In pre-Covid times, your average evening out with the girls would have set you back around £70, and a few nights on the tiles every month and suddenly you were spending almost £1,700 a year on cocktails and dancing. Oh, and don’t forget the £303 a year you would typically spend on takeaway coffee. While this may very well have been money well spent, whilst we are living in lockdown, this is also money – and time – well saved.

So, let’s be smart about how this spare time and extra money is used – how about in our skincare routine?

Hectic schedules have typically meant our skincare routine has been a bit more slap dash than we wanted it to be. No judgement here – we’re all guilty of reaching for a face wipe to quickly remove make-up after a long day rather than the three, four, five, six step routine we should be indulging our skin in.

What’s more, the extra money we are saving from the halt to our commutes, midday coffees and eating out with friends could be the investment fund we need to discover true skin confidence.

Now we have a bit of extra time and spare cash on our hands, Dr Shaaira Nasir, consultant dermatologist for sk:n clinics, shares her skin saviours and investment recommendations to help you combat wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and tired eyes to help us reap the benefits of an investment that will 100% pay off.

Fine lines and wrinkles

Wrinkles – we all get them, they are an unavoidable part of the ageing process (unless you have never moved a muscle in your face, that is). Wrinkles and fine lines exist because whenever we move our face or neck, our muscles contract, and this repetition sets grooves into the skin.

As we age, we naturally produce less elastin, collagen and hyaluronic acid, meaning the skin is more susceptible to damage and it loses its natural firmness, making wrinkles and fine lines more prominent. Wrinkles are often a sign of a life lived well, but they can make some of us feel self-conscious – and the good news is, there is plenty that can be done!

SKIN SAVIOURS

• Retinol is generally regarded to be the most effective anti-ageing ingredient, and the Medik8 Retinol 3-10TR+ Intense™ (£33 for 15ml) is a fast-absorbing anti-ageing serum that tackles fine lines, wrinkles and dullness, while being gentle on the skin.0.3% retinol is the ideal starter product if you haven’t used this ingredient on your skin before and want to test it out.

Buy Medik8 Retinol 3-10TR+ Intense

• For a product that plumps and smooths, try The Organic Pharmacy Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£30 for 30ml), which is clinically proven to increase the skins moisture levels, leaving it soft and smooth, and with visibly reduced lines and wrinkles. It features 0.2% hyaluronic acid to boost the skins natural protective barrier and lock in moisture for longer.

Buy The Organic Pharmacy Hyaluronic Acid Serum (30ml)

 

SKIN INVESTMENTS

• Profhilo®

This is a cutting edge anti-injectable hydration treatment which contains high levels of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring compound which helps to improve the texture and elasticity in the skin. It can be administered at the top of the cheeks, sided of the face, area around the mouth, nasolabial folds and laughter lines as well as around the neck, chest and decolletage.

It is highly versatile and can treat a range of concerns, leaving your skin looking plumped and fresher with a lovely glow. A single treatment starts at £350.

More on Profhilo®…

• Microneedling

If you aren’t keen on injectable treatments, then microneedling could be more your thing; it involves using small needles to cause tiny punctures to the skin which stimulates the healing process.

As the skin repairs, the production of collagen and elastin is triggered and your skin almost immediately looks and feels invigorated and plump, smoothing out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Treatment starts at £150.

More on Microneedling…

The finances

Based on a saving of £2,000 a year, you could afford to invest in a course of Profhilo® and some lovely new skincare products to keep your skin looking and feeling fresh and at its best.

Hyperpigmentation

Described as blotches that are darker than your natural skin colour, hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun exposure, genetics, hormonal changes such as pregnancy and trauma to the skin, such as a burn or the result of picking spots.

This discolouration occurs because when your skin is damaged or unhealthy, it produces extra melanin, which is your natural pigment, to protect it. Our faces are most at risk of hyperpigmentation due to sun exposure which explains why we are more likely to experience these blotches as we age.

SKIN SAVIOURS

• The SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector (£95 for 30ml) is a gentle but effective cream that addresses discolouration, improves skin tone and enhances luminosity. Salicylic Acid exfoliates and removes dead skin whilst other powerful ingredients target stubborn patches of hyperpigmentation whilst preventing recurrence and restoring radiance.

Buy SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector (30ml)

• Another product that targets skin discolouration is The Organic Pharmacy Skin Stabilised Vitamin C Serum (£45 for 30ml). Packed with a concentrated dose of 15% Vitamin C, this serum brightens and hydrates the skin to improve uneven skin tone and counter pigmentation. It also helps to boost collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Buy The Organic Pharmacy Skin Stabilised Vitamin C Serum (30ml)

SKIN INVESTMENTS

• CO2RE laser resurfacing

This is often referred to as ablative laser treatment and uses targeted laser energy to remove a few millimetres of the top layer of the skin to reveal the new youthful skin underneath. It encourages the natural healing process whilst stimulating the production of collagen for fresher, more youthful looking skin.

In many cases, one treatment is all that is needed to rejuvenate the skin and reduce the visibility of hyperpigmentation. Three full face treatments are currently available from £770.

More on CO2RE Laser Resurfacing…

• Skin Peels

If you don’t feel quite ready for laser treatment, then skin peels are a good place to start as the benefits are vast. They harness the power of naturally occurring acids to exfoliate and brighten the skin, as well as stimulate new cell growth and target patches of hyperpigmentation.

There are a variety of different types of skin peels, and a sk:n dermatologist can advise on the right one for you. A course of three glycolic peels starts from £53 per treatment.

More on Skin Peels…

The finances

Based on a saving of £2,000 a year, you could afford to invest in a course of CO2Re with three skin peels to keep the skin in tip top condition, as well as some new skincare products.

Tired eyes

Our eyes are often the first place to show the signs of ageing. Crow’s feet and laughter lines, sagging skin around the eyelids and dark circles under the eyes, tired eyes can present themselves in many ways.

Generally, lines, wrinkles and dark circles (which are in fact hyperpigmentation) around the eyes are caused by years of frequent muscle contractions from lots of laughter, intense concentration and squinting from the sun as well as environmental factors such as sun exposure, pollution and cigarette smoke.

Combined with the fact that as we age, we naturally produce less collagen and elastin (which are responsible for the skins plumpness and elasticity), it means that the skin around the eyes can start to look tired, regardless of how much sleep you are getting.

SKIN SAVIOURS

• Ideal for more mature skin, SkinCeuticals Eye Balm (£75 for 14ml) is a rich, hydrating cream that is enriched with Vitamin E, Silymarin and Aloe Vera and reduces the appearance of puffiness. It targets age-related damage around the eye and helps to keep skin hydrated and looking firm.

Buy SkinCeuticals Eye Balm (14ml)

• Another excellent anti-ageing option is Medik8 C-Tetra® Eye (£35 for 30ml) which is a gentle yet powerful serum formulated to smooth fine lines and wrinkles specifically around the eye area to make the skin appear fresh and rejuvenated.

Buy Medik8 C-Tetra® Eye (30ml)

SKIN INVESTMENTS

• Tear-trough filler

Dark circles under the eyes can sometimes be due to loss of volume under the eyes and this can be corrected by under-eye filler also known as tear-trough filler.

This will plump up the area under the eye by reducing the shadow effect caused by hollowness, and will reduce the appearance of fine lines under the eyes making the eye area look more hydrated. The treatment lasts up to 18 months and costs around £390.

More on Tear-trough fillers…

• Anti-ageing injectables

Anti-ageing injectables are particularly good at addressing wrinkles caused by repetitive facial movements, such as laughter, and can be administered around the eye by a trained professional to leave you with more youthful looking skin. A single treatment starts at £210.

More on Anti-ageing injectables…

The finances

Based on a saving of £2,000 a year, you could afford to invest in a series of anti-injectables to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy, supported by a range of skincare products.

Dr. Shaaira Nasir says…

I often tell my clients: ‘Invest in your skin, it’s going to represent you for a long time.’ Our skin is the largest organ to act as a barrier against infection and dehydration, and not looking after it properly can make our bodies more susceptible to infection and increase the complications of ageing.

Some people may think that a long-winded skincare routine is too high-maintenance or skincare products are only possible with lots of disposable income.

However, with a bit of research and some guidance from an expert dermatologist, investing in effective products that take care of your skin will not only deliver impactful results, but save you money and protect your long-term health as your skin will be nourished with ‘good for you’ ingredients that simultaneously prevents long-term damage.

Need help?

If you’re looking for a tailored skincare regimen and product recommendations, book a video consultation online or in clinic with one of our consultant dermatologists to find a solution that is right for you. A doctor or nurse will determine if treatment can be started at this time.