April Brodie Integrated Facialist could not be more thrilled to announce its brand new partnership with Rationale, whose revolutionary reputation precedes it. Up until recently, the luxury brand; whose history is entrenched in cosmetic medicine and highly precise scientific formulation, has been offered exclusively by medical aesthetic physicians and through its flagship stores. Now, its indulgent and results-driven products can be found both at April Brodie’s Melbourne flagship and Sydney pop-up privée.
Rationale, who are built on decades of research and are used by some of the country’s most elite cosmetic clinics, are perhaps best known for their cult-following, ultimately-radiant Superfluid sunscreen, as well as their 6-step homecare regime: the Essential Six. For those who aren’t yet familiar with the Essential Six, we hope to simplify things so that you can experience this transformational skincare programme in a way that best suits you, your skin, and your lifestyle.
6 steps for glowing skin…
The Essential Six is based on the philosophy that every skin can be at its best when following a routine of products across 6 pillars of skin health. Not all product routines will be the same across every individual, but the categories remain the same. There are several products within each pillar that cater to a number of skin textures and needs, whether the skin is oily and requires lightweight formulations, or whether skin is dry and requires formulations that are more rich. Here is what you need to know about the 6 categories:
#1 – Resilience
Step one is all about immune protection. It heroes a group of B vitamins which have shown to have excellent effects on strengthening and calming the skin, helping to boost its immunity, resilience, and repair. Products included in step one are #1 The Serum, #1 The Hydragel, and #1 The Crème, and #1 The Mask.
#2 – Vitality
Step two focuses on antioxidant protection. This should a priority for anyone seeking to prevent premature ageing, as one of the largest causes of ageing is free radicals. And the only way to nullify free radicals are through the use of antioxidants. Products within this group include #2 The Serum, #2 The Mask.
#3 – Brilliance
Step three products deliver zinc, melanin, and iron oxides to the skin, and these micronutrients help to protect the skin from solar and environmental damage. You might remember step three as your sun protection products. This includes #3 The Tinted Serum SPF50+, #3 The Enriched Crème SPF15, and #3 The Enriched Eye Crème SPF15.
#4 – Integrity
Step four is all about optimal barrier function. A well-functioning skin barrier is crucial in keeping out harmful microbes and keeping in moisture, thus; looking after your barrier is one of the keys to age prevention and a glowing complexion. Step four utilises ceramides and lipids in order to achieve this, restoring the skin’s natural lipid complex and restores, nourishes and nurtures the skin’s outer layers in the process. Products include #4 The PreCleanse Balm, #4 The Cleanser, #4 The Crème, and #4 The Balm.
#5 – Clarity
The clarity phase aims to restore the skin’s natural pH levels using hydroxy Acids and peptides. The skin is naturally acidic, at a mild level of 4.5-5.5 on the pH scale. Research shows that skin can become problematic and experience concerns like breakouts and even inflammatory skin conditions when this pH level is disturbed. Not only does this maintain an ideal healthy pH to promote overall skin health, but cellular turnover is encouraged and congestion and buildup is prevented, revealing radiant, bright, smooth skin. Products in this phase are #5 The Serum, #5 The Milk Concentrate, #5 The Cleanser, #5 The GelCrème, and #5 The Mask.
#6 – Renewal
The final step focuses on DNA repair. This is closely linked with premature ageing due to the life cycle of the DNA strands. These strands slowly become damaged as we age, becoming shorter and shorter. They eventually become so short that the cell is no longer able to operate, and then undergoes programmed cell death. Environment damage, sun exposure, stress, and other factors can speed up this damage and cell death, and when it comes to skin cells, this manifests in signs of ageing. It is therefore in the best interest of our skin health to try to protect our DNA material. Rationale’s #6 category does this using vitamins, antioxidants, and DNA Repair Enzymes. Products include #6 The Night Crème, #6 The GelCrème, and #6 The Eye Crème.