In partnership with MECCA.
Skincare as a category can be very confusing. We’re living in the information age, constantly inundated with trends, new launches, viral ingredients, information and (unfortunately) misinformation. Knowing what to use, or where to even start when it comes to skincare and skin health, can be an intimidating process.
MECCA is one retailer that get this. Known for stocking lots of cult, clinical skincare brands, they understand that education is probably the most important thing. It’s why they invest heavily in team education – you can walk into any MECCA store and know you’re going to get expert advice. This plays into the current campaign, ‘Relearn Your Skin‘. The concept is simple but important: ‘what if the secret ingredient is knowing?’ If we know our skin, how it works, what it needs and what it doesn’t, looking after it gets a whole lot easier.
To help crystallise this, MECCA hosted an expert panel discussion this week with RUSSH beauty editor Emily Algar, dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald, cosmetic doctor Dr Prasanthi Purusothaman and the head of research and development at Emma Lewisham, Erin Barlow to discuss skin knowledge, and how levelling up can change the game.
Our top takeaways from the panel discussion, below.
1. Understand your skin physiology
Arguably the single most important thing when it comes to relearning your skin is to have a basic understanding of skin biology.
Skin biology refers to the science of how the skin functions at a cellular level. Often we forget the skin is a working organ; it self-repairs, produces collagen and elastin, excretes sebum, and responds to environmental stressors. Understanding all of this, even at a top line level, can steer us away from fads or trends, and instead encourage us to approach skincare from an evidence-based position. Instead of looking to what’s new or viral, we can question what our skin actually needs in order to thrive.
2. Seek out skin-first products
In a similar vein, this skin-first way of thinking is essential from a product perspective. If your skincare isn’t formulated to work in tune with skin biology, what even is the point? As Erin pointed out, Emma Lewisham’s formulation philosophy is to start with skin, not ingredients or textures. They work backwards, starting with a common issue or concern, building custom formulas that will work synergistically. Erin is first and foremost a physiologist – she’s not looking at trends or sales data to guide product development.
3. Personalisation over trends
If there’s one universal skin truth to believe, it’s that every single complexion is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to any concern. Be honest about your skin, but also your skin goals – what are you trying to achieve? And as Dr Cara pointed out, perfection shouldn’t be the answer (because it doesn’t really exist). Understanding your complexion enables you to approach skincare through a personalised lens.
4. Consistency + patience
Another very important takeaway is that long-term skin health requires patience and consistency. As Dr Prasanthi put it, “skin biology doesn’t work on your timeline”. If you are trying a new product or routine, give it time to actually work (Dr Cara says you should wait at least three months before making an assessment). Using something for a week or so and giving up if you’re not seeing instant results is not going to set you up for long-term success.
5. Streamline, curate, less is more
Another important tip is, before buying another skincare product, to ask yourself if you really need it, or what role you hope it plays in your routine because less is often more. Most of us also don’t need every single buzzy ingredient within our routine. Some, absolutely. But too much can overwhelm the skin barrier, exacerbating some conditions like acne or sensitivity. As Dr Cara put it, “I see patients trying to load up their skin with every single ingredient – they have these elaborate routines with multiple layers and it’s doing them a disservice. You don’t need every single ingredient.”
6. Vet information
On that note, it’s essential to vet information. Given social media, we have access to so many opinions when it comes to skin health and skincare. How do you know who to believe? As Emily explained, look towards experts you can trust first and foremost, as well as clinical data, as well as real customer reviews (you know we love Reddit). But always take everything with a grain of salt. Dr Prasanthi made a great point when she said, “knowledge is information with no context”.
Images: Esteban La Tessa and supplied by MECCA.
