No Facetune? No problem.
A new wave of trending tweakments involve tiny IRL adjustments that address appearance bugbears, leaving you footloose and filter free. Sans scalpel, they can be done in a lunch hour.
Want an instant effect? Try the latest makeup designed to retouch skin, advises Megan Bedford.
Problem: Pores, Pigmentation
Even, radiant skin as smooth as marble is commonly the work of ‘digital dermatologists’ but that doesn’t mean yours can’t be improved for real. At home, you’ll do well to opt for a retinol serum and a chemical exfoliant but if you’re serious about smoothing, bring in the big guns. Salon-only microdermabrasion does a cracker job of clearing gunk that can make pores appear more prominent, but not much can beat the gold standard — Kim K’s go-to — laser treatments. Laser experts About Face use Clear + Brilliant, a gentle, effective treatment that can now be undertaken as a $399 one-off facial for a special occasion, or as a resurfacing course that will undoubtedly transform the texture and appearance of skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, $45, from Net-a-Porter; Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Collagen Active Lip-Gloss, $59; Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder, $73.
Problem: Chin (of the double variety)
A stubborn, pouchy double chin can now be nixed with Belkyra. Made by Allergan, the company that created Botox, the treatment is FDA-approved and has been available in the US for three years (known there as Kybella). It’s most effective on patients that have an average BMI. Involving a series of injections of deoxycholic acid (a synthetic version of an acid found in stomach bile), the treatment dissolves fat, with results seen within weeks. The question that initially springs to mind is: “Will it be made available for other areas of the body?” The official line is that it’s only been adequately tested on the area specified, but, word is, further testing is currently underway, with the underarm and back bra-bulges top targets. Belkyra has just been launched at a number of skin clinics throughout NZ and is administered only by registered professionals. It costs around $2700 per treatment with most people requiring at least two, but unlike Botox or fillers, it won’t need to be repeated.
NIOD Photography Fluid, Opacity 12%, $60, from inesstore.com; Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer, $24; Revlon Youth FX Fill + Blur Primer for Face/Neck, $35.
Problem: Hydration and skin texture
Known as ‘injectable moisturisers’, new treatments that deliver multiple micro-jabs of hyaluronic acid into the top layer of the skin are now becoming available. The focus is on hydration but other benefits include improved condition and collagen production. Dr Sarah Hart of The Skin Institute has used Teosyal Redensity, delivered by a multi-needled Dermagun to improve aged, damaged and dehydrated skin. She’s also trialled Juvéderm Volite (another Allergan release), injected by hand and said to improve skin quality and leave a healthy glow that lasts for months. The former is available at The Skin Institute, while the latter, already popular internationally, is expected to be available for general use in New Zealand soon.
