Dr Cara McDonald

12/03/2026

Toners used to have a bad reputation, for good reason.

Most older formulas were alcohol based and designed to strip oil, leaving skin tight and irritated. A dermatologist’s nightmare.

These days, toners are very different. Modern formulas can hydrate, soothe, exfoliate, or support the skin barrier. Toners certainly aren’t essential but can be beneficial if you choose the right one for you.

22/02/2026

Action packed weekend with our Dermatology Department weekend meeting at followed by a day at to celebrate my daughter’s birthday with her gorgeous friends. Definitely didn’t let them have all the fun 🎢💦. Sadly didn’t have time to make a cake though this year 😢

19/02/2026

It’s never too late…

No matter what your stage of life there are many different options to help you feel like the best version of yourself. Many people think they are “beyond help”, or else will have to go down the surgery path to improve severe signs of ageing.

This lovely 78-year-old lady underwent a single fractional CO2 laser resurfacing and non-surgical rejuvenation with the simple goal of looking as good as she feels.

Treatment plans and treatment parameters are individualised based on many factors such as age, skin type, skin colour, goals and signs of photoaging.

Outcomes and number of treatment sessions vary between patients. These images are shared for educational purposes only with patient consent. A thorough consultation with an experienced practitioner will help you determine the best plan for you.

Performed at Complete Skin Specialists
by Dr Cara McDonald MED0000944625
Dermatologist

31/01/2026

17/01/2026

Jumping on the 2016 trend…
2016 was a big year for me in a lot of ways but my camera roll is basically just full of photos of the kids. Funny thing is that now it’s all work photos and I forget to take photos of them.

#2016

09/01/2026

Aesthetics moves fast and there are always new products becoming available. New doesn’t always mean better but having more options can mean that our patients can be given more individualised, specific treatments designed to meet their goals and needs.

There are too many products on the market for every practitioner to have every product available but what’s most important is that we have enough tools and enough expertise in each of them to meet the patient’s needs and achieve the results we want.

In general, the practitioner is more important than the product in achieving your goals.

I’ve been impressed with each of these products which will be available in Australia in early 2026. In my opinion, they each offer something different to the options we already have on the Australian market.

This information is not a recommendation. It is for educational purposes only and working out what the best treatment is for each person is determined by numerous factors. The best option is to see your practitioner for a thorough assessment and consultation rather than seek out specific treatments.

05/01/2026

At this time of year, I just like to slow down a bit, spend time with my kids and try to renew my energy levels before I hit the ground running again.

But with it being 30 years since I left school, the beginning of a new year and hitting 20K followers (thank you), I wanted to share a few things about myself and how I got here.

Thanks for joining me on the ride. I can’t wait to share some exciting things I’ve been working on in 2026!

13/12/2025

Super grateful for this team. Best Christmas party ever. Thanks to 🙌

09/12/2025

If you see this at the beach, it might be me. Or one of my kids 🤯

07/12/2025

I don’t routinely use, or recommend eye creams. Skincare products for the face can safely be used (by most people) around the eyes, so in most cases there’s no real need for another product.

But the main reason I don’t recommend them is that people usually want an eye cream to solve issues that can’t be fixed with a cream… eye bags, dark circles, skin laxity and deep lines… sadly can’t be fixed with an cream 😢

05/12/2025

05/08/2025

💋💋💋