care supports and extends.
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Microneedling
Texture and tone work that pairs well with neuromodulators.
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Pharmaceutical-Grade Supplements
Internal support for the skin work you're doing externally.