Our top 10 tips for healthy skin

The end of the year is nearly upon us, and Christmas is around the corner. So, whether you’re partying with friends and family or staying at home, we have complied a list of our 10 skincare Do’s and Don’ts, so you can ensure that you’re taking care of your skin this winter.

Please remember that we also offer in-depth skincare consultations here at the Tanja Phillips Medical Aesthetic Clinic, so, if you’re interested in any of the pointers or products mentioned in our blog, please do book a consultation with our team today.

Do:

• Regularly clean your make up brushes and sponges. Dirt and bacteria can quickly build up on your make up tools and transfer onto the skin, leading to blemishes. We recommend a thorough wash of brushes and applicators at least once a week, using a gentle antibacterial soap or professional brush cleaner.

• Remove make up thoroughly before bedtime. Nobody wants to wake up to clogged pores and blemishes… or a stained pillowcase! Double cleansing is essential and will ensure the effective removal of make-up, dirt, and excess oil.
• Use SPF every day. We recommend the use of broad spectrum SPF50 sun protection every day. Not only will it keep you sun safe, but is your best defence against premature skin ageing. Heliocare 360 Oil free gel SPF50 is our favourite!

• Follow a good skincare routine. Simple but essential. If you are unsure of what products are right for you or how to build your regime, seek advice from a skincare specialist. Dr Tanja Phillips Medical Aesthetic Clinic offer free skincare consultations face to face or over the phone.

• Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water. A healthy diet containing essential vitamins and minerals will enhance your complexion from the inside out and drinking plenty of water will keep the skin looking and feeling hydrated. To further enhance your skin health, why not try a liquid collagen supplement such as Skinade?

Don’t

• Forget to exfoliate. Regular exfoliation not only helps to remove excess oil and dead skin cells from the skin surface, it also stimulates skin cell regeneration. Leaving your skin looking and feeling clean, clear and youthful! We recommend exfoliating at least twice a week after cleaning.
  

• Pick or squeeze your skin. As tempting as it can be, picking at dry, peeling skin or squeezing spots can lead to skin sensitivity, infection and scarring. Instead, seek advice from a skincare specialist who can recommend effective corrective products for your skin concerns.

• Apply heavy/rich moisturisers. Many of the more widely available, high street moisturisers can actually have a detrimental effect on our skin by blocking pores and only treating the top layer of skin (the epidermis), without delivering hydration to where its actually needed. Seems like a bit of a waste of time and money right? Clinical grade skin care such as ZO Skin Health penetrates down in to the dermis, enriching the skin and delivering essential moisture effectively. Take a look at their Hydrating Creme. We love it!

• Use body or hair products on the face. Toothpaste on spots, body lotions and shampoo on the face. No, no, no! Products are specifically designed to treat different parts of the body and the skin on our faces can be particularly delicate. Using a harsh cleansing shampoo or a rich buttery body moisturiser on your face could cause irritation, flaking, peeling or blemishes.

• Smoke. Cigarettes contain thousands of different chemicals which have a huge impact on a person’s overall health. Many of these chemicals can trigger the destruction of collagen and elastin in the skin, resulting in deep lines, wrinkles and loss of skin laxity. Vascular problems, as a side effect of smoking, can also have an impact on blood flow, reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the skin cells. This will also contribute towards premature skin ageing. To find out more about the side effects of smoking, click here.

If you have any questions about points raised in this blog or would like to book in for a free skin care consultation at our Hampshire clinic, please contact us here.