Ever wonder how to reduce your beauty bag? Is your skincare overflowing with multiple choice products, so much so that you find you neglect them or simply don’t know how to add this in to your routine? Consumerism has driven the availability of some brilliant products that are holy grail in our skincare routines, but also, the amount of steps to treat our skin can be overwhelming. So how much do we really need daily? Whilst everyone’s skin and skin needs are different (be it oily, dry, sensitive, acne-prone, aging, etc), there are some staple skincare products that should be used by all. We spoke to skincare experts to find out what those are…
CLEANSER
Chartered Chemist, founder of SOS Serum Skincare, Bruce Green, says, “Cleansing is one of the single most important things you can do for your skin. Everyone’s skin gets dirty from dust, sweat, make-up, sebum and atmospheric impurities, at all times of the day. A nighttime cleanse clears the day’s gunk, giving your skin a chance to repair while you sleep. our skin doesn’t get that dirty while you sleep – unless you roll around in pizza at 3 a.m., a splash of water in the morning can be enough. It is estimated that over 50% of users of cleansers, suffer from skin discomfort, tingling or itching. In my opinion, many cleansers on the market contain too much ethanol and an excess of surfactants that can upset and unbalance the skins natural protective barrier, its ‘Acid Mantle’ – which can lead to redness, irritation, clogged pores and the skin feeling tight and the skins barrier being compromised. Do not over cleanse or use an aggressive cleanser as this can stimulate the skin to produce more sebum and the need to cleanse more. Your skin might even thank you for not scrubbing it like a kitchen countertop. Over-cleansing wrecks your skin barrier and can cause dryness, irritation and even more oil production. I recommend SOS Cleanse as your go to cleanser for healthy looking skin: alcohol-free & petrochemical free.”
MOISTURISER
Dr Bonny Armstrong, Teoxane expert and award-winning Aesthetic Doctor, says, “A healthy skin barrier protects against almost all skin issues including dryness, sensitivity, breakouts and early signs of skin aging. Even oily/acne-prone skin needs hydration to prevent overcompensation. If your skin “feels fine,” daily moisturising prevents problems before they start. Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of skin and protecting it with daily moisturiser keeps water in and irritants out. Throughout the day, your skin loses water (transepidermal water loss), and can lead to tightness, premature fine lines and sebum overproduction to compensate. Pollution, weather, indoor heating/AC and UV rays all wear on your skin daily, so finding a solid moisturiser that is protecting and nourishing to your skin makes a big difference to your skin’s appearance over time from daily use. Sometimes, we feel we want to avoid moisturiser, especially if it feels too heavy. Teoxane Advanced Filler Normal‑to‑Combination Skin is a light formula suited to normal or combination skin, delivering hydration, smoothing and anti-wrinkle benefits using RHA and a restructuring complex.”
SPF
Clinic Lead at Face the Future, Kimberley Medd, says, “If there’s one none-negotiable in your daily skincare routine – no matter your gender, skin type and age, it’s sun protection. Whilst skin cancer is rightly still the number one reason to wear SPF, there are a multitude of protective benefits to wearing sunscreen that go beyond sunburn. UVA protection in the UK is the key understanding to protect the skin from premature fine lines and wrinkles, which we are more at risk of throughout all seasons, whereas summer is more closely tied to UVB protection (protecting against sunburn). Other SPF benefits include minimising and protecting the skin from hyperpigmentation, sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles, accelerated collagen depletion, drier skin from no barrier protection and maintaining an even skin tone. As skin gets thinner and less resilient with age, it becomes more vulnerable to UV damage. When we’re younger, we might not think too much about sun protection, but as we age, the consequences of not using SPF regularly—like wrinkles, age spots, and an increased risk of skin cancer—become more evident. This is telling in that the latest 365 Days of SPF report by Face the Future, 77% of the UK believe it’s important for people aged over 40 to wear sun protection.”
LIP BALM
Emma Coleman, Senior Magnitone Ambassador, Clinic Director and Dermatology Nurse, says, “Lips don’t have oil glands, so they dry out faster than the rest of your skin. They’re constantly under pressure from talking, eating, licking and weather. Applying lip balm can help prevent dryness, cracking, chapping from environmental factors, lip lines and irritation. Just like our skin barrier needs protecting, our lips are often neglected or seen as a “nice to have”. Even those with smooth and generally non-problematic lips can adhere to daily wear, as travel, lifestyle, outdoor exposure, or breathing through your mouth at night, can impact the health of your lips. Some balms cause the very dryness you’re trying to fix, so it’s important to watch out for irritants such as menthol, camphor, phenol, eucalyptus, or fragrances. Avoid lip balms with exfolitating ingredients like Salicylic Acid, which is too harsh for daily lip use. Some balms only offer an addictive feeling and not much healing – they give quick relief but don’t seal in moisture, leading to more reapplying. Instead, look for a lip balm with humectant qualities such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin, and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, ceramides and vitamin E. UV rays cause lip ageing and increase the risk of skin cancer, especially on the lower lip, so opting for an SPF enriched lip balm can also create an added benefit.”