Here is a collection of questions we often get asked by our clients.
Have a question that isn't listed? Please get in touch so we can assist you.

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*We stock a complete range of Synergie Skin and Synergie Practitioner cosmeceutical skincare in our clinic and restrict online purchases. If you would like to access these products or pricing, please Contact us, use product 'Enquire' buttons or book your complimentary skin consultation online.

Using our Make an appointment buttons, select Cosmeceutical Skincare, then Initial or Review consultation.

Alternatively, Contact us.

Yes, we have click & collect from our studio in South Melbourne, by appointment.

At the Store checkout select pick up instead of post. Then book a pick up time using our Make an appointment buttons, select Cosmeceutical Skincare, then Pick up skincare order.

Alternatively, or to arrange a pick up time outside the online booking availability, Contact us.

Yes! Our print and digital gift cards can be used for all products and treatments in-clinic and include a complimentary skin or cosmetic consultation with Dr Emily. You can find them here.

Alternatively, or for any special requests, Contact us.

We stock a complete range of Synergie Skin and Synergie Practitioner cosmeceutical skincare in our clinic and restrict online purchases. Synergie require a professional skin consultation prior to purchase of their products, to ensure the best possible outcomes and correct use of this highly active range.

For new clients to access these products or pricing, please Contact us, use product 'Enquire' buttons or book your complimentary skin consultation. Existing clients who have had their skin consultation are welcome to re-order via email, phone or text.

The answer is yes, you are what you eat! There is increasing evidence about the links between diet, skin conditions and ageing. For example skin can react to certain foods that cause inflammation and acne can improve with a 12 week dairy-free trial. Antioxidants in fruit and vegetables can slow ageing changes and prevent cancers.

Nutrition is such an important part of skincare. If you want to achieve your most beautiful skin, you need to think holistically about overall health. The food you eat plays one of the most important roles in achieving good health and wellbeing.

You can learn more in our Journal post 'Can you eat your way to more youthful skin?'

We recommend a health & nutrition consultation with Dr Emily Schilbach, our specialist General Practitioner, to thoroughly assess your skin, diet and general health. She can help you develop a suitable health and nutrition plan to achieve your best skin and overall health.

Yes! Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies and it can show signs of stress in a number of different ways such as eczema, psoriasis and rosacea flare-ups, hair loss, seborrheic dermatitis and even acne. Of course, everyone’s body and skin will react to stress in different ways, as we all have different genetic makeups.

Stress causes a change in brain and body chemistry and has a significant impact on our skin, considered the “brain-skin connection.”

During moments of tension the body produces excess cortisol, often referred to as the “stress hormone” which wreaks havoc on everything from your immune system to blood pressure. Stress increases cortisol production from the adrenal glands, which in turn increases sebaceous gland activity, resulting in production of more oil and sebum. It also increases inflammation in the body, triggering inflammatory skin conditions.

Cortisol also weakens the skin’s immune system, leading to oxidative stress which manifests itself as wrinkles, lines and lacklustre skin.

Stress can make us less likely to engage in healthy habits, for example, we might work longer hours, eat less well, or drink more caffeine and alcohol, so it can become a vicious cycle.

If you are suffering from stress and would like some help to manage or prevent related skin or health issues, we offer medical consultations with our specialist General Practitioner, Dr Emily Schilbach, who is experienced in managing stress and mental health issues.

Clinical-strength medifacial and skin peel treatments reveal a smoother, revitalised texture by regenerating and resurfacing the skin. The perfect complement to your at-home skincare routine, these treatments go deeper for enhanced results.

Medifacials:
Professional medifacials are clinical-strength facial treatments to rejuvenate, strengthen and treat your skin. They are ideal for more sensitive skin that may not be ready for a skin peel or has not been prepped with cosmeceutical skincare for at least 2-4 weeks. Whether your skin is in need of exfoliation, a hydration boost, sun-damage control or pigment correction, we will customise a treatment to suit your individual needs. All treatments are paired with infusion options to ensure maximum ingredient absorption and optimum results.

Skin Peels:
Professional peels are deeper treatments designed to reduce the appearance of irregularities on the skin’s surface and reveal a smoother, revitalized texture by regenerating and resurfacing the skin. These treatments exfoliate the top layers of the skin, help to stimulate collagen remodelling, improve fine lines, reduce tonal discolouration, improve skin texture and hydration, reduce congestion & acne, and improve the overall appearance, health and function of the skin.

For your safety:
To reduce adverse reactions, prior to a peel we require that you prepare your skin using cosmeceutical skincare for at least 2-4 weeks without any irritation. Essential ingredients include antioxidants, retinol, AHA/BHA and sun protection, plus a tyrosinase inhibitor, other vitamins and peptides if you may be at risk for Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). We will guide you on this preparation and can provide affordable starter kits that include all of the cosmeceutical essentials.

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) is an effective form of medical light therapy that can be used to treat virtually any skin concern, ranging from acne, rosacea, redness or pigmentation to general anti-ageing, fine lines and skin rejuvenation for a healthy glow. It is medically recognised, proven clinically and offers a therapeutic light treatment that is safe, non-invasive and chemical free.

LED works similarly to the process of photosynthesis for a plant, where light energy is converted into a form that can be used by cells for growth and repair. When light energy penetrates into the skin, photon energy is transferred to the cells. Cells then convert this energy into ATP (cellular fuel), boosting cellular activity. The boosted cells work at an enhanced rate and stimulate the body's natural rejuvenation responses. Repeated use of LED light therapy increases the desired effect, with an increase in collagen production and the body's natural rejuvenation process resulting in youthful looking skin and overall improvement of skin complexion.

LED light treatments are pain free, require no surgery, needles or down-time and are completely safe and effective for all skin types. The light does not emit any harmful UVA or UVB rays and is not a laser.

Book a Pro Salon Treatment with us or buy a Personal LED Mask for at-home use here.

Our LED light facials include a skin consultation, deep cleanse and exfoliation followed by a 20 minute LED light therapy treatment, tailored to target specific skin concerns. They can be used alone or as a combination treatment with medifacials, skin peels, serum infusions, microneedling, collagen masks and cosmetic teeth whitening.

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) is an effective form of medical light therapy that can be used to boost collagen production and treat virtually any skin concern, ranging from acne, rosacea, redness or pigmentation to general anti-ageing, fine lines and skin rejuvenation for a healthy glow. LED light therapy is medically recognised, proven clinically and offers a therapeutic light treatment that is safe, non-invasive and chemical free.

Our Medical Grade Professional LED light system by Aduro Australia offers 11 unique treatment settings, using photon energy from 7 individual primary and secondary colour light wavelengths designed to target specific dermal layers to match your skin concerns all year round. Near infra-red skin boosting technology can be used with any of our visible wavelength combinations for an even deeper facial rejuvenation experience.

Designed and manufactured by engineers in the Netherlands, our LED Mask is TGA approved as a high quality medical therapy light in Australia.

Book a Pro Salon Treatment with us or buy a Personal LED Mask for at-home use here.

Collagen Mask Infusion LED Facials are an upgrade of our LED Light Facial.

Our premium collagen mask range has been specifically formulated to deliver luxurious essential key vitamins to the skin immediately on contact, to give you a deeply nourishing, revitalising, hydrating and brightening spa facial experience.

Upgrade to a Collagen Infused LED Facial to boost the skin from the outside in, while our LED light mask gives your skin a workout from the inside out.

Book a Pro Salon Treatment with us or buy a Personal LED Mask for at-home use here.

Microneedle Serum Infusion LED Facials are an upgrade of our Collagen Mask Infusion LED Facials. This package comes with a Micro Needling Serum Infuser that you keep for ongoing home treatments. Designed to complement the Aduro Australia Personal LED and Collagen Infusion Masks.

By using the excess serum from your Hydrogel Collagen Mask packet, together with your Serum Infuser, you are able to deliver a luxurious, nourishing, hydrating base for optimal product infusion before your LED facials.

Using 64 Titanium micro needles, our 0.25mm Serum Infuser is designed to create up to 30,000 micro channels on the epidermal skin surface within 5 minutes. This forms an efficient nutrient delivery system for deeper product absorption of the active ingredients in our vitamin rich Collagen Mask Serum, promoting increased hydration, wrinkle reduction, improved texture and skin rejuvenation. It effectively primes your skin for your Collagen Infused LED facials.

Micro skin needling is an effective way to boost your skincare products for rapid skin absorption. Inside every Collagen Face mask you receive 10ml of excess serum containing vitamins A, C, E and Licorice root to use on your skin (or 2.5ml in our Eye, Lip and Nasolabial fold masks).

Using our tiny 0.25mm Micro Needling Serum Infuser will not harm your skin or make it bleed, rather create tiny channels for optimised product absorption.

Book a Pro Salon Treatment with us or browse our range of at-home treatment options here.

You can buy our recommended Aduro Australia Personal LED Mask here.

LED light therapy is medically recognised, proven clinically and offers a therapeutic light treatment that is safe, non-invasive and chemical free. Our LED Mask is TGA approved in Australia as a high quality medical therapy light.

Due to Australian Advertising Laws and new TGA regulations, we are no longer allowed to mention or refer to any cosmetic treatments that involve a prescription-only medicine. We are therefore unable to name the products that we use on our website or social media, and no longer able to display before and after photos.

We recommend booking a cosmetic consultation for more information, to discuss our treatment options, or to see samples of our treatment results.

We think the most important part of a treatment is the discussion that takes place beforehand. It’s crucial to have a clear understanding of needs and expectations, possible risks and side-effects before proceeding with any cosmetic enhancements. When you are on the same page with your practitioner, you can both work together towards the best outcome possible. We recommend you book in a consultation for a thorough facial assessment and to plan your cosmetic journey.

No, this is absolutely not the case. Cosmetic treatments are technique and dose sensitive treatments. You can achieve subtle, natural looking results when you are treated by someone who is licensed, trained, and a medical expert in facial anatomy. So you’ll look like yourself—only with less noticeable lines. No-one should be able to tell you’ve had anything done if treatment is performed well. We aim for you to look refreshed, like you've just returned from a holiday or simply had more sleep, rather than anything too obvious.

We suggest booking a consultation to discuss treatment options, and to see some samples of before and after pictures to get an idea of what a Melbourne Cosmetics treatment can look like.

These treatments are generally well tolerated, have few side effects and minimal risks when administered by an experienced practitioner. The positive effects can offer wonderful life improvements. However every individual needs to be thoroughly assessed to ensure the suitability of these treatments.

It’s crucial to have a clear understanding of needs and expectations, possible risks and side-effects before proceeding with cosmetic treatments. When you are on the same page with your practitioner, you can both work together towards the best outcome possible.

We recommend a cosmetic consultation to assess your individual situation and answer any further questions. Our consent forms have a more detailed description of the actions, indications, possible risks and side-effects of these treatments which we can provide at the consultation.

No. There is no evidence to suggest cosmetic injectables are safe in pregnancy or breast feeding and it is unethical to conduct this research in order to find out. We therefore do not perform these procedures during these times and recommend ceasing all procedures 6 months prior to trying for pregnancy.

Our LED light activated professional teeth whitening treatments can lighten your teeth by up to 6-12 shades in 20-40 minutes.

The LED light activated mouthpiece enhances and accelerates the whitening process by reacting with the whitening gel, penetrating the tooth surface to eliminate stains and result in fast, effective results. Blue LED light technology and the flexible mouthpiece safely whiten your teeth in comfort and without any damage.

Hydrogen Peroxide 6% and the more natural Sodium Bicarbonate 5% options are available, to cater for all types of teeth and preferences. Those with sensitive gums, crowns, composites and veneers should only use Sodium Bicarbonate gel.

Veneers and composites can't be lightened beyond their original colour, but surface staining from coffee and red wine over time can be improved with Sodium Bicarbonate gel.

Book a Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment or purchase our Mobile LED Teeth Whitening Kit and Maintenance Kits for at-home use.

Yes! You can purchase our Mobile LED Teeth Whitening Kit and home Maintenance Kits online.

Yes, visit our Online store.

To order via email, phone or text - Contact us.

We believe in providing a personalised, tailored experience with professional advice to ensure best results. We recommend booking a complimentary skincare consultation to discuss the most suitable products for your skin concerns.

*We stock a complete range of Synergie Skin and Synergie Practitioner cosmeceutical skincare in our clinic and restrict online purchases. If you would like to access these products or pricing, please contact us, use product 'Enquire' buttons, or book your complimentary skin consultation online.

Cosmeceuticals are medical-grade, highly active skincare products that have proven clinical benefits and are formulated according to evidence-based, scientific research principles. Cosmeceuticals bridge the gap between cosmetic beauty products and pharmaceutical-grade prescription creams.

While cosmetics change the appearance of the skin, cosmeceuticals change its function. They are highly effective products containing biologically active ingredients that actually change the way your skin works on a deep level.

These formulas are designed to improve skin health, repair damage that causes specific skin conditions and visible signs of aging. When applied topically, these active ingredients can reach the deeper layers of your skin, allowing them to make noticeable changes. These include reducing acne, fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage while improving hydration, overall complexion, texture and skin health.

We offer a complimentary skincare consultation to ensure you receive tailored, professional advice for real and lasting results.

Skincare science is complex. Products are best prescribed by a professional who understands the interplay between individual ingredients, human physiology and any health conditions. A personalised skincare prescription tailored to your long-term skin health needs will give you the best chance of achieving real and lasting results.

No, it’s not possible to create highly active skincare from purely natural or organic ingredients and these claims can be misleading. Unfortunately, the term ‘natural’ and organic’ is used too loosely in the cosmetic industry. Natural is not always best and it is important to understand the concept of ‘natural’ in our industry and realise that natural ingredients can be extremely harmful. Arsenic, for example, is 100% natural but less than 1/8th of a teaspoon can be fatal. The beautiful oleander shrub can be organically grown but may result in cardiac arrest if the leaves or flowers are ingested! Lead is also a natural element and is highly toxic to the human body. There have been recent concerns about unacceptable traces of lead present in certain lipsticks.

There are chemical additives (both natural and synthetic) that can be harmful to cells when allowed to accumulate over time. It is often as important what you don’t put on your skin as what you do.

All of our brands develop clinically proven, scientifically formulated products using pure, biologically active ingredients. Evidence-based research determines the combination of natural plant and laboratory derived ingredients to bring together the best of science & nature. These formulations create noticeable results by changing the health and function of the skin at a very deep level. All products supported by Melbourne Cosmetics are free from known irritants and artificial ingredients including NO fillers, artificial colours, fragrances, parabens, sulphates, phthalates, talc, PEGs or propylene glycol. The philosophy is to combine only the absolutely necessary clinical grade raw ingredients into formulations that work, and leave all the useless or nasty stuff out.

No, all our brands are proud to be 100% cruelty free. No individual ingredients or final formulas have been tested on animals.

We do not recommend the use of products containing retinol or Salicylic acid while pregnant, trying to conceive, or lactating. Please refer to the full product ingredient listing and consult your clinician for further information.

If you have nut allergy we recommend that you ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before starting with any products. Our products may contain peanut, soy and wheat derivatives.

Yes! Twice daily and a double cleanse after wearing makeup. Good quality cleansers gently remove surface dirt, pollution, bacteria, excess oil, cell debris and prepare the skin for active serums (without stripping the natural pH of the skin).

Vitamin A serum (retinol) is considered the gold standard anti-ageing product. It stimulates collagen and elastin production, reduces fine lines & wrinkles, treats pigmentation, acne, scarring, brightens, clears, firms and plumps skin, as well as reduces pores and oil production. It really does work hard!

Retinoids (the vitamin A family) are used to treat over 125 skin disorders. Vitamin A is vital in control of skin activates through its direct impact on DNA in the cell nucleus and mitochondria. Vitamin A and its derivatives have gone through a significant evolution over the decades. Current technology has given rise to a liposomal form of Retinol (Rovisome), a form of Vitamin A that is highly stable, effective and non-irritating on the skin.

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) serum is a multifunctional cosmeceutical great for sensitive skin that hydrates, rejuvenates soothes inflammation, boosts immunity and strengthens the skin while reducing oil, acne, dryness, redness, rosacea, pigmentation and visible signs of ageing.

Niacinamide is considered an essential daily cosmeceutical for all skin types and conditions. It is essential in generating energy inside the cells. More than 40 biochemical reactions have been identified and are of paramount importance for normal tissue and skin integrity.

Vitamin C serum provides antioxidants for anti-ageing and environmental protection, with the added benefits of skin brightening and treating pigmentation.

L-ascorbic acid is the most abundant antioxidant in skin. Most plants and animals synthesise L-ascorbic acid to protect themselves from free radical attack. The gene necessary for its synthesis has been mutated in humans. As a result, humans rely on topical application and dietary intake for their supply. L-ascorbic acid is the only bioidentical form of vitamin C available in cosmeceuticals and the only form of Vitamin C that can be recognized by skin cells.

Anti-ageing serums generally include ingredients such as peptide amino acids, active botanicals & antioxidants. They hydrate, stimulate collagen production, reverse cellular ageing and repair DNA. Some can even relax wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid (also known as hyaluronan or HA), is a sugar that is naturally produced by your body and forms a clear gooey substance, with the largest amounts being found in your skin, connective tissues and eyes. It’s main function is to retain water to keep your tissues well lubricated and moist and achieves this by holding nearly 1000 times its weight in water!

Hyaluronic acid keeps your skin plump, supple and hydrated, prevents wrinkles, joint pain and drying of your eyes. It plays a key role in wound healing with its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Unfortunately it does gradually decrease as we get older.

The best ways to retain hyaluronic acid (and keep it working hard for your skin) are through a balanced diet, avoiding UV radiation, tobacco and pollution. However there are some other ways to give it a helping hand. Hyaluronic acid can be replaced using topical serums, lubricating eye drops, oral supplements and injections. At MC we focus on replacement with serums and dermal fillers.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA's) are exfoliants which can be in the form of a serum or granular scrub. They are used to exfoliate dead skin cells, treat pigmentation and prevent oil, congestion and acne. AHA's are for general exfoliation and BHA's (such as salicylic acid) are best for acne.

Suncream! We recommend a broad spectrum cream even in overcast weather. Aim for both a high SPF and PA+ rating where possible.

They block the sun's UV rays in different ways. One is chemical and the other is physical.

Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin and act by absorbing UV light. They are later broken down in the body and carried in the bloodstream where the by-products may be stored in the body and produce side effects. There has been evidence to suggest that chemical sunscreens are linked to hormonal imbalances.

Examples of chemical sunscreen are:

• Oxybenzone
• avobenzone (butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane)
• octisalate
• octocrylene
• homosalate
• octinoxate

Physical sunblocks are mineral based and protect from harmful UVA and UVB rays. They reflect, scatter and absorb UV light by sitting on the skin's surface, but are not absorbed into the deeper layers of skins and bloodstream.

Examples of physical sunblocks include:

• Zinc oxide
• Titanium dioxide

Zinc oxide is the only FDA approved natural mineral offering full broad spectrum UV protection. Any sunscreen is better than none at all but given the choice our advice is to opt for physical sunscreen in the form of zinc oxide – a natural mineral that blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays. However if sweating during heavy exercise or swimming a physical sunscreen may not be appropriate as it is no longer effective if it moves from the skin's surface.