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So many of these products, even cosmeceutical ones, were more likely to compromise the skin barrier, cause inflammation and potentially trigger discolourations, rather than deliver the skin miracle they were promising.
I kept finding that skin care products containing questionable ingredients were being sold to customers without a second thought. Many aestheticians and dermatologists were more interested in what would earn them the most revenue rather than what would deliver results without compromising the long-term health of their clients’ skin. So few of them focused on the science behind the ingredients in the formulations or independently sought out clinical research, instead relying on the marketing information provided by the brands themselves.
I lost faith in the advice I was being given by well-meaning aestheticians and the recommendations of dermatologists, who kept trying to sell me inappropriate products and super expensive treatments that would have damaged my very sensitive skin.
I decided to undertake study in integrative health and dermatology and threw myself into endless hours of searching medical and dermatological databases and reading published articles. I was struck by the lack of real science that sat behind so many skin care products and concerned by the number of potentially harmful ingredients.
I was determined to improve each of my skin concerns without any clinical interventions. I set about finding the best skin care routine and products for my skin. I hunted down products from around the world and religiously applied them, to find my holy grails. Over the course of two years, I tackled my sensitivity, redness, dehydration and hyperpigmentation. To my great surprise, I was also able to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes, even though I was not really expecting much. My elevens are less visible and my stubborn naso-labial lines look better too. And no Botox in sight.
I also made a breakthrough with my keratosis pilaris and finally achieved smoother skin. I finally stopped getting those welt-like breakouts I would get from using those overly heavy urea creams recommended by dermatologists. For the first time in my life, the ‘chicken skin’ curse was finally behind me.
My experiments with hyperpigmentation and finding ingredients that work as well as Hydroquinone continue. Trust me when I say I tried dozens of products, with ingredients such as AHAs, Arbutin, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Vitamin C, Liquorice Extract, Glutathione, Tranexamic Acid and Retinol.
So here I am, wanting to share what I’ve learnt along the way so you are better informed and can find the real ‘promise keepers’ out there. In this way, I hope you’ll get to enjoy the products you use more and not needlessly blow money on products that don’t deliver.
Make sure you visit our Skin Intelligence pages to find out about how to create your skin care routine and find the best products for your skin type. You may also like to visit my Blog pages where I regularly post articles on topics I get asked most about.
If you would like more indepth information on tackling your skin concerns and get a customised skin care plan, visit our Skin Care Packages page.
