Sunday skin care: top tips from a leading dermatologist

On Friday night, I had a great evening at the Berkeley Hotel for the launch of Philips' new electronic cleansing brush VisaPure (see my post here). Although finding out more about the product was interesting, as I am new to cleansing brushes, the best part of the evening was by far the skin care advice I got from Dr Sam Bunting - a leading Harley Street dermatologist. 

Not only did Sam hold an extremely informative group Q&A session, inviting us to ask her anything and everything about skin care, but also I was lucky enough to have a one-to-one with her about the state of my own skin, and get to know the products she rates highly.

Getting advice from an experienced health professional is totally invaluable, so I just had to share her top tips with you. The thing I love about Sam is that she is a self-proclaimed 'separatist' who believes in taking skin care routines step by step and not using products that claim to do too much. 

So have a read of the tips I got from her and see what you think- I would love to know your thoughts.

Top tip 1

Pores are not doors

According to Sam, it is a common misconception that pores open and close; however, in actual fact, they always remain open. If you have visible pores, Sam recommends the use of non-clogging foundation, concealer and powders to minimise their appearance. She also said that a great skin care ingredient to use in this case is salicyclic acid, which can be found in over-the-counter products at a concentration of 1–2%. Anything above this will available by prescription-only.

Top tip 2

Use non-comadogenic make-up

Sam advises the use of non-comadogenic (or non-clogging) foundations, powders and moisturisers. When asked if mineral foundations were the best ones to wear to keep skin breakout-free, she told us she actually preferred skin-savvy cream foundations like Vichy Dermablend, which I found interesting. She also suggested using Lancome make-up for the same reason.

Top tip 3

Make sunscreen your go-to anti-ageing product

Another interesting question brought up at the event was 'is it enough to wear an SPF that's included in a foundation or primer?' The answer to this question was an absolute no - although some women are concerned about the look or feel of applying sunscreen, Sam advocates using SPF lotions with cosmetic use in mind, such as La Roche-Posay's Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Extreme Fluid and Obagi Nu-Derm Sun Shielf SPF 50. Sam also said that any sunscreen you buy should be broad-spectrum product, protecting the skin from UVA and UVB light. UVA light is around all year, reflecting from glass onto our skin, so it is important that sunscreens protect against this. If applied correctly, using a teaspoon of lotion per use, a sunscreen can be used as a primer.

Top tip 4

Use non-foaming cleansers 

Another interesting thing I learnt from Sam was that often people only feel their skin is clean if they use a cleanser that lathers a lot, but that this is not the case. According to Sam, a lot of cleansers can actually harm the skin, leaving alkaline residue and making the skin feel tight and 'clean' when it has actually been damaged. I am guilty when it comes to products that lather - but now I will think twice! Sam suggests the use of gentle cleansers that won't take too much away from the skin and leave it dehydrated. She also recommends avoiding heavy detergent-based cleansers.

Top tip 5

Avoid the use of toners, unless they give something valuable to your skin

I was pleased to hear Sam say that toners have become pretty much redundant, because I really agree. Many times I have bought a toner and only used half of the bottle as I thought it was a waste of time - I don't find them memorable at all. Sam advised only to use toners if they are non-stripping and replace something valuable in the skin. Controversial, but I would have to agree!

What do you think of Sam's advice? Will it change your skin care routine? xxx

VisaPure - Philips' New Facial Cleansing Brush

When I say I'm new to the world of cleansing brushes, I mean I'm a total utter newbie. In other words, I don't know how they work, I don't know why they work and, to be honest, I don't know if they do work, because I've never tried one! That's why I had such a fantastic evening tonight (with amazing canapes, including adorable mini macaroons) at the STUNNING Berkeley Hotel, where the launch of Philips' VisaPure was held.

VisaPure is a fully waterproof, electronic skin cleansing device that massages the skin and removes make-up and dirt. Philips claim that using the brush is ten times more effective than manual cleansing - which of course I am sceptical about, but I've never used a cleansing brush!















As you can see from the box, the brush has several handy functions. I love the idea of the skin zone timer, as I always wonder whether I'm cleansing in the right places for the right period of time. The brush allows you to cleanse the face and neck evenly for 1 minute per area. I also like that you can choose between gentle and deep cleansing modes.

But how is it different to other cleansing brushes? Well, to state the obvious, it looks different to other brushes on the market. But don't judge this beauty book by its cover - it looks simple but it is the only electronic facial brush that works by using dual motion technology, stimulating micro-circulation beneath the skin's surface.




























It also comes with a head for sensitive skin, which is pretty cool. The heads start also retailing at £7.99, which is over £10 cheaper than competitor brushes (£21) and would free up spare cash for some other lust-list items.








VisaPure retails at £150 and is available from Boots online.

What do you think? xxx