How to age less
WE ALL WANT TO LOOK YOUTHFUL, BUT WHY HAVE SURGERY WHEN SOFTER OPTIONS CAN BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE – AND MUCH CHEAPER? DR AAMER KHAN AND SKIN CARE SPECIALIST LESLEY REYNOLDS ARGUE IT OUT IN THE PAGES OF BEST...
Botox or banana face mask? Skin peel or sunscreen foundation? Harley Street’s finest, husband-and-wife team Lesley and Aamer, battle it out on these pages over what you really need to spend when it comes to beating the January beauty blues…
HOW CAN I BRIGHTEN MY DULL SKIN? I KNOW IT’S JANUARY BUT, AFTER THE CHRISTMAS EXCESS AND THANKS TO THE COLD, I LOOK TIRED AND BLOTCHY. Fran, London DR AAMER SAYS:
Peel away dull skin. Old-style chemical peels left skin red and sore for days, before it flaked off to reveal newer skin. Who has the time for that? Yet peels are a great way to soften fine lines and help reinvigorate the skin. The latest gentle peels work their magic with minimal surface disruption. A glycolic acid peel reveals smoother, brighter skin without any downtime. You’ll need a course of four to six peels, a fortnight apart, for glowing skin, then a top-up once a month. From £60.
LESLEY SAYS:
Keeping moisturiser in the fridge will help reduce skin redness, as it’s soothing and calming. Try Eucerin AtoControl Acute Care Cream, £14, which is packed with omega fatty acids and is ideal for dry, tight and rough skin. It calms irritation and helps to rebuild barrier function, stopping irritants and allergens from causing itching and redness.
Also, make sure your foundation is not too pale and has a luminous glow. Try Gosh Foundation Drops, £10.39. Its ultra-light texture gives skin a flawless finish.
And watch your diet, cutting out alcohol and including lots of fresh fruit and veg – they’re rich in antioxidants.
I SUFFER FROM ADULT ACNE AND IT’S LEAVING SCARS. CAN YOU HELP? Valerie, Lincoln DR AAMER SAYS:
Try laser treatments. A course of these can dramatically improve skin tone and texture and fade acne scars. The new SmartXide DOT Laser is a Co2 laser that targets small areas from a wand-like device that’s passed over the skin. The DOT technology is quick and precise and can treat the whole face in less than 30 minutes.
High laser energy damages the outer layers of the epidermis. This flakes away as the skin heals, leaving skin firmer and smoother. Have three to five treatments, six weeks apart, for best results. For acne scars, fat transfer or filler can smooth out the dents.
LESLEY SAYS:
Pay attention to your daily routine to help reboot your complexion. Never cleanse with harsh soaps that will dry out your skin. Since your skin is likely to be drier than it once was, over-washing can remove the oils that keep it supple. For milder breakouts, topical medications like retinoids – derived from vitamin A – can significantly improve the skin. You’ll need a prescription to get it, or try a high-street version like La Roche-Posay Redermic Anti-Wrinkle Treatment, £29.50. Used at night, it will help to increase cell turnover for a clearer skin tone. Other good ingredients to treat mild cases include glycolic
acid, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, so look out for them on the ingredients list. A daily multivitamin with vitamin C will help to heal scars and improve skin health generally.
An omega-3 fish oil supplement can also help balance skin’s oil production. Avoid anything that contains lanolin, mineral oil or petroleum, and don’t use pressed powders or liquid foundation, because most contain oil. Mineral make-up is a great option – it’s anti-inflammatory and acts as a concealer, foundation, powder and sunscreen all in one.