It's one thing to look at your face in a mirror, but looking at your face with Visia is another story entirely. Visia is an imaging system that allows you to see details of your face that are naked to the human eye. The tool is increasingly being used by medspas to show people the condition of their skin. I recently had my skin analyzed by Visia, so I thought I'd take you through the process.
Before walking me over to the Visia machine, my esthetician asked me how healthy I thought my skin was. "I take good care of it, and I wear sunblock every day, so I think it's in good shape," I said.
"Just you wait! You might be surprised," she said. (Would you find that comment rude, too?)
To find out how the experience went, and to see a gallery of what Visio does, read more
So, here's how the process works. Basically, you rest your chin on a small stand and have your picture taken. From there, the photos show up on a computer screen. They'll show you sun spots, pore size, wrinkles, texture, red areas, and porphyrins (basically, bacteria). Additionally — and here's where it gets a little twisted — the report tells you how the condition of your skin compares to other women of your age and skin color. Finally, the esthetician can slide a knob on the screen to simulate the aging process.
Because I've been a huge freak about sunscreen, my face had few UV spots and wrinkles. I've got a few large pores, but who doesn't? And the aging simulation didn't scare me. The esthetician seemed rather flummoxed by this; I suspect she didn't know what kinds of services to suggest, since I wasn't horrified by anything.
On one level, I like the ability of Visia to detect sun damage. We all hear about how sun can damage your skin, but seeing it can make even a sun worshiper grab the SPF 30. Plus, there's something very fun and futuristic about seeing where your pores are large.
But I'm not crazy about it as a marketing tool. Comparing your skin's condition to other women of the same age and ethnicity seems oddly competitive to me. Picture yourself getting the results and finding out that, say, 82 percent of women your age have fewer wrinkles than you do. You might feel emotional ("I must look like a Shar-Pei!") or wonder what's wrong with you — so when an expensive course of treatment is recommended, you're more likely to bite. So if you try Visia — and I say, why not? — I'd recommend taking the upsell with a grain of salt.
Tod's
Ewww! I don't know if I want to see!
1It's kinda fun, as long as you can take it in stride. Ultimately, I thought it was interesting... but like I said, you gotta be careful about the emotional aspect of it. I found myself gloating about my good UV score before I thought, "Wait, this is nothing that warrants gloating." (By the way, that's not me in the pics.
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2Glad you were able to take everything with a grain of salt. The "surprise" comment would've rubbed me the wrong way. Skin can be a very emotional topic for some people. The emphasis should be on supporting someone to have the healthiest approach for their skin.
3I don't think it's rude exactly...just truthful. Most people's skin is probably in worse shape than they may think.
4Sounds like a gimmick. Anything to sell their products and services!
5interesting. i'd wanna know mine.
6"Visia" is suspiciously close to "Visa." Ca-ching.
7I've done a similar test using a UV light. You are supposed to see all your sun damage when you look at your face under the special light. I've been using sunscreen since I was 13 so I expected to see a perfect face. I almost peed my pants when I was blochy and spotted! I freaked for a minute till the counter lady and I figured out what was wrong - I had on illuminating foundation! It was showing up as glowing spots under the light. Thank god!
8Ha! Megafie, that is too funny. I would have become incontinent as well.
9ok, so i looked up visia online, to find out where it might be available where i live.
10the first phrase on the first result?
"VISIA® Complexion Analysis impressively increases business in all of your skin care services."
(on a website advertising it to spas and the like)
need i say more?
oh my goodness, what a way to trap women into feeling insecure and spending money on expensive treatments. and that esthetician was SO rude. i say stay away...far away...we all have enough problems and things that we are insecure about in life. the last thing we need is a money making tool giving us more of them.
11yikes! too close for me!
12I did this too, it was fun. I also didn't need to even have a facial afterwards, it showed I had pretty good skin since I use a moisturizer with sunblock in it. I did have some damage but it was minimal. I also always thought I had oily skin but it showed that I don't...just a tiny amount on my nose but that's it. I found it useful. But it is weird.
13I really think things like this should stick to informing you of the health risks your skin might be prone to - like skin cancer from u.v. rays, etc. Using it as a marketing tool how you said they were (the comparisons) is plain manipulation, in my mind. They know exactly how emotionally attached women especially are to their appearance. They're exploiting this to make money, is how it sounds. That's pretty reprehensible to me. If there's significant potential for danger, go ahead and use it. But not just as a money-making scheme.
14i've done something like this - not on 'visio' and you're right, telling me i have slightly more sun damage than people my age isn't good emotionally. i am more diligent about putting sunscreen on though, so i guess it helps a little! overall, my skin was in good shape, here's hoping i can keep it up (knock on wood!)
15I just recently went to a little house party thing where they were trying to sell spa items. They had the UV thing there, I think one or two people mentioned it. The two things that got a reaction out of me were
1) How much lint my shirt had on it that was otherwise invisible.
2) How my eyes were glowing. Goa'uld, anyone?
I was a little surprised at how blotchy my face was, but a lot of it was freckles. I mean...anyone's freckles would look splotchy if you turned a picture of someone's face to negative or something.
I didn't find out anything new. I have oily skin, but moisturizer is still a go, and plugged pores are here and there. (They were orange! Woah!)
16I can just see this inducing all sorts of obsessive paranoia in some women.
17I just had this done about a week ago. I had already scheduled my Fraxel Laser Treatment. I did this so I can have a before & after of my skin. I think it's going to be neat to see the difference in my skin after I'm done with my Fraxel treatments. It didn't cost anything and I already know my skin is way sun damaged. I wanted the photos and to document my skin as it goes through the stages. I think it's nice they offer this service at my dermatologist’s office. I don't fall for the sales pitch for skin products afterwards. I did my homework and went in knowing what I did & didn’t need. I sat give it a try if you are already having a skin care service done such as a laser treatment.
18I had this done at Sephora in the Aventura Mall. Not all stores have them, but this particular one did. It was pretty interesting, but I saw a few tiny, and otherwise invisible reeeally fine lines by my eyes that came up, but it was only on one side. The lady said it was from me sleeping on my side and smooshing my face, so now i'm all paranoid about getting wrinkles while i sleep.. hahah..
I didn't buy anything afterward though. She wanted to recommend a bunch of things to me but i was like.. No thanks, just wanted the free service, I have plenty of products. Ha!
19Sounds kind of cool! I don't know though..........
20You are brave, Bella, very brave...But you don't look too bad to me!
21I think I could survive the shock (don't think anything could surprise me) and the upsell. But are these things really scientifically valid? It sounds gimmicky and suspicious to me, but maybe I'm just too skeptical.
22I am a licensed medical esthetician who is going to school now for nursing to combine with my skincare knowledge. I have utilized several skincare tools used to estimate the amount of sun damage an individual has. Bella, you are correct in that some of the time these machines are unfortunately used as a sales pitch. The reason for these devices is to educate patients on the effects of the sun and the ultimate damage it can cause. Smart suncare can be seen everywhere now days. Almost everyone knows about sunscreen and the benefits it has, but it has not always been this way. Most of the sun damage we see on our face has occured before we even reached 18 years old. I am in a medical environment and almost always someone has come to me about a concern they have with their skin. I try my best to address that concern and sometimes use an imaging device to let them know how important it is to take care of their largest organ, the skin. I never address anything that a patient themselves is not concerned with. I never signed up to be a car salesman. This aspect of comparing one's own skin to others is ridiculous. I see no benefit to this feature except playing on someone's insecurity and generating some sales. A skincare routine is something anyone old or young can benefit from. Taking care of one's skin is a constant, just like brushing one's teeth. I personally use the device to make sure patients know how important it is to cherish their skin and even if I see fantastic results; that's wonderful then I know my patients are on the right track to maintaining their beautiful skin.
23I had this done several months ago and the lady said I had really amazing skin and even asked what my daily beauty regimen was.
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