The old school style

Cleanse, tone and moisturise – this is the classic skincare routine that we all been brought up with. Everywhere that you look, you are bombarded by beauty gurus and skincare brands insisting that moisturisers for your face are essential.

However, your face does not actually need any moisturisers. Why?

Moisturisers vs. new school products

Your skin has its own mechanisms to hydrate itself and moisturisers are just a crutch. In fact, they can be detrimental to your skin.

Moisturisers are composed of water, proteins and lipids mixed in varying proportions to appeal to consumers. They can vary in thickness and potency. If the dominant ingredient is water, it is classified as a ‘light’ moisturiser. But if it has high concentrations of protein, it is labelled as a ‘moderate’ moisturiser. Thirdly, lipids or fatty substances are the dominant ingredient, they are called ‘heavy’ moisturisers.

As Dr Zein Obagi explained ‘Moisturisers, in general weaken the skin’s barrier function because they alter the natural function of skin self-hydration. Natural hydration comes from within the body – the only thing that moisturises really offer is instant gratification. Your skin will feel soothed after applying cream but this wears off after a few hours and then you want more.’ Your skin develops an addiction for moisturisers.

Hence, moisturising the skin results in

  • Inhibition of the natural hydration process (dryness & sensitivity)
  • Increased trans-epidermal water loss (dryness)
  • Damaged barrier function of the skin (sensitivity)
  • Skin textural issues due to suppression of the skin’s natural exfoliation (roughness & dullness)
  • Reduced skin exfoliation results in reduced production of new skin cells (dullness)
  • Thin skin due to reduced production of collagen (lines, pores & accelerated ageing)
  • Increased pigmentation of the skin (brown spots)
  • Inflamed red spotty skin (rosacea)

Oil control

It is also important to remember that we make plenty of oil – to keep our hair follicles smooth and shiny. This was once useful when we were apes and covered in hair. However, now the oil sits on our skin, blocks pores and inflames the skin. This results in spots, milia, blackheads and also rosacea. Oil is very bad for the skin since it inflames the skin. Children don’t produce oil and their skin looks lovely. In the teens, the skin makes oil and this is often when there are skin issues such as spots and pimples. Moisturising just aggravates this process.

Skincare products

The most important thing about skincare products is that the products should:

  • remove excess oil from the surface of the skin.
  • enhance the skin’s exfoliation process instead of stifling it.
  • stop any inflammation.
  • natural hydration should come from within.

The intention of ZO Skin Health and ZO Medical products is to remove oil, enhance the skin’s exfoliation process, hydrate the skin from within and suppress inflammation, resulting in skin that is calm, rejuvenated and hydrated.

Only a small percentage of the population with some genetic disorders have actual skin dryness. Only these people need to use moisturisers.

At health + aesthetics, we provide long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. We provide the highest levels of care and attention and care and hope to work with you now and in the future.

Contact us for more information or to book in for a free consultation. We look forward to welcoming you!

Dr Rekha Tailor

Dr Rekha Tailor

Dr. Rekha Tailor, founder and Medical Director of Health & Aesthetics, is an esteemed Medical Aesthetic Practitioner and General Practitioner, educated at Manchester Medical School. With a career spanning NHS hospitals and general practice, she shifted to full-time aesthetic medicine in 2005. Known for her natural results and gentle approach, she is a member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine and the Royal College of General Practitioners. Her dedication to excellence is reflected in numerous awards, highlighting her clinic as a leader in aesthetic treatments​​.

More from Dr Rekha Tailor

About our Consultations

At Health & Aesthetics, we believe that the fundamental basis for a successful aesthetic procedure is an in-depth consultation with a skilled qualified practitioner to assess your needs and develop a bespoke personal treatment plan so that you achieve outstanding natural looking results. You can call us on 01252 933 133.

Make Enquiry

Make Enquiry