Pharmaceutical-Grade Skincare Protocols at Hi, Finch: Because What You Do at Home Is Part of Your Treatment

Let's get something out of the way: skincare is not the consolation prize. It is not what we recommend when nothing else applies. It is not the thing we mention at the end of your appointment while you're putting your coat on.

Skincare is part of your treatment plan. It always has been — and after four years of treating patients in Nashville, we've built the protocols to prove it.

We've refined our approach based on real outcomes from real patients across every skin tone, skin type, and concern. We've updated our thinking when the evidence pointed somewhere new. And we've built condition-specific protocols using pharmaceutical-grade products that are held to a higher clinical standard than anything you'll find on a department store shelf.

This post walks you through what pharmaceutical-grade actually means, why sunscreen is the non-negotiable foundation of every single protocol we build, and how we approach the six most common skin concerns we treat. We'll also tell you what to expect when you come in for your own assessment — because everything here is a framework, and your actual protocol gets built around your specific skin.

What "Pharmaceutical-Grade" Skincare Actually Means

The term gets used loosely in aesthetics. Here's what it means at Hi, Finch, and why it matters.

Pharmaceutical-grade skincare is held to a higher standard of ingredient purity, active concentration, and formulation stability than cosmetic or over-the-counter products. Specifically:

Purity at or above 99%. OTC and cosmetic-grade products have no such requirement. The active ingredient you're paying for may be present in a form your skin can't effectively absorb or use.

Clinically effective concentrations. The actives in pharmaceutical-grade formulations are dosed at levels shown to produce results — not trace amounts added to justify a front-of-label claim.

Formulation integrity. Delivery matters as much as ingredients. Pharmaceutical-grade products are designed to penetrate to the skin layer where change actually occurs — not just sit on the surface.

Every product we carry and recommend at Hi, Finch meets pharmaceutical-grade standards. When we build your protocol, we know exactly what we're working with — and why it's there.

The One Thing Every Single Protocol Has in Common: Sunscreen

Before we get into condition-specific protocols, one non-negotiable applies to every patient, every skin type, every concern, every single day: sunscreen.

UV exposure is the single greatest driver of premature aging, hyperpigmentation, melasma flares, and barrier damage. No brightening ingredient, no retinoid, no in-office treatment will outperform daily UV damage. SPF is not a finishing step — it is the foundation everything else is built on.

At Hi, Finch, we carry three pharmaceutical-grade sunscreen options because the best sunscreen is genuinely the one you'll actually use:

Bright Start SPF 50 — A sheer, lightweight brightening SPF 50 that also contains niacinamide and lactic acid. Niacinamide brightens and regulates oil production; lactic acid acts as a light exfoliant that helps your other products work better. Our go-to for daily morning wear and especially well-suited for hyperpigmentation, acne-prone, and general skin health patients.

Even Better SPF 50 — A mineral, mattifying tinted sunscreen. Ideal for patients who want coverage built into their sun protection, or those who do better with a mineral formula — which is common for rosacea and sensitive skin patients.

On the Run Powder SPF 30 — A powder SPF 30 that can be applied throughout the day, even over makeup. This one changes the reapplication conversation entirely. Most people apply sunscreen once in the morning and consider it done — which is not how sun protection actually works. On the Run makes midday reapplication genuinely effortless, and it matters more than most people realize.

We'll walk you through which option — or which combination — makes the most sense for your skin and your lifestyle at your appointment.

Our Six Core Skincare Protocols

1. Hyperpigmentation and Melasma

These two conditions share significant overlap in their at-home skincare approach, with one important clinical distinction: in-office treatment for melasma requires more caution than standard hyperpigmentation. Certain laser and energy-based treatments that work beautifully for sun damage and post-inflammatory pigment can worsen melasma due to its hormonal and heat-sensitive nature. We navigate that carefully in the treatment room.

At home, the pharmaceutical-grade skincare protocol for both is largely the same — and it works.

A hyperpigmentation and melasma protocol at Hi, Finch is built around:

Glow Getter Pads — brightening pads formulated with kojic acid, vitamin C, and natural brighteners that support tone evening and surface renewal; used at night as part of the brightening routine

Tretinoin — prescription-strength retinoid for cellular turnover and melanin regulation; one of the most well-studied topicals for pigmentation of all types

Bright Start SPF 50 daily — the niacinamide and brightening benefit are a bonus; the UV protection is the whole point

On the Run Powder SPF 30 — for midday reapplication, which is especially critical for pigmentation patients where ongoing UV exposure directly undermines your results

Plated (platelet-derived exosomes) — for melasma patients specifically; exosome technology that supports cellular repair and helps address the chronic inflammatory component that makes melasma so persistent

Realistic timeline: hyperpigmentation and melasma are managed over months, not weeks. Consistency and daily SPF compliance are what produce lasting change.

2. Acne

Acne is one of the most mismanaged conditions in aesthetics because it gets oversimplified. The type and severity of your acne determines your protocol — and what works for comedonal breakouts is completely different from what's appropriate for cystic or hormonal acne.

At Hi, Finch, we assess acne type and severity before recommending anything. A pharmaceutical-grade acne protocol may include some or all of the following, depending on what we find at your assessment:

Tretinoin — for cellular turnover, comedone prevention, and reducing post-inflammatory pigmentation after breakouts clear

Speed Racer Pads — AHA/BHA exfoliating pads with glycolic and salicylic acid; salicylic acid works like a liquid drain cleaner for pores, pulling oil and bacteria out of the skin, while glycolic acid brightens, polishes, and actually draws moisture up from the lower layers of the skin — so this is not a drying product despite the active ingredients

Bright Start SPF 50 — daily sun protection with niacinamide for sebum regulation and redness reduction

Azelaic acid (prescription) — for inflammation, post-inflammatory pigment, and gentle antibacterial support

Benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin (prescription) — for inflammatory and bacterial acne

Dapsone or spironolactone (prescription) — for specific acne types, particularly hormonal patterns

Your protocol is built around what we actually see — not a one-size-fits-all approach. 

3. Acne Scarring

Acne scarring — whether post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (flat dark spots left after a breakout) or textural scarring (indented or raised) — is one of the most emotionally significant skin concerns we treat. It also responds meaningfully to the right protocol, especially when combined with appropriate in-office treatments.

The pharmaceutical-grade skincare foundation for acne scarring at Hi, Finch centers on two anchors:

Tretinoin — stimulates collagen remodeling, accelerates cellular turnover, and resurfaces the skin over time; essential for both pigmented and textural scarring

Plated (platelet-derived exosomes) — supports skin repair and regeneration at the cellular level, making it particularly valuable for textural scarring and rebuilding overall skin quality

In-office treatments are often part of the complete picture for scarring patients. We'll discuss what makes sense for your specific scar type at your consultation.

4. Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition, which means the goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of flares over time — not just react when your skin is already in crisis mode.

The most common mistake we see is a routine full of well-intentioned products that are quietly making things worse: high-concentration vitamin C, fragrance, alcohol-based toners, and physical scrubs are frequent triggers that end up in "sensitive skin" routines all the time. Rosacea skin generally needs less, not more.

A pharmaceutical-grade rosacea protocol at Hi, Finch is built around:

Azelaic acid (prescription, 15–20%) — the cornerstone of most rosacea protocols; clinically proven to reduce redness, papules, and pustules; well-tolerated across skin tones; anti-inflammatory and antibacterial without the irritation of stronger actives

Mellow Magic — a calming antioxidant serum with hemp seed oil, willow bark-derived salicylic acid, and green tea polyphenols that work together to reduce underlying redness, calm inflammation, and soothe reactive skin; can be refrigerated for additional redness relief; a gentler entry point into antioxidant support that plays well with sensitive, reactive skin

Plated (platelet-derived exosomes) — supports barrier repair and helps reduce the chronic inflammatory burden on rosacea skin at the cellular level

Even Better SPF 50 — mineral formulation, which is often better tolerated by rosacea patients than chemical UV filters; the mattifying finish is an added benefit for patients with flushing-prone or oily skin

For patients with persistent background redness or visible vessels, BBL HERO may be an appropriate in-office addition — it has strong clinical evidence for addressing both the vascular and inflammatory components of rosacea.

5. Anti-Aging

The goal isn't to look like you didn't age. It's to look like you took care of yourself — because skin that's been well-supported over time maintains elasticity, tone, and texture far more gracefully than skin that wasn't.

The anti-aging protocol is also what makes every in-office treatment perform better. When your barrier is healthy, your retinoid is working, and your skin is being supported at home, your Sculptra results are more visible, your BBL outcomes last longer, and your skin health compounds over time in the right direction.

A pharmaceutical-grade anti-aging protocol at Hi, Finch is anchored by:

Tretinoin — the most well-studied topical for collagen stimulation, skin renewal, and overall tone; the non-negotiable centerpiece of most anti-aging protocols

Plated (platelet-derived exosomes) — supports collagen and elastin repair at the cellular level; pairs powerfully with tretinoin for patients focused on texture, firmness, and skin quality

Baby Face — a niacinamide-forward moisturizer with ceramides, squalane, and micronutrients that supports the skin barrier and delivers meaningful anti-aging benefit without heaviness

Daily SPF — Bright Start SPF 50 is our standard recommendation; Even Better or On the Run depending on your skin type and how your day actually goes

Beyond these anchors, your protocol will be individualized based on your specific assessment — skin laxity, texture, tone, volume concerns, and what in-office treatments you're doing or considering. There is no universal anti-aging routine, and we won't hand you one.

6. Overall Skin Health and Prevention

Not every patient walks in with a specific diagnosis. Some are in their 20s and want to build healthy skin before problems develop. Some want to simplify a routine that's grown into an unwieldy ten-step situation. Some just want to know they're doing the right things.

Prevention is exponentially more effective — and more economical — than correction. The patients who invest in skin health before significant damage accumulates are consistently the ones who look remarkable at every age.

A pharmaceutical-grade prevention protocol at Hi, Finch is clean and intentional:

Morning Glory Vitamin C — a powerful antioxidant serum combining 15% L-ascorbic acid with THD ascorbate, a form of vitamin C that penetrates 16 times deeper than L-ascorbic acid alone to reach the cells where collagen production happens; pairs directly with SPF to fill the protective gap that sunscreen alone can't cover; also brightens, improves skin texture, and has anti-inflammatory properties

Daily SPF — Bright Start SPF 50 is our standard recommendation; On the Run Powder SPF 30 for midday reapplication

4 Birds Retinol or Tretinoin — which one is right for you is a patient-dependent decision we make together at your appointment; 4 Birds is a botanically buffered retinol with bakuchiol and 90% green tea polyphenols that reduces irritation and supports compliance; Tretinoin is prescription-strength for patients ready for a more direct approach; both stimulate collagen, support cell turnover, and work at night while your skin is in repair mode

Simple, consistent, and actually working. That's the standard.

What to Expect at Your Hi, Finch Skincare Appointment

Everything above is a framework. Your actual protocol will be different — because your skin is different.

When you come in for a skincare consultation at Hi, Finch, we do a thorough assessment before we recommend anything. We evaluate your barrier status, your current routine, your specific concerns, your history with products and treatments, and how all of that connects to the bigger picture of your health. Then we build from there.

We'll tell you what to start, what to stop, what to add over time, and why. You'll leave with a plan that's specific to your skin — not a bag of products and a hope.

Nashville patients across every skin tone and type have trusted us with their skin over the past four years. The protocols we've built are informed by those real outcomes. And every recommendation we make is backed by pharmaceutical-grade products we've evaluated clinically and stand behind completely.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pharmaceutical-Grade Skincare at Hi, Finch

What makes pharmaceutical-grade skincare different from what I find at the drugstore or Sephora?

Pharmaceutical-grade products meet higher standards for ingredient purity — typically 99% or above — active concentration, and formulation stability. That means the ingredients we recommend are present at levels that have been shown to produce clinical results, not token amounts. It also means the formulations are designed to deliver actives where they need to go, not just sit on the skin's surface looking shiny.

Do I really need to wear sunscreen every day if I work indoors?

Yes. UV radiation penetrates windows, reflects off surfaces, and accumulates even on overcast days. Daily SPF is the most impactful step in any skincare protocol regardless of your concern. We carry three options at Hi, Finch so we can match the right sunscreen to your skin type, your lifestyle, and how you actually move through your day — including midday reapplication.

Will I need all of these products, or just some of them?

Your protocol is built around what your skin specifically needs. Some patients start with two or three products and add from there. Others have more complex concerns that call for a more layered approach from the beginning. We assess first, then recommend — never the other way around.

How does my at-home skincare connect to my in-office treatments?

Directly. The right pharmaceutical-grade routine at home makes in-office treatments perform better and last longer. We coordinate your skincare protocol with whatever treatments you're doing so everything works together rather than independently. Your Sculptra results, your BBL outcomes, your neuromodulator results — all of them are supported by what you're doing at home.

I've tried retinoids before and had a rough time with irritation. Can I still use them?

Almost always, yes. Retinoid irritation is usually a barrier and introduction issue, not a permanent incompatibility. Depending on your skin, we may start you on 4 Birds — our botanically buffered retinol formulated specifically to reduce the adjustment period — before progressing to prescription tretinoin. We'd rather troubleshoot than take one of our most effective tools off the table.

Your skin is working hard every day. Our job is to give it the right clinical support — pharmaceutical-grade, evidence-informed, and built specifically for you.

Ready to find out what your skin actually needs? Book a consultation at hifinch.com and we'll build your protocol together.

References

Leyden JJ, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J. Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017;7(3):293–304. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2

Ogbechie-Godec OA, Elbuluk N. Melasma: an up-to-date comprehensive review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017;7(3):305–318. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0194-1