In partnership with SA’s top medical aesthetic companies
We wouldn’t dream of painting a wall or wood without first stripping away the old paint and sanding it to create a smooth surface, so that the new paint goes on smoothly and doesn’t flake off. In the same way, if we want to get the best out of our skin care and have a smooth, radiant complexion, we need to remove the layers of dead cells on the skin’s surface.
Find everything you need to know about why you should exfoliate here. Now we will focus on superficial exfoliation – which every one of us should make part of our regular skin care routine.
Because exfoliation can have such a remarkable effect on our skins, skin-care professionals (medical and therapists alike) recommend a combination of in-clinic treatments, supported by home exfoliation with a medical skin care range.
Professional care
At Skin Renewal clinics, you will find medical spa skin treatments such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion not only remove the layers of dead skin on the skin’s surface, they also stimulate collagen production in the skin’s deeper layers, ultimately keeping the skin youthful.
Chemical peels (so called because they dissolve or break the bond that holds the old, dead cells to the skin chemically) are among the most effective and affordable treatments available. They vary in strength from superficial peels to more invasive medium and deep peels.
Medical aesthetic brand NeoStrata continue to be pioneers in this area, first using glycolic acid, an alpha-hydoxy acid, and continuing their advances into other ingredients that deliver powerful yet gentle exfoliation and anti-ageing benefits.
A superficial peel, aka ‘lunchtime peel’, doesn’t cause any redness or down time, so you can have this in your lunch hour and return to work with a healthy, even skin tone and smooth, clear complexion.
CAUTION: It is very important to have your skin and needs assessed by a trained professional, so they may recommend the correct chemical peel – not all skin types require the same treatment, and it can be a dangerous procedure if not applied correctly.
Microdermabrasion is another quick procedure with no downtime. The action is physical rather than chemical, and skin is gently polished with microcrystals, lifting dead skin cells off the surface of the skin, leaving the skin smoother, softer and more radiant.
The ideal complementary treatment to microdermabrasion is Dermapen. Now that the dead skin cells have been eliminated, this micro-needling treatment uses fine microneedles which puncture the skin, creating micro-channels through which active serums can penetrate effectively. It also stimulates the skin’s ability to heal itself. Following the Dermapen treatment, the skin destroys old, damaged tissue and replaces it with new and healthy skin. This encourages natural exfoliation and causes the stimulation of collagen.
Skin-care professionals recommend a home care routine to continue the good work you’ve started.
Home Care
If you want to maximise your skin care benefits, Skin Renewal recommends using products from a medical skin-care range rather than a cosmetic product because they are formulated with ingredients that are clinically tested and proven to have a beneficial effect on the skin. In addition their active ingredients are supplied in doses designed for maximum effectiveness and safety, and they should have proven track records. This gives you assurance that your product has active benefits and has been chosen specifically for your needs by your skin-care professional. NeoStrataare globally known for the heritage of research and science that has gone into their products.
Take the quick Beyond Beauty Survey and you could win a R2000 Skin Renewal voucher to spend in our online store, with free delivery within South Africa. T&Cs apply.