SERUMS: To layer or not to layer?

A cleanser cleanses. A toner tones. A moisturizer moisturizes. But serums?

These multi-taskers treat many skin types and conditions. They boost results both in facial therapies and in home care routines, especially when layered together. After the standard cleanse and tone, or underneath the moisturizer or overnight facial masks.

Serums are very potent because they can contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than other skin care products so they pack a powerful punch! The appropriately prescribed serums can transform and alter skin without inflammation or downtime and achieve the desired skin care results in a shorter amount of time.

Layering serums is one method of customizing facial treatments. Think BABOR and the dosing you can actually perform to the skin during a facial with those little miracle serums! You can add up to 6 ampoules (crashes) in a treatment.

It is important that your skin care professional delivers the serums in the correct order for the layering to optimize delivery and ensure maximum absorption and ultimately results.

How many nutrients can our skin drink in at once?

If thicker serums are the first to be used, they prevent lighter serums from penetrating. The result is a wasted product.

Instead, a light and water-based serum with small molecules will absorb into the skin first, providing skin cells with an essential moisture. Allowing optimal absorption of the thicker water based or oil-based serum that is layered on top.

At Legacy Balance Spas we like the following approach: SPOILER ALERT! We are about to describe in detail our April Facial PROMO!

Step 1: Your Skin care specialist will perform a skin analysis to help you choose the facial routine that’s right for you. It is vitally important to be clear about how your skin reacts to products or to being touched, this will enable us to achieve and maintain a clear, smooth and glowing skin. Step 2. Your therapist will welcome you with a spa specific routine to make you comfortable and initiate the treatment

Step 3. Cleansing of eyes and lips and face with appropriate cleansing products, these products are then rremoved with warm wet compress.

Step 4. Eye cream will be applied to protect the delicate area around the eyes before performing a vitality check. This promotes microcirculation and improves the skin ‘s ability to absorb subsequent skincare preparations. This product will then be removed with warm wet compress and soothing pressure.

Step 5. Toning the skin with cotton pads soaked in appropriate toner.

Step 6. Peeling / exfoliation (as determined in the initial analysis in Step 1) will be used to remove superficial hardened skin with or without mechanical stimulation. Again, the product will be removed with warm wet compress ☺ followed by cotton pads soaked in appropriate toner using prayer like movements.

Step 7. Here comes the best part. The applications of serum/serums. Highly concentrated active ingredients for a wide range of skin needs and for immediately visible effects. Padded into the skin for maximum absorption, we bind moisture with:

• Hyaluronic acid will be lighter and would penetrate the skin surface first to hydrate, help prevent the collapse of collagen and promote repair included in the PROMO. • For a client looking for anti-aging effects: an Anti-aging or regenerative serum at an added R 60 would follow; this serum can contain large molecules such as collagen, ceramides, vitamins, peptides and stem cells, which normally would sit on the surface of the skin. Advances in skin care technology and delivery systems, has resulted in most large molecules being coated in natural liposomes for the effective delivery of these ingredients, transportation if you like, to targeted cells. This microencapsulation technology is mind blowing!

It is still important that gentle massage more like padding into the skin, and time are allowed to ensure the penetration if these serums. Which is why our facials are never rushed!

Step 8. It is time to enter a dreamlike state, because after the application of a soothing balm or cream, we perform a neck and shoulder massage. This culminates in a mask and a hand and arm massage sequence.

Step 9. While you are drifting in dreamland, we will tone the skin one last time with cotton pads soaked in appropriate toner in a prayer like movements. Eye serum/cream, moisturizer, neck cream and depending on the time of day, sun block will be the final touch.

Step 10: after gathering yourself; walk off on clouds into a new day or night! Looking and feeling like a better you!

Serum Ingredients on Active Duty Here is our list of hero serums that can be layered or mixed, note if you are using retinol you need to avoid layering more than one serum that contains vitamin A because this can increase skin irritation and sensitivity.

o BABOR Ampoule serum concentrates are formulated to target a specific skin concern and can be incorporated into anyone's skin care routine to help reset the skin or cure your skin concerns.

o DOCTOR BABOR PRO HA Hyaluronic Acid Concentrate combines 4 different hyaluronic acids to deliver intensive hydration. The thirst quencher gives visible hydration down to the deep skin layers.

o DOCTOR BABOR PRO PEP Peptide Concentrate shows a Botox-like effect that leads to the reduction of micro tensions of the skin namely wrinkles.

o QMS Collagen System 3-Step set is clinically proven to reduce the signs of aging by 42%, increase hydration by 264% and improve elasticity by 28% in just 12 weeks.

o QMS Advanced Collagen Serum in Oil is a nourishing, intensive collagen serum in oil with a threefold antiaging effect. For dehydrated and dry skin.

o QMS Collagen Concentrate 7-days System is a revitalizing collagen treatment, highly concentrated energy booster that gives skin elasticity and additional firmness. A must have in everyone’s bathroom shelf.

BOOK our April PROMO and be sure to discuss the serums above and which would best suit your skincare requirements. We look forward to introducing our serums to you!