The newly opened Skin Pharmacy at City Square mall in Kitchener Road has been brought to attention due to its provision of products that are specially formulated to cater to individual customers? needs. What makes this pharmacy stand out from other existing pharmacies is that the pharmacists do not only dispense medication but are also involved in the blending and concoction of skin and hair care products specially tailored for individual customers.

The pharmacists are able to create an individualized formula for customers, from pharmacy stocks containing mostly ingredients that are not commercially available; including amino acids, essential oils and whitening agents. This formula is devised in accordance to individual customer?s skin type and needs, before mixing the product on the spot. Fragrance and colour can then be included to improve the presentation and appeal of the product. There are also machines available to perform skin analysis of the customers. In my opinion, these machines will definitely be of benefit especially to customers who are not fully aware of their skin types and conditions. Therefore these skin analyses can help to ascertain individual skin conditions; aiding in the identification of effective treatment methods to deal with existing skin problems.

The Skin Pharmacy is managed by a local husband-and-wife team who are both Australian-trained pharmacists and is believed to the first boutique pharmacy in Singapore. Besides offering custom-made products and its own skin and hair care line, it also functions as a regular pharmacy containing medicines for treatment of dermatological ailments such as fungal growth and hair loss.

Their main focus on establishing a boutique pharmacy was mainly driven by their knowledge that compounding work in a retail setting is not so common in Singapore, especially with technological advancements resulting in pharmacists taking on more patient-centered roles of solely recommending or dispensing medication instead of blending and making products. This is especially evident in retail pharmacies such as Guardian and Watsons; whereby pharmacists are mostly involved in dispensing over-the-counter medications.

Prices start from about $30 for a 230g tub of moisturizing cream which then ranges for customized products depending on the nature and amount of ingredients required by the customers. Service charges are also included as the pharmacists will provide professional advice on the compatibility and stability of the ingredients to ensure the best welfare of the customers.

Personally, I find that these personalized services are quite worthwhile especially since the effectiveness of skin-care or hair-care products may vary among individuals depending on their skin types. Therefore, by seeking professional pharmacist opinions, customers can feel more reassured rather than simply purchasing off-the-counter medications and products which may contain ingredients that may evoke allergic reactions among certain individuals.

Review by Chong Hui Ping (Year 1)