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The Aesthetics Edit

Welcome to The Aesthetics Edit™ - our educational platform at the intersection of art, beauty, medicine and science.


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Latest articles

Highlights from Asian Skincare: Part II
Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

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!

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Face Yoga: Complete and Utter Nonsense?
Lifestyle Medicine Dr Emmaline Ashley Lifestyle Medicine Dr Emmaline Ashley

Face Yoga: Complete and Utter Nonsense?

love yoga as much as the next person. Yoga was a huge part of my life and what kept me feeling healthy and well as a medical student, and I have tried to keep it as part of my daily routine (with varying success) when I became a doctor.


However, there is one “yoga” trend that I cannot get behind. And that is face yoga. Let’s be clear, there are no rigorous, scientific studies to verify the claims that these sorts of face workouts are effective at eliminating wrinkles.

But let’s dive a little deeper into this practice.

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Bakuchiol: Really as Good as a Retinol?
Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

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?

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Highlights from Asian Skincare
Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

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!

Read More
Summer Skin: Some Things You Probably Don’t Hear about Enough
Skin Concerns, Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skin Concerns, Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

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.

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Hypochlorous Acid: Skincare’s Secret Weapon
Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

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.

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Minerals & Skin: An Essential Guide
Skin Biology, Lifestyle Medicine, Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skin Biology, Lifestyle Medicine, Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

Minerals & Skin: An Essential Guide

“Mineral” is a word that is often used when discussing various substances in our diets, but actually getting to the bottom of what we are talking about can be quite confusing!

As more and more research emphasises that a well-balanced diet has a great effect on skin health and skin ageing, more interest is turning to the role that diet plays in skin.

In this article we will summarise the roles of minerals for our skin health, and explain where you can find these minerals in your food!

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What’s the Problem with Parabens and Other Preservatives?
Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

What’s the Problem with Parabens and Other Preservatives?

Parabens have managed to get an (unfairly) bad reputation for themselves in the last decade, with companies bending over backwards to declare their products “paraben-free.” It’s very hard, when you are constantly bombarded with that statement, to not feel as if there might be a reason to avoid parabens. But I’m going to explain to you that not only are they safe in your products - preservatives are absolutely necessary for anything you put on your skin!

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Vitamins & Skin: An Essential Guide
Skin Biology, Lifestyle Medicine, Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley Skin Biology, Lifestyle Medicine, Skincare Science Dr Emmaline Ashley

Vitamins & Skin: An Essential Guide

“Vitamin” is such a buzzword in skincare and health in general. People love declaring that something contains vitamins and is great for you, but sometimes that loses its meaning when it is repeated again and again without an explanation of how they work.

The truth is that vitamins are an essential part of your skin health, but not all vitamin formulations are created equal. This is why it’s important to know exactly how each vitamin works its magic, as well as which products are worth investing in.

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What is Photobiology?
Skin Biology Dr Emmaline Ashley Skin Biology Dr Emmaline Ashley

What is Photobiology?

There has been a lot written about the sun and your skin, especially in the context of sun protection, skin cancers, and premature ageing. But the interplay between our skin and the light is more complicated and fascinating than you could ever imagine, and it goes way beyond the common discussions of UV damage.

Photobiology is the study of the way that light interacts with living organisms, encompassing both its beneficial and negative effects.

Remember, that UV light is actually only a small part of the entire spectrum of light. There is visible light, as well as radiowaves, microwaves, infrared radiation, x-rays, and gamma rays.

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Let There be Light: Let’s Talk About the Sun
Skin Concerns Dr Emmaline Ashley Skin Concerns Dr Emmaline Ashley

Let There be Light: Let’s Talk About the Sun

Who doesn’t love spending a day in the sun? Many covet sun-kissed, tanned skin but most also know in this day and age the importance of sun protection. SPF should be your BFF.

I love saying, “Keep it simple and just wear sunscreen every single day!” But not everyone is convinced as to why that is such a good idea. Surely not every day, right? Let’s find out the difference between UVA and UVB, what SPF actually stands for, and if it matters if you wear physical or chemical sunscreens.

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