An expert guide to getting facials that actually work

*Produced by SilverKris for Jyunka*

It’s hard to imagine that Jennifer Leng, founder of skincare product line Jyunka, had such a long and winding road to the radiant skin she enjoys now.

As a young woman, she lacked the knowledge or money to invest in skincare products, and Singapore’s skincare industry offered few remedies for her sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Even after she founded pioneering skincare distribution company Laponie and herself travelled to the UK to study at the London School of Beauty Therapy, her problems were not fully resolved. Her skin gradually improved with access to knowledge and better products, but she continued needing make-up. She chalked it up to genetics.

It wasn’t until 12 years ago that Jennifer met a Japanese scientist who would change her life and her business. The scientist had discovered a way to encapsulate L-ascorbic acid, a derivative of Vitamin C, in a stable form to be delivered to the skin. In testing out the product, Jennifer’s skin was completely changed in just a few months, and eventually she stopped wearing foundation altogether. Together with the scientist, Jennifer developed what became M+ Fluid, the flagship product of Jennifer’s new Jyunka skincare line. Today Jyunka has a small but potent range of 35 products, each thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness.

Jyunka now also has two concept centres, at Bedok Point and Pacific Plaza. These concept centres bring together top-of-the-line skincare products with professionally trained consultants, a formula that’s hard to find in a market plagued by hard-sell techniques and customer misinformation.

Needless to say, over the past few decades, Jennifer has experienced the business from every angle. And despite many different kinds of services out there, she believes prospective clients have a responsibility to discern the bad from the good. Here’s how to do it.

Many people view facials as a sporadic pampering session involving a deep cleanse and a massage. You walk away feeling relaxed and happy, and the glow on your skin lasts for a couple of days. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with those spa-like facials,” says Jennifer, “if that’s what you are looking for.”

But if you’re seeking lasting results for specific issues – fine wrinkles, for example, or pigmentation, congested pores and blackheads – you need a series of professional facial treatments that are tailored to your concerns. Jyunka’s concept centres prescribe targeted treatments for a period of three to six months, using the proprietary Jyunka V Machine.

Jennifer acknowledges that often people aren’t sure what they’re looking for. “That’s where a good consultant comes in, who can guide you through a meaningful discovery session.” At the same time, it’s important that goals are realistic and achievable. “We must aim to age gracefully,” she says with a smile, “and look the best we can, whatever our age.”

To be effective, facial treatments require time – and of course a financial investment. That means customers should have total confidence in the salon they are working with. In a market where hard-sell techniques and hefty packages have become all too common, Jennifer believes there are three hallmarks of a trustworthy salon.

A professional consultant. It all starts with a good consultant who cares about you and your skin and sets realistic goals and milestones. Avoid places that are less interested in what you want to achieve and more interested in getting you to sign up for a package. Jennifer explains that the skin is always changing, and what it needs this month may be very different from what it needs next month. “So why sign-up for a 20-session package of the same facial,” she asks.

The product line. A good salon also stocks good products. Look for those that carry professional lines manufactured in places like Switzerland, France and Germany. These countries are world leaders in skincare, with high quality control and rigorous testing standards that ensure safe and effective products.

Immediate results. And mostly importantly, while true transformation can take several months, you should be able to see results quickly. If your skin looks the same after two or three treatments, you should consider cutting your losses and looking for another salon.

“You can’t eat junk food every day at home and then detox once a month,” says Jennifer with a knowing laugh. She uses the analogy to bemoan the practice of signing up for expensive treatments every few weeks, but not using the products diligently at home. While detox is always good, she says, continuing the analogy, “you will not see lasting change to your health unless you maintain a healthy diet regularly.”

Jennifer urges people to not only follow-up on their treatments at home, but to use professional skincare products instead of off-the-counter alternatives. While the latter may be more affordable, professional products have a higher concentration of active ingredients and are more likely to deliver better, faster results. “But even then, you need to have a trustworthy consultant to explain to you how to use products, where to apply them, and how often,” Jennifer stresses.

It’s primarily to bridge this gap between professional and retail products that Jyunka chose to expand beyond just sales. Its three concept stores are staffed by trained professionals who can show clients which products would help them achieve their goals and how to best use them. Jyunka has a strict no hard-sell policy, and consultants are prohibited from sales talk in the treatment rooms.

Through her top-of-the-line products, professionally run concept centres and thoughtful client-focused practices, Jennifer hopes to restore the relationship between prospective clients and professional salons. At the same time, she believes a strong client-salon relationship requires people to be well-informed about their own needs. “Every consumer should be discerning before signing up for a facial package,” she says. “The door is never locked.

For more information about Jyunka products and concept centres, please visit the official website.