insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 17 - July 2016 | Page 76

HEALTH+WELLNESS

Could ultrasound and snake serum
be the key to younger looking skin?
Ageing, wrinkles, and (*gasp*) jowls may not be of much concern to some, I know, and while
they’re rightly not a ‘problem’ of huge proportions in a list of the world’s ills, they are a problem
to me. Vain, shallow even, it may be to some, but I am slightly addicted to the pursuit of youth.
OK, I don’t spend my days fretting about it or anything, but if the opportunity to try something
that might just knock ten years off comes my way, I grab it with both hands, which is how I found
myself the owner of two intriguing products that promise to fight the fight against pesky free
radicals and promote a more youthful appearance. But, what are they and, more importantly, do
they work? B Y P O L L Y H U M P H R I S

skinChemists Wrinkle Killer Snake Serum

Mira-Skin Ultrasound

What is it?
(Disclaimer: no reptiles were hurt in the making of this wonder product.)
Known as ‘botox in a bottle’, skinChemists Wrinkle Killer Snake Serum
promises to banish wrinkles without the use of botox and is formulated
with Syn-ake, a peptide which mimics the activity of a polypeptide
that's found in snake venom and reduces mimic wrinkles by inhibiting
muscle contractions. What are mimic wrinkles? The horizontal lines and
furrows usually found between the brows that are partly caused by facial
expressions and that deepen over time.

What is it?
Not just a gimmicky name, this really is a mini ultrasound facial device that
creates high-speed, low-frequency sound waves which then radiate invisible
micro vibrations into your skin; it’s superior at cleansing and exfoliating
facial skin without the use of the harmful microbeads that are often found
in cleansers. Provided in a handy starter kit that comes complete with
hyaluronic serum (an important skin-smoothing ingredient) and ultrasound
conductive gel, both of which you slather on before you get started, the
ultrasound device, which you simply glide around your face for 10 minutes
as per the instructions provided, opens pathways for nourishment deep
within your skin tissue, infusing anti-ageing ingredients and nutrients into your
deepest skin layers.

Does it work?
You can’t call yourself something as superhero-sounding as ‘Wrinkle Killer’
and then not have magical powers; that would just be silly, and this product
is anything but silly. It’s designed to freeze and firm your skin, which sounds
marvellous, but other products I’ve used that make the same irresistible
claims have been too harsh, leaving my skin sore, sometimes even puffy
(especially around the eyes). Not so with this beautifully smooth and very
gentle serum that glides on with a silky feel and a slightly tropical smell.
Very hydrating, it also contains hydrotriticum, which is an amino
acid complex derived from wheat proteins that helps bind
moisture to your skin. I’ve used it for three weeks along
with skinChemists Wrinkle Killer Duo Moisturiser and my
skin is without question smoother and more youthful
looking. Worth its weight in gold.

Does it work?
Although it all sounds rather technical, the Mira-Skin Ultrasound is
incredibly easy to use and comes with crystal-clear instructions; the
disarming thing about it is that it n