I am celebrating my 30th birthday and while I still feel like a clueless teenager sometimes young at heart, I can’t help but start wondering if signs of ageing are going to creep up my face very soon, as scientific literature seems to suggest.
Just two weeks before my birthday, I was invited to try the new anti-ageing facial treatment by Estetica. The GENXSKIN is a cosmeto-genomics treatment that serves as a potent anti-ageing solution. The concept of “cosmeto-genomics” (which works by stimulating skin’s vital functions through the power of our own genes) came about in the late 2000s, and has been explored by dermatologists and scientists in how it can improve skin’s condition.
How skin ages
The ageing process is predominantly determined by our genes, which is responsible for stabilising the structure of the dermis. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is made up of elastin, collagen and hyaluronic acid, and helps skin maintain its firmness, elasticity, thickness and density. As we age, the “communication” between dermal cells and the ECM weakens, and this is how wrinkles and sagging skin appears.
How GENXSKIN works
GENXSKIN promises to reboot and stimulate 14 youth-giving genes so as to restore the characteristics of young skin. Through the treatment, the ECM of skin is restructured, so that expression lines (frown lines, laugh lines, lip contour lines) will look smoother.
Do I like GENXSKIN?
One thing I always like about facial treatments at Estetica is the really good facial massages. It says it all in its slogan (“In good hands”). The facial massage that I received for GENXSKIN didn’t disappoint.
The 90-minute session begins with the usual cleansing and exfoliating, and uses specially-formulated products that are applied with special focus on the areas that are prone to deep expression lines.
For a treatment that doesn’t use any machines, but solely products and massages by hand, I was impressed that there was an immediate effect, albeit subtle, on the skin. My skin has a natural glow to it after the session, despite spending the past few days travelling (and my skin was suffering from jet-induced fatigue).
The effects of the facial persists even in the next few days that followed. In particular, my skin felt bouncier, which is definitely a nod to younger-looking skin. If you ask me, I’d say that this is a treatment that has the potential of me going for more regularly as I stepped into Club Three-Oh.
The treatment doesn’t end at salon session – it’s supposed to be combined with home-use products. The GENXSKIN regime offers a range of products, from cleansers and moisturisers to peels and CC creams that you can use at home daily.
The star product is the Micro Filler, which doesn’t just contain the active ingredient, Matrigenics14 G (a plant-based extract), but also fillers that give an instant smoothening effect to visible lines.
The 90-minute GENXSKIN treatment is available at SGD368, and you’re recommended to go for it once every seven days for at least six sessions for the best results. You can make an appointment for it at any Estetica beauty studios, but if I were you, I’d check out the Plaza Singapura outlet, which features a new retail space (see above store images), designed by award-winning architect, Colin Seah of Ministry of Design.
