the belle lumiere

It was my absolute pleasure to attend a recent event hosted by the skin care company Dermalogica recently. Both Jessica (The Belle Lumiere) and I love this brand so much, we both use it regularly in our own skin routines and to get a chance to go to Head Office and talk with the team about products and most importantly PLAY with the products was an opportunity neither of us wanted to miss! Speaking for myself, Dermalogica is a brand I have fond memories and affection for, as strange as that seems for skin care. Most her life my Mother has had problem skin. Severe psoriasis everywhere, including the face, coupled with rosacea has not left her with the highest self confidence and esteem levels. This led to an increased drive from her to make sure she both looked after her skin as best as she could, considering how it looked when left to its own devices and consequently, was driven to instil a similar routine in me fairly early on in my teens. Of course I didn’t keep up with it properly until my late teens but the cleanse-tone-moisturise philosophy was eventually embedded and till this day my 31 year old skin is constantly thankful. The products of choice for her, and eventually myself, that she found the greatest success with was this particular brand, Dermalogica. It mattered not that her skin was a combination of and at times, all at once very red, patchy, flaky, dry and hypersensitive, thanks to both the skin conditions she has handle and the medications used to control it. Dermalogica, over time and consistent use controlled the majority of that. Using a skin care system was constantly fraught with danger for my Mother. The potential outcome wasn’t always pretty. Not only did many potions and lotions wreak havoc with her skin, the price of the range was always something to contend with. So, when she found a brand that not only controlled her skin, was long lasting and proved its worth with instant results. Literally, the Barrier Cream corrected her skin issues immediately. Other products included the Ultra Calming cleanser, Multi Active toner and the Skin Smoothing Cream. Later, the Daily Microfoliant was added and even later still, the Precleanse. A relationship to a skincare brand was formed. Not only in her eyes and skin and complexion, but in mine.

But I digress. The night was all about Dermalogica, the company, the brand and the products. At the start, our first presenter, Arianne, outlined a brief history of the brand (started in 1986 as the International Dermal Institute (IDI), a niche was noticed in how skincare training was non-existent. In the process, the Dermalogica skin care range was created), the role social networking and blogging (yay! That’s us!) has in expanding Dermalogica (You can follow Dermalogica Australia on Twitter at @dermalogicaAUS and ‘like’ them over at facebook). Then we got to know a little bit about the how the brand is looking to expand with technology – with their iPhone app and also increasing the training and education culture including promoting information on how to best care for skin and how the Dermalogica products can fit in with that.

Dermalogica is deliberately not about beauty. It’s about skin health and there are several skin care ranges to help assist:

* Skin Health
* AGEsmart
* ChromaWhiteTRx
* mediBac Clearing
* Shave

We went over the five main steps in looking after skin:

1. Cleanse (Recommended routine and products)

Pre-cleanse. So this is the cleanser you use when you aren’t cleansing. When you are pre-cleansing in fact. When you are trying to clean your face of the day’s impurities (pollution, sunscreen, makeup, God knows what else) it’s important to cleanse smarter not harder. Pre-cleanse is an oil which works by attracting oil on the face and drawing out the contaminants, leaving the skin to be cleansed more effectively a second time by your cleanser of choice. Still unsure of its usefulness? The set of the recent twilight movie used Pre Cleanse by the truckload for their vamps and werewolves. Vamps and werewolves need to keep their skin glowey and clean and remove makeup and dirt too!

Ultra Calming Cleanser. Gentle. Soothing. Great for sensitive skin. Not drying. Can be used with a cloth for those even sensitive to water. As mentioned above, this is the cleanser my Mum was recommended to whip her skin into shape, which it did and she continues to use, I might add. It’s also the Dermologica cleanser I use.

Special Cleansing Gel. Mint and lavender are anti-inflammatory balm mint and sooth the skin, in that order. While natural quillaja saponaria gently foams to clean away debris. Soap free and your doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight.

Dermal Clay Cleanser. This is a cleanser for people with oily skin. Kaolin and Bentonite attract and extract oil, clear congestion and refines pores. Menthol is in there to refresh and calm the skin. Can also be used as a face mask if left on for 5-10 minutes or so.

2. Exfoliate

In the world order of skincare the levels are as follows: cleanse first, exfoliate second, and then mask/hydrate. Exfoliation should be done 1-3 times a week, depending in your skin. Exfoliating with Dermalogica is easy thanks to two small to medium words: Daily Microfoliant.

Daily Microfoliant is the number 1 best selling product internationally for Dermalogica and is coveted by everyone from the professionals to beautyistas from all over. One doesn’t need to go far to see all the glowing praise from magazines, blogs, article and You tube videos all give love to the Daily Microfoliant. A fine, rice based enzyme powder than when mixed with water, turns into a paste that gently brushes the skin, removing debris, smoothing and brightening the skin. It’s so gentle it really can be used daily. For all skin types. Yes, it really is that good!

Daily Resurfacer. Perfectly portioned doses of a leave on exfoliator which is ideal for use between facials?? Yes please! Brightening, smoothing, helps to retain moisture and reduces signs of aging. Jennifer Hawkins has also professed the love for the Resurfacer.

3. Moisturise

Active Moist. Active moist is great for everyone – every skin type and everybody. An oil free, lightweight cream that refines and hydrates the skin. Can be used all year round. Doesn’t contain mineral oil, lanolin, SD alcohol, fragrance or colour and full of vitamins. It’s a popular men’s moisturiser as well, as it doesn’t leave skin clogged or blocked. Word has it, it was used on the Twilight set as a moisturiser of choice to keep the actors skin’s fresh looking and hydrated.

Skin Smoothing Cream. So this is my Dermalogica moisturiser of choice, as mentioned before. The only moisturiser I’ve used that makes me feel hydrated enough to not need to re-moisturised during the day. Skin Smoothing cream. Silk Amino Acids smooth and help improve skin texture. Extracts of Mallow, Cucumber and Arnica soothe and hydrate the skin. Aloe moisturizes and prevents the appearance of dehydration lines. A great product!

4. Treatment Products

MAP15 Regen. A concentrated treatment that can slow down the aging process. Filled with vitamins, It contains peptides, mineral amino acids and botanical extracts which prevent cellular discolouration. Protects skin from future damage. Excellent for those with hyper-pigmentation. Can be used on freshly cleansed, bare skin.

C12 Concentrate. C12 can help with scarring, bags under the eyes and is best for darker areas like liver spots. It targets current pigmentation, protect skin against the development of more pigmentation and focuses on overall skin health to produce a more consistent, brighter skin tone that is free of darkened areas.

5. Protection

Protection is all about…err protecting the skin. We went through a range of the boosters.

After the presentation we were given the opportunity to play with the mini skin bar that was on our tables. Filled with the products that were spoken about in the presentation, we got to use and were encouraged to use them on our faces as well as hands (for testing). Standing by were ladies to perform the either the Speed Mapping or the Microzone treatments for anyone feeling game. I was more than happy to have a treatment – for the blog , of course!

Speed mapping is a special skin analysis which is performed by Dermalogica’s trained skin consultants. Dividing the skin into 14 zones each zone is examined bit by bit, then the skin is diagnosed and a skin prescription is given. The results can be tracked, specific product and treatments used to monitor and record the progression of your skin’s health. Whilst I didn’t have the skin mapping on the night, I have had it done before. It’s a seemingly simple process. With this process where skin concerns are discussed, identified then diagnosed coupled with the regularity of using the recommended Dermalogica products, getting healthy skin is very possible.

Microzone treatments are Dermalogica’s answer to the ‘mini-facial’. Or rather, a 20 minute treatment that targets specific and/or problematic areas that can be adapted to individual needs. Used as an option for the cash or time poor or to supplement a facial regimen, the Microzone carte du jour includes flash exfoliation, eye rescue, rapid spot clearing, blackhead relief, lip renewal, hand repair and men’s skin fitness. I was lucky enough – for blog writing purposes of course! – To have the eye rescue treatment. In recent times, over exposure to computer screens (I use two for work and come home to my laptop) and not wearing sunglasses (even in winter, after leaving them at a house party sometime ago) had not done my eyes any favours and the eye rescue was exactly as its name implies! Designed to moisturise, firm, tone and brighten the eye area (or customised to your individual needs), it was heaven, instantly injecting moisture into the area and brightening my poor, tired overworked eyes. Also, the therapist used a machine that made the creams more effective by sending a positive charge to the area. Based around similar principles to Iontophoresis, the charge stimulates the area which helps the cream to sink in faster thus being more effective. Or something much like that.

The skincare they produce is excellent and can put right almost any skin concern for all skin types, even issues that I (and my mother) never thought a product could address. The whole night was a lovely success and I would like to thank both The Belle Lumiere and Dermalogica for a very generous and insightful night.

Keep in touch with Dermalogica: Facebook, Twitter & the Speed Mapping iPhone App.