A beauty therapist answers common skincare questions
Between beauty blogs, makeup vloggers, and the growing acceptance of skincare routines as a form of self-care, there’s never been a better time to be a beauty enthusiast. But in spite of all the media about makeup and beauty, it can sometimes be difficult to find reliable information and get all the answers to your beauty questions.
This is particularly the case for skincare, which is a complex topic that varies greatly between individuals. To help set the story straight on which skincare products to use and treatments to consider, we recently sat down with one of our very own expert beauty therapists. Read on for their answers to some of the most common skincare questions.
Q: What is the best skincare for acne prone skin?
A: All too often, people think that skincare for oily, acne prone skin should be as strong as possible and focus on stripping away oil from the surface of the skin. In fact, the opposite is true: If you have acne prone skin, it’s important to nourish your skin and help it heal and restore itself.
For everyday products, Skinstitut and Clearskincare clinics produce some of the best affordable skincare for acne prone skin. On the other end of the scale, high-end brands like ASAP and Dermalogica can also give great results for many people.
Q: When should I exfoliate?
A: It’s the question every beauty enthusiast has asked themselves: How often should you exfoliate your face? While there isn’t a hard and fast rule, generally if you have normal skin, exfoliating 2 or 3 times a week is good. However, if you have dry skin 1-2 times a week is advisable, and if you have oily skin 3-4 times a week will give the best results.
Q: What is fraxel laser skin treatment?
A: Fraxel laser treatment is an advanced skin resurfacing treatment that causes ‘controlled damage’ to the skin surface, causing it to rejuvenate itself. Once the skin has healed, it has a healthy, renewed look and the radiant, smooth surface texture that many people covet. This laser skin treatment is delivered through the surface of the skin using a specialised prong or skin penetration device.
Q: How do I develop a skincare routine?
A: Whether you’re a beauty junkie or are new to skincare, if you’re wondering how to develop a skincare routine, the first step is always the same: Get to know your skin. Identify your skin type (normal, dry, oily, or combination), then work with your beauty therapist to set out the right skincare routine for you.
As a starting point, most beauty professionals will work out any underlying concerns that may be causing your skin issues, for example hormone imbalances, poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or digestion problems. They will also help you identify main concerns and concentrate on ingredients that target these, such as glycolic acid for oily, open pores or Vitamin C to fight premature ageing.
The exact products in your resulting skincare routine may vary, but a good routine usually contains the following steps:
- Cleanse in the morning and at night
- Use a toner if your skin needs it
- Apply serum/s that include Vitamin B, C, or E as recommended by your beauty professional
- Moisturise
- Use an exfoliating scrub or peel once a week, depending on your age and skin type
- Use a home roller once a week to increase absorption of any serums, or use with toner for oily, open pores
Q: What’s your best beauty advice?
A: When it comes to beauty, prevention is always better than a cure. Look after your skin now, rather than later, and your skin and your wallet (quality beauty treatments don’t come cheap!) will appreciate it in the long run. Proactive skin treatments like chemical peels and skin resurfacing are a great way to do this, and will increase cell turnover and help repair sun damage and fight the signs of premature ageing.
Q: What’s the best beauty treatment for acne scars?
A: There are many ways to treat acne scars, all of which can be combined to achieve the best possible results. These include:
- Skin needling
- Fraxel laser treatment
- Micro needling
- Regular exfoliation and use of a home roller
- Use of a Vitamin A cream with between 0.25 and 2% concentration
- Chemical peels
Q: What’s the best moisturiser for dry skin?
A: There are many good moisturisers for dry skin on the market, and it’s important to decide which is best for you based on the ingredients list. In my experience, the best hydrating ingredients for dry skin care are:
- Coco shea butter
- Kojic acid
- Vitamin A
- Palpamite
It’s time to put our beauty expert advice to use
With its many acronyms and different fields of specialised knowledge, entering the world of beauty and skincare can feel daunting at first. But with a little research and experience, you’ll soon discover that it’s a rewarding interest to have – and potentially an exciting career path!
If you find that you have a passion for beauty and want to turn this into a career, our Diploma of Beauty Therapy can help you achieve this. Learn more about our beauty courses and enrol today!
