From The Straits Times    |

I always assumed oily skin was behind my conjested pores and breakouts. Guess I was only half right. 

I was down at the new JYUNKA by Carragheen Concept Centre, a partnership between the two Singapore beauty brands, to try out the Jyunka V Blanc treatment. This brightening and whitening treatment helps lighten stubborn pigmentation, uneven skin tone and scar marks. 

At Jyunka, it’s believed that your lifestyle impacts your skin in a major way. I first had a quick chat with Carragheen and Jyunka’s business development managers Eileen Kang and Nora Tien respectively, who took down a series of questions on my lifestyle, dietary and skincare habits.

One major concern – I’m lacking serious h2O. Okay, so I’m guilty of not getting my seven glasses a day. 

 

“Acne doesn’t just come from oily skin. It can also stem from dehydrated skin. Toner is very important, too. Once skin is not of optimal pH, skincare isn’t properly absorbed and goes to waste,” says Nora Tien, business development manager of Jyunka. 

 

Point taken.

A skin analysis followed before the treatment itself, which confirmed that I had parched skin. And when skin is dehydrated, it compensates by excreting extra sebum. 

See also: EAT THESE 12 FOODS TO LOOK RADIANT FOR YOUR WEDDING

 

The treatment room, decked in neutral hues, is cosy and welcoming. Image: Jyunka by Carragheen

To get skin cleansed and prepped for the: A 5-in-1 gel cleanser that uses panthenol, a hydrating humectant so it doesn’t strip your skin of moisture, and a Purify Scrub Cleaner to soften and buff away dead skin, impurities and black or white heads. To really slough the dead skin cells off, my therapist also applied Jyunka’s anti-bacterial Epidermal peel for stubborn impurities lodged deep in the pores.

And while waiting for the peel to work its magic, I got to enjoy a Jyunka Stimulation Massage that worked out the knots in my shoulders and neck.

See also: 10 SINGAPORE MAKEUP ARTISTS ON GETTING RADIANT SKIN FOR YOUR WEDDING

 

It’s followed by a scrubber with ultrasonic waves vibrates at 26,000 times a second to remove dead skin cells and stimulate cell turnover and collagen production, before manual extraction. 

If you’re worried about stepping out with blotchy, post-facial extraction skin, fret not. The treatment utilises a series of steps, including a de-sensitising serum gel together with an ionised Electroporation probe (increase the permeability of the cell membrane) to restore hydration and calm skin, a power-packed mask with collagen, algae, vitamin E and mineral, as well a Blanc mask infused with Vitamin C, Mulberry and Grape extracts. 

Cryotherapy is also employed, which uses a probe -8 to -12 degrees Celsius upon contact with skin. This causes a quick constriction of the blood vessels and brings about a powerful pull of the active ingredients deeper into the skin.

To end the treatment: a laser that kills bacteria on the superficial layer of the skin, while calming the skin of any residual redness.

Fair enough, there was still a little redness around sensitive zones, but I was pretty amazed at how how my skin looked brighter and definitely more supple after just one treatment. Together with the usage of the Jyunka Blanc line of products including a whitening serum, cream and mist, I saw my post-pimple red marks fading by the third day, including one that’d remained stubbornly glued to my cheek. 

Brides are recommended to start at least half a year before the wedding day, once a month. But this also depends on your skin condition. 

The facial treatment itself is one of the lengthier ones I’ve been to, at 1 hour 45 minutes but that post-treatment glow is worth the time. What I really liked about Jyunka? I might have been down to give its brightening treatment a shot, but the people at Jyunka were really all about a tailor-made treatment for my skin condition.

Oh by the way, and I’ve also upped my water intake, so cheers to that. 

The Jyunka V Blanc facial treatment is priced at $280. JYUNKA Carragheen is located at 12A Liang Seah Street.

See also: THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR WEDDING: 7 BEAUTY TIPS FOR A FLAWLESS FACE