I’ve never been a believer in the magic of facials. But at the ripe age of 27, my dry skin makes me look 5 years older than I actually am and the sunspots on my face are telling of the lapses in my skincare. It’s almost as if my skin is crying out for an intervention.
My colleague, Rachel, on the other hand, is the total opposite. Genetically blessed with a “baby face”, she religiously goes for facials once every three weeks to ensure her age never catches up to her. And while these regular skin treats have managed to keep her acne and oily skin in check, she still has yet to find the holy grail of facials.
Desperate for a solution, we headed to Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic to undergo two of the clinic’s famed treatments to target our respective skin woes.
Even after doing our due diligence and reading up on the treatments, we both arrived not knowing what to expect – half sceptical and half hoping our skin issues would magically disappear.
The consultation with Dr Edwin assessed both our skin types and suitability for the lasers and helped to ease any initial worries either of us had about the respective treatments. We were also let in on the science behind each treatment, and the results that could be expected.
I was set to undergo the Aquapure Medi-Facial + Glow Bright Laser combo – a treatment tailored to give dry, dull, uneven skin (in need of long-overdue TLC) a healthy dose of hydration and glow.
Rachel was a better candidate for the Carbon Spectra Laser “Hollywood Peel” which boasts multiple skin benefits such as lightening pigmentation, reducing sebum and minimising pores.
While cleansing is a norm for all facials, the Aquapure Medi-Facial took things up a notch with the use of an advanced microdermabrasion handpiece called Aquapeel.
This nifty little gadget uses a special peel solution that contains Glucosamine HCL and a Rejuvenating Solution coupled with uniform spray control technology to deeply cleanse and exfoliate without stripping the skin of its natural oils.
Fun science fact: Glucosamine HCL has been proven to be effective in aiding the skin’s recovery, reduce fine lines and keep skin dewy.
The same Aquapeel handpiece is then used with a purifying gentle salicylic acid solution to flush away dead skin cells and impurities, remove excess sebum and soften black- and whiteheads for a more thorough and “clean” extraction.
If your pain tolerance is close to zilch, you can opt for their essential facial package that comes without extraction.
To get the most out of your facial session, I highly recommend going for a Facial + Laser combo. The Glow Bright Laser uses the Quadrostar Pro-yellow Laser from Germany to combat unsightly pigmentation, boost skin radiance and enhance one’s glow.
Furthermore, it turbocharges the stimulation of your skin’s collagen production. And we all know that the more collagen, the better. The laser is usually done midway through the facial to maximise results and treatment efficacy.
Friendly conversation helped to take my mind off the process and I hardly felt the warmth of the laser on my face
The advanced Pro-Yellow Laser technology also reduces facial redness and helps give you that highly sought-after radiant glow. Throughout the laser treatment, an air cooler blasts your face with a constant stream of cool air to minimise discomfort, making the procedure a nice and relaxing one. Personally, I only felt a slight warmth throughout the laser session.
Dr Edwin pointing out the enhanced glow and lightened sunspots on my cheeks
The Rejuve+ solution boosts collagen and elastin production in the skin and speeds up the recovery of skin cells
After the aesthetician had dealt with all my day-old pimples and the laser treatment, it was time for the good stuff. The benefits of hyaluronic acid are widely recognised for its moisturising effects on the skin, but while most beauty salons use the standard hyaluronic acid, Dr Edwin uses the Super Low Molecular Weight (SLMW) Hyaluronic Acid which has increased potency and penetrates the skin more rapidly for even better results.
On top of the highly concentrated SLMW Hyaluronic Acid, their Rejuve+ solution further hydrates and nourishes the skin with antioxidant-rich ingredients such as honey extract, papaya, peptide complex, oat and centella asiatica – a medicinal herb that can improve the skin’s suppleness.
Don’t worry, it’s a completely painless process.
To add on to that, their in-house, specially-formulated Triple Whitening C serum containing Arbutin, Niacinamide and highly concentrated Vitamin C is then applied generously before an electroporation handpiece is used to turbo-charge the skin’s absorption of it. For the uninitiated, electroporation uses electrical pulses to temporarily increase the permeability of your skin cells to maximise absorption of serums.
It also improves muscle firmness and lymphatic drainage – bye bye puffy cheeks and eyebags!
If you think vibrating 2-pronged facial massagers will be your key to the V-shape face you’ve always dreamed of, get this: the next facial handpiece works just like it, but better, thanks to the micro-electrical currents that work to jumpstart your elastin and collagen production.
Then came the face masking. A specially formulated Hydrating Brightening Mask chock full of antioxidants and hydrolysed collagen was applied to my already well rejuvenated face for another 15 minutes, followed by a relaxing and much-needed face, neck and shoulder massage.
Finally, all the goodness was sealed in with an icy cold “cooling stamp”, a refreshing finale to 90 minutes of skin pampering.
Before (left) and after (right) – the dark spots on my face appeared lighter after the treatment
I left the treatment room well-convinced that medical facials are my yellow brick road to looking youthful. My skin appeared more radiant and dewy and the sunspots that Dr Edwin pointed out during my consultation had also become less prominent.
My biggest takeaway wasn’t that my skin was significantly brighter – dare I say, one shade up from the skin tone I arrived with – but the fact that I now know that medical facials exist. And while I still question the efficiencies of general facials, I’m 100% sold on medical facials. Thanks, science!
If it’s a regimen that even the A-listers like Kim K and Angelina Jolie have in their arsenal of beauty secrets, you’ll know it’s worth checking out. That’s why the Carbon Spectra Laser “Hollywood Peel” piqued our interests.
Fancy terminology aside, it’s an all-in-one, multi-purpose 20-minute laser treatment that prevents acne, reduces sebum, minimises pores, lightens pigmentation, improves fine lines and gives you that movie star glow with no downtime or redness. A perfect last-minute facial treat to give you that extra boost right before a big occasion.
X marks the spot – and so does the photo-enhancing carbon.
After an initial cleanse, a medical-grade carbon “mask” is first evenly applied to the face and left to penetrate your pores for 15 minutes. Step 2 uses the Spectra Laser mode to penetrate the skin deeply, stimulating cell regeneration and reducing acne and inflammation.
Then comes the “peel”. The “Q-switched” mode on the laser is used to “find” and gently blast away the carbon on your face, taking with it underlying bacteria, sebum oil, and dead skin to reveal a fresh layer of skin underneath.
P.S. The process also tightens and minimises pores!
High-intensity laser energy is delivered in a precise manner, granting multiple benefits and yet without causing damage to healthy skin.
Once all the carbon was zapped away, Dr Edwin proceeded to the 4th step of laser toning to brighten skin and lighten pigmentation. Finally, he switched to a Long-Pulse laser mode that worked to further tighten Rachel’s pores, kill acne bacteria and boost her production of collagen.
Seeing as it was her first-ever laser, Dr Edwin patiently walked her through every step of the process and gave her ample notice before starting on a new round of laser or when working on a sensitive part of her face.
Note: Only doctors are trained and certified to carry out laser treatment, so always look out for accreditation!
Immediately after the treatment, Rachel mentioned that her face felt tighter, and she didn’t experience any redness, itching, or peeling. A bunch of our colleagues even commented on how much brighter her skin looked post-treatment.
Whether it was a placebo or not, she did notice that her face was noticeably less oily that evening and by the next morning, the cluster of pimples that had been sitting on her jawline actually shrank in size and became almost flat. Now at 4 days post-laser, she’s still pleased with how much softer and smoother her skin feels.
Recommended treatments for best results: 2-4 sessions
Look up age-defying facial treatments on the internet, and you’ll be hit with a long list of aesthetic clinics and spas touting their services. The real struggle is landing yourself one that actually does the job.
And while the lasting effects of facials are subjective, medical facials rely on science to target the issues at hand. Whether it’s pigmentation, acne or dull, lacklustre skin you’re dealing with, regular medical treatments and lasers can work wonders to rectify those skin woes, rejuvenate tired skin and improve its radiance and glow.
If you’re keen to try it yourself, quote “TSL” to try Dr Edwin’s Signature 7-step Aquapure Medi-Facial with Glow Bright Laser combo at $368* (U.P $596) or the Carbon Spectra Laser “Hollywood Peel” at $188* (U.P $348).
The clinic also offers attractive package pricing for a comprehensive range of Facial and Laser treatment options. The Essential Aquapure Medi-Facial starts from $108 while other types of Laser treatments start from $150.
*Promotion is valid for first-time customers only
Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic
Address: #02-12/13 Changi City Point, 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Singapore 486038
(There’s a direct underpass link from the mall to Expo MRT)
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 11AM-8PM | Sat and Sun 11AM-6PM
Telephone: 69042218
Whatsapp: 96372218
Email: hello@edwinlimclinic.sg
This post was brought to you by Edwin Lim Medical Aesthetic Clinic.
Photography by Huy Pham.
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