There comes a time when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and you just look, well, older. A bit more bedraggled, as if your skin is slowly migrating south. For me I noticed over the past year that my fine lines were deeper, my skin more mottled, and the texture rougher. I knew I needed a reset, but I wasn’t keen to go down the injectables route. Confused about where to even start, I consulted skincare experts About Face who have been trusted to look after the needs of women for more than 30 years.
The plan:
After looking at my skin, my consultant Jackie recommended a course using their Cutera Laser Genesis. To anyone unfamiliar with the use of laser on your face, while it might sound a little alarming, it’s actually an effective way to attempt to turn back the hands of time. The non-invasive laser actually does a lot — it’s designed to soften fine lines, acne scars, large pores, and an uneven skin tone by using the heat from the laser in a series of micro pulses. This in turn activates the skin’s natural healing process and collagen production. The best part? Jackie assures me it doesn’t hurt. I’m dubious. I’ve had a few non-invasive treatments in my time that have been touted as ‘painless’ but I feel they never truly are. Regardless, I was ready to give it a go.
The process:
Each of my six sessions were remarkably (and reassuringly) similar. Before starting the treatment Jackie double cleansed my face, and then it was straight into it. I’ll admit the machine looks a little intimidating, and after Jackie had fastened the blackout goggles (to protect my eyes from the laser) she divided my face into sections.
Jackie turned on the machine and brought the handheld part of it to the right side of my face. I braced myself for the pain as she started moving the laser over my face. Although I couldn’t see it I could feel the heat of the laser — it was warm, as if I had been sitting in the sun a little too long. But it was definitely not sore. It made a gentle tapping sound every time it passed over my skin, and although I could smell a slight burning smell I was assured this was the peach fuzz on my face. About 30 minutes later my entire face was done.
Jackie put a cool towel over my skin, and then followed up with some dilo oil (a healing serum) and sunscreen. I went straight to the mirror to inspect. After my first session I couldn’t yet see any of the long-term results that were promised, but I was impressed that my face wasn’t red at all. There were absolutely no visible signs that I’d snuck out for 45 minutes for a treatment during my lunch break.
The results:
I started seeing a change in my skin after my fourth session. Well, I should say, others saw the change first. Friends and family, even people I met for the first time through work, commented on how good my skin looked. And I had to admit, it was looking good. By the time I’d had my sixth treatment it was even better. My laugh lines around my mouth had somehow softened, my skin’s overall tone was clearer with less pigmentation, and the overall texture of my skin felt firm and plumped. Somehow, even my eyes appeared more open. Best part? With each week my skin looked better and better.
Discover Cutera Laser Genesis at About Face and see their full range of treatments here.
