ELITE SKIN CLINIC’S TIPS AND TRICKS Dr. Muneeza Ashraf is a dentist and founder of Elite Skin Clinic, Cobham and Harley Street (www.eliteskinclinic.co.uk). Specialising in facial aesthetics and skincare treatments, Muneeza says, “As a medical aesthetic practitioner, I understand the importance of a well-planned beauty regimen. Here’s how to prepare in the months leading up to your wedding and ensure radiant skin on the big day.” 12 months before – now’s the time to work on your skincare routine, your pores, hydration and collagen. It will allow your aesthetician a chance to present you with plenty of options to target different concerns; as well as spread the cost of your treatment. 6 months before – at this stage, grab retinols and tretinoins, as they are a great way to address issues like acne or hyperpigmentation. This can be complemented with skin peels to resurface your skin and facials to improve circulation and cell turnover. 3 months before – a great time to reassess your skin and check if the routine is working well. If you are wishing for glowing skin, then this is the time to add skin boosters such as Profhilo or NCTF (injectable hyaluronic acid) into your plan. 1 month before – this is the time to get your anti-wrinkle injections done! Not only to help get every crease ironed out, but also to benefit from the glow it provides. Finish off the skin boosters and carry on with your facials, bi-weekly or monthly depending on budget. 2 weeks before - keep up your routine, have your last facial and stay hydrated. This is a good time to stop retinols if you are not acne prone, as it can cause flakiness. If you are acne prone then do not change your routine as it can lead to breakouts. If you are looking for glass skin, this is a great time to have your mesotox to keep you glowing for your big day and your honeymoon. 1 week before - if you have previously had a surface skin peel like the Obagi Blue Radiance Skin Peel, then this is a good time to have one redone. The key at this point is to stay hydrated and well moisturised. Ensure as well as your face you are looking after your neck, decolletage and hands. The big day! - keep your skin as light as possible, cleanse (and tone) and make sure to use a tinted SPF under your make-up. Do not use any new products – today is not the day for a reaction. MY TOP TIPS 1. Maintain your collagen – use ice globes morning and night if possible, prior to skincare, to maintain your collagen. 2. Buff your lips – use an old toothbrush, in circular motions, to gently buff your lips and get rid of dead and dry skin cells a few times a week. 3. Make sure to work on your neck, decolletage and hands, not just your face. THE SKIN TYPES Looking after each skin type can take varying levels of effort; however, the one-piece advice applicable to everyone is use sun protection even if it’s cloudy day in winter, wear SPF to protect your skin from aging and other nasties. Now, if you’ve been lucky enough to be graced with a ’normal’ skin type then all you need to do is maintain it. Reach for a non-foaming cleanser followed by a vitamin C serum and a light moisturiser. If you’ve got dry skin, then incorporating and protecting moisture is at the forefront of your skincare routine. Stick to hydrating cleansers, alcohol-free toners, hydrating serums and nourishing moisturisers. Pair this with a caffeine-free diet and avoid aggressive exfoliants and you should be good to go. Oily/combination skin is the most common skin type and perhaps the hardest to maintain. Not only does it create problems with layering make-up, but it can also impact the longevity of it. You’ll want to increase daily cleans to morning and evening, followed by an alcohol-free toner, a serum to hydrate and protect, and finished all with SPF. You don’t want to strip the skin of moisture to combat the oily part, as this simply sends your skin into overdrive. It will produce extra moisture to help replace the stuff lost, so take it easy! You may want to get to know face masks a bit more if you have this skin type. You don’t have to stick to one facemask on your whole face – you could have a detox one on your T-zone and a hydrating one on the rest. There’s no rule book so make up a combination that caters to your skin’s needs. For our sensitive skin readers out there, I’m sure you’re no stranger to an unscented product. Skin sensitivity can be very frustrating, especially when you are trying to bring some life back to your skin. To get you started on your skincare regime, you’ll want to grab an unscented gentle cleanser. This can then be followed by a light serum with no harsh chemicals – hyaluronic is typically a safe one. After that, grab an unscented moisturiser and finally, finish with SPF! To keep sensitive skin happy, it’s a good idea to try some emollients such as shea butter and squalane – these are brilliant for holding in moisture and ceramides. Skincare is the base that any wedding day make-up will be applied to, so it’s vital that we start looking after it. Ideally, you want to start your skincare journey as soon as possible to give your skin time to get used to its new level of TLC. But how can we look after our skin? Typically, your skin will fall into one of the four main skin types: normal, dry, oily/ combination, or sensitive. I’ve gathered some info on how to cater to these specific skin needs – combined with amazing advice from Surrey’s Elite Skin Clinic, you’ll soon be on the road to glowing skin. 66
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=