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Everybody's Business

Beauty care with a medical touch

Microderm abrasion, massage therapy and laser treatments grace the menu at Harbour Island's Skinful Med Spa.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published October 7, 2005

You'd expect a professional model to know about looking good. But if you combined her with a physician, you'd have a good team for running, say, a medical day spa.

Skinful Med Spa opened Sept. 16 inside Knight's Point on Harbour Island, next to Jackson's Bistro. The owners: internist and endocrinologist Mary Beeson and model Stacy Rogers.

A medical day spa differs from regular day spas by focusing, as Skinful does, on more in-depth procedures such as microderm abrasion, cellulite reduction and a host of laser treatments to remove hair, age spots, freckles, wrinkles, and other beauty inhibitors. These treatments are often administered by a medical doctor.

Another distinction from traditional day spas: No hair or nails are done at Skinful. But there is a full menu of massage therapy, along with facials and wax hair removal. Dr. Beeson also devises personalized holistic treatments to address client's hormonal imbalances.

SkinMedica, a line of premium skin care products, is also offered.

Rogers, a Miami native who grew up in Clearwater, now lives on Harbour Island. The busy model released a 2004 swimsuit calendar and was a guest host for E!'s Wild On lifestyle travel show.

Dr. Beeson formerly ran Clinique de Sante on S Howard Avenue.

Skinful's hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.

BACK TO HER STOMPING GROUNDS: Little did Joezette Clausen realize as she hung out with her friends as a preteen in Old Hyde Park Village that she would open her own store there one day.

That day came Oct. 1 with the opening of Jo Jo's Closet, a women's boutique, on the village's Snow Circle behind the former Cactus Club.

"I remember our parents dropping off all of us girls at the village," Clausen said. "We'd meet in front of the movie theater and go shopping at Limited Too. That was my stomping ground."

Clausen said she located in the shopping district because it harbors independent retailers not found in malls, which makes it prime territory for a boutique. And a boutique is what Jo Jo's is. "I really want to give women in South Tampa a smaller type place that's in the neighborhood," she said.

The interior color scheme is based on Neopolitan ice cream. Inside the dressing rooms are famous quotes from fashion icons, like Coco Chanel's "Fashion is made to become unfashionable."

Nonetheless, Clausen, a self-professed shopaholic, intends to keep her 1,100-square-foot store on top of the latest trends. Excursions to California, New York, Miami and Las Vegas have garnered her a stock that includes designers Rachel Pally, Ella Moss, Blue Cult, Frankie B, 2 B-Free, Yvette Mandell, Paige Premium Denim, and Lotta Stensson. Beauty products and baby clothing are also stocked.

Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

DOWNTOWN SUSHI WRAPPED FOR NOW: Franklin Street Sushi closed in late August after an eight-month run. It was located at 713 N Franklin St. by first-time restaurateurs and brothers Tom and Matthew McKrimmon.

Building co-owner Pari Zacaim said the business owners have yet to vacate, but the space won't remain dormant for long. "As far as I know something's going to go in there," she said. "A deli or (another) sushi bar might be going in there."

The space has been the site of several short-lived restaurants in recent years.

- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382 or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 08:25:09]