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Both SkinDNA Genetic Test and our White Label SkinShift partner featured on CBS News
CBS News 2016
A look at what’s on trend in Ballarat’s style report
THE STYLESCOOP – 2016
A look at what’s on trend in Ballarat’s style report
Trying to look after our skin as we grow older is a constant challenge. What areas of our skin will age quicker and how do we best care and protect it? The battle is getting a little easier with the introduction of marvellous new techniques which can help us in our quest for eternal youth. This week, we spoke to Amanda Di Cesare at Le Chic Skin and Beauty about their skin DNA testing techniques
What is skin DNA testing?
It is a genetic test that uses science to identify how your skin will age and show your skin’s strengths and weaknesses based on your DNA. You will never waste another cent on skincare again. It takes the guesswork out.
How does it work and what is involved for the client?
SkinDNA is a quick simple, pain-free and scientifically proven test, that takes a sample swab of the cheek cells. This data is sent to SkinDNA laboratory to be tested and returns with an in-depth insight to your individual DNA imprint. We then follow up the results 14 days later and with an in depth consultation.
Is this a new form of technology?
No. Doctors have been using a similar test for a few years. The SkinDNA test has been tweaked and tailored specifically to the skin and ageing.
What are the benefits and how does skin DNA testing help you to help your clients?
You can’t argue with science. SkinDNA tells you what you are genetically predisposed to. Once the lab sends back the results we can work out a course of action together for your skin. The test tells you what ingredients, supplements and professional treatments are essential for your skin. We are able to intervene early and slow down the ageing process. Prevention and education is the key.Everyone wants to look younger for longer and sooner right?
How much does it cost?
We have value-added packages starting from $349. We also have a fun VIP information launch on September 9 at 6pm where there will be package deals and an opportunity to take the test on the night. Places are limited, so it’s best to book your spot.
Can this technology help stop or reverse the signs of ageing?
With the test results we are able to intervene with the right ingredients, supplements and modalities suited to you. In some cases the skin may improve so much that it looks better than before, but we certainly can’t stop or reverse ageing – that is just a fact of life.
The Future of Beauty
THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD – 2016
In the beauty business so much talk is about turning back time – and who doesn’t want to look better for longer?
Viva has talked to experts in skincare, haircare, cosmetics, appearance medicine, spa services and retailing, to gain insights into the trends that will determine the way you may one day look, or may long to, and how you will shop and be served.
The near future promises a more personalise focus, catering to time-poor and information-overloaded consumers. Salons are gearing up to deliver quicker treatments and more luxurious experiences; to tap into the latest technology, but share it with hands-on attention. Though these aims might sound counter-intuitive, it’s all part of the idea of creating “magic moments” that meld efficiency, efficacy and indulgence.
But is this all wishful thinking and marking spiel? Maybe partly so, but there’s no doubt modern consumers are increasingly demanding and more fickle, so businesses need to be motivated to be nimble and innovative to survive.
Those that will thrive, are the ones who talk to being customer-focused is more than mere lip service. Key trends to watch for are a greater focus on analysis and diagnosis, more personalised streamlined service and beauty concerns widening to wellness. Examples include DNA testing to predict how your skin will age. This is with us already and will increasingly by used by skincare therapists.
The new SkinDNA test is an Australian-developed system that analyses a client’s mouth swab for genetic markers of ageing. Results include likelihood ratings about the extent of collagen breakdown and pigmentation problems, allowing consultants to explain and advise on prescription skincare.
“We’re excited by the opportunity to be able to provide something we haven’t had before,” says Dr Catherine Stone of The Face Place, one of the clinics introducing the service by Pro Beauty. Dr Stone says it is a base tool to be used in combination with visual analysis and discussion.
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Will My Skin Sag or Will It Wrinkle Overall
BEAUTIFUL YOU AUSTRALIA – 2016
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Will My Skin Sag or Will It Wrinkle Overall?
If only there was a magic mirror that could tell us how we would age. Unfortunately there’s not. But, I have found the next best thing – SkinDNA. SkinDNA tests your genes to determine how you will age. It identifies your skin’s overall genetic health in five areas – Firmness and Elastivity, Wrinkling, Sun Damage and Pigmentation, Free Radical Damage, Sensitivity and Inflammation. Then suggests active ingredients, not products, to counteract the ageing process.
Sounds good right – so will I sag or wrinkle overall? There’s good and bad news, I scored 100% ln a low risk for wrinkling – YAY!! So that’s why, at age 46, I don’t have a lot of lines. Bonus. But, unfortunately, I scored badly on firmness and elasticity; I will sag! Oh well! But what really won me over, was the information provided on Sun Damage and Pigmentation.
I have really weird pigment. I don’t tan evenly, I tan in patches. Which is kind of strange as I have olive skin. What my test showed me, was that I was not producing enough melanin in my body. My beautician has always thought that I had an overproduction of melanin; so recommended products that would inhibit melanin production. Ultimately, I still have really patchy pigment and the products weren’t working. The best solution for my skin, according to the test is to use a product that contains zinc oxide. Hmmm, the invisible zinc – simple!
The upside to this test is knowing how to prevent ageing. Isn’t that what we are all looking for? Like everyone says, prevention is better than cure. So now we can apply it to our skincare. Another bonus is that the test gives a summary which tells you what type of active ingredients should be in your skincare.
SkinDNA actually recommend that you look at the products in your bathroom cabinet to see whether these ingredients are in your skincare, before going out and purchasing new products. You even get suggestions on how to change your diet to assist in preventing ageing. But what I like, is in the long run, not only am I saving money that I don’t need, I can really focus on what will work – for me! Isn’t that what we all want?
Forget off-the-shelf, now you can have the skincare regimen of a top celebrity
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD – 2016
Technology is offering tailor-made solutions for managing our skin, and its ageing process, better than ever before, writes Katrina Lawrence
With the spring 2015 haute couture collections kicking off today in Paris, the made-to-measure chich is in the spotlight. Ready-to-wear brands Burberry and Prada personalise some offerings, with monogramming and customisation services. But it’s in the skincare industry where personalisation is picking up a serious buzz.
The human genome was mapped back in 2003, but the implications for how we manage our skin’s aging process are becoming clearer, as more research is undertaken into the various skin genes. “The possibilities are limitless,” says Stefan Mazy, founder of SkinDNA, an Australian skin genetic testing service. “The personal genomics industry is still in infant stage because it’s not just about taking a test, it’s about understanding the information behind what the markers are all about.”
SkinDNA involves a cheek swab for a saliva sample, along with a questionnaire covering lifestyle factors. From here, the SkinDNA laboratory looks at 16 markers – or DNA sequences – within five categories; firmness, glycation, sun damage, free radical damage and sensitivity. A skin therapist utilises this report to design a treatment program focussing on the categories in which a patient is medium or high risk, and the most suitable active ingredients. “We’re always adding new markers to the test to understand more about the skin,” Mazy says. An expanding database also means SkinDNA is able to conduct correlate studies and accumulate more data, and a greater understanding of the skin’s ageing.
“It took the guesswork out for our O Cosmedic salons,” says Marie Enna-Cocciolone, CEO of Inskin Cosmedics, distributor of SkinDNA and several cosmeceutical brands.
“We now know which products and dosage are required to preserve skin.”
Facialists who in conjunction with a SkinDNA report have a clearer idea of where younger clients’ skin is heading, for mature clients, it allows therapists to focus on the most effective treatments.
“Some people think sugar they eat is contributing to their skin concerns, but then find their glycation levels are low,” Enna-Cocciolone says. “However, if the high-risk is in collagen breakdown, you’d prescribe a program focussed on collagen synthesis.”
A personalised guide to skin ageing also allows the consumer to shop smarter. “We’re overwhelmed with so much choice that we can make poor decisions,” says Mazy. “With DNA testing, we can recommend ingredients to the products that will be best for them.”
For Singapore brand Skin Inc, available at Sephora Sydney, personalised skincare comes in the form of My Daily Dose, a set of three encapsulated serums that are custom-mixed at home in a dedicated bottle; the trio of active ingredients is prescribed based on a questionnaire, and are ideally taken every three months.
“In life, we customise a lot,” says Sabrina Tan, founder and CEO of Skin Inc.
“Every morning we choose a different outfit and make-up palette. But what changes the most? The skin. So it’s important to customise skincare. This is not a trend. It’s a fact.”
SkinDNA Technology Road Test
Searching for the best beauty products doesn’t come cheaply, but now a simple genetic test could be the secret to maintaining a youthful glow.
This Skincare Solution Guarantees Results
Z LIVING – 2015
This Skincare Solution Guarantees Results
The bespoke aspect of luxury brands is now transcending into the beauty industry with lotions, ingredients and packaging being personalized to suit an individual.
Pushing the envelope wide open was the advent of human genome mapping in 2003, which put a spotlight on how we manage our skin’s ageing by studying various genetics.
Stefan Mazy, founder of SkinDNA, an Australian skin genetic testing service, believes the possibilities are limitless. Capitalizing on the idea, SkinDNA therapists have found a way to personalize your beauty routine, right to the last detail.
It begins with a cheek swab for a saliva sample, and then a questionnaire which factors in your lifestyle and habits. From here, the SkinDNA labooratory analyses the saliva sample using 16 markers, or DNA sequences, within categories like firmness, glycation, sun damage, free radical damage and sensitivity.
According to Sabrina Tna, founder and CEO of Skin Inc,
“In life, we customize a lot. Every morning we choose a different outfit and make-up palette. But what changes the most? The skin. So it’s important to customize skincare. This is not a trend. It’s a fact.”
Well, beauty solutions that claim to show guaranteed results and have science on their side are sure to do well, don’t you think?
Can Your Genes Reveal The Perfect Skin Care For You?
PREVENTION MAGAZINE – 2014
POWERED BY SKINDNA TECHNOLOGY
A new company allowing you to swab your cheek, send off your DNA for analysis, and get back a report detailing your skin’s potential pitfalls—allowing you to personalize your approach to skincare.
Trying a new anti-aging cream can be a little like peering into a cloudy Magic 8 Ball: “Outlook unclear. Try again.” Yet most of us dutifully apply anything we think may help keep our skin younger looking, from antioxidants and sunscreen to Retin-A and glycolic acids. We’re swayed by promises of a skin-transforming miracle until, our bathrooms littered with jars, tubes, and bottles, we barely even remember what we’re putting on our faces, much less why.
But buying products and hoping for the best may soon be passe. New companies are launching services that allow you to swab your cheek, send off your DNA for analysis, and get back a report detailing your skin’s potential pitfalls—allowing you to completely personalize your approach to skin care. Find out you’re at high risk of skin cancer, for example, and you could load your regimen with sunscreen and antioxidants to help prevent free radical damage, thereby decreasing your risk of skin cancer. If the test shows that your genes leave you more vulnerable to collagen degradation, you might switch to a Retin-A cream at night to help ward off premature sagging and wrinkles. It sounds almost too good to be true—so is it?
THE BASICS
Ever since the human genome was mapped in 2003, researchers have been busy uncovering ways in which we can benefit from this new knowledge. And outside of doctors’ offices and researchers’ labs, consumers are getting into the act by taking at-home tests, like the ones from the popular 23andMe, that look at all or part of one’s genome and reveal any variations.
We each have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Each chromosome holds packages of DNA, which contains genes passed down from your parents and holds potential keys to everything from your hair color to your risks of certain illnesses. Within the DNA are many types of genetic variants, including one called single nucleotide polymorphisms. There are about 10 million SNPs in the human genome, and some have been found to predict risks of diseases or have a regulatory effect on a gene’s function. So by swabbing your cheek, you can—theoretically, anyway—find out what the future holds for your skin.
One company, SkinShift, [who at the date of this article was using SkinDNA technology] analyzes 16 SNPs, according to Ruthie Harper, MD, those SNPs pertain specifically to five skin-health factors: collagen formation, sun protection, glycation protection, antioxidant protection, and inflammation control. “These SNPs are well established, and by analyzing them, we can tell you if you are at high, medium, or low risk of each,” says Dr. Harper. Then, based on your results, the theory goes, the tester can tell you what targeted ingredients and products to use.
WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS
Even though numerous strides have been made in the decade since the human genome was first sequenced, the field remains a work in progress. “We have already learned that specific genes are responsible for certain skin issues,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “And countless numbers of potential gene mutations are being studied to better understand these diseases and help explain other conditions, like acne and skin aging.” These so-called susceptibility variants are still being studied and identified.
Beauty industry’s DNA test
SkinDNA ™ is being used to analyse your skin’s genetic makeup and predict the biggest problems as time goes by.