It was expert facialist Linda at Paul Edmonds in London's Knightsbridge who tipped me off many years ago about the South African skincare geniuses at Environ, as well as a good friend from New York who's 15 years my senior but has glowing, dewey skin. (You know who you are!) What can I say? The product line gets results. I don't write about many face products - I save it all up for the ones that are truly worthy it and I can stand by being I believe the sector has quite a lot of marketing hype and 'BS' associated with it and ... well, my fellow female lot are getting ripped off! To boot ...this product line is fairly priced - moderate, I'd say.
Dr. Des Fernandes, a leading Cape Town plastic surgeon and expert in treating sun damaged skin, developed the line and cast nourishing vitamin A in the starring role. The active ingredient puts on a brilliant performance as miracle worker with anti-aging, anti-photodamage and soothing abilities. Try C-Quence, a luxurious gel that Dolce & Gabbana have both said "gives you flawless skin." The product enriches the skin with a powerful combination of antioxidants, penta-peptides and vitamins to speed up restoration of skin cells, firm skin and smooth out fine lines. As a result, the surface of the skin is refined and overall hydration is improved.
Dr Fernandes has also developed a new treatment to help repair sun-damaged skin and reduce lines, scars etc: the Environ Medical Roll-CIT procedure, a relatively new treatment performed by licensed medical professionals now available in the UK, New York, Los Angeles, and plenty of other spots around the US (call +1 866 866 3684 to locate the US practitioner nearest to you). Using a special roller containing hundreds of tiny needles, the epidermis is penetrated ... an alternative to harsh laser re-surfacing which I'm not a fan of. It's cheaper, skin heals faster so less time off work, no sun sensitivity. A more intense version - the Environ Surgical Roll-CIT procedure - is also available for stretch marks and acne scars.
This is the only dramatically effective youthening natural facial treatment I've come across to date. I highly recommend a series of at least three sessions equally for men and women who are over 35 years old. The practitioner applies a topical anesthetic 30 minutes prior to you lying down while a small instrument with teeny needles is rolled back and forth over your face and neck. It is not pleasant, I warn you, but also is not painful (except the upper lip area--ouch!). Post rolling, a high concentrate vitamin C and A serum is massaged in, which you then do yourself with the products at home as post-treatment. The combination of needling and vitamins causes natural collagen and elastin production to occur, smoothing and tightening the skin and softening or erasing fine lines, pigmentation and acne scars, depending on each person's skin type.
I went to Joanne Evans at the SOMA Centre in Kensington, London W8--she is excellent. From £150-£300 per session. (Call 020 7361 1995 to book with Joanne, or 020 8450 2020 to find a trained practitioner closest to your home/office if you live in the UK). My treatment consisted of three sessions spanning 6 weeks, and I have never seen my skin look so glowing and dewy before ... more 'plump' and moisturized. I will be going back for more treatments in the next few months. My cheeks and forehead are visibly smoother and more radiant post three sessions. Promise.
To book:
LA
David M. Butler, MD, FACS
1301 20th St. Suite #300
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: (310) 428-0033
Email: info@davidmbutlermd.com
Website: www.davidmbutlermd.com
Randal D. Haworth, MD
436 North Bedford Drive #105
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (310) 273-3000
Website: www.drhaworth.com
NYC
Dr. Philip Miller
60 East 56th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-750-7100
donna@drphilipmiller.com
www.drphilipmiller.com
Dr Barry Zide
420 East 55th Street
New York
NY 10022
Phone: 212-421-2424
www.chinsurgery.com
All of the brand's non-greasy, easily penetrable moisturizers also help protect skin against free-radicals, and repair damage caused by time and exposure to the elements. Their newer AVST range features an updated brigade of antioxidants, flavanoids and other wonderful skin nutrients. I noticed results within 2 weeks using it religously, and am now devoted to these effective, first-rate products, and naturally I've turned several friends on to the line as well. I graduated to AVST5 and see all the more results. Just take note: these are potent potions, so you'll need to speak to a specialist before use. And beware of buying online. Environ does not sell its products on the Internet and many customers have been duped into buying counterfeit or illegally obtained products. Once you start, go for the products with lower doses of vitamin A first, and then build up to the stronger formulations. The only contender I've found anywhere in the world for Environ? I'll tell you later ...
www.environ.co.za