|#SKINSHELFIE
The consultant dermatologist on every beauty editor’s speed dial reveals the beauty picks she swears by
A peek inside dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall’s bathroom cabinet
A TYPICAL DAY:
The make-up of my mornings depends on whether my two children are at school, since they both board on weekdays. Mondays begin frantically, but the other days start in a much calmer way. I’ll start my day by taking a Symprove probiotic supplement. After a shower, I’ll grab a cup of tea, walk the dog and listen to a podcast, such as Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail. Breakfast is a fruit smoothie and a poached egg on toast. This keeps me going at work if lunch is pushed back by a busy clinic. I finish at 6pm and then it’s home for supper. I’ve been trying to do some HIIT in the evenings, but, if pushed for time, it’s a quick dog walk followed by a bath. My ideal evening involves listening to Gregory Porter, a glass of wine in hand, cooking my children’s favourite dinner: crab and prawn linguine with chillies, lemon and lots of fresh coriander. I’m in bed by 10pm.
SKINCARE PHILOSOPHY: Cleansing is the backbone of a good skincare routine. In my early twenties, I always had dry, irritated skin that no moisturiser could assuage. Only after coming across a gentle cleanser years later did I realised my skin issues arose from the foaming cleanser I’d been using. I was suddenly no longer reliant on moisturising four times a day.
SKINCARE NON-NEGOTIABLE: A highfactor, broad-spectrum SPF. After 20 years as a dermatologist, looking at the stark contrast of the skin on my patients’ faces compared with their (normally covered) backs, I realised how much of what we consider to be normal ageing is actually a consequence of UV exposure.
MAIN SKINCARE CONCERN: I have super sensitive skin. This has actually been incredibly helpful to me as a dermatologist, as I’ve learned that, quite often, you sensitise your skin with the products you use. The right combination of cleansers and moisturisers can make even the most sensitive skin feel robust.