The Specialist – Leading aesthetic laser specialist Rebecca Treston

WORDS: SARAH JOSEPH

The Specialist

Dubai’s leading skincare expert and aesthetic laser specialist at Hortman Clinics, Rebecca Treston on her pioneering approach to skincare and anti-ageing

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? My morning usually starts between 5 to 5.30am. I enjoy a quiet cup of coffee before the house wakes up at around 6am. Then it’s on with the gym kit and out the door as weekdays is always busy. I’d love to evolve and get up at 4 to meditate, then journal and have a quiet coffee, but that’s yet to be achieved. You’ve had a distinctive and pioneering approach to lasers with unrivalled results. How did you hone your own techniques? My passion for lasers was introduced in the late nineties. I worked in a clinic, but the company also made aesthetic equipment and first-generation lasers, so I’ve been involved quite early and evolved with them. My vast experience gives me the confidence to not only apply but layer these energies to enable me to treat the varying conditions of my client’s skin. Every day I’m grateful for the trust my clients have in me.

You focus on laser treatments. Can they replace Botox and other popular skincare services? Lasers improve both function and structure of the skin. There is nothing better to even out texture and tones and boosting the structure naturally, but it of course has

IMAGE: SUPPLIED limits as ageing is multifaceted. You lose volume and this is where fillers come in. If you are very expressive you will start to get deep lines, this is where Botox will help, so for some, a combination approach will be the best. In my opinion, it’s always best to start with a laser. This will make significant improvements that can then be tweaked with filler and Botox for a more natural and long-lasting effect. How important is aftercare when working with laser treatments? When it comes to your skin and face you can’t be irresponsible and there is a lot of extra care required for the effortless glowing skin to be achieved. Some of the precautionary measures include various elements. The first being avoid rubbing and scratching the treated area. Some patients experience redness and sensitivity after treatment. But one must avoid touching the area to stop inflammation and you should allow your skin to rejuvenate naturally. The second point is to avoid any makeup as your skin is the most sensitive after the treatment, so you should at all costs avoid putting any makeup on the face to further aggravate the skin. Certain foundations have ingredients that might block the pores and congest the surface. The next is to avoid hot water after a treatment as the skin is sensitive and this might cause a burning sensation. The last point to take note of is to avoid direct sunlight. Any prolonged sun exposure should be avoided for four weeks before and after the treatment. Your latest research involves stem cell treatments. How is this a game-changer in the beauty industry? Yes, stem cell therapy uses stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition. The key lies in the ability of stem cells to speed healing times and encourage the production of blood cells, which makes them ideal for treating injuries. It has also launched a host of new possibilities for beauty and cosmetic procedures. The treatment is non-invasive and is typically free of discomfort allowing most patients to notice a difference after their third round of treatment. We shine a laser light of a specific wavelength onto stem cells to stimulate a response. Cells within our body respond to light energy therapy without any harmful damage. Cells that become inflamed can be encouraged to become less inflamed if stimulated by laser light. In addition, certain biochemical processes of cells can be modified through laser light. This is The Pioneer Issue – what does this mean to you? It means a lot to me to be a part of this prestigious issue and I am honoured for the opportunity to share insights into my industry and my life.

LEADING

Estelle Letang, General Manager of the Middle East Region at The Estée Lauder Companies on how they are pioneering the visibility of breast cancer prevention

AWARENESS

IMAGE: SUPPLIED What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine? My morning routine usually starts with some form of exercise and Pilates is my favourite as it sets me up for the day. Working for a beauty company, I always take five minutes as ‘me time’ by applying my favourite beauty products including Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm from Clinique, then hydrating my skin with the Estèe Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum, proceeding with La Mer’s iconic Crème De La Mer to moisturise my skin, then using a lipstick from M.A.C and finally spritzing my favourite fragrance from Tom Ford, Rose Prick. As a mother of three, I always have breakfast with my children before they head to school. Can you tell us about the latest Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Campaign? This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign and the Company’s commitment to the global breast cancer movement. Through the collective efforts of employees, consumers, and partners worldwide, the campaign has facilitated real progress and driven social impact. In the Middle East, we have focused on raising much-needed awareness and education of breast cancer to the regional community by highlighting the stories of four inspirational women who survived breast cancer through a series of empowering videos and events. These survivors share their personal journeys with breast cancer, their journey of recovery and how they went to fulfill their dreams after they beat the disease. All of the survivors share the critical importance of self-examination and early detection which was a key factor in their recovery. The late Evelyn H. Lauder launched the iconic Pink Ribbon, as part of The Breast Cancer Campaign, how did it all begin? Thirty years ago, in 1992, Evelyn H. Lauder (Estée Lauder’s daughter-in-law) co-created the globally recognised Pink Ribbon and launched The Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Campaign, inspiring a global movement around its mission to help create a breast cancer-free world once for all. Since then, the Breast Cancer Campaign is The Estée Lauder Companies’ largest corporate philanthropic initiative. Just one year later, in 1993, Evelyn Lauder founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the campaign’s leading non-profit organisation partner dedicated to advancing the world’s most promising research to eradicate breast cancer.

WORDS:SARAH JOSEPH

The Company have funded more than $108 million globally for lifesaving research, education, and medical services. The campaign is a true testament to the group’s legacy as a beauty-inspired, values driven company that places people, positive impact, and inclusivity at the heart of everything we do. This month brings awareness to breast cancer – what are the key things we should be looking for? Globally, breast cancer causes the greatest number of cancer-related deaths among women. Every 15 seconds somewhere in the world, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. This is far too many. A breast cancer diagnosis profoundly affects everyone it touches – patients, loved ones, doctors, caregivers, advocates and more. Our goal as a company is to generate wide-spread awareness and education across the Middle East region on breast cancer highlighting the importance of selftesting, early detection, and prevention. What are some of the key initiatives Estée Lauder has taken to help people going through this journey? The Estée Lauder Companies in the Middle East have worked very closely with NGO Brest Friends, the first breast cancer support group in Dubai, and Al Jalila Foundation for the last seven years, whose combined mission are similar to ours: To save lives by promoting early detection, increasing awareness, education, and offering support to patients with breast cancer. This is The Pioneer Issue – what inspired the group to take the lead in raising awareness? It has been 30 years since Evelyn H. Lauder, a visionary woman, inspired a global movement and introduced a symbol of hope and inspiration with one mission, to help create a breast-cancer free world. At a time when breast cancer wasn’t spoken about openly, Evelyn H. Lauder saw an opportunity to unite people everywhere and make a difference. She said,“I’d like to be able to save lives.” Now, as we honour The Campaign’s 30th Anniversary, breast cancer patients are leading better, healthier lives due in part to early detection and improved treatment which the campaign and our partners are dedicated to advancing. The campaign is a cornerstone of who we are at The Estée Lauder Companies and serves as a true, authentic point of difference that drives our social impact and enhances our corporate reputation with a key call to action, It’s #TimeToEndBreastCancer. Together, we are united to help end breast cancer for all.

“The campaign is a true testament to the group’s legacy as a beauty-inspired, values driven company that places people, positive impact, and inclusivity at the heart of everything we do.”