Wirral Life April 2020 | Page 66

W L SPRING SKINCARE PRODUCTS WITH DR SALLY ANN DOLAN I wrote this article excited at the prospect of spring and the brighter days ahead, but little did I know we were heading towards the worldwide crisis caused by the Coronavirus. I really was unsure whether we should go ahead with this article as it seemed such an insignificant issue when you consider the grand scale of problems that now face us. However, I am sure there are many of you who will still thoroughly enjoy reading this magazine, especially as many of us have more time on our hands! I do appreciate that not everyone is sitting at home as all of our NHS workers, those on the frontline, service workers and people working from home are working endless hours to keep our country safe; It is for the reason I have left this article in place. It is with sadness that we temporarily closed the doors to our clinics, but in the meantime both Ian and I have offered our services back to the NHS to help tackle the Coronavirus outbreak. We will be open for business ‘as usual’ once this nightmare is over and we will once again welcome you into our clinics. After months of harsh weather our skin is in dire need of a beauty revamp. The question is which products should we be using, and which should we be avoiding. To help you decide what to shop for in the coming months, here are my top tips for updating your skin care routine to get that glow back. EXFOLIATING SCRUB Winter weather does not exactly show off glowing skin but as spring arrives it is much easier to achieve that radiant look. During the winter months too much exfoliation can strip moisture from the skin leaving it looking irritated and dry. However, now is the time to use a gentle exfoliating scrub which will leave your skin looking smooth and radiant. For this reason I advise using SDS Glow; our formula is designed for use twice weekly and will leave your skin looking younger, smoother with a radiant glow. SDS Glow, contains Glycolic acid 5%, Natural Quartz mineral and Vitamin E for extra clean skin. It can be used on all skin types including sensitive and acne prone skin. MOISTURISING AND HYDRATING In winter our skin drinks up the hydration from thick moisturisers and face creams. In the spring and summer our skin naturally produces more oil and retains moisture better than in the colder months, so swapping to something a little lighter is ideal. A product rich in Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is recommended. HA is a powerful skincare ingredient that can help retain moisture and attract water. SDS Hydrate contains 15% HA, use this on a twice daily basis. REPAIR THE SKIN CELLS It’s time to fight with what we were born with. Support the skins own protection and repair mechanism to counteract the signs of ageing with SDS H2∞ moisturiser. Focused on optimising cell renewal and preserving the skin barrier from environmental agents, its anti-inflammatory and reparative 66 wirrallife.com properties soothe irritation caused by cold weather. It also facilitates the repair of damaged cells and has superior skin healing capabilities. SDS H2∞ moisturiser contains growth factors for a youthful appearance. ADD IN ANTI-OXIDANTS Whilst anti-oxidants are helpful all year round, they are particularly important during the summer when stronger UV rays can damage unprotected skin. Not only can too much sun lead to direct DNA damage, but also breaks down collagen and elastin due to ultraviolet induced free radicals. Free radicals, highly destructive molecules in the environment, can wreak havoc on your skin. Apply an anti-oxidant serum after cleansing your face and underneath sun screens, as this can help strengthen your skin barrier to make it less susceptible to these environmental factors. Try our maximum strength SDS C20 for anti-oxidant protection and to aid in skin repair. CUT DOWN ON RETINOL The fountain of youth potion that promises to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, strengthen the skin barrier and even out your skin tone is safe to use all year round but can make your skin more sun sensitive. This hyper sensitivity has to do with the way the retinol works on your skin. Retinol boosts cell turnover, which means it eliminates dead skin cells and replaces it with new ones. These new cells are more sensitive and prone to burning from the sun’s rays. You can still use retinol during the spring and summer months but just apply this at bed time and consider reducing the percentage of retinol. For this reason we offer a lower 0.5% retinol product in our SDS Recover night cream. INCREASE PROTECTION FROM THE SUN Along with the warmer weather comes longer days with more frequent and more intense sunshine. While every dermatologist and doctor will tell you the importance of wearing sunscreen all year round, they agree that it is even more important during the spring and summer as not only do we spend more time outside but the UVA and UVB rays can be more intense and over time can cause significant damage and accelerate photo ageing, hyper pigmentation and wrinkles. Using an SPF20 minimum, as in our SDS Protect 20 or SPF50 ideally in our SDS Protect 50, can reduce the accumulation of chronic UV damage that it linked to non-melanoma skin concern and ageing. There are many products out there that are presented as a sure-fire way to turn back the clock, permanently rid your skin of wrinkles, give you youthful skin, and more. Pay attention and do your research to decide whether a product is really necessary. If in doubt, book a free skin analysis consultation and let us guide you on the products most suitable for your skins needs. Although clinics are temporarily closed, we would not want any of our clients who are on treatment products to go without. We are offering a limited service where you can call or text us on 07423 196 200 or email on [email protected], and we can discuss your needs and help in any way we can.