You want to get a treatment at a clinic that will breathe some life into your skin. Energy. Vibrance. Bring back some bounce and have you wandering around with no makeup with confidence. And try to erase the tired from your skin. Or I did, anyway! Surely something can be done about the lacklustre skin. Here’s what I did to bring my skin back to fresh.
I TRIED:
A rejuvenation package. Rejuvenation is a buzzword in anti-ageing clinics, but what does it actually mean? “Your skin will be clearer, brighter and generally more glowy,” says Dr Jacinta Keoghan, co-owner of Sydney’s Zecca Cosmedical. “The treatments will build collagen for long-term anti-ageing, as well as attack the problems you see in the short term.”
WHAT:
Zecca’s “rejuvenation quattro” uses a unique four-pronged approach, combining four treatments in one 45-minute session, once a week for six weeks.
WHY?
“Over time we’ve found that, as a combination, they all offer something amazing and allow the skin to really shine” Ann Spralja, Zecca’s general manager says. “Plus there is no downtime, unlike laser treatments like Fraxel. It’s really popular with our celebrity/television clients as you don’t look swollen or scabby.” Or scary, as it may happen.
WHO IS IT GOOD FOR?
Anyone wanting to brighten up dull skin, lose their pigmentation, and get their glow back.
HOW:
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A double-barreled exfoliation with micro-dermabrasion and a micro-hydrabrasion (which is exactly the same only with water). They get under the skin and cleanse deeply. It doesn’t feel as rough as dermabrasion treatments I’ve had in the past, and I actually wondered if they should be doing it harder, but the nurse administering the treatment, Ann Pilley, says they never have to be too rough with these exfoliating treatments as they’re part of a six-week plan.
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Next is the RevLite facial, which is a laser that uses photo acoustic energy to vibrate and stimulate collagen growth. Collagen helps skin to stay firm and be more elastic – we all want more of it, however we can get it. The laser also helps even out pigmentation. What happens, Pilley says, is the laser inflicts minor damage on the skin so the skin produces more collagen and repairs it. Is that why it’s super uncomfortable? It feels like hot elastic being flicked all over my face. Constantly. Until the elastic has covered every inch. Luckily it only takes a few minutes and then it’s over.
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Mask time. They tailor the masks to your skin. I got three hydrating masks, one vitamin C and two vitamin A masks in the six treatments. These feel quite lovely being massaged in.
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While the mask is on, you’re left under what I like to call the sleepy light, otherwise known as the Omnilux. It’s super bright, but lovely and warm, making you feel all soft and sleepy. I crashed out almost every time, even though you’re only under there for 20 minutes (tired? Me?).
DID IT WORK?
My skin is more even, the pigmentation from my pregnancies has lessened considerably and the only pigmentation left is the one right around around my mouth, where you can’t really laser. I’ve already had three compliments about how I look, even when I’ve only had four hours sleep the night before, and I feel much more confident without make-up. It’s not a miracle treatment – it hasn’t shrunk my pores or gotten rid of fine lines – but overall I have a lovely glow.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Yes. This package is great for anyone who needs a lift, and generally looks run down or has a big event (wedding perhaps?) coming up. It’s expensive, but if you look at it as an annual or biannual treatment, then I would say it’s worth it.
LESSON LEARNT:
You really need to walk into an anti-ageing clinic (calling is not enough) for a consultation if you’re serious about getting something done. You might be tempted to buy a cheap laser treatment off a daily deal site, but if you don’t need that particular treatment then it's not worth it. It’s better to find out exactly what your skin needs, then research the clinic and the people who do the treatments before letting anyone near your face. I walked into Zecca asking for a hardcore laser treatment because that’s what I assumed I needed (give me all the laser!), but they thought otherwise and proved me wrong. It also helps to learn exactly what they mean by “clear” and “glowy”. They weren’t talking about clearing up spots or getting rid of scarring, it was more about pigmentation and texture – they focus on the stuff they can fix so that the rest of you can shine. Make sure you know what you are getting – you’re paying for it.