In a city filled with medical spas and aesthetic providers, it takes something truly special to stand apart. Dr. Candice Fortunato has managed to do exactly that with Skin + Tonic, a physician-led regenerative aesthetics practice in Henderson, Nevada that feels as elevated as it is welcoming.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Candice when she joined me as a guest on our podcast, The Beauty Vault Podcast, and what immediately stood out to me was her depth of knowledge paired with an undeniable warmth. In an industry where clinical expertise can sometimes feel cold or intimidating, Candice has found a way to blend science, beauty, and humanity in a way that feels incredibly authentic.

A Las Vegas native, Dr. Candice is double board-certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, having completed her residency at Penn State Hershey before serving as Vice Chair of Pediatrics. While many would have remained comfortably rooted in traditional medicine, Candice made a deliberate pivot into aesthetics and wellness, driven by a bigger vision of what modern beauty could look like.

What makes Skin + Tonic so unique is that it never feels transactional. It feels intentional. During my own visit for a facial, one detail completely stopped me in my tracks. In the center of the spa sits a large island with built-in sinks, each one featuring different skincare lines available for guests to sample and experience. I have visited countless med spas throughout my career, and I can honestly say I had never seen anything like it before. It was innovative, interactive, and thoughtful — a true reflection of Candice’s approach to beauty and education.

Skin + Tonic offers virtually every treatment imaginable, from customized facials and advanced peels to laser treatments, injectables, regenerative procedures, and hormone health support. It is the kind of place where clients can come in with virtually any concern and feel confident knowing there is a solution tailored specifically to them.

Candice also shared something deeply personal with me during our conversation. She spoke about the passion for beauty and self-care that she shared with her late mother, a connection that ultimately inspired her transition into the beauty and wellness industry. Hearing her speak about that influence added another layer to my understanding of who she is. Behind the physician, educator, and entrepreneur is a woman whose work is rooted in connection, healing, and legacy.

Known online as @DrGlowUp, Candice continues to push the industry forward through education, innovation, and a commitment to regenerative aesthetics that prioritize natural, healthy results. But beyond the credentials, conferences, and cutting-edge technology, what truly makes her unforgettable is the way she makes people feel.

In a world increasingly focused on filters and perfection, Dr. Candice Fortunato reminds us that the best aesthetic results are the ones that help you look and feel most like yourself.

Q: What is your personal favorite treatment to perform at [ Skin + Tonic ], and what makes it so effective for your patients?

Biostimulators, like Sculptra or Radiesse. There is something deeply satisfying about a treatment that works with your biology instead of just filling a deficit. These are treatments that trigger your own collagen production over time. The results look earned, not done. Patients come back three months later and say people keep telling them they look amazing but no one can figure out why. That is the goal. That is the art.

Q: What are the most important things people should be doing at home daily to maintain healthy, youthful skin between professional treatments?

Three things, non-negotiable: a simple skincare regimen (vitamin C, a retinoid, and a good moisturizer), hydration from the inside out, and staying physically active. My personal favorite is strength training by far. The science is there. The difference over time is real. Start boring, stay consistent, then layer in the fun stuff.

Q: You speak often about regenerative aesthetics. Can you explain what that means and why you believe the future of aesthetics is moving in that direction?

Regenerative aesthetics is a shift in the entire philosophy of what we are doing in the treatment room. Instead of masking the signs of aging or filling in what has been lost, we are asking: how do we restore the skin’s actual capacity to function, repair, and renew itself? Treatments like Sculptra, PDRN, exosomes, and Sylfirm X are not just producing surface results, they are changing the biology of the tissue. They are working at a cellular level. I came from internal medicine, where we were always looking for root causes, not just symptom management. Regenerative aesthetics is that same instinct applied to the skin. The field is moving this direction because patients are smarter now. They want results that last. They want to look like themselves, just better. And frankly, they are tired of looking frozen or overdone. Regenerative approaches give us that.

Q: What are some of the most common skincare mistakes you see people making that may actually be accelerating aging or compromising their skin health?

Over-exfoliation is probably the biggest one I see. Everyone wants to be glowing so they are scrubbing and peeling and using actives every single day, and they end up stripping their skin barrier without realizing it. Once that barrier is compromised, small problems get worse or you trade one problem for another: more sensitivity, more redness, more inflammation. And inflammation is aging. The other major one is skipping SPF or not using nearly enough of it. And then there is the tendency to chase trends, buying a new product every few weeks because the algorithm told them to. Your skin needs time and consistency, not novelty.

Q: If a woman came to you and could only invest in one treatment to make the biggest visible difference in her skin, what would you recommend and why?

Microneedling, and I will tell you exactly why. Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin that trigger the body’s natural wound-healing cascade, stimulating collagen and elastin production from the inside out. It improves texture, tone, pore size, fine lines, and scarring all in one treatment. But where it gets really interesting is when you pair it with regenerative boosters. PDRN, which is derived from salmon DNA, accelerates tissue repair and has remarkable anti-inflammatory properties, meaning your skin is not just healing, it is healing better than it was before. Exosomes are cell-to-cell messengers that essentially instruct your skin cells to behave younger, improving hydration, elasticity, and overall skin quality at a level that topicals simply cannot reach. Together, microneedling with PDRN or exosomes is not just a treatment, it is a biological reset. The results are real, they are cumulative, and they work with your skin rather than just sitting on top of it. For the biggest visible transformation per dollar invested, this is where I would start every time.

Watch Candice's Interview on Exosomes, PDRN + Regenrative Aesthetics

The Beauty Vault Podcast on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

Follow Candice Fortunato on Instagram

MD + CEO

[ Skin + Tonic ]

Henderson, NV

Dr. Candice Fortunato on Exosomes, Regenerative Aesthetics & Skin Health

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