WHAT A CHEMICAL PEEL REALLY DOES FOR YOUR SKIN

(You’ll be surprised!) 

When most people have a skincare treatment, they imagine instant results, but chemical peels work differently.

Professional peels like VI and Perfect Derma are designed to reset skin from within, enabling controlled exfoliation and renewal over several days, so the peeling that you see is your skin’s natural response to the treatment, which is very effective at treating stubborn issues like hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, uneven skin tone, and sun damage.

What’s involved? 

A carefully balanced blend of active ingredients work below the surface of the skin to:

• Accelerate cell turnover

• Break down uneven pigment

• Stimulate collagen production

• Smooth texture 

It’s not an instant transformation, but over time healthier, more even skin will emerge. 

What’s the timeline? 

Everyone is different, but most patients follow this rhythm:

• Days 1-2 — Skin feels tight or even slightly warm, with little visible change

• Days 3-5: Peeling begins as skin sheds it outer layer (this can look dramatic, but it’s temporary and a good sign that the peel is doing its job)

• Days 5-7: New skin appears and it much brighter and smoother 

• Beyond: Consistent improvement in clarity and texture as skin continues to regenerate 

Is it right for me?

If you have:

• Uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation

• Sun damage

• Acne marks

• Dull or tired-looking skin

• Early signs of ageing 

a chemical peel could be for you, as it rebuilds skin clarity and quality over time, especially when paired with a consistent skincare routine and sunscreen use. Each skin type is different, though, so we always tailor peel type and strength to your particular situation. 

THE BEST TIME TO START FACIALS

(It’s sooner than you think) 

Remember when facials were something you did when skin concerns like breakouts, dullness or signs of ageing became visible? Modern skincare has shifted that thinking completely.

The most effective approach to skin health is not correction — it’s prevention, consistency and trusted guidance as your skin changes over time.

For us, facials aren’t one-off experiences; they’re part of a journey designed to support your skin at every stage—early, ongoing, and long term.

When to begin?

The best time to start is in your late teens or early twenties, when the skin is healthy but also beginning to face external stressors like sun exposure and makeup buildup. 

However, it all depends on your skin; some people start as young as 13 as hormonal changes take hold, and we get many teens with breakouts from exam stress. Starting early helps maintain skin quality before damage becomes visible, and it’s much easier to preserve healthy skin than to try and repair damage later.

When facials become a habit, you gain insight into how your skin behaves under stress, how hydrated it is, where congestion tends to accumulate, and what changes in response to external or internal factors. 

The great thing is, facials have the flexibility to evolve right alongside your skin’s needs, which is why consistency matters more than intensity.

How often? 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a general guide: 

• Younger skin (teens–20s) — every 6–8 weeks for prevention and maintenance

• Active skin concerns (acne,  buildup, dullness) — every 4–6 weeks

• Healthy skin — every 6–10 weeks, depending on your lifestyle and skin goals

The goal is not over-treatment, just regular attention to your skin’s needs.

What type? 

Not all facials are the same, and not all skin needs the same approach. Here are some of our most popular facials:

Custom 

These tailored treatments address your specific concerns. They of course include key steps like cleansing, exfoliating, and extracting, but we also introduce elements like serums, hydration, micro-currents, and more.

Dermaplaning  

If your skin is sensitive or tends to get easily inflamed, this may not be the facial for you, as the focus is exfoliation and the removal of dead skin cells. Your skin becomes instantly smoother and brighter, with a refreshed glow. Bonus: skincare products like serums absorb more effectively after this facial.

Forma radiofrequency 

The use of a heat-generating electromagnetic device gently stimulates collagen and elastin production, making skin firmer, smoother and younger-looking. The result is better texture and a lovely lift, rejuvenating from within.

Glacē

A medical-grade facial, Glacē focuses on deep cleansing without stripping the skin, and gentle exfoliation to support cell turnover. It also offers great hydration and barrier support and caters to long-term skin health, not just short-term glow. This makes it suitable even for younger skin that is not yet experiencing major concerns, but wants to stay ahead of them.

Other medical-grade hydrating facials that use serums and deep hydration with minimal exfoliation are also very effective. 

LED 

This facial stimulates cellular activity while keeping your skin’s barrier intact. Red light therapy reduces inflammation and supports healing, while blue light therapy helps eradicate acne-causing bacteria. It’s a great facial if you have sensitive or inflamed skin and is wonderful for healthy maintenance.

Oxygeneo Hydrate 

A real rejuvenator, this facial gently exfoliates and nourishes skin by providing the oxygen it needs to generate new cells. It’s great if you want a noticeable reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, but it also gives skin a soft, rosy glow. It’s also very effective at dealing with acne. 

Refining treatment for men

Men need facials too, and the medical-grade products we use in this one invigorate skin and leave it feeling and looking fresh and toned. 

WHAT DO WOMEN WANT?

Make this Mother’s Day memorable

They don’t always say it out loud, but if you listen closely, what ladies (especially mothers) want isn’t more stuff. It’s time, care, and to feel like themselves again. Here are some winning ideas that are sure to impress the special ladies in your life…

1. The thing she’s been putting off: A dermatology consult

There’s always something. A mole or skin tag she’s been meaning to check. A patch that’s changed slightly. Something that’s been on her mental to-do list for months.

A dermatology consultation is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give a woman, because it sends the message that her health matters. It also offers peace of mind (and early intervention, if needed), expert guidance on concerns, and a chance to prioritise herself. 

2. The reset: A medi-spa treatment

Sometimes, women just need a pause. Whether it’s a laser session, an amazing facial, or a skin-refining treatment, it’s the perfect sweet spot between relaxation and results. 

These treatments improve skin tone, clarity, and texture, deliver that dewy glow, and give her time that’s hers alone. It’s skincare, sure — but it’s also time for her, which is often the real luxury.

3. The extra “oomph”: An aesthetic treatment

All women want that “You look amazing!” reaction they get when they are feeling their best — refreshed, well rested, and younger looking. This is where injectables come in, done well and subtly, of course. 

Treatments like Botox, Profhilo and Radiesse can offer everything from a smoother appearance to skin firmness and subtle lift. The glow results are so natural, this gift is sure to be a hit! 

4. The exhale: A wellness experience 

The Greenhouse at Serpentine offers both a mental reset and physical relaxation. 

That sense of being cared for without having to rush or worry about anything is priceless for women. From acupuncture and craniosacral therapy to massage, holistic and osteotherapy, there’s a wide range of holistic options designed to pamper and restore. 

Because what women want is often really simple: to feel seen, supported, and cherished. 

TURNING BACK TIME

How Forma and PicoWay gently help your skin rewind

Turning back time once meant dramatic interventions, but today it looks very different — quieter, smarter, and more refined. Here’s a quick intro to two of our favourite treatments leading this shift…

Forma rewinds at the structural level

Ageing doesn’t start on the surface. It goes way deeper, to where collagen weakens, elasticity fades, and skin slowly loses its firmness — but guess what? This is precisely where the Forma radiofrequency facial does its magic. 

Using controlled radiofrequency energy, it heats the deeper layers of tissue, triggering collagen production and mild contraction. Over time, this creates a subtle tightening effect, restoring that natural, effortless “lift” of younger skin. 

It’s kind of like retraining your skin so that it becomes firmer, and feels denser and more supported. The result? 

• Fine lines soften as the skin regains its bounce

• You get a plumping, hydrated glow that makes skin look and feel refreshed, almost instantly

The icing on the cake? There’s no downtime. You can step out of a session and straight back into your day, looking quietly renewed.

PicoWay erases the effects of time 

Where Forma rebuilds, the PicoWay laser refines. All those visible markers your skin accumulates over time — sun damage, pigmentation, acne scars, uneven tone — PicoWay targets, breaking down pigment and stimulating collagen:

• Dark spots fade

• Scars soften

• Skin tone becomes visibly brighter, smoother and more even

A dual approach to time

Forma and PicoWay’s effects are enhanced when used in conduction with each other, because the Forma facial lifts and firms from within, while PicoWay clears and refines on the surface. Signs of premature ageing, like laxity and fine lines, are addressed at two levels, as is accumulated skin damage like scarring and hyperpigmentation. 

Maintenance — not drastic change 

We all know that the best way to keep skin looking and feeling younger for longer is maintenance, which is what makes makes both these treatments especially compelling.

They’re not just corrective—they’re preventative. Regular sessions help:

• Slow the visible signs of ageing

• Keep collagen production active

• Maintain clarity and smoothness

They’re ideal treatments to have before special events, as they’re totally non-invasive and give the skin a lifted, luminous, even-tone that more aggressive procedures are hard-pressed to match.

Because when it comes to turning back time, you don’t want to look different — just like yourself, on your best day. Forma and PicoWay can help get you there, gently, naturally, and most of all, convincingly — step by step.

YOUR SKIN BARRIER: THE HERO OF HEALTHY SKIN

(And how to save it when it’s under attack)

If your skin has suddenly become sensitive, tight, dull, or prone to breakouts and irritation, there’s a strong chance your skin barrier has been compromised. In clinic, we often see this with patients who take great care of their skin, but have unknowingly overdone it.

So what is the barrier anyway, how does it get damaged, and most importantly, how do we get our skin’s superhero strong enough to protect us again?

Barrier basics

Think of the barrier as a wall around the fortress of your skin. When it’s intact, it keeps moisture in and keeps irritants, allergens, and bacteria out. The result? A healthy, balanced microbiome. 

When it’s damaged, you may notice:

• Certain products begin to sting or burn

• Sudden dryness or flaking

• Redness, inflammation or the appearance of acne

• Increased sun sensitivity

Bad guys of the barrier

In our experience, the biggest culprits tend to be: 

• Harsh cleansers

• Overdoing it with both cleansers and exfoliation products (acids, scrubs, peels, or retinoids used too often and/or aggressively)

• Skipping moisturisers

• Environmental factors like sun and pollution

• Frequent product switching (“skin-cycling” gone awry)

Barrier boosts

When it comes to repairing the barrier, less is more:

Step 1: Scale back

For two weeks to a month, keep your skincare routine simple: use a gentle, non-foaming, pH-balanced cleanser along with a rich moisturiser that promotes healing. You must also use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+) on your skin, regardless of whether or not you are outdoors. 

Step 2: Rebuild

Begin to integrate trusted products with ingredients that restore lipids and hydration:

• Ceramides replenish structural lipids

• Cholesterol and fatty acids support barrier integrity

• Hyaluronic acid draws in hydration

• Glycerin helps maintain moisture

• A low percentage niacinamide reduces inflammation and supports barrier repair

Step 3: Hydrate

Be strategic:

• Apply moisturiser on slightly damp skin so that it absorbs more effectively

• Consider layering a cream over a hydrating serum at night

Step 4: Protect

Especially for those of us who live in the tropics, barrier repair requires sun protection:

• Use SPF every day

• Reapply regularly, especially if outdoors

Step 5: Reintroduce actives

Once your skin feels calm again, you can try reintroducing actives one at a time, once or twice a week. Buffer with moisturiser if needed. 

In-clinic treatments the barrier loves

Once the barrier is stabilised, certain professional treatments can accelerate recovery and improve overall skin function.

Microneedling with PRP (platelet-rich plasma)

A super-effective regenerative treatment, microneedling with PRP uses your body’s own growth factors to stimulate collagen and jump-start the healing process. You’ll notice an overall improvement in skin texture, tone, and resilience — but timing is important This is not a treatment we recommend for actively inflamed skin.

Best for:

• Barrier repair strengthening

• Dull, stressed, or ageing skin

Microneedling with added growth factors

This treatment can be either an alternative or a complement to PRP, as topical growth factors enhance repair signalling and support faster recovery and improved skin quality.

Best for:

• Regenerative benefits 

• Enhancement of post-treatment healing

LED facial

This gentle, non-invasive treatment stimulates cellular activity without further disrupting the barrier. The red light therapy reduces inflammation and supports healing, while the blue light helps eliminate acne-causing bacteria.

Best for:

• Sensitive, inflamed, or reactive skin

• Barrier maintenance

Medical-grade hydrating facials

Any facial that uses barrier repair serums, minimal exfoliation, and deep hydration will go a long way to restoring the integrity of your skin. 

Barrier bottom line

Healthy skin depends on a balanced barrier, so before you go chasing glow, brightness, or anti-ageing results, focus on resilience.

Remember: 

• More products do not necessarily equate to better skin

• Tingling often signals irritation (as opposed to being a sign something is “working”) 

• Consistency beats intensity, so be patient — barrier repair can take weeks, but it’s always worth the wait. 

When your barrier is strong, actives work more effectively, your skin tolerates treatments better, and results last longer.