15 Minute Glow Up
The search for the fountain of youth in medical aesthetics provides patients with many hydration options other than a flavored water in a Stanley cup. These products are formulated with a sugar we create naturally in our skin, called hyaluronic acid or HA for short. HA is a sugar that is naturally produced in our bodies that has a natural ability to retain water. It’s what’s responsible for the glow that people under 30 take for granted. HA is produced at high levels until people turn 30 when production begins to fall. The decline is gradual until about 45 when it plummets, and we’re stuck looking to replace our glow with highlighters (I’ll share a few of my favorites in my next post) and digital filters.
HA was primarily known by industry insiders until SkinMedica, owned by Allergan Aesthetics, launched HA5 in 2017. HA5 was a revolutionary hydration serum that combined 5 different sized molecules of hyaluronic acid. The five molecules combined gave the product a long lasting hydrating effect unseen in previous HA products. Since HA5’s launch there are many fantastic products (here and here) with different size HA molecules providing long lasting hydration.
The majority of facial fillers are also composed of HA. Facial fillers have historically been designed to replace lost volume in the face. Brands like Restylane by Galderma and Juvéderm by Allergan Aesthetics are fillers comprised of hyaluronic acid made to last anywhere between 6 months and 2 years in tissue. There is a brand new product in the Juvéderm line that is changing the way we fill. It’s called Skinvive, and I had the opportunity to try it out at Skin Spirit in Palo Alto with injector, Natalie Gillen, PA. Skin Spirit is one of the premier med spas in the United States. They have locations in many cities, and are always a safe bet when you're looking for an excellent injector.
Skinvive is a filler designed to be injected very superficially into the skin’s dermis. The treatment takes only 15 minutes in the office and helps improve skin texture and overall hydration with results lasting for up to 6 months. Natalie drew a grid on each cheek with 25 small squares.
Then she injected a small amount of product into each square on the grid. The areas closer to the eyes are the most sensitive. Personally, I did not find the treatment painful. I’d compare it to extractions during a facial. The recommended dose is one syringe in each cheek. Once the injections are complete Natalie massaged the injected area to smooth the product into the skin. Natalie also recommended gua sha massage for a couple of days after the treatment for best results. I took her advice and, found that it helped the product integrate into the tissue. There are some great rose quartz gua sha tools at Sephora, and I linked a guide to the massage here.
It’s been two weeks since my treatment and I’m loving the results. I haven’t had filler injected in a couple of years because I’m happy with the balance in my facial volume. However, I was noticing that my skin looked a little lack luster.
Skinvive revived my skin without adding any volume to my cheeks. I love the results and have noticed that I’m not reaching for foundation to achieve an even complexion. The price of the treatment will vary depending on where you live, and how many syringes you receive. The pricing where I live is $1,000 per treatment (2 syringes). Common side effects are similar to other fillers with bruising and redness at the injection sites. I had some mild bruising that was easily covered with make-up.
You can see the results for yourself below! The only make-up I have on in both photos are eye brows and mascara. If you’re interested in learning more, you can find a Skinvive provider to book with on Allē’s, Allergan’s loyalty program, website. I’m feeling great walking into the drier winter months with this little hydration helper giving me a little extra glow.