Note to self
As Caci celebrates a quarter century, five women share their skincare wisdom with their 25-year-old selves.
You live and you learn. The lesson is simple, but begs pondering. If you could go back and do things over with the knowledge you hold now, what, if anything, would you change?
In an industry evolving at lightning speed, staying at the forefront of development and innovation in the field of appearance medicine and skincare is a respectable feat. So doing it for a quarter of a century is a true testament to getting the mix right.
As Caci marks 25 years of giving New Zealand women confidence in their skin, we asked five fierce females what skincare advice they would go back and share with their 25-year-old selves.
EVIE KEMP, ARTIST Don’t be embarrassed of your skin or that you haven’t known how to look after it. Asking for help and committing to proper skincare will make all the difference. Regular facials and treatments help to keep you accountable to a good regime, and having an expert assess the products you use is super important as your skin changes. As for products, no quick fixes, but please discover the magic that is glycolic acid, and a really good facial sunscreen – stop pretending you’re ever going to tan and start looking after yourself.
Slow and steady sounds frustrating and clichéd, but it’s true, and so worth it. When the girl who felt self-conscious in her red, sore, dry, irritated and sensitive skin can become a woman happy in strong, even, smooth and comfortable skin, there isn’t a foundation in the world that can replicate that glow. You deserve this. You got this!
MEGAN BEDFORD, BEAUTY EDITOR
Stop spending all your money on makeup, and start spending some of it on skincare instead – it’ll prove more useful in the long run! You spend so many hours looking for the perfect concealer or foundation, when taking more dedicated care of your skin will mean you can embrace going without those holy grail products when you want to. Extend your cleanse, tone and moisturise to a useful serum and a hydrating eye cream. Smile more in photos. Invent micellar water and make millions – it won’t be on the market for another few years!
MEL HOMER,
RADIO AND TELEVISION PRESENTER
Just like the song says, wear sunscreen! The 25-year-old me was generally pretty good at the “slip, slop, slap”, but I wish I’d been a lot more vigilant with my face. Sun damage is insidious, and at the time getting a little glow on my face made me feel healthy (but that’s what bronzers are for, right?).
Moisturise! Just because your skin is oily, 25-year-old Mel, you still need to moisturise.
Invest in good-quality products and start the good skincare habits early. I was more interested in buying tequila than skincare at 25. Now I use mostly Murad products and my skin is possibly the best it has ever been.
Love and take care of what you’ve got right now, because right now, at this very moment, you are peak you. JACKIE SMITH,
CACI FOUNDER
Having healthy skin is all about a steady and regular skincare regime. Keep it simple and easy to commit to, like cleaning your teeth. If you have to choose, it is far better to follow a consistent, simple regime with sunscreen every single day, than an intermittent but elaborate skincare regime. If you have specific issues, team this up with professional advice and add in problemsolving products when you can.
Healthy skin is a fundamental desire across all cultures and skin types. At Caci, we see a lot of customers (even from their late 20s) who have pigmentation, lines and wrinkles and dull skin due to sun damage. Most people are looking for instant results, but the answer is really in being consistent about sun protection over a lifetime.
LINDA SHARREM, CACI NATIONAL SKINCARE TRAINER When you’re younger, you always look at older people and think, “I’m never going to age like that!” But then you do! It all comes down to what we’re consistently doing for our skin at a younger age. One of the most important things in a skincare regime is antioxidants. Vitamin C and vitamin A not only prevent free-radical damage but help the skin maintain a strong structure, thereby slowing the ageing process. Also using an eye cream early and regularly helps to manage how your eye area looks over your lifetime.
“Most people are looking for instant results, but the answer is really in being consistent about sun protection over a lifetime.”