Winter is here, and more than likely, you’ve noticed your skin responding to the cold change. Don’t fret! Our expert Skin Therapists share 4 tips to prevent dry winter skin and keep your skin looking healthy, even when temperatures dips.
Trying to find a safe and effective solution to acne prone skin can be tiresome and expensive. The acnelan peel journey by mesoestetic is a clinical grade peel specially formulated to target all causes of acne and breakouts.
A next-generation professional anti-aging system inspired by the most advanced medical aesthetic technology that incorporates the [meso]epigen system™ complex coupled with near infrared light technology.
As the seasons change, so does our skin. Just as you switch up your wardrobe, it’s important to do the same for your skincare regime. Read on for 5 effective ways to switch up your skincare regime as we head out of Summer and into Autumn.
There’s no doubt that cosmelan® delivers phenomenal results as seen below. But one of the biggest questions I receive about cosmelan® is how it feels after. As I want to offer my clients an honest account of the experience and what they should expect, I documented my cosmelan® journey in real-time. The 6 day journey was also documented on video for more detail.
Cosmelan®, is the world’s leading professional depigmentation method for treating the most severe and stubborn skin spots.
Excellent results are achieved in the short and long term thanks to its unique dual action mechanism: corrective and regulatory. On the one hand it eliminates the visible spot, but also acts on the source of the problem, regulating the overproduction of pigment to prevent its reappearance.
Cosmelan® depigmentation treatment is a type of chemical peel which is safe for all skin types. It consists of two different product applications: a mask applied by a therapist in-clinic and a cream applied at home. Your cosmelan® journey includes the following appointments in-clinic:
Cosmelan® is an intensive treatment which you will need to plan anywhere from 7 days of downtime.
Your skin will be red, swollen and warm for the first 3 days post treatment, and then peeling will begin. Peeling and dryness can be expected up to 5-7 days. Sun exposure is to be avoided during this time; and a SPF 50+ is a MUST to protect your skin and your results.
All at-home post treatment care products (as shown below) are included in your treatment price (valued at $1,053) which will help speed up the healing phase.
The month leading up to your cosmelan® treatment:
In the 5 days prior, pre-treatment requirements include:
On the day of treatment, you’ll need to ensure:
Post-treatment requirements from day 1 – 6:
Day of application:
Your cosmelan® application appointment will be scheduled first up in the morning. Make this a YOU day (to relax, read a book, watch movies, laptop day) as you will be wearing your cosmelan® 1 treatment for 8 – 12 hours and will have to avoid going outdoors, sweating, touching your face or too many facial movements.
Your skin will feel a little tingly and may get slightly itchy and warm towards the end of the day. When you remove your cosmelan® 1 at the time instructed by your therapist, you will feel slightly hot in the face and the skin will feel tight. Follow with your advised after care.
Day 1 post-treatment:
(most redness and inflammation present)
You will wake up feeling a lot of heat in the skin, slightly inflamed and tender to touch. Your face will be quite red and it’s normal to feel restricted in facial movements (like a tightened feeling). Bye bye fine lines!
As the day goes on these feelings may slightly increase. You can use a clean cold towel or a fan if required. It is essential to use your prescribed after-care. Use the Mesoestetic Melan Recovery and Mesoestetic Hydra-vital face mask as many times as required throughout the day.
Day 2 & 3 post-treatment:
(expect the worst of the shedding)
Skin will feel super tight especially around the mouth & nose and will start to show dark patches. As the day progresses it may get more tender and tighter, with increased shedding. You won’t feel good on day 2 & 3, so try not to tell your other half to p*ss off and the kids to get their own dinner. 😂 Cold towel compress with a clean, soft towel if needed.
Apply the Mesoestetic Melan Recovery / Hydra-vital face mask as many times as required throughout the day. Be gentle, just ‘dab’. DO NOT wipe the skin.
As part of your treatment package, in-clinic LED light therapy is performed on day 3 to help with wound healing and anti-aging benefits.
Day 4 & 5 post-treatment:
Pain is minimal. Itching starts as it starts to heal. Inflammation and redness decreases.
Day 6 post-treatment:
From day 6 onwards your skin should be really on the mend. Follow the aftercare instructions given to you and only use a half pea size amount of the cosmelan® 2 cream when your therapist moves you onto this.
Between day 7 & 10, another LED is performed in-clinic to help with wound healing and anti-aging benefits.
Results can be seen after one series of the cosmelan® treatment. This can be visible in as little as 2 weeks post treatment or otherwise 4-8 weeks post treatment, depending on skin condition and concerns. Maintenance of pigmentation will always be needed due to external and internal factors. The cosmelan® treatment can only be repeated every 6 months.
Ready to start your own journey? Read more about the cosmelan® treatment at Bobbie Charles and contact us to book.
Both Crystal retinal and intelligent retinol have amazing anti-aging properties, but why do we favour Crystal?
Both retinal and retinol help to increase proliferation (cell turnover), increase collagen and elastin synthesis, decrease melanin production, reduce sebum production, stimulate Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and finally thicken the epidermis for plumper skin. So why not favour both?
Well firstly, let’s get to know the Vitamin A stages of conversion. Retinoic acid is the form of vitamin A used by the cell, however we can’t put retinoic acid directly onto the skin. However we can put retinol and retinaldehyde onto the skin, which the skin then converts to retinoic acid through the stages of conversion.
Intelligent Retinol from Medik8 is a classic form of vitamin A. Retinol must go through 2 conversions to get to retinoic acid, the vitamin A form used within the cell. This means it takes longer to ‘work’ in the skin, and the skin has to do a lot more work to get it to retinoic acid, sometimes causing irritation. Medik8 Intelligent Retinol TR also contains vitamin E and Jojoba oil, giving the skin extra antioxidants and nourishment.
Intelligent Retinol is ideal for:
Key benefits:
As the name suggests, Medik8 Crystal Retinal is the retinaldehyde form of vitamin A encapsulated in a cyclodextrin crystal exterior. This has been proven to be 2.8 times more biologically active then retinol and is the only form of vitamin A to have antibacterial properties – meaning it can help to kill the bacteria causing breakouts (p. acne). It also only has to go through 1 conversion to get to retinoic acid, meaning quicker cellular regeneration and less irritation.
Crystal Retinal is also great for people with sensitive skin because of its time release technology, in which the retinal is released into the skin slowly overnight. It also contains multi-weight hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E and glycerin.
Crystal retinal is ideal for:
Key benefits:
Both retinal and retinol can cause mild irritation when they’re first introduced to the skin, but these effects are temporary, and they usually occur when vitamin A has been introduced too quickly or in too high a quantity.
Technically speaking, retinol is usually gentler than retinal, but new developments in encapsulation techniques have allowed formulators to create retinal products that are just as kind to the skin as retinol.
Introducing vitamin A into your routine gradually is the best way to avoid irritation. Start with a low percentage. Use it twice a week for the first 2 weeks, every other night for a further 2 weeks and then every night. Once your skin has built-up a tolerance to the ingredient, you can then move on to higher strength products.
If you are unsure what vitamin A is for you, book a phone or in-person skin consult with our Skin Therapists, which can be booked online.
At Bobbie Charles we are wholeheartedly committed to helping you feel confident in your own skin, through a combination of effective in-clinic treatment plans and tailored at home products to enhance your results.
Our most popular and well-loved skin treatment would have to be Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) using the Healite II, a world leading LED light treatment for skin rejuvenation and healing. Not all LED devices are created equal; so, it’s important to know you are being treated with the best the industry has to offer.
The Healite II, which is a TGA approved medical device backed by proven clinical studies, harnesses the properties of 830/590nm and 415nm light via light emitting diodes (LED) technology. This device works at a subcellular, cellular and tissue level, treating effectively without the possibility of physical trauma or thermal damage. The treatment is pain free, non-invasive and can be used as a stand-alone treatment to improve skin texture, reducing acne and rosacea, wrinkle depth and skin texture issues. Due to its ability to heal the skin, the Healite II is also used as an adjunctive treatment to other cosmetic procedures.
As you age, your body starts producing less collagen. The skin becomes thinner, drier, and experiences a downturn in quality collagen and elastin fibres. The degradation of these fibres leads to wrinkle formation and an inability for the skin to look plump and lifted. With Healite II LED Light Therapy we can wind back the clock and regain skin rejuvenation.
When it comes to skin rejuvenation and anti-ageing, the 830 nm LED light wavelength is the answer. The light triggers a response by the skin’s cells and sets off a cascade of cellular reactions, which results in a release of growth factors, new collagen synthesis and improvements in the microcirculation.
Healite II LED Light Therapy enhances our body’s natural cellular recovery. But you are probably thinking “what does this actually mean?”. This medical grade device improves your body’s healing time, it aids in pain relief, treats active acne, improves blood flow circulation, and promotes skin rejuvenation for an anti-aging effect.
The near infrared (830nm wavelength) is the setting of choice for post-surgical procedures including breast augmentations, face-lifts, rhinoplasty etc. to calm inflammation, accelerate wound healing and reduce bruising; reducing downtime by half as studies show. The below table shows the healing comparison time post procedure without using Healite II compared to using the Healite II post procedure.
Healite II LED Light Therapy not only helps rejuvenate your skin, but it has a lot of healing benefits as well. It can be used to help improve inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. The LED light stimulates deep skin cells and boosts your immune function. It helps improve compromised skin and is a great stand-alone treatment, an amazing addition to our results-based facials such as Skin Peels, and complements prescribed at-home products for enhanced results, such as the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 and Medik8 Clarity Peptides.
When it comes to acne, Healite II has been shown to reduce the appearance of acne scarring, reduce redness and inflammation, and further reduces breakouts.
The blue light (415nm wavelength) is used for the treatment of active acne, blackheads, and congestion. This light is responsible for killing off the acne causing bacteria found on our skin.
The near infrared (830nm wavelength) is best used to calm inflammation and accelerate healing. This is the setting of choice for reducing acne scars and inflamed acne.
The results shown above are thanks to a combination of at-home skin care prescribed by our Dermal Clinician, and regular LED treatments under the Healite II in just under 3 months.
Our Healite II LED Light Therapy has so many benefits, but what’s the biggest bonus? This skin treatment is completely pain-free and there is no downtime! Most people describe it as a similar sensation to laying under the warm sun (but good for your skin!). Most clients also do not realise you get immediate results as well. Immediately after your treatment, skin will appear plumper, more rejuvenated and will be glowing.
Let us take you on the journey to your best skin yet. Bobbie Charles Skin & Cosmetic Clinic offer LED Light Facials starting from $69 per treatment, that can be performed in as little time as a half hour lunch break!
Clinical studies show maximum results when using the Healite II Phototherapy treatment twice a week for 4 weeks. For best results and cost saving, grab a LED Package of 10 x LED light facials for $690.
Before doing LED Light Therapy for the first time, head over to the LED Light Facials web page and view the advice & contraindications before booking in your LED Light Facial with us. You can easily book a LED Light Facial online 24/7 on our website or give the friendly team a call in-clinic to purchase the package today.
Medik8 has over 70 different products: including cleansers, direct acids, toners, serums, creams and sunscreens. They give you the choice to tailor your skincare specifically to your needs. But with so many products, and only one face, where do you even start?
Understanding your skin is the first step to a fully developed skincare routine. Consider the skin concern you want to address – is it fine lines and wrinkles you want to target, or a set of blemishes which need to be calmed? Medik8 Regimes are specifically designed to cater to any skincare concern – you can find these here.
However, if you want to build your own skincare regime bespoke to your skin’s needs or need help on how to use your existing products, keep reading.
Medik8 believe every skincare regime should be based on CSA; vitamin C and sunscreen by day (C + S), and vitamin A by night (A). Start with CSA, and you can build from there.
Here’s how to build a typical morning and evening routine:
In the morning, a light cleanser will gently wash away oils produced overnight, leaving your skin prepared for morning skincare. We recommend a foam, mousse or gel cleanser for the most refreshing morning cleanse. See the Medik8 range of cleansers we recommend here.
A light sweep of a direct acid and/or hydrating toner will help active ingredients in your regime to penetrate better into the skin. See the Medik8 range of Toners we recommend here.
This could be a peptide or a booster serum to target a specific skincare concern. Depending on whether your target serum is oil, water or emulsion based, it may layer before or after your vitamin C. See the range of Peptides here.
Vitamin C, an exceptionally powerful antioxidant, is vital to apply in the morning to protect your delicate skin from environmental damage throughout the day. See the range of Vitamin C serums here.
Keep your skin protected from damaging UV rays and sun damage, which can cause premature ageing. UV rays are responsible for 80% of visible facial ageing, so keeping skin protected from the sun is the key to looking youthful for longer. Medik8 Physical Sunscreen is a high-performance SPF 50 sunscreen that provides powerful broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays. We highly recommend you go check it out here.
Start with a gentle eye make-up remover before moving onto cleansing. Double Cleansing is ideal to remove all traces of makeup, sunscreen and daily pollutants, particularly if you wear heavier make up. Start with massaging in an oil or cream cleanser, to lift make up and oil from the skin, then using a lighter foam, mousse, or gel cleanser with for a thorough cleanse.
For heavy makeup wearers, our recommended double cleanse regime begins with Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil, followed by Micellar Mousse.
For Congested/Blemish Prone Skins, our recommended double cleanse regime begins with Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil, followed by Clarifying Foam.
For Dry/Sensitive Skins, our recommended double cleanse regime begins with Cream Cleanse, followed by Gentle Cleanse.
A light sweep of a direct acid can gently exfoliate the complexion, while helping other active ingredients in your regime to penetrate better into the skin. See the range of Toners here.
This could be a peptide or a booster serum to target a specific skincare concern. Depending on the base of your target serum, it may layer before or after your vitamin A (check the table for layering guidance!). Our recommendation is Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense for a supercharged hyaluronic acid serum.
The skin is most active at night as skin cell regeneration becomes supercharged while we sleep. This makes it the ideal time to use vitamin A serums which also speed up skin cell renewal. Most forms of vitamin A are deactivated by sunlight, so always incorporate your retinol or retinal serum into your night-time routine. See the Medik8 range of Vitamin A serums here.
Overnight is also the ideal time to rehydrate, richer moisturisers have time to sink deeper into your skin. Opt for a heavier moisturiser than what you would use in the daytime to truly nourish and rejuvenate skin as you sleep. See the Medik8 range of Moisturisers here.
Apply up to twice a week to give your skin a boost, we have a range of masks and treatments which are perfect for some skin indulgence. For a real boost, you can double mask! Start with applying Medik8 Natural Clay Mask for 10 minutes to refine the skin, remove, then apply Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Bio-Cellulose Mask to plump and hydrate! Sleep Glycolic is a perfect at-home peel for a once per week treat.
So, you’ve chosen the products you want in your bespoke skincare regime, now it’s time to understand how to layer them onto the face, in the morning or evening.
When layering skincare, these are our general recommendations:
1) Apply in the order; Cleanse, Toner/Direct Acid, Eye Serum, Face Serum, Oil, Face Moisturiser/Cream, Sunscreen.
2) When layering multiple serums apply in the order; Water-based serums then oil-based serums then emulsion-based serums (milky lotion consistency). If unsure what base your Medik8 serum is, refer to the table below or consult the exhaustive table found on the Medik8 website here.
3) Apply any serums of the same base in order lightest to heaviest in texture.
Click here for the exhaustive table of layering skincare, which includes every product in the Medik8 range, listed in order of application in a regime. Alongside the products are helpful notes to help tailor your regime further and get the very best out of each product.
If you are unsure about any of this or have any questions about building a bespoke regime for you, please do not hesitate to book in for a phone or in-person skin consult with our Dermal Therapist, which can be booked online.
This article originally appeared on the Medik8 website as ‘How to Build a Bespoke Skincare Regime’.