There's no compliment quite like being told 'your skin looks good,' and anyone who's been on the receiving end of these kind words will know there's a lot more to a clear, fresh complexion than drinking water and a nightly cleanse, as celebrities so often claim.
To get to the bottom of what we really need to know about achieving skin that makes us feel confident, we called upon celebrity facialist and founder of skincare brand Cellis, Debbie Thomas, for her words of wisdom.
"My take is, to achieve the glass look, you need to do a lot to your skin; lots of peeling, lots of product, and even then, if 'glass skin' is not your natural skin type, you won't achieve it fully. I'm not a fan of the glass skin trend; I think in trying to get it, people are damaging their skin and stripping the barrier. Healthy glowing skin should be the goal. Remember, pores and texture are normal and natural."
"This is something I have tried myself; I'm a clencher, not a grinder. I do it subconsciously and mainly at night. Massage can help relieve the tension in the muscles, for example, if you get tension headaches or an achey jaw, but it's the actual action of the clenching itself that's damaging the teeth. A mouthguard at night could be an option if you would prefer to avoid Botox."
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"It is possible this is melasma. Some triggers can be waxing or threading followed by sun exposure, while sometimes it's purely down to a hormonal shift causing more photosensitivity. Melasma can be aggravated not only by the UV rays but by heat and inflammation so try to avoid anything that makes your skin go red.
"SPF is essential; make sure it is covering UVA and UVB and try not to get your face in direct sunlight; hats and sunshades are your friend. Even if the pigmentation is not melasma, the same advice applies; pigmentation comes from DNA damage caused by inflammation and UV damage. There are lots of products that can help manage the pigment itself, but they will only work if you get the fundamentals right first. I treat pigment in my clinic, using different methods depending on the type of pigment - anything from lasers, peels and microneedling but always combined with good home care."
"This is tied to hormonal shifts, and the first step is looking at your skincare and working out if the products are still relevant to your new skin type. Your skin can become sensitive to products that historically you have been fine with.
"Sometimes cutting back to a simple routine, then slowly building up again, adding products back in one at a time will help. If you decide to change your products, the same applies. Swap over gradually, let your skin get used to each new product before you introduce the next. I always recommend hydrators that have ceramides in them to help support the skin barrier, and never skip SPF as the sun's rays massively speed up visual signs of skin ageing.
"If your skin is not sensitive at all and you haven't already started, using a retinol is a good addition to your routine. It takes time but does help texture. Another option would be some type of acid product for gentle but regular exfoliation to smooth the skin."
© Getty Images"They can be great to help maintain the skin if you get a good quality one, but don't expect a facelift. They need to be used regularly and consistently to give results."
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© Getty Images"It's not easy unfortunately. In clinic we focus on building up the collagen in the skin to create plumpness which makes the pore look smaller, but they haven't officially shrunk. At home I recommend regular but gentle exfoliating (thick acid not scrub), then keep the skin hydrated. You don't need a thick moisturiser but do try and get one with ceramides to support the skin barrier."
"A combination of gentle but regular exfoliation is kay. I like acids such as azelaic or lactic, as they are less likely to dry the skin out. For hydration, work on your barrier – try a hydrating lotion or gel that contains ceramides as these are perfect for combination skin. Also, never skip SPF as UV rays will cause more havoc with your skin."
"The main change I make is moving to a lighter moisturiser or swapping to a hydrating serum, but if your skin is happy with your current routine then no big changes are needed."
"This is such a common issue. First things first, your skin is dehydrated not dry, meaning it is lacking water not oil. Move over to a lotion or lightweight moisturiser with a good ceramide complex in, as you need to focus on your skin barrier. I recommend applying your moisturiser when your skin is still slightly damp as this helps to lock in the water that is there. For cleansing, wash your skin with a mild non stripping cleanser and use tepid/lukewarm water rather than hot as hot strips natural oils and dehydrates the skin further."
"This very much depends on the type and strength of the exfoliator. The first place to start is with the instructions for the product you're using, then listen to your skin. If your skin is becoming irritated by your exfoliator, reduce the frequency."
