7 Things you can do to transform your skin in 2024

Making the decision to level up your skincare in 2024 is the 1st step on your journey, so congratulations if you are reading this blog! I started my journey in September 2021 when I introduced a brand of medical grade skincare into my clinic. Allskin Med contains active ingredients which are scientifically proven to make a difference to your skin. Allskin was the 1st brand of active skincare I had used and boy did I notice a difference after just two weeks of using the products. I saw changes, not only in how my skin looked but how it felt. Skincare quickly became my new obsession! If you have never used medical grade skincare, I urge you to invest in your skin and give it a try. Your future self and skin will thank you!

I have put together a guide containing 7 steps to help you transform your skin this year.

STEP 1 ADDRESS YOUR SKIN CONCERNS

What changes or improvements would you like to see in your skin? Thankfully in this day and age most skin concerns/conditions can be treated. If you’re not sure how to identify what your skin needs have a professional skin analysis. Complete the skin assessment at the bottom of this blog and I will give you my personalised skincare recommendations. A skin analysis is usually included as part of a facial treatment.

Having a skin analysis during a facial treatment is another option. It’s beneficial as the skin is cleansed to remove any make up making it easier for your facialist to inspect your skin underneath a magnifier. A deep cleansing facial is always a great way to start as it removes impurities and congestion from the skin. After the analysis the facial can be tailored to your skin’s requirements and products can be recommended to help you embark on a journey of healthy glowing skin.

STEP 2 COMMIT TO FOLLOWING AN ACTIVE SKINCARE ROUTINE

When it comes to taking care of your skin being consistent is key. Just the same as going to the gym, you see changes over time not overnight. You want to create a routine that fits in with your lifestyle otherwise you may be setting yourself up to fail. The beauty of a skincare routine is you can design it yourself. If you lead a busy lifestyle and don’t have much time to invest in taking care of your skin then keep it simple! Cleanse and SPF during the day and cleanse and moisturise in the evening. Yes this is a pretty basic routine and you’re not going to see big changes in your skin but it’s a start. This is also a great start for someone who isn’t currently following a skincare routine as it takes just a few minutes each morning and night. If you can introduce a new ritual into your day for 30 days straight it becomes a habit. Set yourself the target of following a basic routine for 30 days. If you can stick to it then introduce another product such as a serum to target a specific skin concern or an eye cream, exfoliant or even ‘at home’ skin tightening devices. Always opt for medical grade skincare as they contain a much higher amount of active ingredients than what you can buy on the high street.

STEP 3 INVEST IN PRODUCTS THAT WORK

Products that look good, smell great and feel good aren’t necessarily going to make a difference to your skin, however active ingredients will. Some examples of active ingredients are Vitamin C, Retinol, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic acid, just to name a few. These ingredients have become buzz words in the skincare industry in recent years with many cosmetic (high street) brands advertising that their products contain these ingredients, however small the amount. Always opt for medical grade skincare as they contain a much higher amount of active ingredients. A good indication of the quantity of the ingredient is the price. If the price is low so will be the concentration of active ingredients. In most cases with high street brands you’re paying for the brand name, not the ingredients.

STEP 4 BOOK MONTHLY FACIALS

Facials are essentially boosters for your skin. Having facials will make a difference to your skin, However they are designed to enhance the results of your home regime. You can maximise and maintain your facial results by continuing to treat your skin at home. If you follow your routine morning and night you can treat your skin 60 x a month at home! This paired with monthly facials will seriously boost your results and get you on your way to better skin faster! I like to book facials which consist of elements that I can’t do myself at home. My favourite facial is by Allskin Med, it’s called the Vitamin Energiser. I love it as it guarantees that Glow! Included is a double cleanse, exfoliation, skin peel, microneedling with vitamin C infusion, Retinol mask, lymphatic facial massage and LED Light therapy.

STEP 5 INVEST IN A MULTI PROTECTION SPF

A good SPF is one of the best products you can invest in for your skin this year. A good SPF is one that protects against UVA and UVB light. My favourite brand is Heliocare. Not only do their SPFs protect from UVA/UVB they also protect from visible light and infrared-A. They contain a magic ingredient called Fernblock® which can only be found in their products. Fernblock® is an anti-Oxidant that has been shown to multiply the skin’s resistance to sunburn. Fernblock® technology protects our skin cells and increases collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin, fundamental components to maintain its structure. This prevents wrinkle formation and loss of firmness. It also helps reduce the intensity and size of sun spots and improves skin resistance to pigmentation. All of the SPFs also contain additional anti-oxidants, vitamin C & E plus green tea extract.

STEP 6 TRY AN ADVANCED SKIN TREATMENT

Advanced skin treatments use chemicals or devices to significantly make changes to your skin. Here are some examples:

• Micro-needling – Stimulates collagen production by creating a superficial ‘injury’ to the skin. Ideal for those wanting to reduce fine lines & wrinkles & scaring
• Microdermabrasion –  A cosmetic procedure that uses fine crystals and a vacuum to remove dead skin cells to reduce fine lines & wrinkles
• Plasma pen blemish removal – The plasma device can be used to remove skin tags, pigmentation, moles, milia & age spots instantly
• Radio frequency – Stimulates the production of collagen, elastin and new skin cells to temporarily firm and lift sagging skin.
• Chemical peel – Chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers to reveal smoother, brighter looking skin.
• Dermaplaning – Removes unwanted facial hair ‘peach fuzz’ as well as dead skin cells. Your skin will look brighter and make up application will be a dream!

Advanced treatments are offered in clinics, however some brands have at home devices and peels.

• NEWA – At home radio frequency device NEWA Machine – Glamour Beauty Clinic Store (fresha.com)
• Dermaroller – At home micro-needling device Dermaroller & Hyaluronic Serum – Glamour Beauty Clinic Store (fresha.com)
• Foreo – Microdermabrasion device FOREO Sweden | KIWI™ derma | Microdermabrasion device
• Hydropeptides – At home skin peel Hydro Peptide Polish & Pump Peel – Glamour Beauty Clinic Store (fresha.com)

STEP 7 REVIEW YOUR DIET

Skincare helps us to treat our skin from the outside but there are other factors such as hormonal imbalance and nutrition that can affect how our skin behaves. These two go hand in hand as eating the correct foods can help to balance your hormones. Following a nutritional diet, rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals is key.

What foods help with hormonal balance?

• Cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, broccoli sprouts, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, and bok choy are all known as cruciferous vegetables
• Avocados
• Salmon and tuna
• High-fiber carbs such as chickpeas, lentils & butternut squash
• Citrus fruits & exotic fruits such as mango & papaya
• Probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics can be found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt. Prebiotics can be found in Bananas, flax seeds and Asparagus.

Foods to avoid:

• Processed foods – Anything that is not in its natural state or has more than one ingredient
• Sugar & sweets
• Trans fats such as foods fried in grapeseed and soybean oil
• Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, pastries. Basically most things that are beige.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog! If you would like some free product & treatment recommendations from me please click on the link below to complete a quick five minute skin assessment. Also please feel free to leave comments if you have any questions or enquiries.