I think it's been well established that I'm a big fan of skincare by now and have loved to treat myself to facials because it's a great bit of pampering and self care so when I got an invite from the lovely folks at Elan Laser Clinic in the Metquarter in Liverpool to try out their new SQT Bio Microneedling, you know I said yes cause I'm all for trying new and innovative skincare treatments and I couldn't wait to share it with you all.
Elan Laser Clinic Liverpool
Elan Laser Clinic is located at the back of the ground floor of the Met Quarter and offers injectables and treatments such as facials, skin peels, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal and you can also pick up skincare goodies from some of your favourite luxury brands. Elan Laser Clinic combine medical grade technology with a spa-like experience giving you real results in a comfortable, relaxed environment. There are locations throughout the UK and I really liked how relaxing and chilled the Liverpool clinic looked and the staff were all so nice.
SQT Bio Microneedling Treatment
Elan Laser Clinic have recently started doing the SQT Bio Microneedling treatment and I won't lie before the appointment I didn't really have a clue what it was going to happen during the treatment. The SQT Bio Microneedling is a new and innovative treatment that is different to traditional microneedling. It uses sponge spicules which are extracted from freshwater sponges, these then stimulate the dermis of the skin and start skin surface microcirculation which helps to accelerate the natural exfoliation of the skin, stimulates the bodies scar healing response, and increasing skin cell renewal. Before you attend, you complete a consultation online that they review on the day with you to ensure there is nothing that will interfere with the treatment or cause a reaction. Before they start, they talk you through what the treatment is and what to expect as well as talking you through the aftercare process. I had the lovely Samantha doing my SQT Bio Microneedling and she was so kind and friendly, she talked me through the entire treatment and answered all my questions. She also didn't mind the constant content creation during the treatment. We also did a skin scan which uses flashes of different coloured light to check for things like fine lines, dryness, irritation, sun damage so it's great to see where I currently am as well as monitoring things with my skin at a deeper level in the future.
It starts off similar to a normal facial which starts by having your skin cleansed then they mix up the sponge spicules which come in powder form and massage them into your skin, depending on your tolerance and how sensitive your skin is, they can massage this in across your face as slow as you need too over 5 minutes before removing it and applying a hydrating sheet mask which is then left on for 10-15 minutes and you can either play on your phone or relax listening to the calming music and either rest your eyes or practice some meditation.
I thought I'd try something a little different in this blog post by documenting how my skin was on each day for one week following the SQT Bio Microneedling. It was a really interesting treatment because for the first half of the week I could actually feel the microneedles when washing my face or applying my skincare which was so strange. After the treatment, hydration and protecting your skin is such a key thing to focus on especially for the first seven days following the treatment. It's so important that Elan Laser Clinic give you an aftercare treatment card and also go through it with you again before you leave so you can get the best result after your treatment.
- Day 0 - I wasn't sure what to think about having small microneedles massaged into my skin and genuinely thought that it might hurt. Whilst it wasn't a relaxing walk in the park, it's similar to a grain scrub or like rubbing sand on your skin. My sensitive skin goes red quickly with any exfoliation or scrub so I wasn't surprised when Samantha mentioned it so that I didn't get a shock which I really appreciated. When I got home later that day, I still had the redness but I noticed how plump my skin was looking already. I didn't notice any pain, tightness or discomfort even immediately afterwards.
- Day 1 - I went out to visit one of my best friends just outside Chester till mid-afternoon and I noticed that my skin didn't feel dry or tight and I didn't have any skin peeling but I got compliments all on my skin (I went makeup free for all but one day this week), all people saying how plump and glowy my skin looked all day.
- Day 2 - On this day, I noticed that the redness was still there mainly on my cheeks which I'd say is the most sensitive area of my face. On this day, I did notice that I started getting dryness and tightness on the bottom half of my cheeks and on either side of my chin had began peeling slightly. The hardest point of this day as an anxious girly was not messing with my skin and peeling it off. I put a tiny bit of makeup on this evening for a couple of hours for an event but tried to keep it very minimal.
- Day 3 - This was the day that I first noticed that the pigmentation on my cheeks and around my eyes was starting to lift with the peeling, you could see where it had pulled out the tan, freckle like colour which I was loving cause I was hoping that I'd notice a different in the pigmentation and acne scarring from the first treatment. I noticed that my cheeks got drier and a bit tighter on these days so I was really conscious about hydrating my skin with plenty of water as well as keeping up with hyaluronic acid serums and a nourishing moisturiser throughout the day. Throughout the day, I noticed that the peeling on my cheeks and chin progressed throughout the day, I must have looked so strange when people saw me when I was out and about.
- Day 4 - I feel like this day was the day that my skin looked really fresh, plump and glowy. I still had some dryness and peeling but it was more towards the outside edge of my face. The very centre of my face looked amazing and felt so soft. At this point whenever I was washing my face or applying skincare, I couldn't feel any of the sponge spicules when I was touching my skin.
- Day 5 - On this day, I still had some redness, mainly on my cheeks and this was when my forehead seemed to start peeling slightly but my cheeks were still glowing and really soft. I noticed that it didn't feel tight or dry on this day.
- Day 6 & 7 - I feel like I don't really notice much of a difference between day 6 and 7 because on both days, I don't really have much redness, the peeling has pretty much finished and it looks plump and glowy without being dry or irritated.
I love facials so trying this SQT Bio Microneedling was such a cool experience and definitely something I'd go have done again. It's such an interesting concept and I loved the results so much more than any other facial I've had in the past. Elan Laser Clinics offer a range of treatments and not just the SQT Bio Microneedling so be sure to head in if you need a pamper this festive season.
Have you ever tried a facial like this?
Speak to you next time!
*This blog post contains a gifted service. All opinions are honest and my own.
