In a glut of new skincare arrivals, a Medik8 launch always catches my attention.
Over my nearly two decades as a beauty editor, I’ve been impressed with the research-led science behind many products from its in-house development team, but also the results they have delivered for me personally.
The British skincare house has some key products held in high regard by skincare experts, such as its Crystal Retinal in a variety of different strengths to treat lines and wrinkles, and C-Tetra 20% Vitamin C Gel-Serum for serious brightening power. Each product’s development is lead by Chief Product Officer and Director of Research Daniel Isaacs, who oversees ingredients and formulation.
So I’m not surprised the brand is now embracing some of the newer skin ingredient innovation now taking over the beauty world.
PDRN and exosomes combined
You might have heard about the questionably-named ‘salmon-sperm facial’. It’s the more buzzy, viral term for the use of a key skincare ingredient, PDRN, which is extracted from salmon DNA. We’ve been hearing a lot about PDRN lately, a K-Beauty development pinpointed for its use in regenerative qualities, that helps delivering that famous plump, glowing skin Korean Skincare is known for. It’s also a feature of longevity skincare changing the potential of product results.
Likewise, exosomes are another skin innovation in the spotlight for its potential in helping skin renewal and repair.
Both are intended to support processes that naturally happen in healthy skin, and both are in a new serum, Medik8 Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ Serum. The off-the-shelf product lands with a fairly hefty promise of studies showing improvements in skin skin barrier function, luminosity, tone and volume in just 7 days.
Because it’s developed not only to improve skin’s appearance but aid repair and take down redness, it’s intended for daily use but can also help post skin procedures.
And good news if you’re vegetarian or looking at that PDRN salmon source with a raised eyebrow. Medik8’s serum uses vegan, bio-engineered PDRN composed of DNA particles, that have a unique shape (like a miniscule arrowhead, is how it was explained to me) to make sure it penetrates our cells well.
All very intriguing and I’m looking forward to adding to my routine. However what really pricked up my ears was the fact there’s also a highly concentrated version also available that’s delivered during an advanced, non-invasive professional skin treatment.
Super-powered microneedling treatment
Microneedling has been used for years with the intention of pricking through the surface of skin to prompt the skin’s own healing response in the deeper layers. Those tiny channels made by the scratchy but short needles produce collagen tissue, making skin stronger and firmer than before. In more recent years, the in-clinic version of this treatment has been combined with a serum applied at the same time. The idea is that the needling helps infuse those advanced ingredients and hydration deep into the skin.
So while that new Medik8 serum is exciting with the absolute latest ingredients, the potential to superpower the formula with a combined microneedling treatment had me all-in.
I submitted my face to Jenna Hartley at Exquisite Laser in Auckland for Medik8’s Exosomes Micro Channel Infusion.
This is where your face gets a going-over with an advanced micro-needling device while a more potent version version – Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ Pro Concentrate – of that serum containing those key ingredients is applied concurrently.
Anyone who has tried microneedling will know it’s not a relaxing and indulgent facial. It can get a tiny bit ouchy at times, though my experience was pretty pain-free and very fast, all steps wrapped up in 45 minutes. It does depend the needle depth your skin therapist uses – the more experienced your skin is, the deeper you can go. I went for a fairly tentative depth but still deep enough to deliver visible results, proven by the way my skin looked in the days following.
After skin is cleansed to keep any bacteria away, the serum is dotted on and the microneedling is carried out over it. The top of my forehead and the bridge of the nose gave a tiny sting, but the payoff was the application of an incredibly soothing Medik8 sheet mask for extra hydrating and cooling afterwards.
I was particularly keen to have two scars on my face treated, as microneedling is known to help smooth and minimise the look of these as new collagen is induced.
The results
Yes, my face was quite red afterwards, so I did go straight home, but I was surprised to find that reaction diminished incredibly swiftly. In two hours it had gone away, with just a handful of tiny dots around the top of my nose and forehead.
The serum used during the treatment comes in a tiny metal tube, and I had been given the excess left to apply over the next couple of days. I left my face makeup free and applied it that night.
In the morning I was incredibly impressed. I hadn’t expected to see such swift results, but my skin looked more smooth than previously, and glowing.
Two days on the results were even better, having added regular skincare back into the rotation.
For someone with fairly sensitive skin, I was worried about the redness and irritation. But because the serum is designed to help with just this, I feel like it really fortified my skin’s defenses, rather than strip or irritate it.
Now, several days on, I remain impressed with the soft and smooth result with my skin’s texture and wrinkles looking improved. My skin therapist suggested the treatment would be beneficial as a course of three over three months for improved results, but a consultation is recommended to understand what’s right for your skin.
The Medik8 Exosomes Micro Channel Infusion is available now at Medik8 clinics across NZ.
