CATCHING PEELINGS

We get it — when it comes to chemical peels, you’re in love — and with good reason! Peels can make quite the difference when it comes to your skin’s appearance, so here’s what you need to know before coming in to get one…

There are different types 

Peels are not a one-size-fits all situation. There are light, medium and deep chemical peels, and each is geared towards a different result. 

• Light peels — Penetrate the uppermost layer of the epidermis. Great for minor issues like small blemish scars that only need superficial treatment. Also fantastic for brightening skin’s appearance and helping to control breakouts. Fast recovery time.

• Medium peels — These go just beneath the epidermis. Work well on shallow acne scars, and reversing sun damage and wrinkling around the eyes and mouth. Any side effects, like redness and peeling, don’t typically last longer than a couple of weeks. Not necessarily recommended for those with darker skin tones because of the risk of discolouration.

• Deep peels — Treat all the way through to the lower dermis level. Best for deeper scars and wrinkles, but requires sedation, so the CO2RE laser — or even microdermabrasion — are much better options to treat deep tissue.

Your skin type matters 

The effectiveness of chemical peels rely strongly on the type of skin you have. This is determined by the Fitzpatrick scale, which classifies skin based on skin colour and its response to ultraviolet light. Dermatologists use the scale as a tool to help inform skin pigmentation research and treatments. Lighter skin (Types I-II) react much better to peels, while darker tones are at risk of hyperpigmentation and should avoid this type of treatment. 

There are tangible benefits for lighter skin tones

If you’re light-skinned enough to be a safe candidate for chemical peels, you’ll be thrilled at what they can do: 

• Improve hydration and tone, making skin look more clear and even, and feel firmer to the touch

• Visibly reduce the appearance of acne, sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles

• Give skin the “clean slate” effect, allowing skincare products do their job more effectively

• Prompt cell growth; healthy new collagen makes your complexion glow

Sounds “appeeling”? Call us to find out more or book your spot today.

UNDER THE SURFACE

“Beauty is only skin deep” is a reminder never to judge a book by its cover; quite fittingly, the saying applies to your skin as well. Healthy, glowing skin can only come from the inside out, so what’s happening under the surface is a key indicator of the state of your skin. The CO2RE laser goes deep to rejuvenate your skin from the inside, out.

Breaking the barrier 

The skin barrier, or epidermis, is the outermost layer of your skin. Its main job is to be like a moat around the castle of your body, protecting it from outside intruders. Underneath lies the dermis. Think of it as your castle’s wall — the layer that houses the proteins your skin needs to stay firm and flourishing. 

When it comes to skin rejuvenation, these are the areas that matter most, managing moisture, lipids, and pH levels, all of which are essential for luminous skin, and minimising the negative impact of free radicals and other environmental irritants that contribute to premature ageing. 

The CO2RE transforms your skin

Sometimes, though, regular skin routines are not enough to offset the effects of environmental skin damage, but fear not…our CO2RE laser will come to the rescue:

• Simultaneously treats both the surface of your skin and underneath, for best results

• Performs full and fractional resurfacing with excellent results on both face and body

• Beaming pulses of light energy go deep to remove damaged or pigmented layers of skin, including brown spots and sun damage, visibly reducing the appearance of even deep wrinkles

• Interaction with the laser’s heat encourages your skin to create collagen enhancing firmness

• These new, healthy skin cells create younger, smoother-looking skin

• Non-invasive, hormone-free, practically no downtime

The CO2RE goes much deeper than chemical peels, and produces phenomenal before-and-after evidence:

There’s only one caveat: we limit CO2RE laser treatments to skin types 1 and 2 — meaning those with fair skin — since darker skin tones do not always react to laser therapy in a predictable way. However, lighter-skinned patients are the ones who struggle the most with sun damage and prematurely ageing skin anyway, and the good news is they do really well with it! 

Want to find out if CO2RE resurfacing treatments are right for you? Give us a call, or come in for a consultation. 

DAD’S SKIN, DECODED

The majority of Caribbean men have super-basic skincare routines. We suspect it’s partly a cultural thing: in a region where men are still largely conditioned to be “tough”, taking the time to nurture your skin can feel unnecessary — but nothing could be further from the truth. Making a habit of healthy skin is much better than only paying it attention when something goes wrong, so this Father’s Day we’re here to tell the men, “Skincare treatments are for you too!” 

Facials 

Men can (and should!) have facials too! Our Refining Treatment for Men uses medical-grade Skinceuticals products that completely invigorate skin so that you look and feel your very best. 

We’ve also got a Micro Facial that works well to treat light scarring, discolouration and sun damage, all of which most men who live in the tropics have. It’s good for all skin types and is effective at treating oily and acne-prone skin — but start soon, as it’s a treatment that works best in a series (usually four to six treatments spaced a week to ten days apart).

Manscaping

Our amazing laser hair removal treatments can remove back hair, as well as deal with conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae, more commonly known as razor bumps, which is aggravated by shaving the face. 

The ingrown hairs (which can also happen to women along the bikini line) can be very painful, but our GentleMax Pro™ laser uses a patented cooling technology that makes the process practically pain-free, and leaves you feeling a lot smoother, well groomed and more comfortable. 

And…newsflash! You don’t have to be obsessed with your appearance to manscape. Many of our male clients choose to do it because removing excess body hair helps them feel cooler, especially in our tropical climate. Athletes whose bodies need to be as streamlined as possible for competition (think swimmers, cyclists and body builders) also get fantastic results from our laser hair removal treatments, which produce solid results at the best value price. 

Tattoo removal 

Tattoos may be cool, but some of them come with regrets. Our Picoway laser, however, is extremely adept at making them practically disappear — but the process is an extended one, so you have to be patient and committed. 

The impact of the laser’s intensity (delivered in ultra-short pulses) will cause the tattoo pigment to break down bit by bit, but it’s not a one-and-done process. The time it will take varies depending on the specific tattoo, but you can rest assured knowing that while the ink is breaking down, the integrity of the outer layer of skin remains intact. The treatment has been proven safe and effective in all skin types. 

Our Picoway laser treatments can also help with hyperpigmentation, acne marks, and other forms of scarring. So embrace your inner manscaper and give us a call — your skin will thank you for it!

BIKINI LINES VS. BRAZILIANS

If you don’t have the right information, dealing with unwanted hair in the bikini area can be confusing — from what type of treatment is best, to how much hair to get rid of. 

We recommend laser hair removal for the pubic area because it is the most long-term solution. A medical procedure that targets the laser’s intense beams of light towards unwanted hair follicles, it successfully reduces hair growth over an extended period of time.

So what’s the difference between Bikinis and Brazilians and how do you know which is right for you? Read on…

Bikinis

The bikini section is defined as the area that lies outside your panty line. Bikini line laser hair removal will treat up to three inches beyond this line and an inch inside it, so that no hair is visible when you’re rocking that bikini at the beach. If you so desire, this treatment can also ensure that some key areas, like the sides of the labia, are hair-free.  

Brazilians

Think of the Brazilian as the Bikini on steroids. It covers everything the bikini line laser hair removal treatment does, except that it targets hair on the labia and perianal areas as well. Some people choose to remove all hair from the area and go completely clean, while others prefer a “landing strip” — a thin line of hair that is kept low and covers the central vaginal area. 

Whichever you prefer, we can customise your treatment to your liking, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, or call us to book your appointment. 

HERE COMES WEDDING-DAY BEAUTIFUL SKIN!

Whether you just got engaged or are actively prepping for the big day, there are a few super skin treatments that will help bring out that gorgeous glow…

Facials

If you’re not currently getting regular facials, you should start at least six months before the event. Facials are great for cleaning and hydrating your skin, and our Oxygeneo facials achieve noticeable results, giving you the exfoliation benefits of microdermabrasion along with oxygenation effects that deeply rejuvenate and heal skin from the inside, out. 

Oxygeneo’s combination of exfoliation, infusion and oxygenation is suitable for all skin types, regardless of pigmentation or sensitivity. Clients tell us that it leaves their skin feeling more youthful looking, even-toned and invigorated. 

Laser hair removal 

The perfect treatment if you want to be well groomed for the big day (and night)! We can do everything from the upper lip and under arm area to the legs and bikini line. We also do Brazilians. (If you’re not sure of the difference between regular bikini line hair removal and Brazilians, click here.) 

Botox

It’s important to remember that Botox has both cosmetic and therapeutic benefits. It can lessen the appearance of frown lines, crow’s feet and jowls, as well as fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and neck. But Botox has also proven helpful in reducing the intensity and frequency of migraines, improving squinting, easing severe neck pain and reducing excessive sweating.

If you’d like to try it for either appearance-based or therapeutic reasons, just give us a call and we’ll recommend the treatment that best suits your needs. 

Laser treatments 

Sometimes, wedding prep may include dealing with more medical-based skin issues, such as mole, skin tag or keloid removal. Our CO2RE laser (which is also great at improving the appearance of ageing) has also has tremendous results with everything from acne and surgical scars to under-eye bags and dark circles.  

For women specifically, there’s also the CO2RE Intima laser, which treats and rejuvenates their intimate areas if they are experiencing issues like vaginal dryness, itching and irritation, oversensitivity, pain during intercourse or persistent urinary tract infections. 

For challenges like hyperpigmentation, our Picoway laser treatments are also extremely effective. 

Skincare rituals

Before you commit to your significant other, commit to a consistent skincare routine in order to keep skin clean and balanced for that wedding day wow! This typically involves a hydrating cleanser/moisturiser combo that works for your particular skin type. If you feel you’re not getting the best out of your current routine, we’re always happy to recommend products and treatments that would benefit your skin. 

Remember, skin health is fluid and often dependent on your overall well being. Sometimes you need to adjust your routine to what’s happening in your life at the time, so just give us a call or set up a consultation.