Tackling Hyperpigmentation - My Skincare Regime & Facials with Dr Wendy
This week we're talking skincare and I thought I'd bring you along with me to visit Dr Wendy at The Lodsworth Clinic.
I haven't been one to look after my skin or have facials so this did all feel a little indulgent, to begin with, but I've realised that I need to take some time for myself and look after my skin.
I've always been very open with my journey tackling hyper-pigmentation, and I've tried many things, but the facials combined with the new skincare regime from Dr Wendy has been making such a difference.
Let me begin by telling you to go and pop on some SPF if you haven't already today! I didn't wear SPF at all in my youth and I'm paying for it now. I spent a lot of time outdoors, often in the Scottish countryside so would come inside red and ruddy from the elements. Now, everybody in this household wears their SPF religiously, even the children pop theirs on every morning after washing their faces! It's never too early to start looking after your face.
I'm never going to get my skin perfect again, but we can try. I can now make an effort to keep on top of the maintenance of it. I've been battling pigmentation for 10 years, wearing hats, slapping on SPF 50, I've tried it all - but sadly I did all the damage long ago.
So let's talk daily skincare.
With each application layer, I'll multitask so I could brush my teeth or pop in my earrings - this is so each layer has time to soak in.
Body:
After having my shower I always apply Aveeno Daily Moisturising Creamy Oil. This is really scrummy and has a lovely almond scent so smells divine.
It soaks in well and my skin feels moisturised all day long.
Face:
PH Formula Skincare Package - Photo-Ageing
This is a skincare package to help with age spots, dull skin and dark sunspots so every product is geared up for me and my skin concerns.
Eye Recovery -
I pop a little onto my ring finger, split between the other ring finger and then tap and sweep it around my eyes, being very gentle.
Age Recovery Serum -
I just use one pump for the entire face - smooth it all over, not forgetting neck and decolletage.
Vitamin C Serum -
I use one drop from the pipette all over my face, patting it in gently.
SPF - Tinted SPF30 CC Cream if I'm not wearing makeup, SOS SPF 50 if makeup is going over the top.
SOS SPF 50 is a broad-spectrum sun protector - I just use one pump across my face every morning, bringing it down my neck and chest too. It's so lovely and light, doesn't leave white marks, soaks in beautifully and the children like it too.
De-fuzz -
I can't not tell you about this! A friend told me about it and it's been a game-changer.
It's an Epi Wand - essentially a threading device. We all have stray unwanted hairs - I struggle with my upper lip. You simply roll the device across the areas you wish to tackle and bobs your uncle! Just don't use it on your brows. This method of hair removal won't damage your skin, and when your hair grows back it's not stubbly, it's soft. There's also no redness so you can go straight out afterwards.
Makeup:
Doing my daily make-up takes 4 mins or so, I need it to be quick!
Quick makeup products:
IT Cosmetic CC cream with spa 50
Benefit Boing concealer
Jane Iredale powder
Bobbi Brown pot rouge - powder pink
Iconic London blusher/highlighter - rose riot
Dior waterproof crayon eyeliner
Benefit Mascara - They're Real - always applied after curling!
Benefit Gimme Brow Mascara
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil Infused Gloss - New Romantic
My visits to Dr Wendy:
Dr Wendy is an anaesthetist and skincare specialist with a clinic in West Sussex. She's been a Doctor for over 20 years, working as a consultant anaesthetist in the NHS.
Over the years Dr Wendy has developed a fascination and interest in medical aesthetics and skincare, and as she's gotten older she's become more focused on the industry. One of her specialist areas within the NHS is head and neck surgery, working alongside surgeons and doing a lot of cancer work which has further reinforced and fuelled her interest.
In the past few years, Dr Wendy has had a chance to step back a little from the NHS to pursue her passion for medical aesthetics and focus on providing treatments in that field.
She set up The Lodsworth Clinic and now runs it a couple of times a week alongside her NHS work.
Wendy believes that in this current climate of treatments and tweakments, medical aesthetics as an industry is woefully unregulated and so it's more important than ever to visit a reputable, medically trained professional. Having a medical background helps her to understand the importance and significance of medical diseases, syndromes and more and helps her tailor the treatment to be completely correct for the individual and their concerns. It's so important to be able to recognise complications, stay safe and realise when you should and shouldn't do things.
When I found out Wendy was practising skincare I was desperate to come and see her. I love the fact that's she's got a medical background and understands exactly how things work. I don't have straightforward skin, and I have to avoid trauma such as needles due to my Ehlers Danlos syndrome. Dr Wendy is completely aware of all of that and is gearing up the facials to be appropriate and tailored exactly to my needs.
The PH Formula skincare products that Dr Wendy uses are only available to practitioners trained as skincare specialists. They are strong products, scientifically backed and highly effective and it was important to Wendy as a doctor to partner with a brand that was results driven and would make a difference.
They have to be prescribed - every product is developed so they can penetrate the skin to work deep in the dermis, resurfacing the skin from the inside out.
The treatments and routines can be tailored to every individual depending on your skin type, concerns or issues you might have with your skin. Unlike high street brands or 'do it all' products, you can really create a comprehensive skincare routine that's exactly right for you.
It's also so important to see a practitioner with the expertise to guide you and prescribe your treatment to what your skin needs in the present moment. Your skin's needs can change so much depending on your stress levels, whether you've been outside, what the weather has been like, the time of the month - all those things impact enormously on our skin and can really drive the skincare used in Dr Wendy's facials.
All of their facials incorporate what is called a 'Skin Permeability Complex' which is all about exfoliating gently so that the following actives will penetrate deeper, whilst giving the practitioner the ability the assess your skin's sensitivity on that given day.
After a consultation with Dr Wendy, I signed up for a course of three specialist facials. I didn't film the first of my facials but here is a breakdown of the second and third:
Facial 2:
The second facial that Dr Wendy gave me was using the Age Resurfacing Treatment by pH Formula, which aims to resurface from the inside out. It particularly targets typical signs of photo-ageing such as pigmentation, dullness and fine lines. The ingredients act to reduce melanin production, speed up cell turnover, boost collagen and elastin production. Dr Wendy then followed with a pink SOS peel-off mask with natural cranberry extracts to calm the skin and strengthen its barrier function, then a Vitamin C Radiance treatment for antioxidant properties. Finally 'Post-Recovery' for maximum anti-inflammatory and hydration properties, followed by a tinted SPF factor 30 CC cream.
Facial 3:
For this facial, Dr Wendy used the age resurfacing treatment by pH Formula again, but this time it was a step up from the one before. The beauty of this brand is the ability to layer up the actives according to how your skin is on the day, so every treatment can be totally personalised. This time my skin tolerated two layers of the next strength up.
Wendy always cleanses with the EXFO which was so refreshing and hydrating. Next, the SP complex, which we talked about earlier to help the next layers penetrate, plus give Dr Wendy an indication of how sensitive my skin is on the given day. The age solution is an advanced anti-ageing treatment, which provokes cell regeneration into different layers of the skin. These are followed by the peptide mask, which is great for instantly firming the skin and improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Next up was the vitamin C Radiance treatment which is an antioxidant and regulates melanin formation. To finish she applied the Post-Recovery anti-inflammatory and hydrating treatment, then the tinted factor 30 SPF CC cream.
Evening Skincare Routine:
Micellar Water
Garnier resuable pads
pH Formula cleanser
Bamboo cloths
I remove my eye make-up with the micellar water, then wash my face thoroughly with the ph formula cleanser. I follow that with the below products to complete my skincare for the day.
All PH Formula:
Eye recovery - applied as before.
Active formula - one pump, worked into the skin.
Vitamin A Cream - twice a week only.
Mellar serum - one drop, applied to affected areas of concern.
SOS Repair sheet mask - this was a treat from Wendy to apply after the facial.
Recovery Cream Moisturiser - I find this too much with the SPF so I just use it at night.
Absolutely everything I'm using at home from PH Formula was included in the pack provided by Dr Wendy, making the whole process extremely organised and straightforward.
I love to end my day by spritzing Made by Coopers Sleepyhead Room and Pillow Spray all around my pillow and bedroom - it's so calming, the smell of Lavender, frankincense and camomile is so beautiful and it really helps me nod off. If you're struggling to sleep can highly recommend this as the last step of a quiet calming evening routine, helping you to unwind and get ready for bed.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's blog post and video - it was a bit of a different one for me but I do get lots of questions about my skincare and the routines I follow, so I hope it helped!
After the year we've had, there's nothing wrong with taking a bit of time to look after yourself - so if you're after a pamper give Dr Wendy a call!
Love, Charlie x