SYLVANUS URBAN Sylvanus Urban - The Space Issue | Page 51

Beauty Laboratory
NO WIZARDRY OR GENERIC SOLUTIONS HERE. THESE
SKINCARE SOLUTIONS ARE ALL PRECISION SCIENCE
It’s no longer just the die-
hard skincare fanatics that are
craving their next hyaluronic acid
fix. Today’s skin-savvy consumer
is educated, discerning and
primed to slough off over-the-
counter creams in exchange for a
customized routine. Because just
like your fingerprints, your skin
is unique - and deserves some
artisanal TLC (tender loving
chemistry).
We’ve all been down that
road: wandering the aisles of
the local drugstore, peering at
jars promising to defy age or un-
sag. Dissatisfied with the results
of regularly applying industry
buzzwords, however, customers
are increasingly turning to
pharmaceutical-grade products
to
treat
specific
concerns,
from
hyperpigmentation
to
inflammation (to shun the many
“–tions” of stubborn skin).
For the modern alchemist,
skincare brands like NIOD (Non-
Invasive Options in Dermal
Science) make it easy to
transform your bathroom cabinet
into a personalised chemistry lab,
without the ill-fitting white lab
coat or mortar and pestle. NIOD’s
Multi-Molecular
Hyaluronic
Complex, for example, boasts
15 hyaluronic compounds, none
of which I was aware of prior to
researching the product but now
all of which seem obvious and
essential in keeping skin toned
and hydrated.
S y l v a n u s - Ur b a n . c o m
Just like getting bangs at the mall, one size absolutely does not fit
all and a quick fix will always leave you in tears on picture day. Traditional
skincare treatments lack the customization your skin needs, leaving
some would-be skincare enthusiasts struggling with unintended side
effects: a generic lotion might “refine your pores,” but leave skin dry.
“The future of skincare is taking prescription-strength active ingredients
and tailoring the combinations to the unique skin conditions of each
patient,” says Toronto Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon Dr. Stephen Mulholland.
“No two patients are the same and we can’t, nor should we, expect the
active ingredients to be the same.”
If you’re prepared to abandon ready-made skincare, but not
ready to take the recipe into your own hands, your dermatologist can
customize a potent cocktail of ingredients thanks to patient-centred
skincare brand Universkin.
“Universkin can create close to 1200 individualized formulations
starting with 19 active ingredients. No other skincare program comes
close, either in individualization or in potency and effectiveness,” says
Mulholland. The resulting serum is an intricate blend of knowledge,
"For the modern alchemist, skincare brands like
NIOD make it easy to transform your bathroom
cabinet into a personalised chemistry lab,
without the ill-fitting white lab coat."
innovation and scientific expertise. Or in my particular case, a blend of
Azelaic Acid, SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) and Madecassoside.
A few years ago, reading the label of a beauty product might have
felt more like deciphering a foreign language (Latin anyone?), but this
new wave of “skintellectuals” - myself now included - no longer fear
the unpronounceable. Being told “it works” is not enough. We skin
nerds want to know the difference between AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)
and Vitamin A. We want to gain insight into the science behind the
ingredients. And you should too.
While there is no such thing as a “magical” skincare elixir, the
formula for flawless skin is within reach. Take the leap - your selfies will
thank you.
The Space Issue
51