We live in a fabulous era— lightning-fast Internet to work from anywhere in the world, tons of nutritious food at our fingertips, increasing rights, and inclusion for everyone… The list goes on. And anti-ageing and rejuvenating skin treatments at the clinic aren’t an exception, in fact, we have so many options that it gets hard to find something that actually works for you.
Get Into The Know – Which skin treatment is the best in terms of glowing results, price, tech?
What we did – We took a good look at the top 6 trending clinic treatments for your skin (that you’ve probably already heard of), and now, we bring you juicy inside knowledge to sink in your teeth (or skin?). Without further ado, let’s explore the exciting world of trendy skin treatments!
1. Infini Treatment
Want a revitalised, plumped up, utterly luscious look without any surgery? Well, the Infini skin treatment might just be for you. This is a genius skin tightening solution that packs a punch: it rolls two awesome treatments (deep radiofrequency and microneedling) into one to give you an all-around brighter and healthier complexion.
– Good for: Ageing and prematurely ageing skin with lines, wrinkles, or volume loss; acne and all kinds of scars.
– The tech: A handheld in-clinic device connected to a larger machine delivers state-of-the-art, high-intensity radiofrequency waves into your skin. The trick is that, instead of conveying those waves onto your skin (like other radiofrequency treatments that are imprecise because of bulk heat), the microneedles on the end of the applicator sink deep into the dermis, up to 3.5mm in, to stimulate the collagen directly and accurately (with safer, fractional tech). There, the action of the needles + RF combo causes tiny injuries that make your skin cells produce all-natural, extra plumping new collagen and elastin.
– Results: Dr. Patel of the PHI Clinic in London (*cough* with a sister branch in Sydney *cough*) confides that you should expect to see the best results in about 6 weeks after the third treatment, but that there can be a dramatic improvement even after the first session!
However, this isn’t an exact science (yet): despite being super accurate, there’s some variability in the Infini treatment that depends on the health and particular traits of your skin. The doctors at Perth’s avant-garde centre Skyn, say that, while the collagen created lasts about 7 years (yeah), you should consider retouching this skin tightening treatment every 12-18 months.
– Reviews: Elle UK’s trending beauty expert Lou Teasdale writes about her Infini skin tightening treatment and says that, while being more painful than she expected and staying swollen for a few days, her complexion ‘feels the best it has EVER felt. BETTER than when I was 21’!
– Precautions: Don’t go for this trending treatment if you’re on blood thinners, have a pacemaker or metallic elements in your face. Good news, though: the Infini skin treatment works well with tanned or dark skin, no risk of pigmentation. Why? Because the radiofrequency waves don’t affect the first layer of your complexion. As for the downtime after the treatment, it’s virtually nonexistent. Keep in mind, though: your skin will be red and on the rough side for about a day or two, and (if you have issues with blood flow in the face) you might get small ‘pinpoint’ marks for a while.
– Cost: A standard 20-to-45-minute treatment should cost anywhere from AU$1,550 to $3,000, according to user-sourced RealSelf averages.
– How many treatments? It depends: for prevention, go for one a year; for acne scarring, 5-6 sessions are best; and schedule 3 for a simple skin tightening treatment.
2. Hydrafacial
Say goodbye to your same-old-same-old, conventional facial. The hydrafacial is in! Sound the trumpets!
But first: what is it about? According to innovative Hydrafacial Australia, this treatment is a three-step process:
- Cleansing + exfoliating + a resurfacing acid peel.
- Extracting impurities via suction + intense hydration
- Nourishing the skin layers with peptides & antioxidants + fusing with red light tech.
– Good for: Dull & congested skin, complexions with impurities and redness, dehydrated skin.
– The tech: The Hydrafacial’s cutting-edge tech lets you get incredible results in less than half the time of a normal advanced facial. Every part of the treatment is performed by a team of esthetician+machine (don’t you love the times we live in?). What’s most unique about this technology? The device’s spiral tip is specifically designed to multitask: its vortex delivers nourishing serums, clears, and exfoliates your skin with equal gusto.
– Results: Does the Hydrafacial work? The answer’s a clear, resounding yes. Hydrafacial Australia claims that results are visible immediately after the first treatment: you get a glowy, clean and smooth, healthy complexion that’s super-hydrated. Because nothing in life lasts forever, the initial results will fade after about a week but, with consistent treatment (ideally, once a month), ‘the result will last for longer each time’!
– Reviews: Beauty savant Murphy Moroney tells us about her Hydrafacial results: ‘Over the last few days, my skin has been completely clear and I have zero blackheads or chin pimples (my sworn enemy)’. In her own words (and we agree), ‘it’s definitely worth the splurge’!
– Precautions: All skin types are good to go! Plus, there’s no discomfort included, so you can sit back and let the worries of the world get cleared away.
– Cost: The cost of Hydrafacial treatments might vary. At Sydney’s leading Rejuvenation Clinics of Australia, for example, the investment is around AU$200.
– How many treatments? One session takes about half an hour (for real), and the recommended frequency for keeping your skin consistently healthy and glowy is once a month.
3. Q Switched Laser Treatment
What’s so special about the Q switched laser? How is it different from other lasers? This skin treatment is your best friend when it comes to targeting the consequences of sun damage (isolated brown spots or age spots) and regrettably reckless tattoo ink. A bonus: it’ll also tone your skin tone and tighten your pores for extra awesomeness.
– Good for: Sun damage, spots of hyperpigmentation, toning the skin, destroying the evidence of vacation tattoo decisions.
– The tech: All Q switch lasers are unique because, unlike other lasers, they release intense energy in short bursts called pulses. It’s really fast: each pulse takes about a nanosecond (the billionth fraction of a second). Let that sink in. This fast, short, and targeted action is achieved thanks to a crystal, the Q switch, that stores and releases energy towards your pigment clusters in a focused way— sometimes, even getting everything in one go. This laser is all about control! Q-switched lasers include a few different wavelengths to treat various skin tones safely (without risking worsening the pigmentation): Nd:YAG, Ruby, and Alexandrite.
– Results: But is this laser effective? Studies like from Omics Online Studies and White Paper Evidence from Rebecca Small, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor University of California San Francisco prove it is. Q switched lasers can noticeable reduce or even wholly remove pigmentation from your lovely complexion!
– Reviews: Allure’s beauty expert, Jolene Edgar, says that it’s ‘akin to a rubber-band snap’: not too painful! If you treated a brown spot, it’ll immediately go pink or white, while a no-longer-there-tatt will look whitish. Then, you’ll get a scab (no picking!) that’ll fall away to reveal new and lighter skin.
– Precautions: Don’t go with this laser treatment if your hyperpigmentation is because of pregnancy melasma: studies show that it could actually make it worse! Also, keep away if you are (or recently were) on Accutane.
– Cost: Don’t try to skimp on this one— price does equal quality when it comes to lasers. Get your skin treatment at a clinic with reputable doctors, please!
CHOICE Australia states the costs of Q-switch laser for tattoo removal start at $4500, while leading clinic Clear Skincare Australia offers a less expensive laser facial.
– How many treatments? It depends on the size and severity of your target— many sun spots and small tattoos are gone after the first session, but larger or more colourful bits can take up to 10 sessions or more.
4. Injectables
Hyaluronic acid fillers, grafting fillers, synthetic fillers— there are as many injectables as there are freckles on a no-SPF skin. That’s a lot. And they all have different (awesome) benefits, tech, and costs. It’s a fascinating world out there. In fact, we love fillers & other injectables so much that we wrote a whole series of blog posts on them! They’re a simple, walk-in-walk-out option to plump up your skin and feel like your best self.
Interested in the different types of breakthrough dermal fillers? Go here.
Wanna know if injectables are right for you? Start here. If you want to know which filler is the best means to your end (aka, #skingoals), go here. You’ll know what risks to look out for and get the juiciest tips and tricks.
– Good for: Sculpting your features, removing lines and wrinkles, plumping up sagging skin, enhancing your natural allure.
5. Lactic Acid Peel
The well-informed already know that Lactic Acid is one of the best things to happen to skin in our era. This AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) is lauded by beauty experts as a cellular-level exfoliant that’s nourishing and safe for acne-prone and sensitive babes.
– Good for: Multitasking! Removing scars (acne or other causes), resurfacing clear new skin layers, treating dry skin, decongesting pores and reducing pigmentation.
– The tech: This is one of the most analogic treatments on this list. All it takes is Lactic Acid (milk- or fruit-sourced) at a 40-70% of concentration and a paintbrush to apply. This peel is left on for 3-10 minutes, then rinsed and massaged away.
– Results: Immediately after the peel treatment, your complexion will feel a bit warm and look rosy. In the following days, the results will start to show: glowy skin with tighter pores and a hydrated, plump look. To take it to the next level, you’ll have to repeat the peel a few times.
– Reviews: Vogue’s recent beauty director and aesthete Sigourney Cantelo tells us of her experience with the lactic peel. James Vivian, alias ‘the travelling peelsman’, treated her skin with the pomegranate-based AHA, which felt ‘a bit like ants in high heels’. The results? Remarkable: ‘I put my foundation away and go nude for the first time in many, many months.’ Who doesn’t want that?
– Precautions: Rule n° 1: wear sunscreen. Vivian said to Vogue, ‘You need to be prepared for some flaking. Don’t do it within a week of an important event,’ and we absolutely agree. No one wants to look like a peeling onion on Instagram! Also, if your complexion has psoriasis, eczema, or rosacea, not picking this treatment is the wisest choice.
– Cost: A lactic acid treatment cost starts at around $110.
– How many treatments? Vogue Featured Iconic facialist Jocelyn Petroni recommends getting a lactic acid peel once a week for 6 weeks to truly banish scarring for good. If you have other ambitions (like toning or pigmentation), you don’t need this level of commitment: go for a peel every 2-3 weeks for maintenance.
6. Fraxel Treatment
A different laser treatment, a different story. This one, the Fraxel laser, is a skin resurfacing treatment. This means it aims to destroy old, damaged skin cells and to give you a biological nudge to start making healthy & new ones!
– Good for: Everything! Fraxel lasers treat pigmentation, acne scars, lines and wrinkles, a dull complexion.
– The tech: How are Fraxel lasers different from the rest of them, for example, Q-switched lasers? In Fraxel lasers, the light is fractioned: it reaches the skin in lots of little heat columns instead of just one big and damaging beam. These micro laser beams target water in your cells. In other news, the laser treatment uses a dual laser: one that has two different wavelengths. One, to banish your pigmentation. The other, to sink in and remodel scars, pores, and wrinkles. And hey, it works for all skin tones and types!
– Results: Does Fraxel work? It really does— and not just to fix one issue. Fractional laser resurfacing is a great option if you want to multitask.
This leading study compares it to ‘one-stop shopping’ because it helps you fix different concerns (pigmentation, scarring, etc.) at the same time. It also shows Fraxel is better than most normal lasers for ageing management: way fewer complications, way more positive skin response. Bonus: Fraxel laser is applied with an evening roller. Even application— even results.
– Reviews: Flame-haired presenter Shelly Horton tried Fraxel laser resurfacing and loved it! In her own words, ‘Besides my three-monthly Botox jabs, this is the only other treatment I’ve repeated religiously’.
– Precautions: Get your doctor to check whether you have melasma and whether it’s a good idea to still get Fraxel laser. Also, be prepared to have pink skin as well as some itching and flaking for the next couple of days. You’ll need some downtime!
– Cost: The cost of a Fraxel treatment will probably be between $1500 and $3000 (depends on area size).
– How many treatments? The Fraxel treatment is so powerful you only need one every 18 months.
There, those are the latest & trendiest skin treatment options. You’re now an expert— congrats! Define which skin issues you’re ready to knock off your list and get to work on these trendy skin treatments. Which one will you try first?
