Beauty in a Bottle

Fighting those pesky signs of aging with PEI’s newest professional skincare line, Quannessence

Photography and text by Meredith Morrison

I’m lying on Sharon Quann’s comfy aesthetics bed at Mystical Touch Therapeutics in Summerside, my face slathered in chardonnay. Yes, you read that correctly. Only it’s not the kind of chardonnay you’d buy at your local PEILCC. Instead, it’s a facial peel made from real chardonnay grapes. It smells just as delicious as a glass of the good stuff only this chardonnay is working like a thousand little PacMen eating away at dead skin cells to reveal healthy, vibrant skin. It tingles slightly, but Quann tells me that’s how you know it’s working. I’m debating whether or not it would be inappropriate to lick my face. I decide just to lay back and let Quann work her “mystical touch” instead.

Quann has graciously welcomed my lucky plus one, Elizabeth Landrigan, and myself to her underground oasis on Central Street to experience her brand new line of high-end skincare products aptly named Quannessence. The line, which is manufactured on site, currently consists of six potent serums and a complete skincare collection to be launched in the coming months. It’ll be sold exclusively in select salons throughout the Maritimes and eventually throughout Canada and the United States.

“Sharon and I looked at all of the product lines that were out there and they are pretty much focused on symptoms of problems with skin,” says Reid Barnett of BioSpa (Quann) Cosmeceuticals Inc., who co-developed and manufactures Quannessence Skincare with Quann, an established aesthetician, naturotherapist, business owner, and President of BioSpa (Quann) Cosmeceuticals Inc. “While they are addressing that symptom, they’re not addressing the problem. We wanted to look at this line more holistically and therapeutically as opposed to just addressing a bunch of problems.”

The duo recognized three areas of skincare that need to be looked at: the breakdown of the skin barrier, moisture and nutrient loss (replenishment), and degradation of collagen and elastin (remodeling). They named this threefold approach SkinTrilogy and Quannessence products are specifically designed to address each of these factors. “As your skin ages or as it is damaged by the sun and the environment, things happen physiologically to your skin,” Barnett explains. “Of the six serums we have, five of those will address that SkinTrilogy.”

Included in the serum line is a cutting edge Botox alternative that contains three advanced peptide technologies, including a synthetic version of the venom of the Temple Viper. QTox Firming Serum provides an instant effect and is currently a top seller that retails for $110 for a 30 ml bottle (a little goes a long way)…but you’ll have to wait to get your hands on it. “We’re not even officially selling it but we’re out of stock,” laughs Barnett.

And it’s not hard to see why. Quannessence serums, while small in packaging, deliver maximum results. They’re extremely light, fragrance free, and contain no artificial colouring. Packed with vitamins and nutrients, they are easily absorbed and immediately leave your skin feeling smooth and refreshed. “I believe in beauty from the inside out,” says Quann. “It’s not just external; it’s not just topical. You have to work from the inside out in order to get beautiful skin.”

As Elizabeth and I finish getting the full Quannessence experience, Quann treats us to one more luxury facial treatment before sending us back to the office. It’s called The Cosmecanique Lift, or The Natural Face Lift, and Mystical Touch is the first and only spa on PEI to offer this vital tool for total skin fitness.

Oh. My. Word.
Using different attachments that are connected to a very large (and very expensive) machine, Quann applies magnetic pulses that work like a mini vacuum cleaner to stimulate the skin on the face and neck area. There are no injections, no surgery, and absolutely no pain or discomfort, but Quann assures both of us that if she only did one side of the face we would notice a difference (thankfully, she did the full face). The Cosmecanique Lift naturally stimulates the skin’s collagen, elastin, and circulation, making the skin look flatter, firmer, and smoother. And it works. Both Elizabeth and I noticed our skin felt better, looked brighter, and even felt tighter.

The may not be an actual fountain of youth, but Quannessence Skincare definitely comes close. And lucky for us, we don’t have very far to get it.

Quannessence serums are currently available in select spas across PEI. For more information on Quannessence Skincare products, visit biospadistributing.ca.

 

Meredith Morrison/ @Tweet_G