Mariam / Maiyan Abbas

Adult acne and teenage acne are not the same thing. Treating them like they are is one of the biggest skincare mistakes I see.

Teenage acne is mostly about excess oil and congestion. The classic advice, stripping cleansers, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, is designed to dry everything out. And for a 16 year old, that sometimes works.

Adult acne is a completely different problem. It’s rarely just one thing. Inflammation, a compromised skin barrier, stress, hormones, dehydration and fluctuating androgen levels often all at once. 

Here’s the approach I’d recommend: 
1. Cleanse morning and evening with a non-stripping cleanser. It should never feel squeaky clean after washing. If it does, it’s too harsh.
2. Focus on reducing inflammation before reaching for actives. Calm the skin first.
3. Support the barrier with ceramides, niacinamide and a proper moisturiser. 
4. Broad spectrum SPF every single day. Acne is significantly harder to treat without sun protection. UV makes inflammation and scarring worse.
5.
You can put the 2008 face wash down, adult acne needs to be supported and not stripped ☺️

Save this if adult acne is something you’re dealing with 🤍
Comment ’SKIN’ to learn more about your skin type 👇🏼

 

“I moisturise 3 times a day but my skin is still dry” is one of the most common things I hear in the clinic 🧴

The problem usually isn’t the products. It’s the order.
Moisturiser doesn’t hydrate your skin. It seals moisture in. If there’s nothing underneath it, it has nothing to seal.

Here’s the order that actually works:
1. Non-stripping cleanser
2. Hydrating serum on damp skin. 
3. Moisturiser on top to lock it in.
4. SPF in the morning.
5. A heavier moisturiser in the evening if needed.

Try this for 7 days. Your skin will feel completely different.
Save this so you actually remember the order. ❤️

You might think you have dry skin… but do you actually? 🤍

There’s a big difference between true dry skin, dehydrated skin, and a damaged barrier… and treating the wrong one won’t get you the results you’re after.

Signs of true dry skin: 

▪️Flaky and matte in appearance 
▪️Thin, almost parchment-like texture 
▪️Feels taut and tight 
▪️Easily irritated 
▪️Milia around the eyes, temples and upper cheeks

If that sounds like you, here’s what actually helps:

✅ Swap to a cream, balm or milk cleanser - ditch anything foamy or stripping
✅Use a lipid-rich moisturiser with ceramides, cholesterol and essential fatty acids
✅ Support your skin from within - eat a diet rich in omegas and fatty acids 
✅Always finish with SPF - dry skin shows UV damage faster

Comment SKIN to learn more about your skin type ⬇️

Save + share with someone who needs to see this 🔖

You might think you have dry skin… but do you actually? 🤍

There’s a big difference between true dry skin, dehydrated skin, and a damaged barrier… and treating the wrong one won’t get you the results you’re after.

Signs of true dry skin: 

⚪️Flaky and matte in appearance 
⚪️Thin, almost parchment-like texture 
⚪️Feels taut and tight 
⚪️Easily irritated 
⚪️Milia around the eyes, temples and upper cheeks

If that sounds like you, here’s what actually helps:

✅ Swap to a cream, balm or milk cleanser - ditch anything foamy or stripping
✅Use a lipid-rich moisturiser with ceramides, cholesterol and essential fatty acids
✅ Support your skin from within - eat a diet rich in omegas and fatty acids 
✅Always finish with SPF - dry skin shows UV damage faster

Comment SKIN to learn more about your skin type ⬇️
Save + share with someone who needs to see this 🔖

NOOANCE 💡A newer mask that’s getting increasingly popular… and after looking at the specs, I can see why.

254 LEDs, flexible silicone, built-in eye protection, and crucially a full technical sheet. Transparent specs are genuinely rare in this space, and it makes a real difference when you’re trying to evaluate a device properly.
No blue light, but as we’ve covered in this series, that’s only relevant if acne is a concern and it’s appropriate for your skin.

At £499 it’s the most expensive mask I cover in this series. But if your budget stretches to it, it earns its price tag more honestly than most.