Welcome to The Aesthetics Edit™ - our educational platform at the intersection of art, beauty, medicine and science.
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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.
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.
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!
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.
Five Easy Skin Tips for Winter
As we are fully into autumn and winter is fast approaching, you might notice slight skin changes coming with the colder weather. In chilly, dry temperatures your skin can easily become more dehydrated. Even when we step indoors into warm, heated rooms, the air is still very drying!
We’ve put together a few quick, simple tips to help support your skin during the colder months.
The Best Skincare Ingredients for Sensitive Skin
What are the best skincare ingredients for sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin is all down to an issue with the skin barrier, where your skin is not working effectively to protect you from environmental irritants, and you’re more likely to feel stinging or discomfort when you encounter any insult or challenge to your skin. When it comes to good skincare ingredients, basically it’s all about barrier repair.
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!
The Best Skincare Ingredients for Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a famously difficult skincare concern to tackle. First of all, there are so many different causes and types of hyperpigmentation, and they can really vary in severity. In this article for the Edit we cover the best skincare ingredients for hyperpigmentation.
I Need a Skincare Hero
Do you need a skincare hero? Are you not sure where to start with skincare? We have the answers here.
Start simple and with the basics: cleanse, moisturise, and protect.
Get expert advice - beware “influencers” or the bloggers without medical or scientific training where information is often mixed and biased for various reasons.
The Best Skincare Ingredients for Acne
Acne is an incredibly common skin concern, one that I deal with frequently as a cosmetic doctor. And, like most people, it’s an issue that I’ve suffered with myself, so I’m very aware of the effect it can have on your skin confidence.
In this article we are tackling the top skincare ingredients for acne, and exactly how and why they work!
Sunscreen Myths: These May Surprise You!
It is definitely SPF season - and in this article for the Aesthetics Edit we compile some of the biggest myths and misconceptions around sunscreen. Cosmetic doctors and dermatologists love to bang on about sunscreen, but you would be surprised to know how many things we (use healthcare professionals included) get wrong!
The bottom line is, of course, wear sunscreen and wear enough of it. But there are some myths that are so ingrained in public consciousness I felt like we just had to set the record straight once and for all.
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.
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.