Welcome to The Aesthetics Edit™ - our educational platform at the intersection of art, beauty, medicine and science.
Explore by category and read our latest articles below,
or see a full list of all of our pieces here
What is Happening with the EU’s New “Ban” on Retinol?
You might have seen it all over the media recently - the EU is apparently banning retinol?! What is going on?
Well don't panic - retinol isn't disappearing completely! Instead, there are new rules that are going to regulate its percentages in cosmetic, over-the-counter products - and this does not apply to the use of these vitamin A derivatives (prescription retinoids) by healthcare professionals.
So let’s explore what’s happening.
How Do Skincare Ingredients Penetrate into Your Skin?
Attention all skincare enthusiasts! It's time to find out what really goes on with those creams, serums, and lotions that we slather onto our faces every day. Did you know that not all skincare ingredients can penetrate your skin? And that that you don’t always want them to?
Let’s do a little dive into the science behind your skincare.
Teenagers and Skincare
Tweens and teenagers are diving headfirst into the skincare scene. They’re flocking to beauty counters with their enthusiasm for elaborate 10-step routines once reserved for adults. But behind the glossy facade of 'Sephora kids' and their viral TikTok skincare sagas lies a problem.
What are Exosomes?
You might have heard buzz around the new vehicle taking the aesthetics and regenerative medicine world by storm. Exosomes are being touted as the “next big thing.” But what exactly are they, and what do we know about how they work?
Highlights from Asian Skincare: Part II
I’ve written before that Asian skincare brands are often neglected in most clinics in the UK, despite the fact that there is a growing appetite and interest for their unique products and formulations amongst the general public. I wanted to share some of most beloved and popular skincare ingredients from Asia, as well as take a quick look at what we know about the science behind them.
Who knows - these might be up-and-coming and trending ingredients over the next few years!
Bakuchiol: Really as Good as a Retinol?
Skincare is always about the “next big thing,” and sometimes you have to be careful that there is actually evidence behind the hype.
A trending skincare ingredient that continues to get a lot of buzz and is touted as an equivalent to retinoids is bakuchiol, a plant-derived ingredient that causes less irritation and is safe in pregnancy.
But is it actually as good as a retinoid, or are we dealing with more of a marketing claim than a scientific one?
Why You Should Not Use An Over-The-Counter Retinol
When it comes to skincare I fully acknowledge there is a lot of nonsense out there. “Medical-grade” is a marketing term not a regulated one. If you’re going to buy sunscreen I would rather you buy a broad-spectrum 50 plus SPF over the counter so that you apply it properly (i.e. you slather it on and you are not stingy with it because it cost you £70!) There are great cleansers out there with brands like CeraVe that don’t mean you need to break the bank.
So where should you spend your money?
If you are going to invest in decent skincare - and trust me it is worth investing in - please do so with your active skincare ingredients. And today I am going to focus on the most important skincare ingredient of all - your retinoids. And why you do NOT want to buy these over the counter. You need to get these from a skincare clinician or medical professional.
What is a Retinoid Sandwich?
Want to know one of my number one skincare tips as an aesthetic doctor?
It has to be the retinoid sandwich.
Whenever I discuss this with patients I’m always shocked that they’ve never heard of it before - even if they’ve been skincare aficionados for years!
So what is the retinoid sandwich?
Let’s find out.
Skin Cycling 101
I am usually the first person to tell you to ignore a TikTok skincare trend - after all, influencers do not equal skincare clinicians or cosmetic chemists! However, there is one trend that is currently taking the app by storm - and best of all it originated with a dermatologist!
The trend is called “skin cycling.” And here is everything you need to know.
The Importance of Skincare
We all know how much I love skincare, but did you know that you should take your skincare all the way down to your neck and decollatage?
Check out this incredible photograph to understand why!
This shows the cheek and neck of a 92-year-old lady who used UV-protection on her face but not her neck for over 40 years.
Trending: What is New in the World of Skincare
Skincare is the bedrock of aesthetic medicine - but it is also a field that is filled with conflicting information from influencers, cosmetic chemists, and dermatologists. I have fallen in love with skincare, but I also recognise there’s a constant desire to chase the latest trend. There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to know what’s new and exciting in the skincare world, and to that end I wanted to touch on the hottest current trends in skin.
Highlights from Asian Skincare
I’ve written before that Asian skincare brands are often neglected in most clinics in the UK, despite the fact that there is a growing appetite and interest for their unique products and formulations amongst the general public. I wanted to share some of most beloved and popular skincare ingredients from Asia, as well as take a quick look at what we know about the science behind them.
Who knows - these might be up-and-coming and trending ingredients over the next few years!
Summer Skin: Some Things You Probably Don’t Hear about Enough
There are some things about summer skin I wish I’d always known, and this goes beyond skincare tips (which of course I’ll include).
But I also want to cover heat rashes (I ALWAYS seem so sensitive to this - but…is it really a heat rash?) and sun protection BEYOND SPF. Also, why are childhood sunburns just so dangerous?
Let’s jump in.
Hypochlorous Acid: Skincare’s Secret Weapon
What is all the buzz around hypochlorous acid?
Find out about this great skincare ingredient - how it's a powerhouse at killing microbes and reducing skin inflammation, all while being extreme gentle and soothing for your skin!
We've known about it for a century, it's something our own white blood cells make to protect our bodies, and it's only in recent years some clever chemists have been able to synthesise the chemical and make it stable enough to use in skincare.
Why There is No Science (and No Safety) Behind Clean Beauty
I know! How could anyone dislike “clean beauty?”
On the surface, the concept sounds great, doesn’t it? Finding products that are safe for you and your family. But the bottom line is it is actually all a load of nonsense.
Let’s find out why there is no science (or safety) behind clean beauty.
The concept of “Instagram face” is not a new one, but has received more recent attention as Meta has banned filters that encourage plastic surgery. Awareness of the role that social media and photo editing plays in aesthetic medicine is incredibly important for both clinicians and patients. The influence of social media can be incredibly negative, and it means it’s more important than ever to navigate between good, ethical medical practice versus “selling” cosmetic procedures.