What is SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. SPF is a measure of how much solar energy (UV radiation) is required to cause a sunburn on protected skin in the presence of sunscreen in relation to the amount of solar energy on unprotected skin. As the SPF goes up, the protection goes up.

There is a common misconception that the SPF indicates the time that can be spent in the sun but this is not true as the SPF is not relative to the time spent in the sun but rather the intensity of the sun exposure. The sunburn will be far worse without protection at midday versus later afternoon for example.

Another important component to consider is skin type. Fair skin will burn much faster than a darker skin type and respond very differently to the sun and sunburn. When choosing an SPF number, keep in mind that a sunscreen with SPF 15 will offer around 85% protection of UVB Rays while SPF 30 will protect you from around 96.7% of UVB rays, and an SPF of 50 means protection from about 98% of UVB rays. Anything beyond SPF 50 makes very little difference in terms of risk of sun damage, and no sunscreens offer 100% protection from UVB rays but each time these numbers go up in SPF, the chemicals double and triple. The truth is that we don’t know what the long-term effects of SPF are but we know that the protection is more valuable than the harm of the chemicals.

How does SPF Work?

A physical sunscreen or “mineral” suncreeen contains inorganic physical UV filters that reflect, scatter and block UV rays before they penetrate the skin. The SPF sits on the epidermis instead of being absorbed into the skin. They do wash off with chlorine and salt water and so it is important to reapply sunblock regularly while swimming.

How does sunscreen affect the skin?

Unltraviolet rays are always present, even in an office with lighting. So it is very important to wear sunblock every day. Some sunscreeens can cause irritation to the skin such as reddness, itchiness and swelling. The quality of your suncreen plays a big part in the reaction on your skin. Like with any product, a patch test is advised if you have sensitive skin. Most adverse reactions are caused by fragrances and preservatives found in sunscreen.

In the short term, suncreen can have negative effects if it get’s too close to the eyes as it can cause irritation. In cases where acne is present on the skin, an oil based sunscreen can cause congestion on the skin and can worsen acne.

In the longterm there has been links to skin cancers being caused by sunscreen but the cases of sun damage causing skin cancers are far higher.

It is recommended that you wash suncreen off at night and avoid having the chemicals on the skin when they are not needed.

Should you use a different sunscreen on the face and body?

You can use the same sun cream on the face and body but it is generally recommended to use a different one. Most people do prefer to use a less oily cream on the face and typically invest more in a high end sunscreen for the face while using a commerical suncreen on the body when outdoors.

If you have had any laser or peeling treatments or you have new scars after surgery, sunscreen really is a must. In South Africa we are lucky to enjoy the best weather in the world (in my opinion) and protecting ourselves from the sun is the best way to enjoy the heat and feel and look good.

Babor facials are designed with Babor’s hydrotherapy, where we make use of hot and cool facial compresses to stimulate the skin. We always begin with a deep cleansing routine to asses the skin and decide on the course of product treatment for your session. We start by cleansing any makeup off the skin with a mild or mild foaming cleanser. Next, we give the skin a thorough but gentle cleanse with Hy-Öl and Phyto Active; this two-phase cleansing system uses a hydrophilic oil that dissolves any oil soluble particles on the skin, we add Phyto-Active (plant active) to treat the skin from the cleansing step. Your therapist will choose from Phyto-Active Hydro Base – for dry skin, Reactivating – for skin in need of regeneration, Phyto Active Sensitive – for sensitive skin, or Phytoactive Combination – for skin in need of balancing. We emulsify these two products and then slowly add water which dissolves any water-soluble particles on the skin.

Our next step is to exfoliate the skin, this can be done with a granular scrub, such as Gentle Peeling or your therapist may work with the Enzyme peel, which is only available as an in-salon option. During this phase your therapist will allow you to relax and steam is applied to the face for 10-15 minutes. This softens the skin so that we may perform extractions if necessary.

At this point, your therapist will asses the skin and make some recommendations based on the needs of your skin, during winter you might need more moisture, while in summer you might want to focus on regeneration. An ampoule will be chosen and applied to the face before a night cream is chosen to massage with. Ampoules are like serums but better! They are designed with a smaller molecular structure to deeply penetrate and treat the skin. The range is huge, so for the sake of time, we will not go into deep detail here today.

Babor facials are available in the following lines:

Skinovage

The Skinovage range caters for all skin types, each moisturizer comes in a 5.1 day cream and 5.2 night cream, they all have serums, eye creams and masks to compliment your home care and are used in the facial process too.

• Calming for sensitive skin
• Balancing for combination skin that needs hydration and mattifying.
• Pure for acne-prone skin.
• Moisturizing for dry skin in need of hydration and moisture.
• Vitalizing for skin in need of regeneration.

The Skinovage range also incorporates 24 hour creams:

• Argan Cream this cream is great for extremely sensitive skin that is in need of moisture, the deeply hydrating properties of this cream will leave the skin soft and supple with a long-lasting moisturizing effect.
• Complex C offers a vitamin cocktail that increases elasticity, assists in pigmentation treatment and also fights free radicals. This cream is a fantastic anti-aging option.
• Mimical Control mimics the effects of botox without the invasion of needles. The cream assists in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.

The higher level anti-aging ranges are all a 120 minute treatment and include:

• High Skin Refiner (HSR) is the ultimate lifting cream, this cream contains the liftline complex and has in instant lifting effect. The facial incorporates a gorgeous fleece mask.
• Reversive has the most amazing smell and works on lifting, firming and anti aging.
• Sea Creation is the most luxurious cream on the market. Launched in the early 2000’s, this facial comes with a kit of it’s own and includes a serum, a cream and a mask.

Babor also has the Doctor Babor range which bridges the gap between aesthetics and cosmetics, this highly concentrated range has targeted products to treat a variety of skin concerns.

Following your massage, the facial will be concluded with a mask, day cream and sun block. Choosing the right facial is up to the recommendation of your therapist and will always be quoted on the day of your treatment. The technology of Babor is most definitely the first step in caring for your skin for a product that will last a lifetime.

Should you wish to view our facial prices, please click here.

Babor, ask for more.

The HIFU facial uses ultrasound to penetrate heat to much deeper layers of the skin, this causes temporary damage to the skin which then ecourages regeneration in the area and thereby promoting collagen production. Collagen is what makes the skin tighter and firmer.

What results can be expected?

HIFU results are progressive, it usually takes two to three months to see optimal results. Each session stimulates collagen and over time, this has a tightening impact on the skin. Results are most visible when the treatment is complimented with a good skin care regimen.

Who should have a HIFU facial?

HIFU facials are recommended for clients who are wanting to combat aging, the general age for this is from 30 years up. Best to discuss with your therapist if this is the right treatment for you. This is not a preventative but rather a curative treatment, so we would be dealing with skin that is needing repair. You would have a certain degree of sun damage, wrinkles or skin sagging to be considered for this treatment.

Does it hurt?

Some clients report some discomfort during the treatment and there can be some tenderness after the procedure. There is no downtime after the facial, you can return to your normal routine on the same day.

Pro’s and Con’s

PROS

• No cuts, bleeding, or cutting
• No downtime
• Instant recovery
• Visible and instant results

CONS

• May cause irritation to very sensitive individuals
• May cause minor breakouts for some a few days after the treatments

With so many options to treat the skin for anti-aging, you are in good hands to care for your skin and age as gracefully as possible. If a surgical facelift is on the cards for you, preparing the skin is still a good idea and delaying the facelift for as long as possible to ensure you get the most benefit from the surgery.

Click here to book a consultation and see if this is the right course of action for your skin.

As new smoking technology evolves more and more, the youth and many non-smokers are turning to e-cigarettes or vaping as a “healthier alternative”. The big question is, is it healthier? In the same way that cigarettes damage the skin due to lack of oxygen, vaping does the same. While you are cutting out tar and burning tobacco, vape smoke also carries many chemicals that are harmful to your skin and body but can be considered less harmful. The best health choice is to not smoke at all. When it comes to skin, we did some research and here is what we found:

Does vape smoke cause acne?

Propylene glycol from e-cigarettes dries out your mouth and throat and this can dry the skin too. The result of the skin becoming dehydrated is that the body will produce excess oil to combat dryness. Overproduction of oil commonly results in pustules forming, and as they become inflamed, acne becomes visible. If the skin is already inflamed with acne, the healing process slows down, as the skin is not getting the optimal oxygen and nutrients needed.

Effects on antiaging

Vape smoke still delivers nicotine. Nicotine itself is a vasoconstrictor, reducing circulation and negatively affecting the supply of nutrients to the skin. This in turn results in premature signs of aging such as sagging and wrinkling and can also impact pigmentation on the skin.

Vape smoke without nicotine

Nicotine might seem like the bad guy here, but vape flavours are filled with other chemicals which are still toxic to the lungs. As anything that affects the lungs will impact oxygen delivery to the body, smoking vape with no nicotine would be considered the most harmless choice, but this is still not benign. The benefit of smoking vape without nicotine is not becoming addicted to vaping but is still not your safest bet.

All things considered, like any toxin introduced to our bodies vape smoke will cause some damage. The best thing for your skin is to not smoke at all.

What are the signs of aging? Ideally, we all want to have flawless skin that is free from marks or pigmentation, with a smooth texture and appearance, and is firm and wrinkle-free. In this guide, we will be discussing what we can do to protect the skin from the signs of aging.

Pigmentation

The most fundamental product to protect the skin against aging is to protect it from the sun. The effects of sun damage on the skin can cause hyper-pigmentation, hypo-pigmentation, and even cancers on the skin. Deep lines and wrinkles are also exasperated by sun damage and some product lines refer to a tan as a scar, simply because the skin needs to recover from the effects of tanning. Prevention includes staying out of the sun, wearing a sun hat and investing in a good quality SPF for daily use, the sooner you begin with sunblock the better, in South Africa children should be wearing sunblock on a daily basis to prevent the development of freckles and sunspots.

Treatment for pigmentation includes using a product that will whiten the skin. But laser or IPL treatments are the most effective as this blasts the melanin in the skin which is causing the pigmentation, the colour darkens for a few days and then fades away completely. Some redness will also be treated and this leaves the skin with a soft smooth look, laser is best in winter as we generally are not spending as much time in the sun during the winter. We do like to combine laser with peels but these courses need to be recommended by a therapist to give you optimal results. Sometimes we also like to add needling to stimulate collagen and increase elasticity in the skin.

Broken Capilaries

Tiny little veins that burst under the skin and create new passages for blood flow. This is commonly caused by skin sensitivity to heat or cold or can be caused by large consumption of alcohol over a long period of time along with smoking.

There is no particular way to prevent broken but we do know that using luke warm water on the skin, using a good sunblock and if you are prone to broken capilaries, you can use a product that will support the muscular walls of the veins.

To treat broken caplilaries, we use the Lamprobe machine to quaterize the veins or laser as this is a quick shot and works really well on small veins like the one in the image.

Wrinkles

Wrinkles are unavoidable but they can be delayed. There is a difference between expression lines, like the ones that develop around the eyes from smiling generally using anit-aging products from as young as your early 20’s will help to slow wrinkles down significantly. Once they start to appear, it is a good idea to treat them before they are too deep. Botox can be used as a preventative and a curative treatment as this works on the muscle and by paralysing the muscle, it basically freezes the muscle. It paralyzes the muscle which stops the wrinkle from showing anymore, this usually lasts 3-6 months. Other options include skin needling, facial treatments and a good home care regimen. The Lamprobe machine also offers a deep wrinkle treatment. It is always best to consult on these treatments to find the best fit for you.

Jiles

How about a face lift? Alas, gravity catches up to us all. Jiles are caused by the depression of the buccinator muscles and what we see is that is time goes by and they muscles lose their tightness they droop on wither side of the jaw. This can also enhance deep lines around the mouth in the nasolabial folds. Ways to prevent this is by having regular facials that include lymphatic drainage of the face and massage that stimulates circulation. A non-surgical facelift is also a great option to treat this as it uses microcurrent therapy to stimulate the muscles to lift again. It works not only on the Jiles but also on the eyes and brow. Coax face tightning also releives this as it drains out any water retention that might be pulling down on the face.

At the end of the day, we all want to maintain a natural youthful skin that does not need makeup as much as possible. The best way is to manage these normal skin reactions as we age, book your consultation today to find the best plan to maintain your skin at it’s best.

The Lamprobe machine uses radio-wave and high-frequency technology to remove a variety of skin lesions. the Lamprobe works on the principal of liquids being attracted to heat, released by various sized and shaped probes for the treatment of all types of different lesions. What distinguishes the Lamprobe from other devices, is the delicate yet sophisticated regulated intensity focusing on the lesion alone and not the underlying or surrounding skin.

The kinds of skin imperfections that we can treat are: Acne Pimples, Actinic/Solar Keratosis, Angiokeratomas, Basal Cell Carcinoma (Dr.), Blind Pimples, Broken Capillaries, Cherry Angiomas, Cholesterol Deposits (Large), Cholesterol Deposits (Small), Clogged Pores, Cutaneous Horn, Cysts, Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra / DPN, Dialated Capillaries, Fibromas, Milia, Moles (Dr.), Molluscum, Contagiosum, Neurofibromas, Pyogenic Granuloma, Raised Angiomas, Sebaceous Hyperplasia, Seborrhoeic Keratosis, Senile Warts, Skin Tag (With Stalk), Skin Tags (No Stalk), Solar Keratosis / Actinic Keratosis, Solar Lentigo, Spider Naevi, Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Dr.), Steatocytoma Multiplex, Syringomas, Telangiectasia, Warts, Xanthelasma

Your therapist will consult with you and after examining the area to be treated, she will advise on if we can treat in within our scope of therapy. The treatment is quick and relatively painless. Here is a video of the Lamprobe in action:

Visit our YouTube channel to see more.

Here are a few examples of the problems we are able to treat with Lamprobe:

To book a consultation, click here or call 011 881 8179

The purpose of peeling the skin is to resurface the skin and speed up an exfoliation process, the reason this is good for the skin is that the skin naturally desquamates (sheds) all the time, when the skin is dry, as we age and as the skin is exposed to different elements and conditions, this natural process can be slowed down. By encouraging the skin to exfoliate, we stimulate the metabolism of the skin and boost natural skin function. When the skin has been peeled or exfoliated and we apply a serum or high-end product, we are treating the skin from the bottom up and therefore the skin that comes to the surface is optimized.

Various Peels

There are different kinds of peels on the market, from a granular exfoliator which you would use at home twice a week, to deep chemical peels that cause the skin to physically peel.

Depending on your goals for your skin, a therapist will choose the right peel for you:

• Chemical Peels – These are probably the most popular commercial peels. They are predicable in how they respond on the skin and are used to treat fine lines and wrinkles as well as pigmentation. A chemical peel is generally done in a course of treatments and can be added to other treatments such as needling or laser for best results.
• Fruit Acid Peels – These are often referred to as glycolic peels or alpha-hydroxy peels. They can be used to treat acne, varous skin blotchyness and refine pores.
• Cream Peels – Cream peels are very effective for treating acne, they soothe the skin and can resurface dry crusty areas that if treated with a granular peel would spread infection.

Benefits of Peeling

Peeling the skin removes dead layers that are not serving the skin, leaving a soft feel and a soft appearance. The skin is refined, the function is better, aiding in reducing the appearance of large pores. Fine lines and wrinkles are reduced. Pigmentation can be surfaced to assist with other treatments such as laser or IPL. In an instance where acne is treated with peels; redness is reduced, breakouts are calmed and the skin smoothes out.

The skin is also susceptible to products reaching a lower level of the epidermis and so the skin which then comes through is of better quality.

Can peels be dangerous?

If someone is not qualified to administer peels, they can go very wrong. A chemical peel can leave a client with scarring, burns, and long-term sun sensitivity. When choosing a peel, ensure that you are working with a reputable product and all of the risks have been clearly explained to you.

Contra-indications for peeling

You should avoid a peel if:

• You are planning a beach holiday, peeling the skin leaves it vulnerable to sun damage.
• Sun burn, if your skin is recoving from sun damage, peeling will agravate sensitivity.
• Any open wounds on the skin.
• Melanoma or any facial cancers.
• Pregnancy, peels are not recommended during pregnancy. The skin is already sun sensitive and may be more prone to hormonal breakouts.

Peels are an excellent addition to any skin regimen. They are an excellent anti aging boost and can be added to a variety of other treatments to help turn back the clock.

In this guide, we will talk you through all of the elements of laser and what you can expect from your hair removal process.

How does it work?

Laser targets two main pigments in the hair and skin, red and brown. Your hair goes through different growth phases, anagen, catagen and telogen. When hair is in the anagen phase, we say that it is in the growth phase and at this time, the hair follicle is nice and plump as pictured below.

When the bulb of the hair is plump with circulation and swollen in its growth, the light of the laser is able to target it very easily. At each time, approximately 20% of your hairs are in this growth phase and so we recommend that you start with 6 sessions to eliminate hair growth.

Is IPL laser hair removal permanent?

It removes most of your hairs and softens as well as thins them out. The hair will grow back but it will be thinner, finer, and softer. If you think of how waxing injures a hair by pulling it out by the root, this is a similar process but much much faster so the results are very quick and in a year of treatments, you can mostly eliminate unwanted hair. Hair does regenerate, you may need to have maintenance sessions once or twice a year.

Does it hurt?

It’s not as sore as waxing! Some describe the feeling like a rubber band snap and others find it quite relaxing! It feels hot and in areas where the hair is thicker and darker, it will feel very hot. If you have a very low pain threshold then you should definitely take some pain killers before your session.

How often should you go?

Appointments happen at various intervals depending on the area, the face would be done every 6-8 weeks and the legs can go up to 12 weeks between sessions.

Does it work on different hair and skin tones?

IPL has a much broader light spectrum than Laser so you are able to work on different hair and skin colours for hair removal. Unfortunately it does not work on grey, white or red hair yet.

The best way to establish if IPL is for you is to test it, you can book an obilgation free patch test, ask any questions you may have and see how the treatment feels.

Hope to see you soon!

What are the benefits?

• Collagen production
• Skin healing
• Scar improvement
• Improved elasticity
• Overall improved skin tone
• Better product penetration

In Salon Needling

The treatment involves using a roller with needles, tiny needles (0.2mm) that roll over the face and perferoate the skin. This creates little injuries basically, that create wells for product to reach closer to the dermis; which offers a better skin coming through. The second benefit is collagen production and skin healing, with small injuries the skin begins the regeneration process givning it a boost which improves the elasticy of the skin as it produces collagen.

Does it hurt? Not terribly, you do feel it. The skin is numbed before the treatment so you should not feel too much but some spots are always just sensitive. After the treament the skin looks red, so plan to head home afterwards, wearing a mask is not comfortable for a few hours, the skin recovers for around 3 hours and feels a little sun burnt. This is a great time to apply serums to the skin as it is so perceptive to active ingredients and additional collagen. The next day, the skin looks amazing, reduces pore size and an even skin tone is visible.

When needling, you can combine this with peeling and laser over a course of treatments. We recommend needling every 4 weeks for a course of 4-6 treatments per roller.

Other in Salon Options

At Rene’s, we also offer a treatment called BDR, this is a German-engineered machine that begins with a peel, which exfoliates the skin and softens the epidermis which we intensify over the course of treatments. The peel is not terribly uncomfortable and takes about 10 minutes from start to finish. Next, we use a little mechanical needle system and an exfoliator to manually exfoliate and perforate the skin. Once this is done, we apply a hyaluronic-acid gel mask, this mimics the skins natural moisturising factor (NMF) and plumps out any small lines and wrinkles and leaves the skin looking soft and supple. We complete the treatment with a micro massage, or a neck and shoulder massage while the mask works its magic. We would recommend that this treatment is done every 4 days and a course of 4-6 is recommended depending on your goals for the skin.

Rolling at Home

Rolling at home is a softer, longer game to improve scaring, work on keloid or general anti-aging. Needles in this case would be much smaller (0.1mm) and you would roll the entire face daily before applying product, this is a very comfortable process and feels only slightly prickly. If you are treating scarring then you will use a vitamin A serum to assist in skin regeneration, but please consult with a professional before working with vitamin A (Retin A) as this can cause a retinoid reaction and breakouts on the skin.

Medical Rolling

This would be a much deeper kit used to roll the skin, there is blood and a local anesthetic is used to numb the skin. You would need to give the skin 7 full days to recover and avoid all video calls during this time as the skin is scabbing, red, and looks inflamed. But once the treatment settles and is complete, you can expect a long-lasting result very similar to the benefits listed above.

So is skin needling for you? You need to test this and decide. Combining the treatment with other treatments can help to boost the skin and delay more invasive treatments. Using a good skin regimen coupled with suggested treatments is the best way to cultivate a long-lasting youthful appearance with healthy and well-functioning skin.

To view our pricing, click here or to book a consultation click here.

Coax is a skin treatment using a machine which uses cavitation and Radio Frequency to tighten the skin. Cavitation causes inflammation in your fat cells. By creating an air bubble that will implode and this stimulates a healing function in the cell which helps to drain away fatty deposits. This eliminates the bulges of the lines of wrinkles. The radio frequency (RF) breaks down collagen fibers which forces them to regenerate and this increases skin elasticity, firming the skin back into place.

We focus on the area around the eyes, the brow, the jowls, the neck and decollete. You lie down and have a cleanse before we apply a zip solution to the skin for slip. We then work on the face for 40 minutes. The treatment feels hot in some places depending on your tolerance but you will see a result after your first session. We recommend 5-10 sessions and you will have them every 10 days.

Benefits Include:

• Skin tightening
• Circulation
• Skin elasticity improves
• Contouring of the jaw line
• Reduction of “fatty” deposits under the eyes

Contraindications Include

• Botox – you cannot have this treatment if you have had botox in the last 6 months
• Sunburn
• Skin sensitivity

As always it is best to set up a consultation with a skin care specialist to assess your skin and make a decision on the best way forward for you and your skin goals.