SOS: Save Our Skin

By: Ruth Kerrison
Created on 20th February 2012

Our panel of editors spans three defining decades in the ageing process. With very different skin concerns, we decided to consult the experts for some one-on-one skin advice...

Tester One: Ruth Kerrison

Skin concerns

I turned 27 last year, and having never really given much thought to my skin, recent events – moving house, a promotion at work and an upcoming wedding – have all played havoc with my complexion.

My biggest concern is the dark circles under my eyes, but I also feel that the overall quality of my skin has gone downhill – it looks dull and tired and is prone to spots, particularly on my forehead and chin.

Tester Two: Rachel Maher

Skin concerns

At age 44, I have very clear skin with good tone, but I have become more and more conscious of fine lines around the eyes and deepening smile lines. I have what is probably termed combination skin, in that I’m prone to dry cheeks but suffer from an oily T-zone.

I have experimented with a number of different ranges but have never found a skincare programme that delivers exactly what I want.

Ruth Kerrison: Medik8

The consultation

I went to see Diane Nivern at the Diane Nivern Clinic in Manchester. She was lovely, but I have to say I found the process of having my skin analysed by an expert quite unnerving – she certainly didn’t pull any punches!

I have a tendency to burn the candle at both ends and, as such, am quite bad at sticking to a skincare routine, which Diane thought was the root of my problem.

She told me I need to really focus on cleansing and exfoliation, as a lot of the dullness is caused by dead skin cells on the surface. She stressed that one of the most important things I could buy is a face cloth, as this will help to exfoliate while removing the last traces of cleanser.

She prescribed a number of products from the Medik8 range, which she said are a really good first step into the world of cosmeceuticals and perfect for someone in her twenties.

It definitely helped having a professional consultation, as Diane gave me really specific instructions on how to apply the products. Plus, now I’d be far too embarrassed to go back to see Diane if I hadn’t been following her skincare regime to the letter!

Put to the test

At first I was concerned that my night-time routine would be too time-consuming as I usually can’t wait to get to bed at that point – Diane wanted me to massage cleanser into my skin for two minutes before removing with a face cloth and applying a serum, moisturiser and eye cream.

In fact, it very quickly became habit. It has also had the added bonus of curbing my lifestyle, as I’m going to bed earlier to make sure I have time to pamper my skin beforehand.

In the morning I apply two serums – an anti-redness serum and an antioxidant – a moisturiser with SPF25 and the eye cream. I noticed an improvement in my skin tone within two weeks.

After four weeks, I had a practice wedding make-up session, and the beautician commented on the lack of circles under my eyes. Now, she might have just been being nice to calm my bridal nerves, but it certainly put a spring in my step!

I have now been following the routine for six weeks and have received several compliments on my skin. I still get the odd spot, but with three weeks to go before the wedding it’s a miracle I’m not covered in them, so overall I’m really pleased and will definitely be continuing to use the Medik8 range.

The products

CreamCleanse £19
Red Alert Serum £28
C-Tetra Serum £34
Hydr8 Day £49
Hydr8 Night £34
Pretox Eyelift £34

Rachel Maher: SkinCeuticals

The consultation

I saw Sarah Cox at Medizen who took a close look at my skin and then proposed the SkinCeuticals range.

The first thing she asked me was whether I understood about anti-oxidants and free radicals, as most people are not exactly sure what they are. This is especially important with antioxidants as it is important to understand that although they won’t have an immediate impact they are working long-term to improve your skin condition.

For my fine lines, Sarah recommended Retinol 0.5 to be used just twice a week as it can result in a little dryness. She also prescribed the eye balm rather than the eye cream and that is where I could see the importance of having a proper consultation – the eye balm says it is suitable for those with more mature skin so I wouldn’t have necessarily chosen it, but whereas the eye cream works well on dark circles and puffiness, it is the eye balm that really targets the lines.

I have always been hot on protecting my skin from the sun but finding the perfect product that can be worn under make-up can be tough. Sarah suggested the Ultimate Sun Defence – this is a specific facial sun cream so is non-greasy.

Put to the test

Initially, I was a little daunted with the number of individual products but the regime was relatively quick and easy to apply.

The wow product for me was the eye balm; within ten days it had made a dramatic impact on the fine lines around my eyes. I was also advised to use this on my ‘smile’ lines and they appear to have improved. Although expensive, you genuinely only need a tiny amount of it and I have a long way to go before it will run out.

The Hydrating B5 Gel is gorgeously cool to apply and gives your skin an instant moisture drench and, as this can be applied at any time throughout the day, I found this a real ‘handbag’ essential to give an instant boost to tired or dry skin.

The UVA 30 sun cream was an odd choice to apply after a normal moisturiser but again, despite being quite thick in appearance, the sun cream soaked in quickly and my skin felt very soft. I quickly burn in the sun so the true test was a day out in 75 degree heat and not a red patch in sight.

The SkinCeuticals range has been a delight to use and I have found the results have been clearly visible in a short period of time.

The products

Simply Clean £27
Advanced Sun Defense SFP 30 £25
C E Ferulic £124
Eye Balm £61
Skin Firming Cream £86
Retinol 0.5 £42
Hydrating B5 Gel £56