Everyday clients tell me how confused they feel about what treatments to undertake, who’s advice to follow & what to put on & into their skin. There is no doubt ‘beauty’ industry marketing, ‘fountain of youth’ promises & lack of integrity - all come together to form a perfect storm of confusion for most clients. My goal has always been to cut through the bull we all hear on a daily basis to educate clients, so they can in turn make informed decisions about what treatments they undertake & what they put on & into their skin. So let’s start at the beginning, with your skin function!

Scientific research into the skin and its function indicates that there is an abundance of cell-to-cell communication. If we can deliver active ingredients to the deeper layers of the epidermis (stratum spinosum) we are in turn supplying these cells with all the nutrients they require to function in optimal health and to make their return journey to the outer most layer of our skin (stratum corneum) easier, thus providing you with a balanced, healthy and glowing complexion.

The aim of any skin care clinician when treating skin should always be to maintain the skin barrier in its natural condition. This can only be achieved using external agents that are able to repair the natural barrier and importantly, will not impair regeneration from within. We have all heard it seems every other person saying “I have a peel once a month”, “micro-dermabrasion will fix everything” or “IPL Photo Rejuvenation is a quick fix” – all of which could not be further from the truth, as not all treatments & products are created equally. There are three simple words I would like you to apply to any treatment or product, they are Repair, Replenish & Regenerate.

As our body’s largest organ, our skin needs to be protected and nourished.  Just by following a basic skin care regime it is possible to protect the skin from everyday wear and tear and assist in combating environmental stresses such as pollution, sun and wind, exposure, lack of sleep, poor diet choices and work or lifestyle pressures.

However, with so many cosmeceutical and cosmetic companies advertising and promoting their products in the media, most often making a plethora of extraordinary (and often inaccurate) claims of being “the best, the latest or the cheapest”  - choosing the right product for your skin can be time-consuming and sometimes downright frustrating.

Let’s talk about a couple of ingredients - synthetic colours are used to make cosmetics “pretty”. They should be avoided at all costs and are labelled as FD&C or D&C with a number following. Many are carcinogenic and should never be used. Pair this with synthetic fragrances & you may have as many as 200 ingredients in that miracle ‘fountain of youth’ pot of cream. There is no way to determine which chemicals are being used, the label will simply read “fragrance.” Some problems caused by these chemicals include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper-pigmentation (discoloration of the skin), & coughing, vomiting & skin irritation, just to name a few.

This will be challenging information for many, who have used the same brand & had the same treatments for a decade. If your product is a gorgeous blue & smells good enough to eat, pop it in the bin! Yes ……………………. I am absolutely serious!

So we have learnt a little about skin function, ingredients & that we should protect & nourish our skin at all costs. Stop going with the flow of what is accepted as being safe, oh everyone is doing it so it must be ok – look further, get more information and arm yourself with knowledge, after all knowledge is power!

Do you over cleanse &/or exfoliate? 

We have become a nation of over cleansers and exfoliators – thanks to the mega marketing machine which is our media and particularly infomercials – we have become very accepting and at the same time programmed about when and how to cleanse and exfoliate, with the end result being stripped, oil dry and compromised skin.

So let’s talk about why we shouldn’t over cleanse &/or exfoliate. Your skin has a delicate and essential layer called the Acid Mantle (also known as the hydrolipidic film). The Acid Mantle is the skin’s very own defence mechanism against moisture loss and bad, foreign bacteria. 

When your AcidMantle is healthy, your skin looks alive, fresh, and radiant. It has no signs of dehydration or fine lines. It has an even texture, your pores are refined and you don’t suffer from over sensitivity. Breakouts may occur, however, they seem to disappear rapidly and without scarring.

The delicate nature of our Acid Mantle compels us to take special care of this essential and powerful skin layer. Let’s realign the way we think about the largest organ of our bodies and the micro eco system which protects it, which is our acid mantle. We should be nurturing and supporting our skin’s natural function - not looking for the next quick fix by peeling, abrading, exfoliating and scraping it off to achieve a short term result and in turn creating a long term skin condition!

I am a soloist and therefore work to appointment, I work outside the listed hours to suit my clients needs. Please call, text or email for an appointment.