Before you go on another shopping spree, take a moment to think about your approach to skincare. There is a world beyond the drugstore aisle and maybe it’s time you discovered it. Enter: medical grade skincare at Synergy in Nanaimo. “Medical grade”, or “clinical grade”, does not automatically mean expensive and full of scary acids that will peel off your skin in sheets. Here are the benefits you can expect when you switch to personalized skincare at Synergy.

Supercharge and Elevate Your Skincare Routine

Get Personalized Advice

One size fits none, especially when it comes to skincare. With medical grade treatments, you’ll get personalized advice and recommedations tailored to your unique skin needs. Think of it as having a skincare “insurance” plan made just for you.

Better Ingredients for Better Results

Ever wondered why your drugstore products didn’t quite cut it? Medical grade treatments have higher concentrations of active ingredients, penetrating deeper for more effective results. Whether it’s tackling fine lines, hyperpigmentation, or acne scars, the potency of these treatments speaks volumes about their transformative power.

Long-Term Value aka More Bang for your Buck

While drugstore products may seem wallet-friendly upfront, the higher concentration of active ingredients in clinical products means you use less product for more significant results. It’s smart skincare any way you look at it.

Clinical Strength Without Compromise

Here’s a skincare secret: the less regulated a product, the weaker it often is. That’s where the compromise happens. Many products out there are loaded with chemicals and artificial scents, and guess what? They’re known to speed up the aging process, delivering the opposite of the story you’re “buying”.

Medical-grade skincare provides clinical-strength formulations without compromising on safety. These products are developed with a focus on delivering powerful results while maintaining the highest standards of safety and skin compatibility.

So that was a bit of a trick question: with very few exceptions, the best skincare is not found at the drugstore. The best promoted – maybe.

Skincare Lines Available at Synergy

We proudly carry the following brands:

• Alastin, full range
• Colorescience, full range
• Jane Iredale, full range
• Latisse
• SkinCeuticals, full range
• Vivier, full range
• ZO Skin Health, suncare

Learn more about each of these brands here >>

Call us at (250) 591-1566 to book your consultation in Lantzville and to purchase. And for the month of December 2023, enjoy 10% off all skincare and 15% off skincare on the days when you’re getting aesthetic treatments.

The post What are the best drugstore skincare brands? appeared first on Synergy Medical BC.

Winter can be particularly challenging for our skin. With colder temperatures, indoor heat, cozy fireplaces, and soothing hot tubs, our skin can become dehydrated and itchy.. Those with sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema or rosacea can find themselves battling their worst flare ups at this time of year.

We all know the best medicine is prevention, but how can we help our skin stay looking its best over the harsher winter months?

1. Use gentle cleansers. Lotion or cream cleansers tend to be much gentler than foaming or soap cleansers. If your skin feels “squeaky” clean, it can mean the natural oils that act as a barrier have been stripped. The drying effects of a harsh cleanser will lead to further irritation and breakouts. We love this gentle, but effective SkinCeuticals cleanser for all skin types.
2. Use a humidifier. Keeping your indoor air from being too dry will help keep your skin from becoming too dry. It also makes breathing easier and more comfortable.
3. Avoid long, hot showers. After a chilly day, many people love to get warmed up in a hot shower, but it can strip your skin of natural oils. Have you ever had itchy skin after your shower? That itch is a symptom of dry skin, which can be prevented by using water that is warm instead of hot and applying moisturizer afterwards.
4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Using a heavier face and body cream in the winter months will protect your skin’s barrier and lock in that all important moisture. Using a serum with Hyaluronic Acid prior to your moisturizer will further assist in keeping your skin hydrated. The Triple Lipid Restore cream from SkinCeuticals is an excellent option for restoring and preserving moisture without feeling heavy and is quickly absorbed.
5. Protect your skin. Sunscreen isn’t only for the summer months! It plays an important role in protecting your skin from harmful rays all year long. The ozone layer is actually thinner in winter months, providing less protection from damaging UV rays. Using sunscreen in winter is just as important as it is in the heat of summer. We adore mineral sunscreens that foundation and protection in one like this one from SkinCeuticals and this one from Colorescience. And don’t forget to protect those lips!
6. Get specialized treatment. Therapies like BelaMD Advanced Hydrafacial can repair winter damage and get your skin back to look and feeling its best. BelaMD Advanced Hydrafacial uses a special tool to exfoliate, extract deep-down dirt and debris, and infuse custom hydration serums deep into the skin. It’s a popular treatment and the staff at Synergy will work with you to customize your plan.

If you find yourself battling skin concerns or want to be proactive and increase your protection, get in touch with us. Here at Synergy, we will design a custom treatment plan to address any concerns you may have and keep your skin glowing all year long!

The post Tips for Winter Skin Care appeared first on Synergy Medical BC.

“Mask-ne” refers to the pimples and irritation caused by prolonged use of face masks. Unfortunately, it’s affecting people of every age and skin type. The constant rubbing of material against our faces causes mechanical irritation of the follicles which allows inflammation and bacteria to flourish.

Another annoying reaction is mask-eczema. This is especially common if you have sensitive skin or eczema.  Keep your mask material soft and comfortable. A hydrating BelaMD Hydrafacial treatment will add a boost of moisture back into your skin to quickly heal and prevent future irritation. A light daily moisturizer like SkinCeuticals Metacell renewal with the soothing properties of niacinamide will support the epidermis. Minimize makeup to the lower face to keep things simple.  

For acne, there are several non-invasive treatments to improve your inflamed follicles. Both a Hydrafacial with acne serum and an acne-targeted chemical peel will have your complexion glowing quickly with little to no downtime. Using our favourite LHA Cleansing Gel from SkinCeuticals with Metacell moisturizer and Retinol 0.3 at night will exfoliate and strengthen your skin. 

If you find yourself struggling with Maskne — contact us for your free consultation today. We are happy to design a customized treatment plan to get your skin back on track.

The post Maskne Causes and Treatments appeared first on Synergy Medical BC.

BroadBand Light (BBL) by Sciton and other Laser Treatments

This photo rejuvenation method uses light to soften pigmentation problems and prompt collagen production. BBL is well-suited to the following skin conditions, which often appear after fun in the sun all summer long:

• Sun spots
• Age spots
• Photo damage
• Red spots

BBL is performed only once your summer tan has faded, as it does not work well on tanned skin. This completely non-surgical treatment uses light, kind of like the flash of a camera. When the light energy is absorbed by the skin, the heat of the energy destroys the pigment that creates the spot or discoloration. This energy works below the surface of your skin, improving its appearance from the inside out.

We also provide ablative and non-ablative laser treatments for sun damage and other skin problems. The laser is a more focused beam of energy than BBL. It works a little differently than BBL, but both light treatments soften photo damage.

Skin Care

One of the best ways to fight the effects of sun damage is a great skin care routine. The care products you use each day have an effect on the health and vibrancy of your skin. At Synergy Medical Aesthetics, we are proud to offer several leading skin care products, including those from SkinCeuticals. This product line is available only through dermatologists and other professionals. SkinCeuticals can fight sun damage in three ways:

• Prevent
• Protect
• Correct

You can prevent the UV damage in the first place with products that are SPF-rated. The vitamin C serum C E Ferulic is another preventive product that guards against environmental damage, including infrared radiation and ozone.

Protect your skin against further damage, and also correct current sun damage with SkinCeuticals. A great correcting product at the end of the summer is Discoloration Defense, which is rich with antioxidants. A daily use product, Discoloration Defense corrects dark spots and brown blotchiness, both of which can be caused by UV damage.

To find out which SkinCeuticals products will work for you, please arrange an appointment with our experienced staff. We’ll make sure you get the right products for your skin’s needs.

Your Consultation in Nanaimo

To arrange a visit to discuss your options for rejuvenating your skin this fall, please call Synergy Medical Aesthetics at 250-591-1566. Dr. Philip Barnsley is committed to helping you achieve beautiful, natural results.

The post Treatment for Sun Damage this Fall appeared first on Synergy Medical BC.