
Being a beauty blogger (or a woman, I should say), it’s almost a given that I love makeup, hair, and all that good stuff.
Self grooming, improving oneself, feeling better about oneself and playing around with different looks is what this world of beauty is all about. However, as much as I like taking these steps to look ‘good’ (or at least try), I am not sure if I am one to cross over to the more “serious” stuff, namely lasers, chemical peels and cosmetic procedures and surgery.
It was only when I went to the Skincentuals A.G.E. Eye complex event and met Dr. Karen Soh, who kindly offered to let me try out a laser treatment to see what it was all about. I was a little hesitant, but agreed.
The laser treatment that I received was Revlite, the best q-switch Nd-yag laser machine in the market (aren’t I spoilt!). It was at the lowest rate possible (since I’m such a chicken) and the laser is the gold standard for improving pigmentation, skin texture, pore size, sebum production. It has also been studied to improve acne, acne scars and fine wrinkles. No doubt I was trying something extra-ordinary!
To be honest, though, whilst going in, I was petrified. The only thing I had ever done to my face was smash it in a glass table and the edge of a swimming pool (I was a clumsy kid) and got it stitched up again, but willingly let tiny laser beams zap my face? Hell no. This was a big deal for me! However, Dr. Soh assured me that you hardly feel anything and that the results were so amazing – not to mention so quick notice – that I would change my mind and see how worth it it was. So, I relunctedly gave it a go.
The prepartion time was a little stressful. I was paranoid and thought my face would fall off, so I quizzed Dr. Soh on the worse side effect that could happen, and she explained that you may break out in zits after, since the lasers help “bring out” what’s deep inside. Since that was it, I relaxed a bit, but still ended up shaking right before it was done. In fact, I was so terrified Dr. Soh told me she would let me try the Revlite laser zaps on my hand first, and if I really couldn’t take it I didn’t have to do it. I felt so embarrassed for being such a baby, but honestly, it was scary. I started relaxing quite a bit after testing two laser snaps on my hand, which didn’t hurt at all, so I went for it.
The first step was to apply numbing cream all over my face, and I believe that for a few minutes I felt what it was like to be completely Botoxed – a really strange feeling, by the way. Dr. Soh started the laser at the right side of my face, down my chin, onto my cheeks, the left side of my face, and then my forehead.
I am glad to report I survived. However, not without a few “OW, OW, OW! OK ENOUGH!” yelps. For some strange reason, it didn’t hurt too much on my cheeks and chin, but the side of my face and forehead? OUCH.
Fortunately, once it was all done, I realized that once again I was being a drama queen, because it really wasn’t that bad at all. The zaps feel like a tiny rubber band snapping on your skin, which isn’t too much. My skin was a tad pinkish after, but it was hardly noticable. After, her assistant Linda applied a serum and sunscreen. (Dr. Soh kindly gave me a vial of the serum and I shall review it soon – it is iS Clinical’s Active Serum, a product heavy raved about in many high-end fashion mags.)
When I came home about half an hour later, I looked in the mirror and was stunned. My skin looked plump, clear and my skin was radiant and glowing. It looked like a young child’s skin; you know – the skin we have before all the crazy hormones start! I showed my mom and she was impressed and said my skin was glowing like no other. The results, to sum up, were nothing short of extraordinary.
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