In the quest for better looking skin there are a thousand nuggets of advice to sift through. To get straight to the heart of the matter we quizzed three experts – Dr Barbara Sturm, the chemist turned beauty guru who runs a successful skin clinic and eponymous skincare line, Dr Gary Goldfaden, practising dermatologist and founder of Goldfaden MD, and Dr Harold Lancer, dermatologist to the stars in Beverly Hills and founder of The Lancer Method. Read on to discover their top advice on some of our most common skincare issues.
Preventing Fine Lines & Wrinkles
“My no. 1 tip is to avoid and reduce inflammation. We know that inflammation, triggered by many aggressors in daily life, is a key cause of premature ageing. Inflammatory processes are caused by environment – unprotected exposure to sun and pollutions, smoking and by diet – eating sugar, processed meats and flour, and excessive alcohol consumption,” says Dr Barbara Sturm.
If your system feels out of whack and your skin is showing signs of inflammation such as redness, dry patches, dullness and more fine lines than usual, we recommend Dr Barbara Sturm Calming Serum. The ultra-light formula helps to counteract the damaging effects of pollution, environmental aggressors and burning the candle at both ends, quickly reducing inflammation for happier, smoother skin.
Turn Back Time
“Ever wonder why a baby’s skin is so soft? It’s because babies’ skin cells naturally replace themselves every few days. As you grow older, however, the rate of skin cell turnover slows down, accentuating fine lines. By removing dead skin cells, exfoliation helps make up for the gradual slowing down of your natural skin renewal process, improving the tone and texture of your skin,” says Dr Goldfaden.
There are two ways to exfoliate. First up is manual, which works to remove dead skin cells with small abrasive particles; try the daily use Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Scrub. Chemical exfoliation utilises acids to quickly boost skin renewal for a fresh and glowing complexion. An intensive peel like Goldfaden MD Fresh-a-Peel contains fruit acids alongside lactic acid, apply once a week for 1-3 minutes to reveal smoother, glowing skin.
Dark Circles 101
“Dark eye circles are a common complaint and are caused by multiple different factors. Whether it’s a genetic issue, an environmentally induced issue, a lifestyle issue or an anatomy issue; these must be addressed. However, a triple-action eye treatment such as my Eye Contour Lifting Cream targets multiple eye area concerns for a brighter, more youthful appearance,” says Dr Lancer.
A daily dose of eye cream will help to improve the fragile skin underneath the eyes, which can often exacerbate the look of dark circles. We like Lancer Eye Contour Lifting Cream which contains time-released hyaluronic acid and shea butter help to target dehydration and plump out fine lines. A blend of peptides, caffeine and firming wing kelp will help get to the root of dark circles, while diamond powder helps to illuminate and disguise shadows.
Smaller Pores Please
“The older you get, the bigger your pores become due to the loss of skin collagen and elastin. Unfortunately pore size cannot be shrunk, however cleansing and exfoliation keeps bacteria, dirt and excess oil out of the pore and wards off acne. Hyaluronic acid helps to bind moisture to the skin and fill fine lines and wrinkles making pores appear smaller” says Dr Goldfaden.
For a plumping burst of hydration try Goldfaden MD Needle-less Line Smoothing Concentrate which is formulated with 100% pure hyaluronic acid to help plump up skin, smoothing away lines and visible pores. Congested pores can bulge and permanently stretch, to avoid this and help tighten pore structure, we suggest a weekly deep pore cleanse with Ren Invisible Pores Detox Mask which utilises French clay and lactic acid to dislodge and draw out impurities.
Solve Hormonal Breakouts
“Acne and breakouts are caused by the build-up of sebum in the pore, which if not exfoliated and cleansed can clog the pore. Different hormonal changes can cause acne; many women suffer from acne around their periods. The best defence is a healthy regular regimen and lifestyle. Always take off makeup before bed and exfoliate frequently. A pore clarifying mask is helpful, particularly if you feel an onset of a breakout” says Dr Goldfaden.
Follow Dr Goldfaden’s advice and always remove makeup before bed, try a gentle and easy to use cleansing water such as Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water. If you can tell when a breakout is about to hit, stop it in its tracks with Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask. Created with calming zinc oxide, antiseptic sulphur and purifying camphor, it’s ideal for oily skin and breakouts.
Follow A Routine
“My most prominent tip in preventing premature ageing is following a well thought out programme in skincare. Most people talk about sunscreen use, but I believe in morning and night use of a proper protocol of products, proper nutrition, exercise and stress relief” says Dr Lancer.
Find a regime that suits your skin and stick to it through party season, holidays, stressful times, and day to day you’ll see your skin respond. We love The Lancer Method which combines three products twice a day, starting with The Method: Polish which gently exfoliates. Next, apply The Method: Cleanse which balances the skin’s pH, follow with The Method: Nourish, an anti-ageing moisturiser that contains peptides, grape polyphenols and hyaluronic acid to smooth and hydrate.
