Getting a Closer Look at My Skin Under a Microscope at Geltex

Hello everyone!

I've been wanting to get my skin checked out for ages, but somehow it never works out. Honestly, I don't really have any major skin issues. There are some gradual changes that happen due to hormonal fluctuations, or poor skin care, overeating sweets, which can cause some breakouts. My skin is okay, but it could be better...

One time, I almost booked an appointment with a dermatologist who wanted to consult with me remotely first. I'd have to send them photos and videos of my skin! But how can they really tell from just that? Sure, it's possible to get a superficial idea, but it wouldn't be a proper consultation, and they could end up misdiagnosing me and prescribing the wrong products for my skin.

While I was searching for a dermatologist, I was getting a bit anxious... That's when I stumbled upon a review for the skin diagnostics center 'Geltex.' I checked out their website, saw that the consultation was indeed free, and started looking into how to book an appointment and where the center was located.

The company specializes in cosmetics for professionals (dermatologists) and regular consumers. What surprised me is that they not only sell their products, but also offer cosmetic procedures like peels, lip contouring, and so on.

Since I'm not familiar with Geltex cosmetics, I decided to get to know them better by booking an in-person consultation with one of their dermatologists.

To get a free diagnosis, you need to head to their website.

Scroll down the homepage, and you'll find two forms to book an appointment: in-person and online consultation. By the way, their website has a map that shows where their centers are located.

In-person is perfect for those who have a center nearby. Why do I recommend going in-person? It's a more informative experience for you.

Online consultation is great for those who are lazy or don't have a center in their area. However, from my experience, you can't make a proper judgment based on photos and videos, let alone recommend cosmetics.

After you choose which consultation suits you best, a booking window will open. Since I booked an in-person consultation, I don't know how the online one works, but I'd love to share my experience with the in-person visit.

I chose the in-person consultation and selected a center in Moscow on Arbat Street that's convenient for me. Next, we need to choose a date for the appointment. Available dates are highlighted in green, while red and gray indicate unavailable dates. However, be warned that sometimes, even after selecting a green available date, you might get a message saying that the date is not available. Why does this happen? For instance, it might be because you and someone else have chosen the same date, and the person who clicked first has already booked it.

So, after selecting the date, we're given the chance to choose a dermatologist who looks good to us, you know?

Next up, we're looking for a time that suits us.

Then, we need to fill out a little questionnaire: name, phone number (it's a good idea to use the one linked to your messengers), email, and if you want, you can attach some photos of the cosmetics you use. I think the cosmetics are attached so the dermatologist can advise you on whether you need them and if they're suitable for you.

I didn't attach any photos, so I decided to share my experience with a dermatologist in person.

After I'd selected everything and filled it out, I got a message on WhatsApp saying I was booked for an in-person consultation, along with a brief summary of my appointment. A day before my scheduled visit, I got a reminder that they were expecting me the next day. I could respond to this message with either a confirmation or a cancellation of my appointment.

I found the 'Geltex' center using my GPS, and it's literally just a 10-minute walk from the Arbatskaya metro station. The center's manager had already sent me a message with the entrance location on the building.

When we walked in, we saw a clean and nicely decorated center. It's quite spacious, and the reception staff were friendly. There were a few other women waiting for their consultations in the waiting area, but fortunately, the dermatologist wasn't the only one, and there were multiple rooms available. I counted at least three, but it might have been a few more.

I arrived at the Geltex skin diagnostics center after work, with a CC cream from Erborian on my skin (it's my go-to). Before meeting the dermatologist, I popped into the bathroom to wash my hands, and I was pleasantly surprised: the bathroom had cotton pads, cotton swabs, and even a shoe cleaning sponge that I could use. But I always carry my own micellar water and cotton pads with me, so I didn't need to use anything from Geltex. The bathroom was clean, and they had liquid hand soap and hand cream from Geltex available.

I walked into the waiting area and was greeted by shelves stacked with Geltek products, including full-sized items and testers you can try out. I already had a hunch that I'd be offered to buy some of their products, and I was ready for it. I'm okay with this, I guess – it's their livelihood, and I've worked in sales myself, so I know how important it is.

After using the restroom and washing off my cream and dust, I headed to the waiting area and was invited to the treatment room by my esthetician within a minute. My first impression of her was positive – she was friendly and approachable. We chatted for a bit, and then moved on to discussing my skin type and my concerns, wishes, and complaints.

I'm pretty familiar with my skin type, and you don't need to be a pro to understand it. I have combination skin: in the summer, my skin is usually shiny, but in the colder months, it gets dry and flaky, and I often get breakouts related to my diet and hormonal changes. Some skincare products can be really harsh and make my skin feel tight and itchy.

After I shared all this with my esthetician, we started examining my skin using a special handheld device. Geltek has this tiny, handheld device that looks like a mini microscope with various functions. We took a closer look at different areas of my skin, took photos with the device, and my esthetician showed me the pictures and explained what we were seeing and what issues my skin was facing.

I spent some time analyzing my skin with the help of a dermatologist who had a small stand with Geltek products in their office. As they were selecting products for me, I asked questions, and we applied some of the creams to my hand to get a feel for them.

During the consultation, the dermatologist gave me recommendations on when to apply the products and how often. They kept track of the products they recommended in a special report.

There was one toner that did a great job of controlling shine and oiliness, but the dermatologist told me to only use it in the morning, as I don't need to matte my skin at night. We discussed my favorite cleansers and gels, and I was surprised to learn that I needed to switch to gentle gels and foams that don't produce a lot of foam. Why? Because harsh, foamy cleansers are actually bad for my skin. I've found that even using them to wash dishes can dry out my skin. The more aggressive and foamy a product is, the more it can strip my skin of its natural oils.

What does the report from Geltek's skin diagnostic center look like?

After the consultation, the report is sent to me via WhatsApp. It's in HTML format, so I can open it in my browser on my phone or computer. The report starts with a summary conclusion, complete with a diagram, and then gets into more detail with photos of my skin.

Moisturizing was a bit of a challenge for me, and so was elasticity. I'm not complaining about elasticity - I'm still young, and my skin isn't sagging. As for moisturizing, I know I'm not doing it enough, since I rarely use creams or face masks lately.

Skin oiliness is average on my skin. My dermatologist noted that I have combination skin, but some areas are definitely oilier than others. In general, combination skin means you've got both oily and dry patches in different areas.

Check out the diagram to see which areas need a bit more attention.

Here's a diagram showing my skin's moisture levels and elasticity. Take a look at the numbers and where you should aim to be.

Pores. Next up are some not-so-great photos. These were taken with a camera on my problem area around my nose and just below my eyes. I think a lot of people have this kind of skin in this area.

I do regular UZ-cleanses, at least once a week, because my pores get clogged quickly (especially in the summer and spring). The analysis showed a good result of 5, but honestly, I'd give it a 4. My pores are pretty large around my nose and just below it. In other areas, they're not as noticeable.

Pigmentation isn't visible to me on my skin, and I've never used SPF before because I just can't imagine slathering on a thick moisturizer in the summer. My skin analysis device showed me some tiny pigmentation spots on my face, which is a sign that pigmentation is starting to form and I'm prone to it.

Acne and inflammation - I mentioned earlier that I get them, but they're usually caused by hormonal changes or eating something not so great. The analysis showed that my skin has a good balance of oil and moisture. However, the moisture reading seems a bit off to me, which is weird considering my skin analysis also showed I need to work on hydration.

Sensitivity and cuperose. I've got some minor cuperose on my nose, which is pretty visible. This photo was taken by the device, and my dermatologist said I shouldn't worry too much about it, but I shouldn't forget about it either.

I have to say, the report that came out of this consultation was pretty interesting, even if it wasn't super in-depth. It was still super enlightening. I already knew a lot of the downsides of my skin type, but getting this kind of diagnosis was really helpful.

After the consultation, I got a printed report, plus a client card with some recommendations from the cosmetologist. The card had a list of products she suggested I use, along with how often and when to use them. I noticed that the card said I have normal skin, but I only realized that when I got home - it wasn't something I really paid attention to at the time, but it's always good to double-check and verify everything at the center, especially since the report they sent me via email or WhatsApp wasn't even mine - they got it mixed up!

With my client card in hand, I headed to the reception desk, where they reviewed all the recommendations and started picking out some free samples for me. They had me matched with some products in just 2 minutes - during that time, I even got to browse the stand and pick out a full-size product to buy. As it happened, I was eligible for a 15% discount on all products (either online or in-store) for the day of my visit and the rest of the month.

Based on the cosmetologist's advice, I ended up buying an enzyme powder with raspberry flavor. With the discount, it came out to just over 600 rubles. I didn't end up buying anything else, since I wanted to try out the samples first and see which products I liked best.

What I liked about the Geltex skin diagnosis center, and what I took away from the experience?

I was really impressed with the atmosphere and the friendly staff. The place was spotless and had a super simple layout. The consultation itself was a breeze, and before I knew it, 20 minutes had flown by. It's definitely worth getting your skin checked periodically, especially with the seasons changing. Not only can you catch any changes in your skin, but you can also see how well your skincare products are working. After the consultation, I was offered the chance to try out some products on my skin, but I had to rush off, so I declined. They have a comfy couch in the beauty room where you can relax while they apply the products, but I was in a bit of a hurry.

I was told by a dermatologist to schedule a follow-up appointment, but ideally in the fall or even better in the winter, to see the results of using the skincare products she recommended. In the fall, the dermatologist suggested trying retinol on problem areas to reduce pigmentation. Why retinol in the fall? The sun isn't as aggressive during this time of year, and using retinol in the summer can actually harm your skin. I haven't delved into the topic of retinol, but I wanted to share what the dermatologist told me.

In short, I really enjoyed my consultation and visit to the Geltex Skin Diagnostics Center. It was super helpful, and I'd definitely recommend it to others. If you're curious about your skin, get a second opinion from a qualified dermatologist and take advantage of the generous sample sizes you'll receive as a bonus.