Years

A year ago, I tried an anti-aging aesthetic treatment – Secret DUO – and looked years younger within a week. Fast forward to 2025, I’ve gone through four treatments and am updating this post to share my latest thoughts.

If you wonder, I still love and will continue with this treatment. Read on to find out more about Secret Duo, a treatment that combines RF microneedling with Erbium Glass Laser to reverse the signs of aging.

Are you looking to improve the overall firmness of skin, minimize the appearance of wrinkles and/or reduce acne scars or enlarged pores? If you answer YES to the above, Secret DUO is one treatment you would want to know more about.

Update May 2025: This post was first written in Apr 2024, and last updated to include latest opinion.

What is Secret DUO aesthetic treatment?

Secret DUO is an FDA-approved treatment that comprises two steps in its treatment. The first being Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling which delivers RF energy at various depths (0.5mm to 3.5mm) using medical-grade needles. The needles are intended to cause controlled micro-injuries to stimulate collagen production.

The second step of Secret DUO is the 1540 nm fractional Erbium Glass Laser, which targets the skin’s inner layer using fractional laser beams. These laser creates controlled micro-injuries in the dermis and stimulates collagen production.

Benefits of Secret DUO anti-aging treatment

Together, the two-step treatment of Secret DUO aims to deliver the following benefits:

Skin tightening
Non-surgical face lifting and skin resurfacing
Wrinkle reduction
Pore reduction
Acne scars
Tone and texture improvement
Spider veins
Stretch marks

Among these benefits, the ones that interest me most are skin tightening, wrinkle and pore reduction. But I gained more, which I’ll share later when I unveil the results. 🙂

Prior to that, let me show you how it’s like going through Secret DUO treatment.

Secret DUO: Let the anti-aging treatment begin

(Here, you read about my first experience, recorded in 2024. I’ll sprinkle 2025 updates within too)

Upon arriving at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics, the staff spent the first hour cleansing my face and sharing things I needed to know about the treatment.

Fan – the clinic staff – whom I have known for more than a decade was very thorough when she went through the potential side effects as well as the dos and don’ts post-treatment.

She also applied numbing cream, which I thought is an important step to minimize discomfort, especially since many needles will be poking the skin at the same time.

About to receive Secret Duo treatment

Step 1: RF Microneedling

Dr. Sylvia Ramirez – my favorite aesthetician doctor – started the microneedling procedure. It was a walk in the park and almost pain-free throughout.

Secret Duo needles — See the golden needles? Every patient will use a new cartridge.

I only felt some mild stinging at two spots – above my upper lips and upper cheeks. On a scale of 1 to 10, the part with some sensation was probably a 1/10.

How deep did the needle go? Dr Sylvia shared that my upper cheeks were treated at 1.8mm while my lower jaws received deeper poking at 2.5mm.

Update 2025: Pain could vary among individuals, and also dependent on your skin condition (and needles depth prescribed). In my experience, the pain is mostly bearable (up to 2 or 3/10) since numbing cream is applied.

Any blood?

Having watched videos on microneedling procedure, I was expecting blood on my face. But nope! Not a single drop. My face just looked pinkish or tanned.

Dr. Sylvia explained that Caucasians have higher tendency to bleed due to thinner skin.

Secret Duo - Day 1 After Treatment — Face was pink immediately after Microneedling (Secret Duo phase 1)

Step 2: Continue with Erbium Laser

The second treatment was not invasive and quite easy to go through. I only felt warm sensation from the laser beam. Dr. Sylvia described it as floating over my skin, and this laser would reduce redness and promote healing.

End of Secret Duo Treatment @ Cutis Medical Laser Clinics

All in all, both treatments were completed within 40 minutes. The staff handed me a bag containing a bottle of vinegar water, cleansing wipes and a sample size of Dr. Sylvia Vital Repair Cream.

Seeing how pink my face was and the insecurity of not having any makeup on, I headed home immediately.

My advice is to avoid scheduling any social activities after the treatment or even for the next 3 days or so. Read on as I share more post-care tips and FAQs in the next section.

FAQs on SECRET DUO treatment

Q1: Can you apply makeup after treatment?

Apply light makeup after 2 to 3 days.

Q2: Can you use your normal skincare products?

Stay away from harsh skincare products. In fact, the clinic gave me vinegar water which was to replace my facial wash.

I was also advised to stay away from all my usual skincare products and use the prescribed Dr. Sylvia Vital Repair Cream for at least the first 3 days.

Q3. Can you apply sunblock?

I was advised to stay away from sunblock for the first 3 days. Of course, this also meant I had to stay indoor and avoid the sun.

Q4. Can you exercise after Secret DUO treatment?

Avoid any exercise until the skin has fully healed or for the first 3 days post-treatment.

Q5. How long is the downtime?

The skin may appear red with mild swelling in the first few days. Based on my experience, my skin looked normal by Day 2. To me, the downtime was more on not being able to wear makeup or sunscreen on Day 2. 🙂

However, do prep for skin flaking to begin around Day 4 and 5. If you are vain, you may feel slightly self-conscious on these 2 days (typically a Mon to Tue for me when I do my treatment on a Fri).

Q6. When can I start seeing improvements? How long can they last?

According to the clinic, you can expect to see continuous improvement for six months after treatment. Within a month, patients are likely to experience improvement in elasticity, firmness, smoothness, and texture. Read my day-by-day account below.

Day-by-Day Recovery Account: Secret DUO

Day 1 (Fri): Pink but no pain

By the time I reached home, there was no pain or discomfort. But the face was still pink and patchy.

Secret Duo Day 1 — Looked slightly pink an hour after treatment

I showered as usual, replacing my facial wash with the vinegar water provided. To my pleasant surprise, my face didn’t sting at all.

In fact, the vinegar water (which I was advised to store in the fridge) felt really cooling and comfortable.

Day 2 (Sat): Looked Normal

I slept very well. It was as if I had nothing done to my face except for the slight pinkiness. As I had to stay away from my own skincare, sunblock and makeup, I only went out in the evening.

My man said I looked the same and he couldn’t tell that I had been poked by multiple needles the day before.

Secret Duo - Day 2 (After) — Day 2 after Secret Duo (RF Microneedling & Erbium Laser)

Day 3 (Sun): I can feel the Micro Scabs

Micro scabs that were invisible to the eyes had formed. The skin felt rough and I could see tiny dots of scab, but only if I zoomed in on the photos taken.

Although I was told to avoid sunblock, I decided to take the risk as I really wanted to go out and it was a hot and sunny day. The mineral sunblock I’d on hand – Suncut Prodefense Whitening UV Sunscreen Essence – came in handy as I read that we should apply physical sunblock instead of chemical ones after microneedling.

Secret Duo - Day 3 (After) — Day 2 after Secret Duo (RF Microneedling & Erbium Laser)

Day 4 (Mon): Back to Work

I started using my own cleanser – Ceptaphil Cleanser – in place of the vinegar wash. Though I could see micro scabs when I zoomed in on the photos, it wasn’t visible unless someone was standing super super close to me.

Secret Duo - Day 4 (After) — Micro scabs appeared as black tiny dots.

It was also great that I could officially start applying makeup. My favourite BB cream was able to cover the scabs and patchiness. Therefore, being at work or in social setting didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

By night fall, the flaking was more obvious. I started appreciating Dr. Sylvia Vital Repair Cream as it provided sufficient moisture to my peeling skin, but yet felt comfortable without excess grease. The face felt velvety smooth and I really enjoyed using the cream.

Update 2025: Rate of healing may vary. For example, in one of the four treatments I had, moderate peeling began on Monday (Day 4). And I felt a bit self-conscious.

Day 5 to Day 7: Flaking of Skin

In the next three days, skin felt and appeared dehydrated. The skin started flaking and micro scabs started coming off.

Secret Duo - Day 5 (After) — Day 5 after Secret Duo treatment

Black micro dots (scabs) nearer the ears were the last to go away, as there’s less movement in that area to trigger peeling.

Secret Duo Day 5 Scabs — Micro scabs that remained – can be easily covered up with foundation.

One Week Later: Everything back to normal

Everything resumed normalcy on Day 8 – skin hydration level and all. Skin flaking and patchiness were gone.

I could also start seeing the benefits promised by Secret DUO, such as smaller-looking pores and firmer skin. On Day 9, I wrote this in my beauty diary “Feel like doing more sessions.”

Secret Duo - Day 9 (After) — Day 9 – started noticing firmer and more supple skin

Day 10 to 14: Compliments Received

From Day 10 onwards, I started receiving unsolicited compliments. My man said I looked “glowy” and more “tender”. Wow, what does it mean to look tender? I’m not a chicken or steak. Upon clarification, he said I looked younger. 🙂

Great!

The next day, one of my colleagues asked if I did something to my face. She said I looked “more radiant and nice….smoother”. The effect must have been so pronounced as she started enquiring earnestly on the details, such as what I did, where I did it, how much it cost etc.

Update 2025: Such unsolicited compliments came every time I did the Secret Duo treatment. Therefore, any social discomfort or inconvenience is worth it!

Secret Duo - Day 13 (After) — Day 13 after Secret Duo treatment

Before-After Secret Duo Treatment (Static)

How about some before-after photos? These would be comparing Day 1 (before treatment) with Day 17 post-treatment photos.

Front Profile

You can see the left nasolabial seemed fainter.

My skin also appeared a tad brighter. The “radiance” effect was even more pronounced during my first Secret Duo treatment (for info, this is the second session, done about two months after the first).

Secret Duo Before After - Front View — Left nasolabial seemed less pronounced

Left Profile

Look at the curvature of my left cheek against the background. Can you see that the curvature in the AFTER photo is more rounded? What else do you notice?

Secret Duo Before After - Left Side View — Before-After Secret Duo treatment (Left profile)

Right Profile

Do you notice a slightly fainter laugh line? Still quite a subtle change, right?

In the next section, I’ll wear a smile and see if we can notice any difference?

Secret Duo Before After - Right Side View — Before-After Secret Duo treatment (Right profile)

Before-After Secret Duo Treatment (Smile)

Let’s check out if there are any noticeable difference on smiling photos (before vs Day 17).

Front Profile (Smile)

If the improvement in the laugh lines weren’t obvious in the earlier (static) photos, I thought they looked quite obvious now. Definitely much shallower in depth.

Secret Duo Before After - Front View (Smile) — Before-After Secret Duo treatment (Day 17)

Left Profile (Smile)

Once again, shallower laugh line and brighter skin noticed.

Right Profile (Smile)

Look at the edge of my lips. Can you see that my laugh line was shortened by a cm or so.

Results of Secret Duo Treatment@Cutis Medical Laser Clinics

The most noticeable difference from photos is the improvement in laugh lines. Outside of photos, I also noticed better skin tone (like the dead skin has been exfoliated to reveal newer and brighter skin).

Skin firmness has definitely improved too. Being almost pain-free and with short downtime makes this an easy treatment to squeeze in over the weekend.

Update 2025: Secret Duo is my staple aesthetic treatment

One month after my most recent (4th) Secret Duo treatment, I see a significant improvement in skin firmness – the collagen boost is so obvious and I felt like I’ve shaved at least 5 years off my age.

I also see a reduction in pore size, such that “glowy” foundation that I used to dislike (as they highlighted my pores) is now usable.

To add, the skin also looked radiant – it’s as if a thick layer of dull, dead skin were lifted off to reveal “newly-born” skin.

I’ve witnessed the following benefits promised:

Skin tightening
Non-surgical face lifting and skin resurfacing
Wrinkle reduction
Pore reduction
Acne scars
Tone and texture improvement

More questions on Secret DUO aesthetic treatments

How many Secret DUO sessions do I need?

The recommended number of treatments for optimal results is three to five, scheduled a month apart.

How much does Secret DUO treatment cost?

I understand that each session at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics costs about $1,000. Getting a package can be cheaper on a per session basis, e.g. 2 sessions for $1,830 and 4 sessions for $3,460.

That’s all to this beauty aesthetic post. Hope you’ve found the information educational and useful. Click the button below to get notified on newly-published honest reviews.

The first two treatments were provided complimentary for editor’s consideration in documenting the treatment experience. The clinic did not mandate publication as a requirement in exchange for receiving the complimentary trial. Subsequently, the editor paid to continue the treatment beyond 2024.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no cost to you. Read my full disclosure for more info.

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Ten years ago in March 2009 I decided to start a blog. Blogs were just starting to get popular and it was the beginning of a social media revolution. You see I have always loved fashion and dreamt as a young girl to go to fashion school and have a career in fashion one day. Well that dream never happened, mostly because I was the one who gave up on my own dream. Growing up as nerdy, chubby Latina girl in the ghetto of LA, that dream seemed as impossible as going to the moon. No one ever encouraged me, mostly laughed at me, but worst of all I believed all those naysayers. Then one day I discovered blogging, I saw a few other plus size women showing off their style. After a few months of reading those very few plus fashion blogs, I thought hey I can do that too! HA HA wow I must have been feeling confident that day, so I started a blog! Boy I was wrong in thinking I knew what it took to run a blog! I had no idea, no clue and didn’t know what I was getting my self into!.

It was a slow process, I didn’t even show my face on the blog for about 10 months. Mostly for fear of people recognizing me or worst, making fun of me. You see Internet trolls have been around since the beginning of the Internet. Once I gained enough courage and confidence to reveal my self on the blog, it wasn’t as bad as I imagined. Slowing I became to discover more plus fashion, I even found some local bloggers who looked like me…plus size Latinas who also loved fashion and beauty!

Then one day I read on another blog how this one “popular” blogger received free clothes! WHAT! Brands started sending blogger stuff for free, all they had to do was show it off on their blog. Whoa, this was mind blowing to me. I had no idea this was even a possibility when I started blogging. Then the day came when I received my very first email, a brand wanted to send me a dress to review. I was so excited, like a kid on Christmas day! This my friends was a huge deal for me, I had secretly been envious of those other bloggers who were receiving free stuff. It all started with that one dress, then slowing other emails came from other brands. Then the invitation to attend blogger events. WOW I must admit it did make me feel kinda special. LOL I can’t lie those blogger event were always really cool, with lots of free food and booze, in some fancy places and best of all, was the swag! Why were these brands just giving us bloggers so much free stuff. It was simply to give them publicity and advertise their products, at a very cheap rate. You see the early days of blogging, was a free for all, it was all so new and exciting. People had discovered they could control the type of content that was shared on the Internet. We the average woman could show the world, how cool, cute and awesome we are, with out anyone telling us how or what to do. No longer did we have to be subjected by Photoshopped images of perfectly airbrushed models, telling us what to wear and how to look. We the bloggers were taking control of that image and the world was loving it. Bloggers from every corner of the world were emerging, every color, every size and every ethnicity. It was actually kinda magical to see it happening and most of all to be a part it. Even in my own little way, I had become part of that fashion world I had always dreamt of as a little girl.

New blogs kept popping up so quickly it was hard to keep up. A new niche seemed to appear daily, fashion, food, beauty, travel, mommy, tech reviews….it was crazy and hard to keep up with. Brands and Marketing agencies knew they had a gold mine with bloggers, using us to do their work for practically free (they threw us a bone here and there with free products) and occasionally paid us peanuts. Some bloggers even achieved “celebrity” status, it was insane to see the evolution. No longer did you see models, actors or real celebrities being featured in national name brand campaigns, it was bloggers!

I never achieved any kind of status, I was just another blogger, who happened to get in kinda early so was lucky to get a small piece of the action. I truly loved and enjoyed blogging in the early years. It was fun and exciting, I met many awesome people and can say some even became friends. Something happened several years in to blogging, I saw and felt a shift in the blogging world. Everyone wanted a piece of the pie, when bloggers started to get paid, like really get paid in the hundred thousands of dollars, some even reportedly getting millions of dollars, with huge endorsement deals. Some bloggers were getting their own products, clothing lines, makeup lines and even TV shows. It was crazy, and this is where I saw the claws and ugliness of blogging come out. Every blogger in your same niche suddenly became competition, people changed. Some were more ambitious than others, they became cut throat. I was never successful enough in blogging to be any ones competition in my opinion, but I did receive some backlash. All of sudden you started to hear about blogger feuds, and it appeared you had to pick sides. I never got too involved, but guess what I was close enough to get some on me. It seemed like over night, bloggers I had considered “friends” stopped talking to me, a few stopped following me on social media, stopping say hello to me at events and slowly stopped getting invited to events. It took me a while to figure out, but I know what or who caused it. Honestly it didn’t surprise me, because I had heard first hand from other bloggers about these so called feuds and how it was getting cut throat. Bloggers bad mouthing other bloggers to brands and PR agencies. I tired to brush it off, but it hurt, it stung and it sucked. I was the one who would talk to as many bloggers, when the “big” bloggers became snobs and ignored others, I was the one who befriended them. I was the one who introduced new bloggers to other bloggers or told them about certain blogger networks to sign up for and get paid opportunities. I never saw other as competition, but I guess that was just me being nice and naive.

So basically this long post is to just give you all a little history of why I stopped blogging over a year ago. Blogging was no longer fun for me, it was becoming a chore and became ugly. Too competitive, too cut throat and too elitist for my taste. I wasn’t getting paid, like other bloggers, I wasn’t actually getting anything out of blogging, not even enjoyment or gratification like I had in the beginning.

I decided to take a break and reevaluated my situation. That break was much longer than anticipated and eventually I came to the conclusion to end my blogging journey with Cid Style File. My last post was in November 2017, and honestly I only did it because it paid me a few dollars and it was a quick buck. I was done, no longer did I have the mentality to be a part of the blogging world and play the games involved to succeed. I am 10 years older and some may say wiser, I no longer find my self being happy blogging about fashion. The plus fashion world has changed so much as well and its not a world I can see my self being a part of any more. After a much needed break, I did find my self missing blogging and the wonderful people who were still friendly with me and stayed with me on social media. I found my self changing and evolving in a way, so in early 2018 I made the decision to change my name on social media from Cid Style File to House of Cid. I changed it on Instagram and Facebook, but had not decided what to do with the blog. After a few more months of contemplation, I decided to just say good bye to this blog. I have however started a YouTube channel, called House of Cid, which is something I wanted to do for many years, but was never confident enough to be a YouTuber. I told my self I am too old now (43), not attractive enough and I’m not a millennial so basically saw it as losing battle. But guess what, I am no quitter, and my life isn’t over because I am in my 40’s…I am sure there’s some older people who want to see themselves reflected on YouTube. So I am giving it a go, I created a lifestyle channel and hope you come and support me, like you have done here for so many years.

Thank you to everyone reading the blog, who left comments, who supported me and who encouraged and motivated me to blog. I met some awesome people, attended fabulous events and most all made some wonderful memories. I am forever grateful to everyone I met through blogging and thankful to all the brands, PR agencies and marketing agencies I was allowed to work with. I truly do feel blessed to have this experience and am beyond grateful.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Veronica Cid – Cid Style File

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