Recently a comparison trial was done to study the changes in the skin using different anti-aging products. At the begining of the study the candidates skin condition was analysed by skin care expert Nick Miedzianowski-Sinclair at the Cosmetic Imaging Studio using the latest Visia Imaging technology, which gives a snapshot of the skin including the number and depth of wrinkles. At the end of the 6 weeks study, the candidates skin were again analysed using the Visia Imaging technology. We were really pleased with the results!
To read the article with the expert’s comments see below.
The Daily Mirror
Hold the Botox! Can you really get the same from a jar?
By Marie Lunn 16/06/2010
A new generation of high-end beauty creams claim to mimic the effects of Botox. But do they live up to the hype?
Ever looked longingly at the impossibly smooth skin of celebrities and wondered what their secret is?
It may just be they’ve had a little help in the form of (whisper) Botox.
If you’ve ever considered the jab but found the idea a bit scary, a new range of cosmeceuticals (think cosmetics meets science) could be for you.
These beauty treatments contain high strength active ingredients designed to improve ageing skin.There are even some that contain a synthetic snake venom, which Cheryl Cole, Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham are said to be big fans of. The products aim to give similar results to “baby Botox”, which is targeted, subtle Botox.
Our cosmeceutical testers were given a skin MOT using the latest Visia imaging technology, which gives a snapshot of the state of the skin including the number and depth of wrinkles.
Six weeks later they returned for another analysis and the moment of the truth.
But would their skin have improved, without going under the needle?
The Botox guinea pig
Emma Roberts, 45, a PR and marketing consultant from Liverpool, had a combination of babytox and microtox.
The strength is the same as regular Botox but smaller amounts are given over two sessions though six out of 10 people don’t need a top up. This avoids the dreaded “frozen face” look.
Lesley Reynolds-Khan, of the Harley Street Medical Skin Clinic, says: “Less is more.
We never overdo it because we have clients who are well known on TV and can’t change their looks overnight.”
EMMA’S TREATMENT COSTS £350 FOR A FULL FACE. WWW.HARLEY STREETSKIN.CO.UK, 020 7935 0986. CLINICS IN LONDON, BIRMINGHAM AND MANCHESTER.
Cream 1
Lorella Thorp, 43, a financial controller from Blackheath, London, tested Dr Tuhin Dev.
Dr Tuhin Dev’s skincare range features an active ingredient Syn-Ake, a synthetic snake venom. It claims to reduce frown lines, crow’s feet and laughter lines. (Essential Elixir face serum, £150 for 30 days, Core Rejuve-Night cream, £84, www.drtuhindevskincare.co.uk )
Right Side:
Percentile: before 18%, after 34% – a dramatic 16% improvement.
Wrinkle intensity: before 14.194, after 9.998.
Wrinkle count: before 28, after 35.
Left Side:
Percentile: before 24%, after 36% – a 12% improvement.
Wrinkle intensity: before 12.508, after 9.899.
Wrinkle count: before 40, after 31.
Dr Nick Says: “Lorella has interesting skin – she has a young child and is finding it very tiring, so she’s a good subject. She got strong improvement, most significant is how the wrinkles are breaking down from 14 to nine. She nearly doubled her percentile measurement in six weeks. This is the best result.”
Cream 2
Samantha Broadfoot, 38, a barrister from Greenwich, tested Skin.NY.
Skin.NY has an active ingredient, QAL-100, a highly powerful antioxidant. It claims to protect cells against the damaging effects of free radicals and increase production of collagen. (Radical Restructure Complex, £55; Radical Daily Precision, £45; Radical Eye Contour, £50, www.skinnycosmetics.com )
Right Side:
Percentile: before 54%, after 62% – an 8% improvement.
Wrinkle intensity: before 5.431, after 4.404.
Wrinkle count: before 19, after 17.
Left Side:
Percentile: before 66%, after 64%.
Wrinkle intensity: before 3.899, after 3.986.
Wrinkle count: before 15, after 16.
Dr Nick Says: “Sam had the best skin to start with. She had some improvement under her eyes on the right side of her face, from 5.4 to 4.4. I think she would have had a continued improvement with the highlevel cream over the six weeks.”
Cream 3
Dominique Dobinson, 41, a full-time mum from South London, tested Syence.
Syence has an active ingredient, Servital. As skin ages, it thins, leading to more wrinkles.
This aims to restore the skin’s epidermal thickness to that of a younger skin. (Sertival Active Tissue Defense, £85; Moist Eye Cream, £21, www.syence.com )
Right Side:
Percentile: before 54%, after 60% – a 6% improvement.
Wrinkle intensity: before 6.228, after 5.639.
Wrinkle count: before 24, after 20.
Left Side:
Percentile: before 43%, after 43%
Wrinkle intensity: before 7.878, after 7.814
Wrinkle count: before 22, after 22
Dr Nick Says: “Dominique’s skin improved, especially on the right side of her face. This could be due to her being righthanded and applying cream better on one side or it could be how she sleeps. Overall her skin texture improved and dramatic wrinkles lessened. On the left side the wrinkles shortened and weren’t as deep. A good result.”
WHICH IS BETTER – BOTOX OR BOTTLE?
Botox is a one-time treatment, meaning you do it once and can top it up as required every three months or longer. But you have to use the creams every day.”People can have a very positive reaction to Botox and sometimes they have no reaction at all,” says skin expert Nick Miedzianowski-Sinclair. “It doesn’t work for everybody.It takes a couple of weeks to kick in then it holds for anywhere between three and 12 months. But the upshot can be that it re-educates the muscles so you frown less for instance and is useful for deep wrinkles, such as frown lines between the brows.”
“If you don’t like the idea of injections, the right cream can offer great results on finer lines and skin tone and texture. Six weeks is long enough to see an improvement.”
TIPS FOR GREAT SKIN
(1) PREPARE FIRST “A microdermabrasion exfoliator will improve the surface and cleanliness of skin so the impact of cream will be greater,” says Nick.
(2) BLOT SKIN DRY ON KITCHEN ROLL “Dirt collects on the towel, no matter how often you change it and is transferred back to your skin.”
(3) DON’T APPLY CREAM AT BEDTIME “Early evening is ideal for the cream to sink in rather than end up on the pillow.”
(4) LOOK AT YOUR MUM “If she looks great for her age, odds are you will, but lifestyle plays a part.”
(5) WEAR SUNSCREEN! UVA light is the number one cause of premature ageing so it’s vital to use a 5* UVA sunscreen on your face even in winter.
THE RESULTS EXPLAINED..
Percentile: We compared the testers to other women of the same age on the database to find out how their skin rates. Percentiles are measured out of 100 with 1% the lowest – the higher your percentage rating, the better your skin condition.
Wrinkle Count: We counted the number of wrinkles before and after.
Wrinkle Intensity: We measured how deep the wrinkles were.
Nick Miedzianowski-Sinclair, who measured the testers’ skin, says: “To see an improvement, you want the percentile to go up and the intensity to come down. The number of wrinkles could actually go up as wrinkles start to break down. Instead of one big wrinkle, you get two or three smaller, less deep ones.”
For a skin analysis with Nick Miedzianowski-Sinclair at the Cosmetic Imaging Studio, email tcis@dentistry100.co.uk. A before and after analysis starts at £60, or £90 for a 3D imaging session. You can get an assessment of how your skin is now and how you can improve it.
-END-
