KIM PARKER, 35, Red executive fashion and beauty director
WHAT SORT OF SKIN DO YOU HAVE?
Classic combination. My cheeks are dry and sensitive, but my T-zone is still really oily – even now.
HOW DO YOUR DAY AND NIGHT ROUTINES DIFFER? Not much, unless something in my lifestyle changes. Daily, I use a cream cleanser with a flannel and I always tone. I know opinion is divided but I need something to put the moisture back into my skin – I avoid anything with alcohol in because it’s drying. Then I’ll use a good antioxidant serum. It’s the same sort of thing before bed. I don’t use heavy creams at night because the skin’s job is to repair itself and you’ve got to let it do that without being suffocated.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU LOOK FOR IN SERUMS? Vitamins C, E and A. Mostly C, because it helps keep skin healthy and it’s good to have an extra layer of protection, aside from sunscreen. It’s also good for all skin types and ages and I like that it helps protect against pollution.
DO YOU EVER EXFOLIATE?
A bit – the key is to go gently and not overdo it as it can encourage oil production. When I do I avoid anything too harsh, like walnut shells because they’re like jagged bits of glass. Something super-fine like Dermalogica Microfoliant isn’t a scrub but gently removes dead skin. WHAT ABOUT USING FACE MASKS? If my skin’s breaking out, I’ll multi-mask; I’ll dot Eve Lom Rescue Mask onto the congested areas. It smells bad, like the end of the world, but is actually really good at drawing out and killing bacteria. I love a serum mask too, and anything with hyaluronic acid to hydrate my skin.
WHAT’S THE BEST TIP YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN? Facialist Anastasia Achilleos taught me to massage products in properly. And to give skin a proper cleanse – nothing works on a bad surface. When I cleanse, I apply to the centre of my face and massage the product outwards, especially on my forehead, nose and chin. Learning to layer has been useful too. The basic rule is to start with the most water-like texture and build up to the thickest cream.
DO YOU HAVE TREATMENTS REGULARLY? Not as regularly as I should. Treatments with a good facialist can be quite expensive, but are a great reboot once or twice a year. Even if you go to a local salon and get to know the therapist, they can give you a facial and feedback.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY PROCEDURES? No, and I haven’t felt tempted. The one advantage of oily skin is that it’s fairly resilient, so I don’t have any lines to worry about yet. I’ve tried laser, had an acid peel and I tried microdermabrasion. My skin felt soft for a few days afterwards, but in future I’ll stick to facials.
WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS TEACH YOU ABOUT SKINCARE? My mother, who’s Chinese, was strict about SPF when we were kids. The Chinese take suncare seriously, so she drilled it into me that applying every day, whatever the weather, was important. I’m sure I don’t have as much sun damage as I would otherwise, thanks to my mum. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR TEENAGE SELF? Leave spots alone. Keep using sunscreen. Learn about retinols – they can help with wrinkles. Be nicer to yourself and your skin will take care of itself. Use make-up to enhance what you’ve got, don’t hide it. ◆