A clearer, fairer skin

BRIGHTENING and whitening skin care products have long been all the rage in Asia but now it seems they are spreading to the West, as our European cousins join us in worrying about dull and less than flawless skin. 

Elemis, a leading luxury British skincare and treatment brand, has been quick to respond to these concerns and recently introduced its “White Brightening System” that uses the powers of nature to achieve a brighter and more even skin tone. 

Thai ladies can now enjoy the full benefits of these new products at the St Regis Bangkok Hotel where the Elemis Spa is offering its hands-on treatment called “White Brightening Facial”. 

Designed for consumers of all ethnicities who are looking to address pigmentation, skin irregularities and visible dullness, the treatment helps to reduce age spots, discoloration and dullness, leaving the complexion luminous, more even and beautifully white.

After a consultation with an Elemis therapist, the skin is deeply cleansed and toned with new White Brightening Even Tone Cleanser. This prepares the skin for the delicate layering of a serum that breaks down and washes out melanin, whilst reducing the visible dullness that develops over time. 

Elemis’ award-winning Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Gel Mask is then applied to smooth out the skin’s surface and is followed by a scalp massage combining Balinese, Indian and Thai techniques to centre and rebalance the mind and body. Professional-strength White Brightening Facial Oil is delicately smoothed over the skin, focusing on areas of discoloration and pigmentation on the face, neck, decollete, arms and hands, before being washed away in a milky emulsion. Powered by a clinically proven complex of natural Blackcurrant Seed oil and Peony Root extract, this facial oil helps to decrease the enzymatic activity responsible for melanin production.

Finally, the professional-strength White Brightening Even Tone Peel-Off Mask delivers a powerful white brightening and mattifying effect, while moisturising the skin to leave it looking fresh and bright. Clinically proven Advanced Brightening Even Tone Serum is then applied to help prevent future melanin from forming and provide an extra brightening boost, before skin is finished with a layer of protective Liquid Layer Sunblock SPF30.

Oriele Frank, chief marketing officer of Elemis UK, who flew to Bangkok for the launch, tells the Sunday Nation that the new system was five years in development.

“Improving pigmentation is very difficult to achieve so we are very proud of it. We only use plant technology, so we are always searching for new active ingredients. For the treatment we use extracts of daisy, peas, kiwi, sophora extracts, oat amino acids, rice silk, and red algae,” she says.

“The system treats two different levels; above and under the skin. That’s quite unique as well. We try to break the melanin pigment at the basal layer of the skin before it goes up to the upper skin layers and becomes spots on the surface. The pigmentation and dark sports are caused when UV light activates melanin producing cells, called melanonsomes, deep within skin. But if you already have a dark spot, it will treat that too with encapsulate Vitamin C, which targets and attacks the dark spots.” 

Frank adds that the treatment system has gained many fans in the UK. 

“Dark spots and pigmentation are much more common than they were. People still like to sunbathe but we do our best to educate them about the damage the sun can do to the skin – the burning, the wrinkles, the pigmentation – and encourage everyone to put on lotion with SPF. The next generation, our grandchildren’s children, will be educated to cover up with SPF and not go out in the midday sun,” she says. 

“At Elemis, everything starts with the hands-on treatment. We don’t just do retail products and we make sure that we are tune in with the clients. Skin changes a lot depending on what is going on in your life – for example, if you are stressed or pregnant. We also invest a great deal in our clinical trials and if a product doesn’t pass the trial, it goes straight back to the lab and we start again.

“Elemis is now celebrating its 25th anniversary and it is the number one British skincare brand. We have the house of Elemis in Mayfair, which is very British. The brand’s three founders are still involved and have a major say in how we develop the products. We also grow our own plants like star flowers just one hour and half away from London and we use only very best ingredients from around the world. There are more than 500 natural materials in our products including 24 different seaweeds. The products speaks for themselves. We don’t need models or celebrities to advertise. Getting people to fall in love with the brand because it works is far more important. We don’t like marketing gimmicks; we prefer to create and prove our products work,” she concludes

 

WHITE AND LIGHT

 Six treatments of the 60-minute White Brightening Facial are recommended once every three weeks.

The Elemis Spa is offering an introductory price of Bt4,200 until December 31.

The products cost from Bt2,000 to Bt3,300 and are available at the spa in the St. Regis Bangkok. 

It’s open daily from 10am to 10pm. Call (02) 207 7777 for an appointment.