Going High Tech
The humble facial is undergoing something of a transformation. Products are getting more sophisticated
and single facials can produce real results – but a growing trend is the use of technology to increase
the effectiveness of these innovative products. We take a look at this growing trend and some of the
popular high-tech solutions on the market today.
Gone are the days where a facial was a decent
cleanse, a simple mask and lots of moisturiser
– now clients are demanding instant results for
their money, and salons are happy to oblige
in a number of ways. Peels and facials using
products containing active ingredients have
taken centre stage, along with homecare that
is tailored to the client's needs, while fillers have
become increasingly subtle and effective, thanks
to specific training and emphasis on technique.
“Dermal fillers were originally developed to treat deformities and are usually injected in the cheeks, forehead, crow's feet and nose to mouth lines to add volume to skin thinned by ageing, giving a fuller more youthful effect,” explains Clare O'Hanlon, business development manager for Juliette Armand. “The filler that is injected into the skin is usually Hyaluronic acid, which is found naturally in our body. Many temporary fillers use a synthetic form, this eventually gets broken down in the body, meaning it is not permanent. The specific molecular structure of hyaluronic acid penetrates into deeper skin layers with a key action of increasing the water content of the skin. Some research shows that repeated injections may help stimulate the body's own natural production of collagen, which will help reduce the number of lines and wrinkles. Fillers usually last four months to a year. Doctors will advise the client to get chemical peels done in conjunction as fillers do not treat pigmentation, age spots, scarring, breakouts, uneven skin tone and dull skin.
” For salons not wanting to go down the filler road, there are high-tech facials, thanks to pioneering brands like IMAGE, Environ and Juliette Armand, which use strong ingredients to achieve some very real results. And to make these facials even more effective, many brands are developing machinery that can help drive these active ingredients deeper into the skin, therefore producing better and more long-lasting results. Plus – and essentially – this technology is giving clients a reason to visit a salon regularly to enhance the performance of their homecare products. With homecare products becoming so much more results-driven, this machinery can offer salons a real differentiating factor to help persuade clients to book regular or blocks of treatments in addition to retailing their personalised homecare.
