skin

There’s no denying that night creams are one of the more expensive skincare products out there. Some can even set you back over £100, which some people might deem a worthy investment, and others might freak out at the number. One thing’s for certain, though: A night cream is an important beauty product. “A night cream hydrates the skin,” explains board-certified dermatologist Elyse Love, MD, who practices at GlamDerm in New York City. “Nighttime moisturizers are important because we typically use drying ingredients, like retinols, at night. Night creams help restore the skin’s balance so that these active ingredients don’t dry out the skin.” So, yes, a night cream is an essential skincare step for most, but that doesn’t m...

C.O. Bigelow is a New York-based pharmaceutical institution. And when I said institution, I mean it in the sense that it has essentially become a New York landmark. Having existed in Greenwich Village since 1838, the apothecary-pharmacy is one of beauty’s biggest success stories. Stocking various brands across skincare, fragrance and body care, the store also produces its own line of products, and they’re available to buy here in the UK. While the brand’s products are by no means budget, they are slightly more affordable than my go-to Aesop buys. While an Aesop hand wash might set me back circa £30, my favourite C.O. Bigelow hand wash costs £16. However, despite the pricing differences, C.O. Bigelow products really do possess every bit as much of luxury and...

Most people associate breakouts with oily skin but actually dry skin can be acne-prone, too. Don’t be tempted to skip out on moisturising just because you’ve had a breakout, however. Remember that hydrated skin is healthy skin and healthy skin is better able to defend against acne-causing bacteria, as well as faster at healing breakouts and pigmentation. The key, of course, is in choosing the right products and ingredients. “If you’re experiencing dryness and breakouts, avoiding products with comedogenic (pore clogging) oils such as coconut and avocado oil is very important,” says Hughes. “My favourite face oil to help replenish lack of moisture without causing breakouts is rosehip seed oil since you can layer it under moisturiser in the evening.” In addition, choose non-drying spot treatm...

“External factors contribute to the development of fine lines and wrinkles, with UV damage from the sun’s rays being the biggest contributor to overall skin ageing. Around 80% of skin-ageing is thought to be due to UV damage,” says Thompson. So not only is it important to protect your skin from the sun (more on that below), but quitting smoking or vaping can also help. “Smoking (including vaping) can also have a big effect on accelerating the ageing process. Smokers will usually develop deep vertical lines on the skin above the upper lip—what we call smoker’s lines,” he adds. Granite agrees, “Cigarette and vape smoke create free radicals, which damage skin elastin and collagen, accelerating skin ageing.” Plus, the act of pursing your lips&nbs...

Black culture has informed and inspired the beauty space for decades—a fact that we need to celebrate, credit and sustain. Now and forever. That’s why supporting the Black community and Black-owned businesses is important, not just right now during Black History Month, but always. There is a need and an opportunity to supply this kind of support, love and commitment every single day, and right now, we’ll be doing this by shining a light on some of the brilliant Black-owned skincare, hair and makeup brands that we swear by.  We acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done. As we’ve communicated before, it’s about continuing to rise above (not simply to) the occasion and make actionable steps with deep indentati...

If there’s one thing I have learned in my job as a London-based beauty editor, it’s that our approach to skincare here in the UK is wildly different to elsewhere in Europe. Take, for example, in France, where dermatologists are in abundance and skincare is science-led, affordable, and easily accessible. In fact, the French approach to skincare is renowned for being the gold standard, and this is something that, up until very recently, I have always agreed with. But a few weeks ago, I found myself visiting Stockholm for the first time, and I genuinely couldn’t believe what I saw. It’s no exaggeration when I say that everyone I saw had some of the healthiest and glowiest skin I had ever seen. Women and men alike were radiating t...

But my journalistic instinct got the better of me, and I needed to know more. The truth is, I’ve found Stella McCartney’s impact on the fashion industry admirable—her environmental standpoint has really helped shine a light on unsustainable practices and set a precedent for the rest of the industry. So, I thought, if Stella McCartney could make a difference to the world of fashion, what’s to say she can’t do the same for the beauty industry? As it turns out, Stella by Stella McCartney skincare is a feat, and I’m genuinely happy about its existence. First of all, let’s touch on sustainability. It feels needless to say that the line is vegan and cruelty-free (of course), but beyond that, the collection has also put a ban on over 2000 ingredients ...

This drop in oestrogen levels is the main cause for skin changes from the offset of perimenopause (the time at which periods begin to become irregular). “Collagen levels start to decline more quickly as oestrogen levels drop, meaning that skin can start to feel less firm and wrinkles can deepen. The biggest changes are arguably to the top layers of the skin though, including to the skin barrier. Changes here will have a bigger impact on skin’s resilience, radiance and how healthy the skin looks and feels. We know from our scientific research that declining oestrogen levels reduce the amount of lipids in the skin barrier for example, which play a role in keeping skin supple, nourished and the skin barrier strong,” adds Dr Bradley.  In essence, this means that throughout the...

Is Botox worth it? After my treatment with Acquilla, I would most definitely say that my Botox treatment was worth it. My results are subtle (which was what I was after), but I feel that I look more refreshed and the lines around my forehead and eyes have lessened. Close friends of mine could notice a subtle difference too. As my brows have been lifted upwards, I’m no longer raising them subconsciously and causing the forehead lines. My outer eyelid area is now smoother, which means I can more easily apply eye makeup such as winged eyeliner (which used to crease), and it now stays put for longer. It’s also reassuring knowing that the effects will wear away after a few months if I wanted to revert to my natural state. It has now been three months since my treatment, and I’...

A good cleanser might be the foundation of any successful skincare routine, but finding the right moisturiser can take your skin to the next level. While celebrities might have access to the very best facials and skincare experts in the business, there’s no doubt that most of the A-list have seriously good skin, and a lot of that will be down to the moisturiser they slather on daily. Although there are celebrity exceptions (Emma Stone reportedly loves olive oil, while Pixi Geldof swears by argan oil), a little bit of digging proved that basically all our favourite celebrities were loyal to one moisturiser. Ranging from £13 to £350, there’s a whole mix of price points and skincare solutions here, but keep scrolling for the very best moisturisers that the likes of ...

As soon as you hit your twenties, it’s constantly drilled into us that prevention is key. As we age, our skin develops and your skincare needs will also change and while not a bad thing, it’s always a good idea to stay on top of things, because you know your future self will be thanking you later. Anti-ageing is a huge buzzword in the beauty industry, but what does it actually mean? Anti-ageing skincare refers to skincare that specifically targets the signs of ageing, from fine lines to reduction in collagen levels. It can be overwhelming, with so much information and the rise of social media skin experts, how do we know what’s the correct way to go about skincare routines in our twenties? Do you really start using retinol in your twenties? What does an anti-ageing skincare look...

Skincare can be a challenging category to navigate. Even as a beauty editor, I get overwhelmed trying to figure out what skincare products actually work and which premium beauty brands are really worth the money. There has never been so much choice when it comes to shopping for skincare. And while this can be a great thing, it can also make choosing—and finding—products that work for your own skin type and concerns quite tricky. Scrolling through social media, you’ll often find influencers and beauty lovers raving about their favourite skincare products and brands. While we love a word-of-mouth recommendation, what works for one person might not necessarily work for you. And as a result, you might accumulate products that end up gathering dust that are not suited for y...