Making Faces is fully compliant with The NMC Code and is following the Covid-19 Guidelines set out by the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses.

Appointments are available for 2021 – please email sharon.savage@hotmail.co.uk or call 07832 210 976 to book your free consultation.

Have a wonderful New Year.

Give your skin the moisture boost it’s craving

Injectable Skin Boosters:  Profhilo hydration and laxity treatment

Profhilo is an ultra-pure, high-dose hyaluronic acid bioremodeller that is injected into the skin, acting as a hyaluronic acid moisturising treatment.

Profhilo’s hydrating effect works as it stimulates collagen and elastin, attracting water into the dermis. Made with a patented technology called NAHYCOO, the result is a gel with prolonged stimulating activity In the skin cells.  The product also works to stimulate cell receptors to counteract skin laxity and restore firmness to the skin.

Most Profhilo skin treatments are delivered in a course of two sessions spaced three to six weeks apart to allow for maximum skin hydration and synergistic collagen stimulation. Further treatment may be advised for skin with more advanced laxity, photodamage and ageing.

Where can skin-booster products be used?

Skin boosters can be used to treat many different skin areas. The most common is the face, followed by the neck, décolletage and dorsum of the hands. However, they can also be used on difficult to treat areas, like tightening the skin under the chin, the upper inner arms, inner thighs, knees and abdomen. They are safe for all skin types, ages and gender.

Profhilo: from £295

Profhilo Haenkenium cream

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From the natural essence of Salvia Haenkei, to the formula that nourishes the beauty of the skin

It is an Antioxidant cream for maintaining cellular vitality,  contains a hyaluronic acid complex and a specific dry extract from the plant Salvia Haenkei: Haenkenium.

  • Protects the skin from premature ageing caused by oxidative stress factors (pollution, excess exposure to UV rays, poor diet, smoking etc).
  • Restores the protective barrier of sensitive and stressed skin which is irritated and red due to oxidative stress or following demoaesthetic treatments.
  • Improves skin quality such as small wrinkles and the loss of firmness and elasticity.

Synergistic effect of the hyaluronic acid complex that restores the integrity of the skin’s hydration and maintains optimal skin hydration.

The natural antioxidant strength of Haenkenium acts as a screen for free radicals, a cause of oxidative stress and premature cell senescence and slows the degradation of hyaluronic acid caused by free radicals, thus prolonging the benefits to the skin.

Profhilo Haenkenium is for topical use on all skin types, two or more times per day according to individual needs.
Particularly indicated after aesthetic treatments for its soothing, refreshing and hydrating effects.

Profhilo Haenkenium Cream not only protects, it restores and improve your skin.

Both Profhilo injected and Profhilo Haenkenium Cream go hand in hand together, nourishing your skin from the inside and outside, to enhance results.

Profhilo Haenkenium Cream costs £65.00 for a 50ml tube.

2 Profhilo injectable skin booster treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart + topical Profhilo Haenkenium  £630.

Clinic Re-Opening

To my valued clients,

I hope you are well and have stayed healthy during this time.
Over the past few months of uncertainty and change, I have been looking forward to the day when we can welcome clients back to the salons and clinics. I’m excited to say that I will be re-opening for treatments from the first week in July 2020 and so look forward to seeing you!

The clinics will operate on the guidelines set by the government, British Association of Cosmetic Nurses and Save Face, with client safety the top priority. The clinic teams have been working hard to meet hygiene and sanitation standards as well as considering every step of treatment processes to ensure your needs are met in a focussed and safe manner.

Enhanced safety measures will include:

• Client and staff disposable/individual face masks and aprons worn during treatment.

• Plenty of time allowed between appointments to ensure there is no client crossover, allow for cleaning and limiting the number of clients in the clinic at any one time.

In order to keep everyone safe, we kindly ask:

• Please do not visit if you or anyone in your household have a fever, any COVID-19 symptoms or communicable illness.

• Wash hands on arrival and inform us of any hygiene requests prior to your visit.

To pre-book an appointment please call 07832 210 976 or email: sharon.savage@hotmail.co.uk

Looking forward to seeing you!

Sharon @ M A K I N G F A C E S

Retinoids: Anti-Aging Benefits

What Are Retinoids?

Retinoids are one of the most popular ways to help skin look younger. They come from vitamin A and have been around since the early 1970s. Retinoids were first prescribed to treat acne. Now they’re used to fight aging skin, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. They come in many forms.

How Retinoids Work

Retinoids don’t just peel away the top layer of your skin cells like an extra strong loofah. They trigger your body to make more collagen, a protein in your skin, muscles, and bones. It’s what keeps your skin elastic and firm. This means fewer wrinkles.

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Natural vs. Synthetic

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There are natural and synthetic retinoids. Natural retinoids come directly from vitamin A. Synthetic retinoids are man-made. Both trigger receptors in your skin. But synthetic retinoids don’t trigger as many, so they tend to be less irritating. That also means they may not work as well.

 

Types of Retinoids

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Retinoids come in cream, gel, and liquid forms. Gels are usually stronger than creams, foams, and liquids, and are typically prescribed for acne. Creams are usually a good choice for aging skin. Retinoids come in different strengths, including 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%. Stronger formulas work better but can cause more side effects.

Retinoids for Wrinkles

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Because retinoids help your skin make more collagen, they soften wrinkles and fine lines. They also stimulate new blood vessels, which can give your skin a rosy color. Retinoids also help fade age spots and smooth rough patches. Tretinoin (Retin-A) is a popular prescription choice for aging skin.

Prescription or Over-the-Counter?

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You can buy some retinoids, like adapalene (Differin), at the store. But you need a prescription for stronger ones like tretinoin (Retin-A). You can also get retinols at the store, which your body then changes to retinoids. They’re not as strong, so they’re less likely to make your skin red or itchy. And they take longer to work.

How to Use Retinoids

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At night, put a small amount (about the size of a pea) on your entire face and rub it in. Using more than that can cause itching, redness, or drying.

Don’t Wear Them During the Day

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Retinoids break down in the sun. That’s why you should put them on at night before you go to bed. They don’t raise your risk of getting sunburn. But it’s smart to always use sunscreen — whether you’re using retinoids or not.

Side Effects

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It’s normal for retinoids to cause dry skin, redness, itching, or flaking. But that usually goes away after a while. Your doctor might tell you to use them every other night or just once a week at first until you can use them every night. If you keep having problems, stop and talk to your doctor.

Are Retinoids Safe?

photo of doctor talking to pregnant woman

Other than possible short-term side effects, retinoids are safe for most people. But retinoids haven’t been tested on pregnant women. So you should not use them during your pregnancy or while you breastfeed.

It Takes Time

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Don’t expect quick results when you start using retinoids. It can take 3 months before you see changes in your wrinkles or fine lines. The best results can take as long as 6 months to a year. It’s important to be patient. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.

Article from WebMD

Medically reviewed on 19/10/2019

Profhilo

What Is Profhilo?

Profhilo Profhilo is not a mesotherapy product, neither is it a dermal filler,” says aesthetic dental practitioner Dr Emma Ravichandran, who was one of the first practitioners in the UK to use the product, having incorporated it into her clinic in February 2016. “Profhilo is a stabilised hyaluronic acid (HA) but without any chemical cross-linking agents – the first injectable of its kind,” she explains.

Profhilo, distributed by HA Derma, is indicated for the treatment of skin laxity and is free of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) – a viscous liquid, hygroscopic in nature, which links the HA chains to prevent them being broken down by the body.1 Although cross-linking chemicals, such as BDDE, in small doses in dermal filler has been indicated to be safe,2 the BDDE-free concept could be appealing to consumers who are wary of synthetic chemicals being used in products.3

The science behind the product

According to IBSA, the HA is stabilised by a patented thermal process whereby the natural bonds found in high molecular weight (H-HA) break, and new hydrogen bonds are formed between the H-HA and low molecular weight (L-HA). This allows for 32mg of L-HA (80 – 100 kDa) to be combined with 32mg of H-HA (1100 – 1400 kDa), to form stable hybrid complexes (64mg in 2ml). In practice, the L-HA aims to hydrate and stimulate skin, while the H-HA acts as a dermal scaffold in the skin.4

Complications

As with any injectable treatment there are minor risks, including bruising and swelling, as well as infection, allergic reaction, vascular compromise and nerve damage; although IBSA claims these are rare.

Both the company and practitioners who have experience using Profhilo claim there is no real downtime, due to minimal injection points. “From a safety perspective, Profhilo is highly biocompatible, owing to the fact that it is made from natural hyaluronic acid and stabilised without the addition of chemical cross-linking agents,” says Dr Ravichandran, adding, “But it’s still important as an aesthetic injector to have the protocols to deal with any complications in case they occur.”

Results

Dr Ravichandran says, “After four weeks, my patients have experienced improvement in lines and tightness of their skin. After eight weeks there is a definite lifting and tightening of the skin – it is more hydrated and appears more youthful and in better health.” Some of her patients have reported an immediate improvement after treatment. She continues, “I have now completed 20 patients’ preliminary two-step treatments and am delighted with the results I have achieved (Figure 2). Overall, patients can expect increased firmness, elasticity and an overall improved quality of skin, with the effects lasting up to six months.”

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Conclusion

Dr Ravichandran concludes, “Profhilo does not create the volumetric lift or volume replacement associated with cross-linked dermal fillers, however, it creates volume in the tissue where it is needed due to its high spreadability. Owing to this characteristic, it is an ideal treatment for challenging areas as well, such as the neck, perioral area, and hands and arms, where we do not see the significant volume loss, but skin has lost elasticity. I often see patients with artificially enhanced cheeks, which is a result of overfilling because the wrinkle ‘just doesn’t go away’. But, in my experience, Profhilo has been very effective in correcting this concern.”

References

  1. Derek Jones, Injectable Fillers, Enhanced Edition: Principles and Practice, (2010) Wiley-Blackwell.
  2. Koenraad De Boulle, A review of the metabolism of 1,4-butanedio diglycidyl ether – cross linked hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, (2013 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4264939/&gt;
  3. Lisette Hilton, CosmeticSurgeryTimes, Future fillers: Profhilo & Belotero Volume, (2016) <http://cosmeticsurgerytimes.modernmedicine.com/cosmetic-surgery-times/news/future-fillers-prohilobeletaro-volume&gt;
  4. IBSA Derma, A New Discovery, (2016) <http://www.ibsaderma.com.ua/en/pdf/Brochure_medico_Profhilo_en.pdf&gt;
  5. Antonella D’Agostino, BioMed Central, In vitro analysis of the effects on wound healing of high- and low-molecular weight chains of hyaluronan and their hybrid H-HA/L-HA complexes (2015) <http://bmccellbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12860-015-0064-6&gt;

Why Hyaluronic Acid is so magical for your skin

hyaluronicacidOne amazing fact about Hyaluronic Acid is that it is an humectant, which means each molecule can attract and hold on to 1000 x its own weight in moisture from its surroundings.  It works hard to keep every aspect of skin stable, safeguarded and constantly renewed.

Hyaluronic Acid can therefore enhance moisture levels like no other ingredient.  It revitalises the outer surface layers of the skin, so it looks and feels softer, smoother and radient – instantly improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Introducing Hyaluronic Acid into your topical skin care routine

Hyaluronic acid is incredibly popular and can be found in many skincare products.  To get the hydrating benefits of Hyaluronic Acid, it’s best to choose a moisturising cream, lotion or serum. Look for Hyaluronic Acid or Sodium  Hyaluronate on the product’s ingredient label.

Sodium hyaluronate is a salt derived from Hyaluronic Acid and because of the smaller molecule size, is easily absorbed into the skin.  Ideally the product should contain 1% or higher HA.  Any less, and it’s not likely to have many benefits for your skin.  if the product doesn’t show the percentage of HA, make sure it’s high on the list of ingredients.

Apply Hyaluronic Acid serums after cleansing or washing your face and use a moisturiser over the top to seal it.  For best results, use only one product containing HA at a time and seal with a moisturiser or oil.

haenkeniumSpotlight on Profhilo Haenkenium

Profhilo Haenkenium® cream, is a topical formulation that provides immediate skin hydration, natural antioxidant protection and long-term accumulative skin rejuvenation results. Combining a patented Hyaluronic Acid (HA) complex with Salvia Haenkei extract, this multi-tasking complex protects, restores and improves skin cell health within one skincare product.

■ HYALURONIC ACID (HA) COMPLEX This exclusive complex combines both high molecular weight HA, which has a protective effect, restoring and maintaining the skin’s hydrolipidic film, with low molecular weight HA, which contributes to optimal hydration.

■ HAENKENIUM This patented Salvia haenkei extract enriches the formula and slows down the degradation process of HA caused by ROS, prolonging the benefits to the skin. It provides skin protection from free radical damage and improves the skin cell health.

HOW DOES PROFHILO HAENKENIUM WORK?

PROTECTS

and provides exceptional antioxidant protection and protects the skin from premature ageing caused by oxidative stress factors such as pollution, diet and smoking and prevents photoaging counteracting damage from UV exposure.

 

RESTORES

the skin barrier function, skin hydration, skin firmness, elasticity and tone.

 

IMPROVES

the quality, health and appearance of skin by diminishing the visible signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as alleviating skin irritation and redness caused by oxidative stress, sensitisation or following any dermoaesthetic treatments.

“PROFHILO HAENKENIUM” is so much more than just a moisturiser – this formulation optimises your skin cell health’. ”

— Anna Baker BN RGN INP PGCert (App. Clin. Anat.) PGCert (Clin. Ed.)

 

 

 

Lip Rejuvenation

What happens to lips as we get older?

Whilst lip size and shape are genetically determined, as we age, the decreased production of collagen and elastin molecules and naturally occurring Hyaluronic Acid causes lips to loose their volume and become thinner.  This can start to happen as early as the late 20’s and 30’s!

Lifestyle factors can also play a part in ‘premature’ lip thinning, so:

  • Avoid straws and puckering your lips
  • Stay Hydrated
  • Use oil based lip Products
  • Don’t smoke
  • Use a lip stick or lip product with an SPF
  • Include plenty of protein, Vitamin C and Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet.

What else can we do?

Medical options include injectable lip fillers to replace and stimulate the lost Hyaluronic Acid.  The new, advanced filler products are so soft and smooth and consist of natural Hyaluronic Acid and often Lidocaine anaesthetic which numbs the lips as it’s injected.

The Lip Rejuvenation Package: £250

Subtle re-definition of the vermillion border, or lip line, which can become almost non-existent as we get older.

Gentle plumping of the lip body with Hyaluronic Acid filler which adds both volume and moisture to the dehydrated tissues.

FREE  Epionce Anti-Aging Lip Renewal Balm, worth £17, to help care for your new lips.

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Lip Renewal is a powerful daily-use treatment formula designed for the unique lip area which includes:

  • Anti-inflammatory barrier repair.
  • Improved appearance of lip lines and wrinkles.
  • Helps Increase hydration.
  • Reveals soft supple lips.

 

 

 

COVID-19

A message to all my valued customers:

A huge thank you for your continued support. This is just to say that whilst there is plenty to frown about – you don’t have to.

Many salons and clinics remain open until further notice but I am also offering home visits on request and if conditions allow.
However, if you’re understandably avoiding going out, I hope to see you with new products and offers when all this blows over.

Take good care and stay safe and well.

Sharon x