3 things I'd never do to my skin as an expert

A few weeks ago I shared a post about the things I’d never do to my skin as a qualified Skin Expert and the reaction totally blew me away! It was the most viewed post I’ve ever had and as it resonated so much, I thought I’d share 3 more things I’d never do…And some may be slightly controversial!

#1. I would never use a prescription retinol

Now, we all know how much I LOVE retinol 😍 It’s the best thing you can use to stimulate collagen in your skin which in turn plumps your complexion and softens lines and wrinkles…But the prescription stuff isn’t for me.

The high potency is super irritating to the skin causing redness, inflammation, and irritation. The damage it causes to your protective skin barrier, in my opinion, far outweighs any benefits. It can also be a total nightmare to work into your routine, meaning you have to change up your products on a nightly basis to stop the relentless peeling.

Instead, I opt for a microdosing philosophy. This means I use a gentler form of retinol that is effortlessly incorporated into my daily routine and delivers all the incredible youth-boosting results, without any of the nasty side effects.

Mine comes in the form of our Ultimate Moisturiser. All I do is apply a layer each morning and night and it’s been a total game-changer for my skin since the day the final sample arrived on my desk. A slow and steady approach that always wins the race!

#2. I would never get a PDO thread lift

This one is quite close to my heart as I’ve dealt with many clients who have had issues over the years. The PDO thread lift is a procedure that uses dissolvable threads, to tighten and lift your skin.

During the treatment, a practitioner makes small incision holes with a needle and inserts a device called a canula into them. The PDO threads are then anchored into place, before ‘lifting’ the tissues underneath your skin back to a higher and more youthful position. Granted it’s far less invasive than actual face lift surgery however, it was one of the most eyewatering treatments I ever witnessed in clinic.

Although most people will have no issues (if seen by a medical practitioner), when it goes wrong, it goes horribly wrong and up to 20% of people have complications…Which I think is quite a staggering number! I’ve seen clients with permanent scarring, skin puckering and infections.

The threads are also prone to snapping and as the treatment wears off after 6-12 months, I just don’t feel it’s worth the level of risk or invasion. Your skin will have barely recovered by the time you’re ready for the next appointment.

So, although I have a neutral opinion on most cosmetic procedures, unfortunately, this one doesn’t make the cut for me.

#3. I would never use skincare with fragrance

Ooo another one that can divide the camp! I know that fragrance in skincare can smell absolutely beautiful and create a spa-like experience, but the truth is, it doesn’t deliver any benefits to the skin. In fact, it can cause a whole heap of trouble and lots of irritation for those with sensitive complexions.

My number one rule when developing BASE was that I’d never add an ingredient if it didn’t deliver any results. It’s for this reason you’ll never find parabens or sulphates in any of our products and as fragrance can potentially do more harm than good, you won’t find anything artificially scented either.

I've got at least 10 other things I could add to the list, but I’ll save them for another time so I don’t keep you here until next Sunday!

Thank you so much again for a warm welcome back this week and I hope your skincare stashes are officially topped up, now the Proactive Age Kit and Eye Complex are back in stock 🥰

Amy x