As Emma Coleman builds up to the launch of her fourth clinic in Seven Oaks, she's here to share her thoughts on the latest 'skin sandwiching' trend and why SPF is so important. Both of these topics have been conversation starters over on Tik Tok and we can see why. The rule of always wearing SPF has been drilled into us since we were kids and our mums slathered us up before a beach day – but why is it so important? Emma unpacks this and 'skin sandwiching', so we can be better educated on our overall skin care.
SPF Whether it's chemical or natural, SPF is one of the best gifts you can give your skin because even short-term exposure to UVA and UVB light can create long-term changes in skin; including reduced DNA production and accelerated ageing. SPF is proven in clinical trials to be one of the best anti-ageing treatments you can give your skin. It can prevent formation of deep lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, thread veins and loss of elasticity. Alongside this, from a health perspective, skin cancer is on the rise - I am seeing an increase in clients presenting with abnormal lesions on forehead and nose. If this isn't a firm reminder to wear SPF, then I don't know what is!
Skin Sandwiching Skin sandwiching ensures the skin is nourished for optimum health, whatever your age or skin concern. Moisture sandwiching involves layering products from thinnest to thickest, often finishing with a moisturiser that seals in the added moisture, from hydrating serums applied in the earlier stages. Please see below, my morning and evening routine I recommend for trying this trend:
Morning Routine
Start with a creamy face wash or balm to gently cleanse without stripping your skin. As we sleep, a thin layer of sweat and sebum forms over your skin, which can lead to congestion and breakouts. So, start each day with a morning cleanse, to prevent pore clogging and create a good base to applying further skincare products and makeup.
A cleansing balm offers a gentle way of hydrating the skincare through cleansing, which is especially good for anyone with rosacea, eczema and sensitive skin. This step is optional, if you have oily or combination skin, apply a gentle toner to balance and prep your skin.
Next apply a hyaluronic acid serum by tapping it onto damp skin to lock in moisture. This is one of my favourite skincare ingredients to include in your routine. The reason we suggest applying to damp skin is because Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant and they draw moisture from its surroundings. Don't let the 'acid' in the name scare you off from using if you have sensitive skin as Hyaluronic Acid is incredibly gentle and phenomenally helpful for all skin types, even the most sensitive, redness-prone skin.
Finish with a moisturiser that contains SPF 30–50. Sunscreen is one of my favourite skincare ingredients and I'll never stop talking about why it is so important to protect your skin!
Evening Routine
Cleanse: Use a face wash to remove makeup and dirt from the day, even if you haven't applied makeup, you'll be shocked to know the impurities that can collect on the skin throughout the day!
Treatment time! Another of my top skincare ingredients is retinol, it's the ultimate multi-tasking hero and will increase the skin's cell turnover, reduce signs of ageing, and combat dryness or dullness. Retinol serums are derived from Vitamin A and are designed to gently exfoliate the skin, which can treat a range of skin issues. I often combine Retinol Serum with other treatments for faster results. I love this ingredient so much that I even created my own to be used at this stage, 'Emma Coleman Skin Retinol Overnight Serum'. This product helps to reduce pore size, resulting in firmer, younger looking skin as well as reducing visible signs of ageing, including pigmentation and uneven skin tone. I recommend using three to four times weekly. It is important to use a daily sunscreen with SPF 3-50 when using a retinol cream, as retinol increases the skin's sensitivity to sun exposure.
Lock in the moisture. Look for key ingredients like Vitamin E, often it doesn't carry the kudos of some of the more active ingredients around today, yet there is a lot of evidence supporting this antioxidant's powerful benefits in protecting the skin's barrier and improving skin texture. If your skin is irritated in any way, this would be a good ingredient to assist healing!
