Antoinette Kühn Holistic skin and Body Studio

13/11/2025

Over Exfoliation Could Be Ageing Your Skin

That post peel glow might feel amazing in the moment… but over time, it could be accelerating premature ageing.

Your skin has three essential lines of barrier defence and over exfoliation can strip away all of them!

1) The Acid Mantle – your skin’s first chemical defence. This slightly acidic film protects against harmful bacteria, allergens, and pollutants.

2) Corneocytes (the Stratum Corneum cells) – your physical shield. These flattened, protective cells form the skin’s outer wall, locking in hydration and blocking irritants.

3) Multilamellar Lipids – the “mortar” between the cells. These lipid layers keep your barrier flexible, strong, and impermeable to external stressors.

When exfoliation removes or weakens these defences, your skin becomes dehydrated, inflamed, and vulnerable. Chronic low grade inflammation triggers collagen breakdown, leading to fine lines, loss of elasticity, and premature ageing

Corneotherapy teaches us to preserve the epidermis. Strengthen the barrier. Work with the skin’s biology, not against it.

Healthy, youthful skin isn’t achieved by stripping, it’s maintained by protection and balance.

04/11/2025

With great sadness, we share the passing of Trevor Steyn, Founder and CEO of Esse.

Trevor dedicated his life to remaking the skincare system — guided by microbiome science, a strong ethical foundation, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability. His vision will continue to lead us forward.

31/10/2025

Your skin is as unique as your fingerprint. It deserves more than generic solutions. Off-the-shelf products address common concerns, while Prescript delivers individually formulated skincare, designed specifically for your skin’s unique needs.​

​Stop settling for average results. Find a Prescript Practitioner near you and schedule your first skin consultation.​

​https://esseskincare.co.za/prescript/

20/09/2025

Social Media vs. Science

In the fast paced world of skincare, trends can spread faster than facts. That’s why it’s more important than ever to separate hype from evidence.

Corneotherapy is not a passing trend, it is a methodology grounded in decades of research and scientific literature. First described in the 1960s by Professor Albert Kligman, Corneotherapy focuses on protecting and restoring the stratum corneum (the skin’s outermost layer) as the foundation for true skin health. This approach is supported by peer reviewed studies and continues to evolve through ongoing research worldwide.

At the IAC, we are committed to education, integrity, and science led practice. In an industry that often prioritises quick fixes, we champion evidence based knowledge that empowers professionals to deliver safe, effective, and lasting results.

05/09/2025

⚡️ The Rise of Epidermis Trauma ⚡️

So many clients are unknowingly harming their skin, chasing the “glow” through constant peeling and exfoliation.
But here’s the truth 👇

Your skin has 3 vital lines of barrier defence:
1️⃣ Acid Mantle
2️⃣ Corneocytes
3️⃣ Multilamellar lipids

When these are stripped away, the skin is left vulnerable to pathogens, allergens, and breakdowns in cellular health and repair.

Yet mainstream beauty and media still preach that peeling and exfoliation = healthy skin. Nothing could be further from the truth.

💡 Real skin health starts with education.
It starts with Corneotherapy.
It starts with respecting the Stratum Corneum, your skin’s frontline protector.

25/08/2025

23/08/2025

The 3 R’s of Corneotherapy

Corneotherapy is a science based approach to skin care that focuses on repairing and maintaining the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin. By restoring barrier integrity, we reduce inflammation, prevent premature ageing, and support overall skin health.

Here’s how the 3 R’s work:

1️⃣ Repair – The first step is addressing barrier impairment. When the skin barrier is disrupted (from harsh products, environment, or skin conditions), it allows irritants and allergens to penetrate while losing vital moisture. Repair strategies focus on replenishing barrier lipids and restoring structural integrity.

2️⃣ Restore – Once repaired, the barrier requires restoration of its homeostasis. This means replenishing essential components like ceramides, cholesterol, and natural moisturizing factors to re-establish the skin’s protective function and microbiome balance.

3️⃣ Reinforce – Finally, we strengthen and protect the skin long term. Reinforcement involves ongoing use of barrier supportive formulations and lifestyle guidance to help the skin adapt to stressors and maintain resilience.

✨ Corneotherapy is not about quick fixes, it’s about working with the skin’s biology to achieve lasting health and function.

08/08/2025

“You must do this… or you’ll regret it later.”

Have you ever heard that about your skin?

The truth: Many treatments and procedures do have a place — and can help in certain cases — but they’re not needed by most people.

I have clients in their 80s with radiant skin who’ve only ever had monthly facials and used a few good basics.

Don’t let the beauty industry profit from making you feel “not enough.” Your skin is an incredible organ — protect it, respect it, and only give it what it truly needs. 💛

23/07/2025

Live probiotics!🌿

What does CFU/ml mean?

Esse uses a range of 1 million to 5 billion CFU/ml in their live probiotic products.

But what does CFU/ml mean? CFU/ml refers to colony-forming units per millilitre — this is a measurement of live bacteria.

Each CFU represents one or more microorganisms that can grow and form a colony, and per ml refers to the amount of product.