So, I thought I’d use the blog more as a little Agony Aunt section for all things skincare. You send in your burning questions and I’ll do my best to give you concise, useful answers. There are no such thing as stupid questions so please never be afraid to ask! Skincare is my all-time favourite subject!! #lovewhatyoudo
Now without further ado, let’s ‘Ask the Aesthetician’!
Amy, when is the right time to start using anti-ageing products?
I usually advise you start tweaking your routine at about 25 years old….I know, younger than you’d probably expect! Your skin functions begin to change at this tender age and the more you can do to delay the signs of ageing, the better! We don’t have to be ‘anti’ the ageing process, we all know what a privilege growing old is, however you can be proactive in preserving a youthful complexion. Look for ingredients such as retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C&E, AHAs and please, please, please invest in an SPF! You can thank me later 😉
What skincare products would you recommend for acne scarring?
This is a brilliant question! I am unsure whether this is pitted acne scarring or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the discolouration left behind by acne), but the advice is pretty similar regardless.
Firstly, well done on getting the acne cleared up! I know that can be a challenging process. I’d advise you look for products containing Glycolic or Salicylic Acid to help exfoliate the skin and brighten the complexion. These can be found in the form of cleansers, toners or serums. A retinol product would also be highly beneficial in conjunction with an SPF to encourage cell turnover and help to gently resurface the area.
Treatment wise, Micro Needling is truly wonderful for acne scarring! You can have this done by a qualified professional in an appointment, or you may be able to purchase a home use roller from them. Please do not try and buy these products from Amazon, EBay etc. you need to ensure they are safe for purpose! You can purchase pure titanium rollers through Aesthetics at Home.
Any good solutions for dark circles? (I drink loads of water!!)
Dark circles are a tricky one! Everyone is different and remedies that suit one, may not suit another. Dark circles can also be hereditary which makes them even more stubborn! Below I will list a few different options that you could potentially try at home….and well done on the water!!
Massage - It’s really important to eliminate toxins from the area and increase blood flow. When applying your eye product use your ring finger to conduct gentle sweeping motions from the inner to the outer corners. Little patting motions are also beneficial.
Cold Compress – If your eyes are particularly dark in the morning, cold teabags or slices of cucumber over the lids are not old wives tales! The caffeine in the tea can help reduce the darkness as can the antioxidants in cucumber. The cold will also help to constrict the blood vessels, which may result in a lessening of the dark circles.
Elevation – You may wish to try an extra pillow under your head whilst you sleep to lessen the pooling in the lower lid area. It goes without saying that 7-8 hours of sleep will also make a big difference!
Advanced Treatments – If you’re really concerned there are treatments such as laser therapy, skin peels or fillers that may provide impactful results. All of these should be considered with great care and discussed with a relevant professional before proceeding.
Ps. If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with a good concealer!!
Thank you so much to everyone who sent in their questions this week! If yours isn’t in today's blog please know I’ve taken notes on them all and endeavour to get them in future posts.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Amy x
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