Hydrating Serums

Dear Alice, thanks again for an always fantastic information guide. I finally made of my mind and decided to have toxin, got an appointment and went to the consultation. It’s a great but.. a little voice inside is still a little nervous,...

Hi, that's completely understandable to be anxious ahead of trying any tweakment. Have you discussed these particular concerns with your practitioner? If you have, I hope they would have reassured you that they have enough skill and experience to place the toxin in just the right places so that it will soften your wrinkles without wiping them out, and without making your brows drop. Also, first time, it's good idea to ask for a really light dose, just enough to give you an idea of what the treatment can do. It won't last as long as a regular dose, but if for any reason you don't like the results, then you aren't stuck with it for so long....

I need help with wrinkles and eyes – I have sensitive skin.

If you have sensitive skin, the key thing is to keep it hydrated (with a gentle, un-fragranced hydrating serum and a moisturiser on top of that) and protected from UV light with an (un-fragranced) sunscreen, that will help get your skin feeling more comfortable. Taking lots of omega-3 supplements can really help with skin hydration, too. These are my current favourites....

I’m 38 and still get acne on my cheeks but skin also dry and sensitive skin, and I can see the ageing… I use ZO end to end but not sure it’s the answer, plus it’s very £££. I looked at your Acne Fixers Bundle but how do I also tackle...

Dry and sensitive skin suggests that your skin barrier isn't in great shape. Work on this by focussing on gentle, hydrating products – a hyaluronic acid serum, sealed in with a moisturiser and, in the morning, topped with sunscreen. Once your skin is feeling stronger and more comfortable, start using a product with retinol or another retinoid (start slowly, with tiny amounts and twice a week at first) to help with acne management. Taking lots of omega-3 supplements can really help with skin hydration and skin quality, too. These are my current favourites....

After following your guide I’m looking to book an appointment with Emma Deacon in Birmingham. I’m very nervous as it will be my first time having treatment. Can you advise which treatment works best on a crepey neck?

It's really daunting going for treatment but honestly, you'll be fine. I'd ask Emma once she's had a chance to have a look at your neck as she will know what might work best for you, and she may well suggest a few rounds of injectable moisturiser jabs. Read up about potential treatments for crepey necks and make a list of all the questions you want to ask before you go. In the meantime, use the same skincare on your neck as you do on your face, perhaps a vitamin C serum plus a hydrating serum or moisturiser in the mornings, with a retinoid at night, and make sure you're using SPF50 every day, from your hairline down your neck to your chest,...

What is the best treatment for the décolletage area, please? Creases are starting to appear.

Laser or radiofrequency microneedling would both be great choices, to refresh and remodel the skin – possibly followed by hydrating, skin-conditioning injectable moisturiser treatments. While you're deciding, and going forward, use the same skincare on your chest as you do on your face, perhaps a vitamin C serum plus a hydrating serum or moisturiser in the mornings, with a retinoid at night, and make sure you're using SPF50 every day, from your hairline down your neck to your chest....

Hope you can answer me, I have very dehydrated skin so am thinking of Profhilo injections. Some websites say that it is only suitable for the lower face and the forehead area won't be affected. Others say it will work for the entire face?

Hi, Profhilo and all the other injectable moisturisers are great for dry skin, and they work wherever they're injected – though if your skin is really dry, you may need more treatment than average in order to see results. The injection protocol that is taught for Profhilo only involves injections in the mid and lower face, but most expert practitioners now take a more creative approach and place the product where they feel it is most needed, which can include the forehead and the area beside the eyes. If your skin is really dry, it's also worth packing in the hydration in your skincare, with a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum and a...

Is it ok to use a face oil or other cream on top of retinol? Thank you.

Hi, yes, it absolutely is. Just let the retinol (or any other retinoid that you're using) sink in, then apply the cream or oil on top. The retinol will go about its work in your skin and the cream/ oil will keep your skin feeling comfortable, which is helpful if the retinol is making your skin feel a tad dry.

Good morning Alice, I have just discovered you and your fantastic website through Instagram! I was wondering what you think of Institute Esthederm SPF? It doesn’t tell you what protection it is. I can be sensitive since menopause. THANK YOU.

Hi, it's a great brand though, yes, it is really confusing because they describe their approach to sun protection in such a very different way to everyone else. Just pick one of the products that describes itself as High Protection or Very High Protection and you'll be fine. Also, if your skin is sensitive since menopause, that may be because it is drier, and the skin barrier isn't as good as it used to be, so give it a hand by using a hyaluronic acid serum after cleansing, then a moisturiser (preferably one with ceramides which are good at holding moisture in the skin and allowing it to rebuild that barrier) before you put your sunscreen on...

What is your recommendation for a face cream for dry skin?

If you want just one thing, I'd suggest the Profhilo moisturiser which is light but powerful. But I feel compelled to add that there's a good deal going on with dry skin. It's not holding onto moisture like it should, which means your skin barrier isn't in great shape. So... cleanse your face gently, with warm water rather than hot, so you don't strip any more moisture out of the skin. I love cleansing oils for drier skin. Then use a hyaluronic acid serum like the Medik8 Hydr8 B5, which will help your skin hang onto moisture. Seal that in with a moisturiser like the Profhilo one. And when all that has settled, add sunscreen on top, as the...

I’m breastfeeding, but I have crepey skin on my neck that just seems to be getting worse. What tweakments would you recommend?

Stick with good skincare for the time being (vitamin C serum in the morning, plus hydrating serum or moisturiser, plus sunscreen) then try, with caution, a glycolic acid product like Alpha H Liquid Gold in the evenings once or twice a week (it's great on your face, too. Neck skin is always a bit more sensitive than the skin on our faces, which is why I say try it with caution). Once you're no longer breastfeeding, treatments like laser, broadband light and injectable moisturiser/ skinbooster treatments are great for the neck, but leave those for the time being. And also go easy on yourself, it's exhausting looking after a baby, and fatigue...

What are the best skin products for sebaceous hyperplasia? I am 48 years old. I have taken care of my skin since early 20’s with cleansing, acids, moisturising and then Vitamin C, nicinamide and Retinol 1%. But hyperplasia is difficult to treat.

You're right, sebaceous hyperplasia, where you get lots of little bumps under the skin where oil has become trapped, is an absolute pain. I have lots of them on my face and when I went to see a dermatologist about this recently, he told me that they become more common with age, and to get rid of existing ones you need to tackle them directly with lasers. To reduce the rate at which they're forming, he suggested sticking to skincare that would clean, hydrate and regenerate the skin without adding any extra oil, so that's a glycolic or vitamin-C based wash-off cleanser, an L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serum in the mornings, plus a hyaluronic acid...

Buying from your website post-Brexit – I live in France... will I be charged import taxes?

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