In a bid to tackle her dry, sensitive skin, senior shopping writer Faith gathered some expert advice on exactly where she was going wrong, and got some very surprising tips
The winter weather is known for causing even the most hydrated skin to become dry, tight and sensitive. But for someone like me, whose skin is already dry, it can be a disaster.
As we head into spring I’m determined to tackle my dehydrated complexion once and for all, which is why I headed to the Sk:n Clinic to get some expert advice and try out the HydraFacial .
The HydraFacial is designed to give you the “brightest, clearest skin of your life”, and combines extractions, hydration and LED therapy to help leave your skin looking younger and more radiant. While I was there I also chatted to the expert to get some tips on how I can keep my skin improving – and her advice really shocked me.
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What is a HydraFacial?
The HydraFacial has six different steps which include lymphatic drainage, exfoliation, hydration and LED therapy. Each step works with the others to help remove dead skin cells, drain away puffiness, brighten up your complexion and leave it glowing and hydrated.
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Step 1 – Detox. A specially formulated lymphatic drainage technique helps increase circulation, eliminating toxins.
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Step 2 – Cleansing and exfoliation. Dead skin cells and impurities are gently lifted for a deep-cleansing result.
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Step 3 – Brightening. A gentle glycolic and salicylic solution helps loosen debris from your pores, brightening your skin.
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Step 4 – Extraction. Blackheads and impurities in congested areas are extracted using honey extract and salicylic acid.
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Step 5 – Hydration. A combination of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and peptides replenish, plump and hydrate your skin.
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Step 6 – Rejuvenation. LED light is used to stimulate collagen and also reduces redness, leaving your skin glowing.
The expert’s advice
I was most apprehensive about the exfoliation and brightening steps, which used a gentle glycolic and salicylic solution, as I was convinced my sensitive skin was going to have a mini meltdown from the acids. However, not only did the glycolic and salicylic solution not sting or burn, but my practitioner actually informed me that avoiding them was one of the main reasons my skin was staying so dry and dull.
According to the expert, by avoiding using acid exfoliators what I was doing was leaving too many dry and dead skin cells on the surface of my skin. This actually made it much harder for my skincare products to permeate them and meant that no matter how much hyaluronic acid and moisturiser I put on my face, it was having a hard time actually reaching the lower levels of my skin.
Her advice? Incorporate a gentle acid exfoliator once a week into my routine to make sure I’m leaving new, healthy skin cells at the surface.
Best gentle acid exfoliators to shop
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution – £6.10
NIP+FAB Exfoliate Glycolic Scrub Fix – £11.05 (was £12.95)
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner – £29.75 (was £35)
The results
The entire process was so relaxing and luxurious, I would have felt it was worth the money even without the immediate results. However when I checked out my skin afterwards I was absolutely blown away by how different my skin looked.
Before it had looked dry, dull and my fine lines had been quite pronounced, especially around my eyes. However now it was quite literally glowing. The hydration levels in my skin were amazing, and my skin looked plumper and fuller without any of its previous puffiness.
The only downside was that my skin was very red afterwards. This is completely normal, and simply a byproduct of the combination of deep exfoliation, extraction, lymphatic drainage and LED light therapy.
This does mean you probably couldn’t go straight from your facial to the office or lunch, but the redness did disappear within about two hours. It is also a little pricey, with the platinum HydraFacial costing £169 for a single treatment.
You can choose from several options, however, including a more affordable Signature HydraFacial, which is priced at £135. You can also save money by booking in for a course of them, rather than a one off.