The Sunday Times - UK (2022-02-13

MYTH

‘Now I’m pregnant I need to^

change my skincare’

“It is always important to take stock of your

skincare during pregnancy, partly to ensure you are

not using anything harmful and partly because

skin may change profoundly during this time,”

Wedgeworth says. “There are some ingredients

such as retinoids that I advise not to use during

pregnancy. However, there are plenty of

ingredients that can be used, such as vitamin C,

mild AHAs and BHAs, and azelaic acid.”

IFEOMA EJIKEME SHARES HER

TOP PREGNANCY SKINCARE PICKS

Cleanser CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam

Cleanser, £12.50 Many claim to have

dry skin during pregnancy. This rich cleanser is

gentle yet effective, with hyaluronic and

amino acids for a hydration boost.

Antioxidant The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% +

Zinc 1%, £5 Spots, mild pigmentation and redness

are all common during pregnancy, so try this

lightweight serum to help minimise blemishes and

regulate sebum production.

SPF Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua

Gel, £40 This fragrance-free sunscreen doesn’t

leave a chalky finish, so is great for all skin tones and

sensitive pregnancy skin.

Moisturiser Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion, £9

This fail-safe everyday moisturiser is free of

fragrance and won’t irritate skin.

MYTH

‘Make-up makes acne worse’

People with acne may find that certain make-up

products such as foundations and concealers

worsen acne or cause new breakouts, Dr Sonia

Khorana says. “It’s perfectly fine for acne patients to

wear make-up, but remember to select cosmetics

that don’t cause breakouts, or ones that are suitable

for acne-prone skin — look for non-comedogenic,

light-textured and non-oil-based products — and

establish a skincare routine that works for your skin

type. Always remove make-up with an oil-free

cleanser before going to bed and clean your

make-up brushes regularly.”

TWO NON-COMEDOGENIC FOUNDATIONS

FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN

Light to medium coverage

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £44

Medium to full coverage

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better

CC+ Cream, £32.50

MYTH

‘Black skin can’t have

laser or chemical peels’

“I will say it loud for the people in the back: this is a

myth!” Ejikeme proclaims. “Black skin can have laser

and chemical peels. The caveat is that the person

doing the peel needs to be a skin expert who has

experience and the right products and devices.”

Ayedole, who did close to 300 chemical peels last year

with 80 per cent of them on black women, says: “It’s a

myth I love to smash. The key to a successful chemical

peel on black skin is to prep and prime the skin with

similar ingredients a few weeks ahead of time, so you

can better control the outcome of the treatment.”

MYTH

‘I need to avoid

skincare with fragrance’

“Not all fragrance skincare products are bad. Often

fragrances are used to mask smells and improve

consumer experience,” Laftah says. “However, some

fragrances can lead to skin irritation and those at risk

include people with underlying dry skin, eczema and

rosacea. Furthermore 1 to 3 per cent of the general

population can become sensitised to fragrances and

develop skin inflammation on exposure. Therefore, if

possible, opt for fragrance-free products, particularly

if you have a history of dry or sensitive skin.”

Sturnham avoids using fragrance and essential oils in

her facials. “Over the years of treating my patients’

skin I have seen so many cases of skin reactions to

fragrance, so it’s no surprise that it is listed as one of

the leading causes of allergic contact dermatitis.

TRY THESE FRAGRANCE-FREE BRANDS La Roche-Posay,

Avène, Clinique, CeraVe, Cetaphil

The truth behind a

skincare label

AND HOW TO READ IT LIKE A PRO

BY SAM BUNTING

HYPOALLERGENIC This is a marketing term that

suggests a product produces fewer reactions than

other cosmetics — but there is no test for

hypoallergenicity.

CLINICALLY TRIALLED This usually refers to something

that has undergone testing in humans. But a well-run

clinical trial is an expensive thing to do properly, so

again, in practice, it’s mostly a marketing term to help

a product stand out in the competitive skincare arena.

Skincare Special

EXPERT DR SAM BUNTING

EXPERT DR EMMA WEDGEWORTH

The Sunday Times Style • 43