The rise and rise of bespoke beauty
ARE you baffled when it comes to buying new skincare? If so, you’re not alone. According to a recent study, more than half of women feel overwhelmed by the vast choice of beauty products available and threequarters use the wrong products for their skin.
So it’s no surprise that big beauty brands are now realising that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work and are instead developing personalised skincare solutions.
This customised approach is a big hit with Victoria Beckham, who recently revealed she was using face cream made using cells taken from her own blood.
The cream, made by skincare specialist Dr Barbara Sturm, is rumoured to have a £1,200 price tag but bespoke beauty doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Here’s our guide to the skincare and beauty brands that will help you find your perfect match.
SKINCARE TO SUIT YOU Clinique ID Moisturisers, £36 (clinique.co.uk)
This personal moisturiser range targets common skin concerns. First you pick your base from a moisturising lotion, hydrating jelly or oil-control gel, then you add a cartridge containing active ingredients to treat everything from sensitivity and fatigue to lines and wrinkles. Kiehls Apothecary Preparations, from £30 (kiehls.co.uk) Your specific skin needs are discussed with a Kiehls skincare expert, then the Skin Strengthening Concentrate is combined with your choice of two facial complexes to target your skin concerns.
Insitu, from £26 (insitu.com)
After filling in a detailed online questionnaire to find out your skin concerns, natural active ingredients are used to create a bespoke product based on your profile. The brand offers eye and body care as well
as skincare. Definitely a must in your skincare routine, a weekly mask can tackle most skin concerns while giving the complexion a serious moisture boost.
Filorga’s new ultra-smoothing black Time-Filler Sheet Mask, £10 (debenhams.com) is based on the brand’s best-selling cream that promises to soften the appearance of wrinkles in two minutes. Rich in active ingredients and natural collagen, it promises to lift and smooth the skin.
CUSTOMISED COSMETICS Cover FX Custom Cover Drops, £36 (cultbeauty. co.uk)
How it works:
Specially designed to be added to your favourite oil, serum, moisturiser or primer, these clever foundation drops come in 25 shades and mean you can customise everything to achieve a bespoke finish and exactly the level of coverage you desire. Simply mix a few drops into skincare and apply like a foundation.
Eyeko Bespoke Mascara, £30 (eyeko. co.uk)
Wave goodbye to clumpy lashes
with this ingenious mascara. After answering an online questionnaire about your lashes and what you want from a mascara, a customised formula and brush combination is made just for you.
Boots No7 Match Made, available at No7 counters (boots.com)
This colour consultation uses a clever handheld device to read your skin and find the perfect match in everything from foundation to blusher.
AT THE CLINIC The DNA Facial
Recent studies suggest our genetics account for 50 to 60 per cent of ageing, so by taking a DNA test you can find out what your skin’s strengths and weaknesses are. Once you’re aware of what your genes might have in store, you can take care of your skin more effectively by ditching creams that don’t work for you in favour of products and ingredients that target your specific skin concerns.
After undergoing a DNA skin test, the revolutionary DNA facial uses specific products and ingredients determined by your DNA-analysis that not only target your skin’s genetic make-up but also help treat your skin’s concerns.
Costs from £250. For more information call 0207 436 4441.
THE VIT DRIP
It’s the latest celebrity obsession – the quick-fix vitamin jab designed to increase energy levels, combat stress or give your immune system a boost if you’ve been feeling under the weather.
What happens: During the half-hour treatment, a cocktail of vitamins and minerals is prescribed for your needs. In our clinic, the most popular Vit Drip includes a dose of vitamin C to boost the immune system and B12 for energy. This is mixed with a saline solution and slowly infused into the bloodstream through an intravenous drip. Is it safe? As with any injection, there is always a chance of infection so always go to a reputable clinic. Don’t forget, a balanced diet is best for maintaining normal levels of vitamins and you should always tell the clinic about any existing medical conditions or prescription medications before undergoing therapy. Cost: From £200