Luminous skin? Sign us up now
A skin care regimen used diligently at home is all well and good, but there’s nothing quite like a facial to further boost the quality of your skin.
The newest treatments on the market are a step up from the old ‘treat one skin concern at a time’ facials. They’re now much more complex, powerful and can target several issues at once. Plus, there’s little downtime and they’re usually short enough that you can treat yourself to a facial in your lunch break.
As for the latest facial on my wish list? Dermalogica’s new IonActive Power Treatment; a customisable and results-driven facial that comprised of ultrasound technology and gelloid massaging, that can address skin’s luminosity, smoothness and hydration levels. I was more than happy to be play guinea pig for this one - here’s what I thought.
The process
Like all Dermalogica services, the facial began with Face Mapping, which is an analysis of your skin up close to detect signs of dehydration, breakouts, hyperpigmentation and congestion in different areas of the face. Dehydration and hyperpigmentation were my biggest concerns, which led the facialist to recommend an infusion of Oligopeptide IonActive, to specifically hone in on uneven skin tone. Next, my makeup was removed with Dermalogica PreCleanse (an oil-based cleanser that transforms into a milky emulsion), followed by some Special Cleansing Gel to really take everything off. Then, the texture of my skin was addressed with a physical exfoliant first (one from their professional range) then with Multivitamin Thermafoliant, which instantly warmed my face.
For the next step, the prescribed Oligopeptide IonActive was applied all over, and then a small handheld ultrasound tool was turned on. A high-pitched sound instantly filled the room - similar to the sound of your ears ringing after a concert - which wasn’t too loud, but it did make me question my sanity. However, after a minute or two, I barely realised it was going on.
Then, things got interesting, as the facialist gently (and painlessly) scraped the tool in upward directions from my chin to my forehead for about 10 minutes or so. The facialist tells me that Oligopeptide is a special ion treatment that can actually stop the production of pigment in my skin, and the oscillating current emitted from the device actually helps my skin absorb the serum a lot better.
The last step was definitely my favourite, as a nourishing mask was applied to my face, followed by a gelloid massage that involved two light bulb-sized gadgets tracing figure eights on my face. It may sound strange, but I was completely hypnotised at this point, all thanks to the two heavy objects resting on different pressure points of my face - move over head massages, I’ve got a new favourite in town. The facialist read my mind - she tells me, “these were specially sent over from the head office in California, they’re not available in retail just yet.” Noted!
This activity was meant to do much more than just relax me; apparently they’re really effective in pushing products deeper into the skin. Plus, they can be used hot or cold, depending on your skin’s needs (they can be kept in the fridge for a more therapeutic cooling effect, or gently warmed to energise the surface).
Before I knew it, the facial was almost over. The globes were packed away, then a light moisturiser was applied to my face to see me through the day.
The pay-off
My skin was a little pink afterwards (which subsided after a few hours), however the real benefits of the experience sang out over the next few days; my skin glowed like I’d never seen before. In the following weeks I even had two beauty editors comment on how my skin looked brighter and much clearer than usual.
Final verdict
Although a course of three to six treatments is recommended, I did see results after just one. This treatment would be perfect for most occasions too - whether you’re prepping for a big day like a wedding, or just looking to get that ‘zing’ back into your complexion. And with such little to no downtime, I’d sign up to this one over and over again.
Iantha is BEAUTYcrew's Beauty Editor, and has been part of the team since the site launched in 2016. Besides pinky-nude nail polish and wispy false lashes, she has a healthy obsession with face masks and skin care ingredients. Her previous work can be found in Virgin Australia Voyeur, Women's Health, and SHOP Til You Drop.
