Rediscovering skincare in my 30s: How Park and the new SkinCeuticals P-TIOX serum leveled up my skin
Special guest editorial by Taylor Squires
I have a confession to make: for the majority of my life, I had no idea how to take care of my skin. I was the girl who would sleep with her makeup on, never use SPF, and bought whatever cleanser was on sale at the drugstore. But then, out of nowhere, I turned 30.
Ah yes, the 30s— the decade where all of the gifts we thought we’d be blessed with forever start to disappear. You know, the endless energy, a fast metabolism, and radiant skin that could withstand the harshness of a $4.99 cleanser.
Although the changes to my skin were gradual, there was without a doubt a tipping point. I was out for dinner with friends one night and escaped to the bathroom to do that weird thing I do when I’ve had one too many cocktails: stare at myself in the mirror. I squinted as I walked into what can only be described as the brightest bathroom in all of Toronto and positioned myself right in front of the mirror.
My eyes widened.
At first, I was convinced that the bartender put some kind of elixir in my cocktail. As I leaned in and started looking more closely at my skin, I could suddenly see the very visible changes that have taken place since prom night. The fine lines, the softened texture under my eyes, and dullness in areas that used to be bright. I’m just a little drunk, I thought to myself. And the lighting in here sucks. That must be it, right? RIGHT?
The next morning, I decided to purchase one of those mirrors that aggressively zooms into your face so that I could see for myself what I was working with. To my surprise, everything I had noticed the night before was there. So, like any average 30-something, I turned to what I believed to be the source of truth: TikTok.
According to creators on my feed, not only were my skincare habits wrong but as it turns out, great skin requires a 20-step nighttime routine with new products that change and rotate every 1-2 weeks. Overwhelmed does not even begin to describe how I felt. But before swiping my card until it no longer worked, I wanted a second opinion and I wanted that opinion to be from a doctor.
A few weeks later, I booked a 30-minute consultation at Park Medical on Ossington and braced myself for the moment where I would have to tell Dr. Shoghi about all of my past skincare sins. His reaction was the opposite of what I was expecting.
Dr. Shoghi helped me understand how important it is to stay consistent with not only your routine but also the products you use. He explained that a good skincare routine starts with 5 main products: a cleanser, moisturizer, retinol, vitamin C, and mineral SPF. And that once you have those locked in, you can add more based on what your specific concerns are. So naturally, I told him about my revelation in the bathroom mirror and asked if he could recommend a product that could help my skin throughout this next chapter of my life. My question turned out to be timely as SkinCeuticals, a reputable science-backed skincare brand, had just launched one of their most highly anticipated serums called P-TIOX.
For years, SkinCeuticals has harnessed research on oxidative stress, which is how this serum came to life. Packed with a powerhouse ingredient lineup, P-TIOX is formulated to visibly reduce 9 types of expression wrinkles, refine texture & pores, and reveal glass skin radiance. Its unique ingredient blend combines cutting-edge ingredients with peptides that work together to build a resilient skin barrier while enhancing elasticity.
It also goes beyond superficial hydration—think improved skin texture, elasticity, and the coveted radiant glow. All of the things I knew that I wanted to improve after my moment in the bathroom mirror. So in addition to purchasing the five skincare basics, I decided to give P-TIOX a go.
The first thing I noticed was how this serum feels. It’s lightweight but also sooooo hydrating. It goes on silky and leaves a beautiful radiance that doesn’t fade throughout the day. It felt luxurious but also surprisingly practical—no waiting ages for it to sink in, no piling or pilling under makeup. After a month, I was noticing a more balanced skin tone AND smoother skin, especially in the areas that are hard to treat with Botox or other neurotoxin treatments.
As someone who has always felt overwhelmed by skincare or that my skin was too far gone from years of bad habits, seeing these changes has been genuinely exciting. It’s empowering to know that the solution to great skin isn’t chasing social media trends, but in committing to the right, high-quality products—and sticking with them. With just a few consistent steps, I was bringing out the best in my skin.
So if you’re on a similar path or could resonate with anything about my journey, I’d highly recommend visiting Park to better understand your skin’s unique needs so that you can find the right products to support them. My journey may have started with a random mirror epiphany, but it’s transformed into a routine that makes me feel confident and taken care of. And while I can’t promise that every serum or cream will be a game-changer, the P-TIOX has certainly earned its place on my shelf.
