All about: Ultraceuticals Retexturising Treatment

Despite the negative publicity that emerged following their initial arrival in the general beauty realm over ten years ago, I think that peels are an absolute essential for healthy, happy skin. They are no longer the scary numbers that caused all those shocking ‘after’ pics that once littered the internet, and high performance formulas from tried and tested brands are the ideal skin refreshing treatment, and able to treat all skin types and concerns. They deliver instant results, with very little irritation or stress to the skin. A consultation is essential, but I’m sure you can find a peel that will work for you.

A few weeks ago I visited About Face in Ponsonby to try an Ultraceuticals Retexturising Treatment under the watchful eye of Laura, one of their talented team. Carefully formulated to clear away dull, uneven surface texture and best suited to oilier skin than mine, it involves a Mandelic Acid Peel and is a great lunchtime treatment due to its speedy nature and lack of downtime.

Mandelic is a clever AHA that has been used in the treatment due to its ability to quickly decongest, clarify and help control an overflow of oil production. A newly born member of the AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) family, mandelic is much more slowly absorbing and therefore much more sensitive on your skin. An Alpha Hydroxy found in its natural form in almonds, it is a potent ingredient for reducing the dead cells on our skin’s surface and can also help tminimise pores and alleviate acne symptoms, as well as targeting skin discolouration. Pretty great, huh?

So, what happens during a treatment like the one I experienced with Laura? The peel will be applied to the skin for a set time (treatments are general 30 minutes) and then easily removed with water. During the treatment itself, you may feel a slight tingling, but no pain. This type of treatment has a minimal physical peeling effect but this doesn’t mean it’s not working hard for you. Rather than producing a lot of physical peeling, Mandelic Acid encourages the skin’s own regenerative functions, which makes it suitable for use on most skin types, and safe for women during pregnancy. It definitely didn’t have any negative effect on my drier skin, and a little pinkness (totally normal for me) was easily covered with mineral makeup. 

Like any other facial treatment, the effects of a Mandelic Acid Peel can be enhanced through proper aftercare, usually through the use of skincare products recommended by your skin technician. Adhere to the usual peel rule of no exfoliation or Vitamin A for five days and you should be seeing fresh, beautiful skin within days!

Ultraceuticals recommends that you boost the results achieved in clinic by using the their brand new Ultra Smoothing Pore Refiner, which is a fast absorbing, non-greasy cream based exfoliant which gently, yet effectively removes dead surface cells and assists in improving skin clarity and overall radiance. Its time-released delivery of Mandelic acid allows for a gentle exfoliating action on the skin to helps reduce excess oil and dead cell build-up in the follicle, as well as visually refine pore size for a generally clearer complexion. Love that!

If this treatment and fresh new product drop sounds like a bit of you, head to www.aboutface.co.nz and www.ultraceuticals.com for more information.