The Blue and Silver Skincare Brand That Have Celebrities in A Chokehold
BY SOPHIE CHUNG
Here's to celebrating our 25th birthday - perpetually.
3 Sep - 2024
The Roman Empire for beauty queens.
If there’s one thing I am obsessed with, it’s my skin. We have a never ending love hate relationship. From my diet to supplements and obviously my skincare routine, it’s been a long journey of trials and tribulations to get this far.
People always say my skin is good because I have ‘Asian genes’ and that rubs me the wrong way. Sure, the majority of us are far less wrinkly and porous with a more even complexion than our Western counterparts but it’s embedded in our culture to care for it as it’s our number one priority when it comes to beauty standards. And as you probably know, we go to full blown measures to avoid the sun. It’s impossible to be as soft as a baby’s bottom if you don’t nurture your skin on a daily basis. Quite frankly, there are lots of Asians with bad skin out there - I was one of them. Well, not to the point where I had to go on accutane but I definitely did my fair share of time being a pizza face, heavy breathing into the mirror doing DIY extractions.
I’m the first to agree that it’s an absolute clusterf**k when trying to find products to fix problematic skin. And when it comes to brick and mortar shopping, the sensory overload at Chemist Warehouse is unpleasant at best. There’s an unfathomable array of skincare products out there to choose from and I know it can feel like you’re getting conned by brands - because you probably are. I’d still have oily, porous and bumpy skin with an uneven tone if I hadn’t deep dived into ingredients like I was studying for a PhD because the reality is, the beauty industry, even with its ‘clean beauty’ trend, is still rife with advertising bullshittery.
I’ve tried nearly every cosmeceutical under the sun (because I obviously don’t get off-the-shelf from your average store) - and let me tell you, I have some skin news that is on a need-to-know basis. It’s about the new kid on the block that has celebs in a chokehold and is making waves across the nation like nothing else.
After using iS Clinical for 1 month
The beauty industry, even with its ‘clean beauty’ trend, is still rife with advertising bullshittery.
Sophie’s iS Clinical Skincare Routine
You would’ve noticed we’re all about legitimate beauty products so I took iS Clinical on a full test drive for an extended period of time to provide the findings.
This ‘before’ photo was taken on 4th June. As you can see, my skin was not in its best shape. I had acne on my cheeks, chin and a bit on my forehead. My skin was also quite dry, dehydrated, rough and bumpy with enlarged pores. I told you it’s not genetic. Also, note the amount of pigment on my skin when compared against the ‘after’ photo which was taken on the 27th June, only 3.5 weeks after using iS Clinical. My skin is nearly perfect - apart from a couple of spots, it’s even, relatively poreless, and glowing with no acne - stunning. I rarely wore makeup during this time because I wanted to show off my skin.
My skin concerns to the therapist were: pigmentation, dehydration, texture, acne, fine lines, wrinkles (specifically the ones that are forming on my forehead and the pesky nasolabial folds) and pore size. And the below routine is what she put me on:
Before using iS Clinical
iS Clinical Cleansing Complex
It’s a tiny travel-friendly bottle but you only need the smallest amount - a little goes a long way. The Cleansing Complex is a very lightweight gel formula with resurfacing and clearing functions that deep cleanses the pores and skin without stripping or drying. It’s an award-winning product that works great on acneic skin and it also reduces the appearance of pores!
The key ingredients in the Cleansing Complex are its exfoliating AHAs and BHAs such as Saccharum Officinarum extract (sugar cane) and Salix Alba Bark extract (white willow - it’s actually a precursor of BHA); while Chamomilla Recutita flower extract and Centella Asiatica lends its soothing anti-inflammatory properties.
iS Clinical Cleansing Complex, 180ml, $89
iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex
Because I don’t have crows feet, I didn’t think I’d see a big enough difference but I saw a huge improvement in the fine lines around my eyes and most of all, my eye bags. The results were instant and as each day went by, my eyes looked less tired and puffy and I had barely any trace of under eye circles. The results were simply unmatched. Looking into the ingredients explained it all.
Acetyl Octapeptide-3 has a Botox-like effect. It influences the muscle contraction process for a more relaxed and line-free face!
Copper Tripeptide Growth Factor (CTGF) is now referred to as Tripeptide 1, according to international standards. iS Clinical uses a growth factor analog that specifically stimulates healthy cells in the skin rather than any cell which may be harmful to a person.
Peptides also stimulate the proteins in the skin specifically targeted to our emergency response molecules that stimulate collagen in the skin i.e. fibroblast cells.
As for its undeniable plumping and moisturising effects, this is thanks to the use of Sodium Hyaluronate; which is the supreme big sister of hyaluronic acid, and Pseudoalteromonas Ferment extract; a biotechnologically derived ingredient that is a glycoprotein produced by the fermentation of a deep sea extremophile bacterium that resides in the cold Antarctic Ocean.
SCIENCE, BITCH! Doesn’t this stuff excite you? If you know what’s good (thanks to me), you’re going to look 20 years younger than your peers when you turn 50. Slay.
iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex, 15g, $205
iS Clinical Active Serum
The Active Serum is supposedly the ‘it’ product from the iS Clinical line and has swept up awards - and rightly so. I mean, I don’t think I can live without ANY of these products, but yes, it definitely packs a punch!
Used only every other night, this super-cooling, addictive formula targeted all of my aforementioned skin concerns - pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, breakouts and discolouration.
Like the Cleansing Complex, it uses AHA and BHAs from Saccharum Officinarum and Salix Alba Bark to resurface and desquamate the skin cells. Additionally, Vaccinium Myrtillus (bilberry) fruit/leaf extract, which is rich in anthocyanins, flavonoids, and vitamins, is used for its potent antioxidant properties. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to soothe irritated skin which allows for the serum to be used by those with sensitive skin. Outside of the mighty bilberry’s cosmetic use, it is commonly used for improving vision. Having it as a supplement will stave away Presbyopia (the loss of clear close-up vision that begins in your 40s). Also, bilberry has been reported to lower blood glucose and have lipid-lowering effects as well as reducing oxidative stress so it has a lot of potential value in the prevention of age-related diseases as well CVD, cancer and diabetes.
Polyporus umbellatus is the other hero ingredient in the Active Serum - a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, it is an edible mushroom that grows on the roots of oak or old beeches and is mainly used for its anti-cancer, immune-regulating and hepatoprotective (liver damage preventer) qualities. When it comes to cosmetic contributions, it helps with collagen synthesis for increased skin elasticity and firmness. It’s basically a Benjamin Buttoning anti-ager.
iS Clinical Active Serum, 15ml, $177
iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+
The Pro-Heal Serum Advance + is basically a morning vitamin C serum on steroids. It combines L-Ascorbic acid which is the next-generation stabilised form of vitamin C, with Tocopherol (vitamin E) to protect the skin against photo-damage and environmental aggressors. Meanwhile, olive leaf extract slows the production of melanin and accelerates wound healing activity.
What is interesting is that this daytime serum includes retinol, which as we all know, is an ingredient that is used strictly for the night-time. However, the retinol used in the Pro-Heal Serum Advance + is in an ester form, which means it is a non-keratolytic type of retinol that is used primarily for its powerful antioxidant qualities instead of its skin-refining purposes. The more you know, hey?
iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+, 15ml, $185
iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum
This fan favourite was an absolute hit after our ‘Meet Your Heroes’ event. It was in everyone’s goodybags and I received so many messages about how incredible this is.
The hydrating power of the Hydra-Cool Serum is unmatched. It includes 25% Sodium Hyaluronate which holds 1800x its weight in water as opposed to Hyaluronic acid which holds 1000x. It’s also blended with Vitamin B5 a.k.a. Pantothenic acid for its wound-healing properties and Centella Asiatica for its soothing properties. You’ll also notice that when applied, it has a cooling sensation, and that comes from just a touch of botanically derived menthol.
I used the Hydra-Cool Serum twice a day but when I started the routine, my skin was so dehydrated that at times, I had to double-dose as my skin sucked up the serum too fast and it couldn’t spread to my whole face. Considering the frequency, I went through a 15ml bottle in about 6 weeks so if you grab yourself the full size which is the 30ml, it should last you at least 3 months which makes it totally worth the seemingly dear price tag of $190.
iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum, 30ml, $190
iS Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion
I know the 1500 word count so far is a lot - hopefully, the info has been as riveting as a fantasy novel. We’re on the home stretch with the very last step.
The main hero ingredient in the Reparative Moisture Emulsion is a proprietary combination of enzymes coined by iS Clinical called Extremozymes. This consists of extremophyllic enzymes that are derived from botanical sources found in extreme and harsh conditions such as deep sea trenches, polar ice-caps, volcanos or desert areas. By harnessing the resilient nature of these plants, a clinical study on genetic activity in the skin showed that 164 genes were expressed after one use. Basically, they are superior enzymes that can repair our DNA. For example, the Rose of Jericho, which looks like a lifeless ball of twigs when surviving desiccation, can resurrect itself in a matter of hours into a lush green bloom. Imagine the possibilities when its DNA can be bottled into anti-aging skincare. I’ll be celebrating my 25th birthday for 30 years.
iS Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion, 50g, $190
Is it worth it?
I’ve been asked about my skin a lot recently, especially when I’m in my follicular phase.. I would go to skincare launch events and the marketing managers and trainers would ask me what I use and whether I use botox. I’d say, “No, I don’t use botox! Have you heard of iS Clinical? It’s incredible. Like right now, I’m not even wearing foundation!” And the whole room would be in an uproar of disbelief. So to conclude, I would say, it’s totally worth the price tag. The results are incomparably exceptional and the products will last around 3 months. I’m at the 2 month mark now and I’m only half way through the active serum and pro heal serum!
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