KATY YOUNG, 39, Harper’s Bazaar beauty director
TELL US ABOUT YOUR SKIN… It’s 39 years old, combination and can be a bit tricky. I’m prone to flare-ups, but that’s not helped by trying so many different products as part of my job.
WHAT’S YOUR ROUTINE LIKE? By day it’s quick because I’d rather spend time doing my make-up. I’ll use an antioxidant serum, followed by SPF. My skin clogs up quite quickly, so I choose mineral SPFs over chemical ones. I’ll never rely on SPFs in foundation or moisturiser because they don’t give sufficient protection. At night I’ll double-cleanse and use an anti-ageing serum with vitamin A or peptides, or if I’m knackered I’ll only use oil and really massage it in.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BEST NEW DISCOVERY? I learnt about the Brazilian beauty philosophy a few years ago – they think about anti-ageing for the whole body. So now I do too. I always finish a skincare product, so even if I don’t like using something on my face I’ll apply it down my body instead, and I’ll try anti-ageing treatments on my legs and arms. I see beautifying as a 360 approach now, rather than just from the neck up.
HOW EXTREME WOULD YOU GO IN TERMS OF PROCEDURES? I think it’s my prerogative as a beauty director to never say never. It’s partly my job but, let’s be honest, it’s mostly vanity. I recently had a little bit of filler around my mouth but I’m still nervous about it. The beauty of using the right filler is that it fades away, so if you don’t like it, just don’t do it again.
WHAT’S THE BEST TIP YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN? Don’t touch your face – it spreads germs and you’ll end up subconsciously picking at your skin. Facialist Alex Soveral taught me that, and I’ve noticed a massive difference since I stopped – I play with my hair or my necklace instead now.
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW? Everyone asks if Crème De La Mer actually works. I like it but my skin doesn’t love it. It’s expensive so Nivea or Avène are great cheaper alternatives; both are very good hydrators and trap moisture in your skin perfectly well. HAVE YOU EVER GONE AGAINST ADVICE YOU WERE GIVEN FROM A PROFESSIONAL? Every time I have a facial, I’m told I use way too much fake tan, and therapists say they can see it clogging up my pores. I know it massively dries out my skin, but the confidence it gives me is definitely worth it. Tan expert James Harknett introduced me to Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser not long ago – it’s oil-free so it makes my tan last
longer and is really easy to use.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF? Suncare – first and foremost – is the way to save your skin.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RETINOLS? A lot of dermatologists have said they’re the thing to use to help improve the quality of skin, so I’m trying to get into them. They speed up the production of fresh skin cells, but they’re quite potent so you have to slowly increase the dose. I’ve always battled with the texture and appearance of my skin, and using them is helping. I noticed a difference within about two weeks – it’s smoother and more robust.