The Sunday Times - UK (2022-02-13

EYE CREAMS WITH EXTRA BENEFITS

As the skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the

body, many experts believe it needs special attention.

Dr Sam’s Flawless Nightly Eye Serum, £37

This is jam-packed with retinoids, niacinamide and

squalane for brightening. The retinol is crucial as

it’s scientifically proven to build collagen, which is

much needed around the eye area.

Dermalogica Awaken Peptide Eye Gel, £55

A fragrance-free hit of caffeine and active peptides

that targets puffiness and fatigued eyes and sits nicely

under concealer.

Dior Prestige Le Micro-Sérum de Rose Yeux

Advanced, £154 Rotating ceramic beads are set in the

applicator to soothe swollen eyes instantly. The infused

rose is apparently excellent for tackling dryness.

WHERE TO APPLY EYE CREAM?

Many have been taught to apply eye cream only under

the eyes, but experts recommend a 360-degree

approach, which means over the eyelids too — just

don’t go too close to the eyes themselves.

MYTH

‘If I stop doing Botox

my wrinkles will get worse’

“Botox works by blocking muscle action in the

area that it is injected. By relaxing this muscle

movement you see a reduction in dynamic lines and

wrinkles,” Dr Anita Sturnham says. “This can make

skin look more youthful on the surface layers, as it

appears smoother, but it doesn’t help to slow down

cellular ageing or to boost collagen production in the

deeper layers of the skin. This ageing process

continues behind the scenes. When a patient stops

receiving Botox injections, their muscles will

eventually start working as they did before having

the treatment. Your wrinkles don’t get worse but you

go back to your baseline. One way of keeping skin

in good condition in case you decide to stop Botox

is by having treatments such as rejuvenating laser

in between Botox appointments.”

MYTH

‘I stay away from Botox

because I have black skin’

“How long have we got? I think this myth stems from

a combination of things, including black women

being left out of the narrative and marketing for

procedures like this,” Ayodele says. “If you don’t know

about it, how it would suit you or see yourself

reflected in the advertising, you assume it’s not for

people like yourself and you make up your own

narrative about why it’s not suitable for black women/

men.” Ejikeme, who sees every shade and skin type in

her clinic, says: “Women of shades of black, brown

and white get excellent results from Botox. If a line or

wrinkles bother you, know there are options for you.”

MYTH

‘I use this product

to shrink my pores’

“Pore size is often genetically predetermined and they

enlarge with age and sun damage,” Psomadakis says.

“There is not much you can do to drastically shrink

pores. However, looking after your skin and preserving

your collagen will help maintain their size. Most people

have not noticed or given a moment’s thought to

anybody else’s pores, so my main tip for people worried

about their own is to toss their magnifying mirror.”

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR PORES

“Regular sunscreen prevents long-term UV damage

that can lead to enlarged pores, and retinol and

vitamin C help to preserve collagen,” Psomadakis

says. “Finally, a lot of people tend to mistake

blackheads for large pores — make sure you have

the diagnosis correct, and if they are blackheads a

regular BHA toner can help.”

Skincare Special

EXPERT DR ANITA STURNHAM

Zoltan Mihaly/Blaublut Edition