About Skin Ritual

WELCOME TO SKIN RITUAL

We dreamed of offering an all-inclusive and collaborative approach to treatment in a modern, relaxing atmosphere. The journey of creating Skin Ritual began as a space for patients across the Valley, from stay-at-home mamas to small-business entrepreneurs to self-care minded men, and everywhere in between, expecting the best outcomes for all of their aesthetic goals.

Medspa Office | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona

meet the skin ritual team

meet the skin ritual team

At Skin Ritual, we are a team of highly trained aestheticians, laser technicians, and physician assistant injectors who are committed to enhancing beauty through a combination of results-driven aesthetic treatments, natural-looking injectables & medical-grade skincare to help you recapture your confidence.

Matthew Woods, MD, FAAD

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER

Dr. Woods attended the University of Arizona, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Biochemistry as an Honors student. He then attended medical school and performed an Internal Medicine internship at the University of Arizona. He graduated from medical school in the top tier of his class, being inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society.

He was also awarded the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. His scores on the United States Medical Licensing Exam placed him in the top 1% of all physicians. Dr. Woods then went on to complete his Dermatology residency training at Oregon Health & Sciences University and subsequently was accepted into a coveted fellowship in Dermatopathology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Dr. Woods practices general, surgical and aesthetic dermatology at his state-of-the-art office, Desert Sky Dermatology, in Gilbert, Arizona. The success and rapid growth of the practice led to the need for our aesthetic operations to be moved to a separate building. Neighboring Desert Sky Dermatology, Skin Ritual has flourished into one of the leading aesthetic clinics in the Valley.

Dr. Matthew Woods, MD, FAAD - Dermatologist in Gilbert, AZ | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona
Ashley-Conway PA-C | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona

Ashley Conway, PA-C

CLINICAL DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER

Ashley Conway graduated Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and completed her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at A.T. Still University in 2013. Since then, she has been practicing medicine in the field of dermatology. She values hard work, safety, and continuing education. Her love for learning led to the development of her Instagram account, The Derm Girl, where she shares her life as a dermatology physician assistant and aesthetic injector. She loves that as an aesthetic injector she is able to create beauty & symmetry by blending both science and art.

Ashley is a charcuterie board queen, party planner, self-proclaimed interior decorator, and dreamer. The BIGGER the dream, the better. All organized on her vision board, of course! Plus one for every member of the family. She lives in Mesa with her husband and two kids.

Rachel Valverde, LA, CLT

AESTHETIC DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER

AESTHETIC DIRECTOR,
CO-FOUNDER

Rachel graduated from the National Aesthetics Institute of Scottsdale in 2005 and has since been practicing skin care and aesthetics in the Phoenix Valley. She spent four years serving as the lead aesthetician for one of the largest spas in the Southwest. Her desire to provide dramatic results for her patients led her to specialize in aesthetics in a dermatology setting.

Rachel was one of the first aestheticians in the country to establish her aesthetic presence in the Instagram world. Most know her as The Aesthetician, a name that embodies her years of expertise and experience. Her rapid growth as an aesthetician in Gilbert, Arizona opened up the opportunity and necessity for her to grow her aesthetic practice. In partnership with board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Matthew Woods, and dermatology physician assistant, Ashley Conway, she created Skin Ritual — a modern aesthetic clinic that believes there is beauty in ritual and combines dermatology and aesthetics to provide patients with the best care possible.

Rachel-Valverde LA, CLT | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona
Brittany Foster PA-C | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona

Brittany Foster, PA-C

Brittany Foster graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and completed her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at A.T. Still University in 2017. After completing her education, Brittany relocated to Santa Monica, CA to fulfill her dream of working in dermatology under the legendary Dr. Ava Shamban. Brittany’s love for skin led her to create her own Instagram account, the Bossy Derm, which she uses to connect with patients and share her passion for dermatology and aesthetics.

Brittany focuses on full face restoration, with goals of enhancing her patients’ natural and unique beauty. Having practiced both medical dermatology and emergency medicine, Brittany has knowledge in all things skin. She has seen firsthand how the power of aesthetics and dermatology can boost her patient’s confidence and improve their lives. It is Brittany’s mission to make her patients look and feel like the best version of themselves.

In her free time, you will find Brittany on the pickleball courts, eating sushi, reading romance novels, and traveling to far and away places. She is getting married in Italy this fall and could not be more excited!

Jenna Yount, LA, CLT

LEAD AESTHETICIAN

Jenna graduated from IMAj Institute of Medical Aesthetics & Laser in 2011, and spent the first 7 years of her career working for a top medical & cosmetic dermatologist in Scottsdale. Jenna has a passion for helping her patients achieve results and educating them along the way. She has advanced training in procedures like microneedling, chemical peels, photo rejuvenation, laser hair reduction, and skin rejuvenation.

Prior to her aesthetics training, Jenna graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Psychology. She moonlights as our office mental health specialist and overall office mama — you won’t find anyone with a bigger heart. She tries to make it up to the Rocky Mountains when possible to ski and enjoy all that the mountains have to offer. She also has a passion for overall wellness of the mind + body, pilates, and yoga.

Jenna-Yount LA, CLT | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona
Lexi Horn LA, CLT | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona

Lexi Horn, LA, CLT

Lexi has been working under Dr. Woods as a medical assistant since 2016 and has extensive experience in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. She was inspired to become an aesthetician while working alongside Rachel and went on to complete her aesthetic and laser education at Penrose Academy. Lexi is passionate about helping her patients accomplish their skin goals and watching their transformations.

Her favorite titles (aside from licensed aesthetician & certified laser technician) are Dog Mom to her Husky Rex and Auntie to her 3 adorable nieces.

Kristi Vudrag

FRONT OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Kristi uses her knowledge as a licensed aesthetician and laser technician to effectively coordinate care for our patients. Her five years working in the cosmetic industry enables her to provide a unique aesthetic experience from beginning to end. She’s passionate about skincare and loves helping patients with product selection throughout the day.

Kristi is the biggest Taylor Swift fan and lover of all country music. You won’t be able to miss Kristi’s bubbly personality!

Kristi-Vudrag | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona
Karla-Vudrag | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona

Karla Vudrag

PATIENT CARE COORDINATOR

Karla was introduced into the aesthetic world through her work as a freelance makeup artist. Her passion for makeup and skincare, mixed with her friendly & helpful disposition, make her a delightful addition to our team!

On the weekends, you can catch Karla cooking her favorite vegan meals, attending a concert, or hiking any of Arizona’s beautiful mountains.

Mel Wilde, MA

Medical Assistant

Mel graduated from Iowa State University in 2017 with a B.S. in Kinesiology and Health and is attending nursing school. Mel’s love for medical aesthetics has grown over the last few years as she has assisted and learned from some of the most talented injectors in the industry.

Mel is passionate about connecting with patients; her superpower is keeping providers on schedule (being a Time Gremlin). Mel enjoys reading books for book club, watching movies, or hiking in her free time.

Mel Wilde, MA min Scaled | Skin Ritual in Gilbert, Arizona

FAQs

Most of our patients prefer to text with us via Klara – our secure HIPPA compliant communication system. Click the purple icon in the bottom right to get started! You may also call our office at 480.702.2442 or email at [email protected].

It depends on the treatment. Any aesthetic service that causes any kind of downtime (i.e. dermal filler or Sculptra, Kybella, laser, BBL, microneedling, Vivace, chemical peels) requires a consultation first. It’s important that our providers assess your skin and goals in detail to ensure the appropriate treatments are selected for you and that you and your skin are adequately prepared. Treatments that CAN be done in conjunction with a consultation the same day include dermaplaning, HydraFacial, DiamondGlow and Botox.

We can help! Schedule a consultation with one of our providers and they will create a custom treatment plan to address your skin concerns and help you reach your goals.

New patient consultations cost $50 with our aestheticians and $100 with our physician assistant injectors. The consultation deposit can be applied towards the cost of products or services within one year. Please keep in mind that in the event of a no-show or cancellation/rescheduling within 24 hours of the appointment, the deposit is forfeited and a new payment is required to schedule another appointment. Established patients with our sister practice, Desert Sky Dermatology, are entitled to one free consultation.

We require 24 hour notice to cancel or reschedule any appointment to avoid forfeiting your deposit, or an automatic $75 fee will be charged to the card on file for the first late notice/no show. Subsequent late notice/no shows will result in an automatic $200 fee charged to your card on file. A deposit may be required to schedule future appointments. The 24-hour notice applies to Monday appointments. Please leave us a voicemail or send a text message to cancel or reschedule over the weekend.

Absolutely! We use Klara, a secure and HIPPA compliant communication system, to correspond with our patients. Once registered with Klara, you can text messages, photos, and attachments directly from your phone. Email communication is also available to [email protected]

Yes! If you’re new to the game, Alle (formerly Brilliant Distinctions) and Aspire are excellent and user-friendly programs administered by the manufacturer of Botox, Dysport, Juvederm fillers, Restylane fillers, Sculptra, and Kybella. Basically, you are rewarded every time you get injected!

No. Pregnancy and nursing are contraindications for all injectable treatments done at Skin Ritual.

While pregnancy and nursing are contraindications for many cosmetic and aesthetic treatments and skin care products, there are a variety of options that are safe and can help care for the skin during this time. Many women experience skin challenges like acne, dryness, hyperpigmentation, and melasma with hormonal changes. Schedule a consultation to discuss a treatment plan that’s right for you during this time.

Our physician assistant injectors have completed their Masters of Physician Assistant Studies and are board certified through the NCCPA. Additionally, they have been trained in general, surgical and aesthetic dermatology, with continuing education in the field of aesthetics. Our aestheticians & certified laser technicians are dual-certified by the Arizona Board of Cosmetology and the Arizona Department of Health Services. They receive continuing education on our skincare lines, laser devices and other treatments.

A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed medical professional who holds an advanced degree and is able to provide direct patient care. In an aesthetic setting, PA injectors diagnose, prescribe and treat the aesthetic concerns of their patients, often utilizing injectable dermal fillers, neuromodulators and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

An aesthetician is a licensed skin specialist who provides a variety of services, procedures, products, and consultations to help improve and maintain the appearance and health of the skin.

Medical spas provide treatment and services for a variety of skin conditions, like fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and sun damage, acne, and more. Day spas provide services like massages, pedicures and manicures and facials. An aesthetic clinic provides the same treatment and services as a medical spa, but comprises of a medically-led aesthetic team, often with advanced training in a speciality, such as our partnership with Desert Sky Dermatology.

Medical spas provide treatment and services for a variety of skin conditions, like fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and sun damage, acne, and more. Day spas provide services like massages, pedicures and manicures and facials. An aesthetic clinic provides the same treatment and services as a medical spa, but comprises of a medically-led aesthetic team, often with advanced training in a speciality, such as our partnership with Desert Sky Dermatology.

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