IT may be a kingpin when it comes to locks and manes, but prominent haircare brand Kerastase is taking steps outside its comfort zone into the competitive world of beauty by launching its own skincare line - Keraskin Esthetics.

And in an age where targeted spot treatments are de rigueur, Kerastase has come up with its answer to Intense Pulse Light (IPL) and other forms of laser spot treatments but this time with less electricity involved.

'As all Keraskin treatments respect the skin, we wanted to create a treatment that was not only effective but safe and gentle as well,' explains Keraskin's spokesman Darren Ho.

'There are other treatments that allow a current to flow through the body but we only wanted to utilise a micro-current that would target the affected area without causing any other possible bodily harm.'

The result is the Detailliste ritual, an ionic correction service for brown spots.

The Detailliste has two main components - a Lumino-Massage with a draining action that helps to improve complexion evenness and restore skin luminosity and the Ionic Correction Kit which really is the most interesting bit of all.

The kit consists of a patch which is essentially a cell with a lifespan of 20 minutes that is composed of two electrodes - one positive and one negative. Positive ions from saline solution is applied to the positive electrode while the negative ions are supplied from the application of LHA (a derivative of salicylic acid created by L'Oreal Research).

Said to boast an exfoliative quality as well as stimulate cell activity, the LHA is mixed with water just before the treatment before it is applied to the patch. This then creates a micro-current through the patch which allows the transportation of the LHA to the heart of the spot.

The patch is then placed on problem areas. A slight biting sensation is to be expected followed by some post treatment sensitivity and redness which goes away after roughly 30 minutes.

'The major benefit of the treatment is a lightening of the dark spots without any downtime,' adds Mr Ho.

'Unlike treatments like IPL and other forms of laser therapy, the skin appears relatively calm after the treatment. There is also no risk of uneven pigmentation forming after the treatment.'

According to Keraskin, customers can expect to see improvements from the first treatment - not immediately after the facial but in the following days.

Three follow-up sessions are recommended to further break up the uneven pigmentation spots.

That said, as with all forms of high-technology, it comes at a premium price. The recommended course of four treatments - $275 for the first treatment plus three follow up sessions that cost $600 in total - is certainly worth a pretty penny, though arguably not by IPL standards.

But Mr Ho insists the treatment is well worth its salt: 'The price is justified by the results achievable. Moreover, our customers are paying for the most advance-researched ingredients delivered with cutting-edge delivery technology. 'Clients who have pigmentation problems are desperate to achieve an even skin tone. Many of them were or are still considering to undergo laser treatments. We challenge them to try this treatment before proceeding to more drastic forms of therapy.'

The proof, however, is always in the pudding. After one treatment, one's skin looks visibly brighter and healthier probably thanks to the massage but spots only look the slightest bit faded.

Then again, patience is always key when it comes to spot treatments so it is hard to predict how a whole course might pan out and that in itself is a challenge to the brand.

This article was first published in The Business Times