Denise Marston, founder of DEA Aesthetics & Wellness is no stranger to innovative skincare solutions. Her company was the first in Malta to offer Bio Botox and thread lifting procedures without any surgery, together with a host of other innovative treatments like HIFU lifting. She is a firm believer in keeping the approach as natural as possible, recognising that there is high pressure on women to conform to one specific look.

“I always advise focusing on enhancing what we have while keeping the look natural, even when doing Botox treatments. The trick is not to go overboard, especially because when the process is too invasive it can actually make you look older. And I do strongly feel that keeping our individual look is important,” Denise tells me.

She takes this approach for all the treatments she recommends and, while she recognises the value of solutions like Botox - which are indeed offered at DEA Aesthetics & Wellness - she also maintains that it’s important to be aware that there are other options available in certain cases.

“The natural approach starts with homecare and consistency. We age everyday, so it’s no use using a skincare routine for a week and then skipping it every so often. When we’re young, our skin bounces back fast but when we hit our 30s we need to start giving it a stronger helping hand,” she explains.

And now, DEA Aesthetics & Wellness is offering a truly cutting-edge homecare regimen that's the first product produced in Europe that also contains honey from an award winning manufacturer in Malta - PRP, or platelet-rich-therapy that uses the client’s own plasma cells. Put simply, this involves drawing a blood sample from the client, separating the plasma, and using it to infuse an anti-ageing cream formula which can then be used at home. The live plasma is known to regenerate very fast, with optimal performance in the cream for the first month.

“The plasma passes on the exact ingredients that your skin needs to regenerate. Although it’s very popular in the States, this groundbreaking solution hasn’t yet made its way to Malta or even Europe - until now,” Denise reveals.

DEA Aesthetics & Wellness has currently developed a range of skincare products under the brand name Ju22. These are the PRP Base Cream, to which you can add your own plasma, a Dark Spot Corrector Night Serum, an Eye Contour Serum and a Night Cream. The skincare brand has been developed in conjunction with medical experts, and that the plasma is 100% sourced by medical professionals.

All the products, says Denise, have been proven to successfully deliver nutrients to the skin and to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin. And the results are already showing on her clients.

“The difference is highly visible, not subtle at all. So much so that clients usually bring in their friends, who all want to have the same results on their skin,” Denise says with a smile.

She recommends that the homecare is followed up with regular salon visits. Even here, the natural approach can be kept up by using the latest therapies that stimulate collagen and elastin naturally. The HIFU lifting technique, Denise says, is incorporated within every facial.

“A woman of a certain age needs to give the skin a boost, particularly around the jawline so it doesn’t sag. We also offer the Vampire Facial, where you can really see the results of plasma regeneration in overdrive.”

In spite of the odd name, the Vampire Facial refers to a process that infuses the skin with plasma cells using microneedling in what is essentially a more intensive and effective treatment than that which you do at home.

“Microneedling requires little to no downtime and is very minimally invasive. Given the results it produces, it has become highly popular with clients who are seeking to stop the ageing effects in their tracks. One of the reasons it is so effective is that you’re not injecting a foreign body, but your own blood. and that is the most amazing thing you can do. I myself love the effect it gives me and when I say that it turns back time I’m not exaggerating. One of my clients has been using it for three months and it has returned the condition of her skin back to what it was nine years earlier,” Denise says.

How can she be so precise? It’s simple - before starting any treatment, Denise carries out a skin scan for all clients. The scan reveals everything about the skin: pigmentation, age, future ageing speed: all the information that’s needed to decide on the best course of action. In this way, she can offer clients top-notch results without sacrificing their individuality, helping them feel good about themselves despite the stigma that is still associated with ageing.

“Society views ageing negatively, especially with respect to women. These groundbreaking treatments allow us to feel happy with ourselves once again, without sacrificing our natural looks or our individuality,” she tells me.

Meantime, Denise is looking at launching Ju22 outside of Malta, starting with the UK and Italy, and other European markets.

“Many women are looking for these non-invasive solutions. Botox treatments will always have a place in skincare, of course, especially when we’re treating the eyes. But nowadays thankfully there is so much more we can do to achieve even better results, and I want to make sure that the treatments become more easily accessible in Malta and even beyond our shores.”

But there’s more. Having followed the studies that are being carried out in the States with respect to the use of PRP, she is now planning to start researching how this can be used to help various skin conditions such as eczema and acne.

“We’re already collaborating with medical professionals abroad to see how we can deliver even more effective solutions to clients with specific issues. And we can’t wait to be able to launch this in Malta, too,” she concludes.