There’s a quiet shift happening in aesthetic medicine that most of us in our 30s and 40s are only just noticing: Gen Z isn’t waiting for wrinkles to show up before doing something about them. They’re getting preventative treatments—like the RE2O Skin Booster—in their mid-20s, long before there’s anything visible to fix.
While Millennials and Gen X built our skincare routines around correction—retinol to reverse sun damage, Botox to smooth existing lines, and fillers to restore lost volume—Gen Z is approaching ageing entirely differently. They’re getting treatments before there’s anything visible to fix. They’re thinking about skin structure, not just surface appearance. They’re starting conversations about “tweakments” and preventative injectables at 23, not 33.
The question this raises is fascinating: Will Gen Z actually look younger in their 40s than we do now?
It’s not just about better sunscreen or earlier retinol (though that helps). It’s about a fundamental reframing of when anti-ageing begins. For Gen Z, it’s not about fighting ageing—it’s about delaying its visible onset by maintaining what you have before it degrades.
This mindset is driving them toward treatments that previous generations would’ve considered “too early” or unnecessary. Skin boosters in their mid-20s. Preventative Botox at 25. Structural treatments like polynucleotides or—what I recently tried—extracellular matrix boosters like RE2O.
I wanted to understand what this actually looks like in practice. So when I was invited to try RE2O Skin Booster at Freia Medical, I said yes—not just as a product review, but as a way to see what Gen Z’s preventative strategy feels like from the inside.
The Treatment Gen Z is Starting Early: RE2O Skin Booster
RE2O, the next generation of Skin Booster, is one of the many treatments Gen Z gravitates toward: structural, preventative, and scientifically sophisticated without being dramatic.
Unlike traditional skin boosters that focus on hydration (like hyaluronic acid) or stimulation (like Sculptra), RE2O works by directly replenishing the extracellular matrix—the scaffolding of collagen, elastin, and structural proteins that gives skin its firmness and resilience. As we age, this scaffold degrades. Most treatments ask your skin to rebuild itself. RE2O just… puts it back.
It’s manufactured by Korean biotech company L&C BIO and costs SGD 950 per session in Singapore, with a recommended protocol of three sessions spaced a month apart. Not cheap, but accessible enough that it’s becoming popular among younger patients who view it as maintenance, not intervention.
The treatment started with a consultation with Dr. Chester Lan at Freia Medical, who was notably careful about setting realistic expectations—a refreshing change from clinics that oversell results.
What RE2O Actually Does (And Doesn’t Do)
Dr. Chester explained that RE2O serves a specific structural purpose rather than being a catch-all solution.
It won’t fill deep wrinkles the way dermal fillers do. RE2O is an ECM skin booster working on skin quality at a microscopic level, but it doesn’t have the “G-prime” (lifting capacity) or volume-replacing properties of cross-linked hyaluronic acid fillers used to treat deep nasolabial folds or sunken cheeks.
It won’t replace Profhilo for intense hydration either. While RE2O contains some glycosaminoglycans (0.4%), Profhilo is a high-concentration, ultra-pure hyaluronic acid specifically designed for bio-remodelling and moisture. Profhilo focuses on the “water” aspect of skin; RE2O focuses on the “structural fibre”—collagen and elastin.
And it won’t tighten like Ulthera. Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound to target the SMAS layer (deep muscle-fascia) for significant lifting. RE2O works within the dermal layer to improve the fabric of the skin itself.
What it does do: improve texture, refine pores, support skin quality, and restore the structural foundation that degrades with age. For textural improvement and overall skin resilience, Dr. Chester said he’s seen consistent results.
That’s exactly the kind of foundational thinking that defines Gen Z’s approach—not chasing correction, but maintaining structure.
The Experience: What Preventative Treatment Actually Feels Like
The treatment began right after a consultation. After applying cleansing and numbing cream (approximately 20 minutes), the injections took a total of 15-30 minutes.
Freia Medical offers both machine-assisted injection and manual injection. I opted for manual. Dr. Chester targeted areas where I have texture concerns: cheeks, around my nose where pores are visible, and my forehead.
With numbing, it felt like multiple small mosquito bites—manageable but noticeable. Immediately after, there were minor pinprick marks with slightly raised bumps at the injection sites. They faded within a few hours. I looked pretty much the same walking out as walking in.
The Results Timeline (One Session, Two Weeks In)
Days 1-3: Bumps gone completely. Skin felt slightly different underneath—more structured.
Day 4-5: Skin felt firmer to the touch. The texture on my cheeks looked smoother.
Day 6-8: Fine lines around my eyes appeared noticeably softer. Pores looked less visible. Makeup application improved—always the real test.
Week 2: Skin genuinely felt “thicker”—not in texture, but in quality. Almost fuller, like there was more substance underneath.
By two weeks post-treatment, I could see what Dr Chester meant by “structural improvement.” This wasn’t glow or hydration. It was foundational. My skin looked healthier in a way that’s hard to photograph but easy to see in person.
According to Dr Chester, results typically continue improving over the first month, with cumulative benefits from the full three-session protocol lasting 6-12 months.
So… Will Gen Z Actually Look Younger in Their 40s?
Here’s the honest answer: We won’t know definitively for another 15-20 years.
However, based on what we know about skin ageing and my experience with RE2O, there’s compelling evidence that they might.
Evidence FOR Gen Z looking younger
1. Early intervention works
Preventing structural degradation is easier than reversing it. Starting ECM replenishment, collagen stimulation, and preventative treatments in your 20s means you’re maintaining what you have rather than trying to rebuild what you’ve lost.
2. Better technology, earlier access
Gen Z has access to treatments in their 20s that didn’t exist (or weren’t accessible) when Millennials were that age. RE2O, polynucleotides, advanced skin boosters—these weren’t options 15 years ago.
3. Cultural normalisation
Gen Z talks openly about treatments. No shame, no secrecy, which means better information sharing, smarter choices, and less trial-and-error damage from sketchy providers.
4. Structural thinking vs. surface fixes
Treatments like RE2O focus on the extracellular matrix—the actual scaffold of skin. That’s smarter than just chasing temporary glow or volume.
The Reality Check: What Treatments Can’t Override
That said, treatments alone won’t determine how Gen Z ages. Lifestyle factors—sun damage, smoking, sleep quality, and chronic stress—still matter more than any injectable. And genetics remains the biggest variable: some people age slowly with minimal intervention, while others age faster despite doing everything right. RE2O and similar treatments help optimise your genetic baseline, but they’re maintenance tools, not miracles. Gen Z’s preventative advantage only works if it’s paired with the fundamentals.
What This Means For The Rest of Us
If you’re in your 30s or 40s reading this and thinking, “Am I too late?”—you’re not.
The preventative approach Gen Z is taking can be adopted at any age. It just shifts from “prevention” to “preservation and maintenance.”
Treatments like RE2O work at any age because they address structural degradation, which is ongoing. You’re not “too late” to start maintaining your extracellular matrix. You’re just starting from a different baseline.
My Takeaway After Trying RE2O
Based on one session and two weeks of results, I’m genuinely impressed by the structural improvement. My skin texture is better, fine lines are softer, and that “supported” feeling underneath is real.
Would I complete the full three-session protocol? Yes. The early results suggest cumulative treatments would deliver exactly the kind of foundational improvement I’m looking for.
But more than the specific results, trying RE2O helped me understand what Gen Z already knows: ageing isn’t something you fight when it arrives. It’s something you manage continuously.
Whether that means they’ll look younger in their 40s than we do now? Ask me in 2045. But I’m willing to bet the answer is yes.
FAQ
Is RE2O only for Gen Z?
No. It works for anyone concerned with skin texture, structure, and quality. Gen Z just happens to be starting earlier.
How much does RE2O cost?
SGD 950 per session (SGD 2,999 for 3 sessions) in Singapore. The recommended protocol is 3 sessions spaced one month apart.
What’s the difference between RE2O and other skin boosters?
RE2O replenishes extracellular matrix structure (collagen/elastin scaffold). HA boosters focus on hydration. Stimulators trigger collagen production. Different mechanisms.
Is it too late to start preventative treatments in your 30s or 40s?
Not at all. The approach shifts from prevention to preservation, but structural treatments like RE2O work at any age.
How long do results last?
6-12 months typically after completing the three-session protocol, according to practitioners.
Where can I get RE2O Skin Booster in Singapore?
RE2O is available at Freia Medical, located at Wisma Atria Orchard, 435 Orchard Road #19-03 Wisma Atria Office Tower, Singapore 238877.