Review: Dermalogica Vancouver

It’s not everyday that one gets invited to the International Dermal Institute so when I was extended an invitation to stop by for face mapping and a treatment, I gladly accepted.

The International Dermal Institute is a teaching facility downtown that helps professional skin therapists learn and practice every facet of skin care imaginable. You can search for courses online, from skin and body treatments, to the business of Dermalogica.

On the day of my visit I was greeted by Paula, one of the instructors, and was given a tour of the Vancouver location (that has breathtaking views of the North Shore). After a quick consultation and a glass of water (with a hint of lemon), Paula performed a face mapping which identified things like fine or dark lines, dryness, pigmentation, breakout activity, redness, and sensitivity. After my reading she was able to tailor a facial treatment to my exact skin type; this included cleansing, exfoliation, and hydration.

After my treatment I received bottles of the product used during my procedure: multi-active toner, special cleansing gel, daily microfoliant, precleanse, multivitamin powerfirm, and sheer tint moisture. My favourites include the microfoliant, which is a powder that is activated with a touch of water for exfoliating, along with the sheer tint moisture. I use a foundation every day but it usually leaves my skin feeling very dry, even when I apply lotion as well. The sheer tint moisture combines these two elements on top of providing spf 15 sun protection.

Geez, look at me – I’ve come a long way in these last few months after being a regular “soap and water” girl my whole life. I’ll be trying the rest of the products in my daily skin care routine although honestly, I’m unsure if I’ll have time for a 6-step process each day. However, since my visit to Dermalogica, I have noticed a reduction in redness and dryness on my face.

Paula informed me that every now and then they host an evening for consumers where you can stop by the Institute to learn some skin-care basics or various other tips and tricks in a workshop-like atmosphere.

For products and information about a location, you can visit the website and type in your postal code. The site is also ultra-informative and provides tidbits about reducing redness, shaving, exfoliation, and uneven skin tones.

On a personal note
Paula is a lovely woman with a very soothing accent so with each step she performed I was not only informed, but I was also very relaxed and at ease — even when I noted my “stress levels” were at 3 of 4. I also appreciated that she spoke at a moderate volume as truth be told, I have hearing loss in my right ear. When regular spa attendants speak with a “calming” whisper I have a very hard time understanding them and in turn, this does not leave me feeling very relaxed at all.

I have yet to start using every product I have received but I look forward to seeing if it helps make a difference – I’ll add an update to this post to share my progress in about two weeks.

Disclosure: I was not paid to write this review, however my visit and the product were courtesy of Dermalogica