Crystal Clear COMCIT facial at the Chamomile Sanctuary Spa

You have heard me wax lyrical about the wonder that is Edinburgh’s Chamomile Sanctuary Spa before as I am continually impressed with the treatments and technologies they offer. I love that they are constantly keeping up with the latest procedures and they are all so passionate about learning so they can offer clients an incredible service.

I was really excited to meet Sarah who was going to be talking me through the Comcit treatment from Crystal Clear which promises to help with a variety of skin issues.  It was created by Sharon Hilditch the head of Crystal Clear after she enjoyed the results from traditional micro needling but found the treatments painful and requiring more downtime than she would like. She wanted to put together a treatment that was just as effective but with no bleeding and little to no downtime. 

COMCIT stands for 'Cryo Oxygen Microchanelling Collagen Induction Therapy', quite the mouthful but in basic terms- a machine is used that pushes 93% pure oxygen through a freezer and into the wand that creates a numbing effect as it is applied around the face. A roller with needles is then passed across the skin to create 'micro channels' to allow maximum penetration of the products. The micro channels the needles create ( when they are of a size 0.5mm and over), makes the skin feel lightly ‘attacked’ and in response it produces collagen as protection as well as increasing cell turnover, which is just what the fine lines, scars and texture of the skin needs to improve. Your skin is then infused with a potent blend of ingredients to help rejuvenate the skin. 

Pretty clever stuff!

Sarah was a joy to talk to as she is so interested in skincare and the treatments she is performing, it makes for such a good insight into your own skin and the issues you might have and what is best recommended for treating them. I loved hearing her insight into COMCIT and the results she has seen, I could have chatted right through the treatment time!

She kicked off with cleansing and exfoliating my skin so she could get a good look at the problem areas and decide what products would suit me best.  It was the vitamin C serums we decided I needed to help with my pigmentation and brightness issues. She used the 0.5mm needles alongside a Hylauronic Acid packed with plant stem cells, to help with dehydration and then more vitamin C to penetrate the skin.  More cryo oxygen is used to help calm any redness and further push the serum into the skin. She then used a beautiful Super Repair Mask with lavender and moringa to nourish my skin and it smelt just divine. We finished off with applying a skin brightening complex, the hydracell moisturiser and some SPF 40 which is essential after treatments like this.

The whole process was pretty much pain free, there is the tiny niggle as the roller is passed across certain areas but the oxygen has done such a good numbing job that it is barely there. I was really impressed with how normal my face looked afterwards, I have had a full micro needling done before and this was nothing like it. I had the tiniest touch of redness as I left but to anyone else it will have appeared as nothing, I headed straight to the shops afterwards and didn't feel at all self conscious. Sarah advised that usually the best results are seen in the days afterwards as the skin heals fully and now a week on I can really see that. My skin has felt more nourished than it had recently and certainly much brighter. The instant effect is certainly the plumpness and youthfulness you experience but the days after allowed me to appreciate that my skin appeared much clearer and generally brighter as well as being a much softer texture.

I love that the treatment can be tailored to various issues and I can totally see how a course of treatments could have a huge effect on texture and tone. I really feel like I learned a lot with having this and it has reminded me how much change you can see when you have something as beneficial as this, done.

My skin has changed a lot since having the baby and in the tiring year since, so it was good to chat with someone who can help pinpoint just what you might need to keep it looking its best. She had some recommendations on another treatment on offer at Chamomile which will help with the some of the more clogged areas of my skin so I will be reading up on that next! This COMCIT treatment has been a really fantastic experience and I think Crystal Clear have achieved just what they set out to do.

I might have also have a cheeky little look at the Spa’s new nail room while I was there so I shall be back with a little post to fill you in on that next.

*This visit was gifted in exchange for a full and honest review. Opinions are as always, my own.*

My Universkin serums

If you haven't already caught my review of my consultation experience with Universkin at the La Belle Forme Clinic in Glasgow- then you catch it here. Getting to watch my own tailor made serums being mixed for me was a really exciting experience and I couldn't wait to get them home to get going with using them. Following my skincare questionnaire I was given both an AM and PM serum to use, each one was labelled up with the ingredients chosen for me and my therapist went through how best to use them.

My AM serum was mixed with L-Ascorbic acid ( vitamin C) alongside Ferulic acid which I was delighted to have chosen for me as I have actually seen fantastic results using Ferulic before and I am always on the hunt for Vitamin C based products generally.

And my PM serum utilises Phytic acid, Arbutine and B3 and between the two serums we were looking to lighten any scarring pigmentation, keep my skin clear and also work on brightening and hydrating too.

Housed in small, secure bottles with a thin top, the Universkin serum is a milky texture that is not too runny but not at all thick and unspreadable. The bottle is perfectly designed so that you simply squeeze the tip to dispense the perfect dot on your fingertips ( I find 3 or 4 does my whole face) and then tap it across the skin. Due to the very active ingredients, the serum has no added perfumes and smells 'clinical'. This isn't a bad smell at all and is actually a scent I prefer as I would rather forgo synthetic florals for something that is actually working for my skin.  I love how simple and clean and unwasteful it is to use, never mind handily portable in a small, sturdy bottle. I quickly got used to how best to apply and have been using both serums for six weeks and been really happy with the results.

You are advised to use your products within 6 weeks of receiving them, as Universkin believe just like you wouldnt drink 6 week old orange juice, neither should you apply old vitamin C to your face and I found my serums lasted around 6 weeks anyway with daily use. In this time my skin definately calmed down considerably from the spottier phase it was in when I started which was perfect for me just going on holiday. It left me skin with a lovely texture and was definitely helped brighten the dullness that I suffer from while leaving it really soft and hydrated at the same time.  I loved the process of putting the serum together and think the idea of then going back for a new supply means you can actually change or tweak your potion due to what your skin needs now is absolutely genius. For my skin concerns I know that I would need to refill my skin prescription to see continued lightening of my scarring but seeing how the serums have helped in other areas and knowing the reliable and proven ingredients that are being used, I know I will continue to see changes.

My well loved empties!

For anyone looking to start using more results driven ingredients on their skin this is the ideal way to start out and means you don't have to think about only treating one of your skin complaints at once. As always the La Belle Forme team are incredibly knowledgeable about the products they stock and are amazing at answering any questions and giving you their own experience of trying out the serums too.

To book in to create your own bespoke skincare you can contact the clinic on 0141 552 0828

Introducing: Universkin

 In a saturated market of often repackaged, re-marketed, samey products it is really refreshing when something really innovative like Universkin crosses my path. Learning more about the company and their product I was sitting thinking- DUH- why aren't we always looking for something exactly like this?? It felt so glaringly obvious when sitting right in front of me!

La Belle Forme are always sure to be offering people the most innovative and cutting-edge treatments and this is their latest addition. Universkin is based on the idea of old-fashioned apothecary style skincare and allows for a completely bespoke skin care product to be made and mixed in front of you. You create your own AM and PM serum combining all the active ingredients your skin needs based on an in-depth questionnaire and guidance from a trained therapist. I honestly couldn't get over how much sense it made to me while I was sitting going through the questions, pretty much all of us are combination skins in some way or another yet we often just focus on one of the areas or go off using multiples products causing more grief in the long run.

My lovely therapist Cristina explained the whole system to me, she would take my answers to the survey alongside asking me another details she needed for further clarification and then would write me up a prescription of exactly what key ingredients my skin requires. It was amazing that it wasn't until filling out my forms that I really sat and thought about where my skin was at right now and which of its issues were most prominent and important to how I feel. I think that is a great part of the Universkin process, actually taking time out to think about how much of a problem certain aspects of my skin actually are as opposed to just flinging all sorts at it. It allowed me to decide which parts I would like to try and improve first which is a much better route for clear skin. 

Once we had discussed what ingredients Cristina thought were best suited for my skin needs right now, it was time for the fun part- mixing up my bespoke serum. I love the whole concept of the process, watching each of my special ingredients be whirred into my base serum was amazing and allowed for a real transparency in what you are getting. The base (known as Nexultra P) is not an oily cream but more a nude texture that has organic Camelina oil, peptides and the all important Hyaluronic Acid. I was delighted to leave with two serums all ready to use and I am super excited to trial them out and see how my skin does.

I was really impressed with my appointment and loved the process of having my personalised serums made. I love the idea that after you are finished your first serums you can then choose to tweak your prescription to what your skin is needing at that time which allows for a bespoke approach all year round.  I was also surprised with the prices as for a personalised service it was more reasonable that I envisaged ( I know everyone has a different idea of what is reasonable of course!), with prices starting from £50. I am really excited to get using my AM and PM treatments and see what it does for some of my skin issues and will be back to fill you in when I am done.

To  book in for a Universkin appointment you can call La Belle Forme on 0141 552 0828