The New Skincare Products Rivalling Injectables For Effectiveness
The past decade has seen an undeniable rise in “tweakments”, as evidenced by a recent survey that revealed 40 per cent of UK adults are considering a non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the next 12 months. But many professionals are cautioning against potentially spur-of-the-moment procedures carried out by unqualified practitioners in an unregulated market. “The non-surgical sector is rife with lax regulation and unethical promotions and the public must remain vigilant as ‘non-surgical’ does not mean the same as ‘non-medical’,” says former BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) president Rajiv Grover, who compiled the organisation’s 2019 audit. “These treatments have risks as well as benefits and patients must choose their practitioner very carefully,” he advises.
While these topical solutions won’t work as fast as the likes of Botox or fillers, they can still offer impressive, albeit subtler results, without the need for needles. As long as you’re diligent and consistent with application, you should reap the benefits – of which there are many – in around 12 weeks.
Plumping
If you want increased hydration without resorting to injectable moisturisers (like Profhilo), there are myriad sophisticated formulas that use the hydrating holy grail, hyaluronic acid, as their standout star. Kate Somerville’s Wrinkle Warrior 2-in-1 Plumping Moisturiser + Serum, is loaded with three different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid and an amino acid complex to enhance skin moisturising and fill out lines over time. “The different molecule sizes work with the different layers of skin for maximum transformation,” says Somerville. “The large molecules sit on top of the skin and attract water, drawing in moisture. They also help your make-up look its best. The mid-range size molecules sink deeper, helping to plump skin and add fullness, and the smallest molecules penetrate the deepest and are proven to visibly diminish fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet.”
Lifting
Sagging skin is primarily caused by the loss of facial fat and the breakdown of collagen and elastin (the connective tissue that gives skin its firmness and bounce). Both happen naturally with age but are also exacerbated by UV exposure. To lift sagging jowls and jawlines without Botox and filler, take preventative measures by always wearing an SPF of 30 or above along with products that will aid collagen synthesis. Key ingredients include vitamin A (forms include retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate and retinoic acid), which enables cellular renewal and helps keep skin looking fresh, and vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant which can neutralise the destructive effects of ageing free radicals. Medik8’s CSA Philosophy Kit is a ready-made at-home arsenal that includes advanced vitamin C, retinol and SPF formulations all backed by the brand’s extensive research and clinical testing.
Smoothing
Thanks to a surge in skincare products that mimic in-clinic protocol, you can forget having to step foot inside a practitioner’s office in your quest for a refreshed complexion. Containing pharmaceutical-grade concentrations of peeling agents – glycolic acid, lactic acid, and bromelain – and antioxidants, the Dr Dennis Gross Professional Grade Resurfacing Liquid Peel is an effective way to accelerate skin renewal and get dermatologist-approved smooth skin at home. Goldfaden MD’s Needle-less serum, meanwhile, was created for the Florida-based dermatologist’s own needle-phobic patients. The line-smoothing concentrate claims to reduce the depth of lines and contains hyaluronic acid to plump out deep creases as well as acetyl hexapeptide-3, a peptide that works by hindering a protein responsible for muscle contraction. When it comes to innovative delivery systems, Medik8’s Liquid Peptides uses drone delivery to send the 30 per cent peptide blend straight to where it needs to go, a feat usually made tricky thanks to peptides’ size and structure. As well as stimulating collagen production, it minimises muscle contractions for smoother skin – an effect akin to having Botox.
Source: Vogue
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