Skin care and skin maintenance can be a tricky topic to wrap your head around. Serums, retinoids, acids, PH levels, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, acne, dehydration, the list is endless. Some of my clients with the best skin only use soap and water, and I know many who use a list of serums that
looks like a Lidl shopping receipt.
The problem is, we just don’t know where to start when it comes to solutions for our skin concerns. Let me begin with a simple truth: the beauty industry feeds on misinformation and ignorance to sell products.
All commercial enterprise is based on the tenet of making a profit, and the beauty industry is no different; it’s just packaged prettier. But there are ways to avoid overspending while you deal with your skin concerns, and there are treatments available that are more effective with less downtime than others if you are willing to commit to your skin.
Most people can cut their skin routine down to a few products easily and still have great results. And the best part, you don’t need expensive products when there are reasonably priced alternatives, such as Inkey List or The Ordinary, that are just as effective.
My go-to products for various age groups
Hyaluronic acid: To be used morning and evening, will help to plump and brighten the skin and is suitable for all age groups and skin types.
Retinal (Retinaldehyde ): For early 30s skin and onwards, and should be used at night only. Retinal will help to refine skin texture, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and fade dark spots.
Exosomes: Can be used in the morning, night or both and will help to hydrate, actively repair and rejuvenate the skin. Exosomes are suitable for all age groups.
Moisturiser with SPF: Helps to lock in the serum that you have used and helps keep the skin hydrated. SPF is essential every day, including cloudy, rainy days. Even in Ireland, the sun works harder than Kris Jenner, and it will damage your skin without you realising. Those freckles might just be sun damage, but we can fix it with the right treatment.
Microneedling: My go-to treatment for many skin types and concerns, microneedling is a treatment that will brighten, lift and tighten the skin, and make you look refreshed. Ideally performed once a month for three to four sessions, microneedling is the number one minimally invasive treatment for
resetting your skin because it uses your body’s natural response to treat your concerns. The treatment essentially causes micro-injuries in the skin, after which the body works to heal the damage by creating more collagen and elastin. The healing process leaves the skin with a more plump feeling, tighter and lifted.
We can also use polynucleotides (salmon DNA ) or exosomes to give even further benefits during the treatment. There is limited redness when combined with an LED light treatment, which means you can get back to work on the same day if you are a glutton for punishment or intention-rich but time-poor.
Microneedling can be done on the face and neck, on stretch marks across the body and on the telltale signs of ageing on the hands, which we so often forget. Hand lotion will not reverse the signs of ageing in the same way as microneedling. For more intense cases and deep wrinkles or stretch marks, consider a plasma treatment (similar in method to microneedling but with a longer downtime ). Microneedling must be done at the correct depth and in a clinical environment using sterile products.
I recommend against using at-home derma rolling/stamping or microneedling pens because of the risk of infection, using non-sterile products or causing skin trauma, which can have the opposite of the intended effect.
An effective skin care regime does not need to take a lot of effort, money or time. Commit to the basics, and the results will speak volumes.
Hilton Holian is the owner of Honest Wellness Spa and Aesthetics, based on Tuam Road, Galway. For more in-depth skin concerns, you can email [email protected]
