Skincare Guide

Contents

The Importance Of Skincare

As the body’s largest organ, our skin plays a key role in our immune system and keeping us safe.

Our skin protects against free radicals, pollutants and environmental elements.  The langerhans cells in the epidermis help to fight off infections to keep us fit and healthy. The oil glands in the dermis keep the skin soft and smooth and prevent the skin from absorbing too much water.  Your skin also helps to prevent dehydration of the body.

When exposed to the sun, our skin produces melanin, to protect itself from UVA/UVB damage.  Sun damage causes up to 80% of the signs of premature ageing, and can lead to skin cancer. 

  1. Overall Health

“As the body’s largest organ, our skin plays a key role in our immune system.”

Our skin doesn’t just try to protect us from the sun’s harmful rays, nerves in the dermis tell our brains when something is too hot or too cold.  These nerve receptors also help us to register pain, alerting us to harmful changes in the body, so we can avoid something dangerous.  Fat in the hypodermis (the deepest part to the skin) protects our muscles and bones from injuries by cushioning them.

In order for our skin to continue to function efficiently, it is imperative that we take care of it, the same way we care for the rest of our body when we maintain a healthy diet, get good quality sleep and take regular exercise.

2. Better Mental Health

You may have heard the phrase ‘skincare is self-care’ and this is absolutely true.

Looking after your skin health can have the same positive impact on your mental health as looking after the rest of your body can.

Applying skincare is a very tactile process. This can be very relaxing and self-soothing, particularly as skincare is typically carried out in the mornings and the evenings. The stability and consistency of a skincare routine can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and the sensory element can help you stay in the present moment.

“Skin Care Is Self Care”

Acne and rosacea flare-ups, dehydrated and crepey skin, scarring, texture, and melasma (dark patches) can all deeply affect our confidence and warp our self-perception. Taking back control, and effectively managing these conditions can be truly transformative, not only for your appearance, but also for your self-esteem.

Hormone fluctuations such as during puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancies, postpartum recovery, the peri-menopause and the menopause can all have a significant impact on our skin and how we age. These hormonal changes also have a direct influence on our moods. Negative changes in our skin can make us feel even more vulnerable, depressed, and insecure.

Looking after your skin can mean that you experience less dramatic changes during periods of hormone fluctuations. Treating hormonal acne for example, reducing Melasma after pregnancy, or collagen banking before the menopause, can all be beneficial to our overall mental health.

3. Slowing Signs Of Ageing

We are personally not huge fans of the term ‘anti-ageing’ because it frames ageing as a negative, almost as though it is an adversary we are fighting against, when actually it is a privilege that unfortunately, not everyone gets to experience.

That said, everyone is entitled to their opinion on what growing older means to them, and how they wish to approach it. Some choose to embrace the ageing process and celebrate their lines. Audrey Hepburn once famously told American Photo Magazine “Tell them not to mess with my face. I’ve earned every one of those wrinkles.” Whilst others prefer to slow the process down a little. Neither should be criticised or judged for the personal choices they make for themselves.

We can’t stop time, life moves endlessly forward, but we can make our skin look the best that it can, for the age that we are at, if we choose to.

Skincare has advanced over the years, and medical-grade skincare products have become a game-changer for anyone who wants to boost their collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, brighten their complexion, and clear their skin. Moving on from over-the-counter products to prescription skincare can be truly transformative.

If slowing the signs of ageing is something you want to achieve, but choosing the right skincare products leaves you feeling overwhelmed, then our consultations are perfect for you.

“You can’t stop time, but you can help your skin look its very best at every age.”

4. Protecting Your Investment

Think of your skin like a canvas.  To get the most out of any aesthetic treatments that you may have, you want to manage any pre-existing skin conditions that will detract from allowing you to achieve your best results. Treating your skin alongside aesthetic treatments yields far greater results and may leave you feeling that you want less treatments overtime.

This is why we take a more holistic approach to aesthetic medicine and always lead with skincare first and foremost. During your consultation we advise you on the best way to look after your skin between appointments so that you can protect your investment and maintain your results for longer.

“Your skin is your canvas.”

Skincare Routine Guide

Your skincare routine should target three key areas

  1. Preparation

Cleansers, exfoliators and toners are formulated to help prepare your skin so it can better absorb your other skincare products. In particular, they help to increase the delivery and efficacy of your actives. They do this by removing impurities, unclogging the pores, removing dead skin cells and resetting your skin’s pH level. Skincare which specifically targets skin barrier recovery and moisturisers help to reduce transepidermal water loss, keeping your skin smooth and hydrated, and even regulate sebum production.

2. Treatment

Serums/ Actives do the heavy lifting in your routine. These include products such as Vitamin A derivatives, Vitamin Cs and brightening ingredients. They can clear the complexion, treat hyperpigmentation, acne and rosacea, speed up your skin’s cellular turnover, and stimulate collagen and elastin production, which can help improve skin laxity and reduce fine lines and wrinkles overtime. Anti-inflammatory ingredients can help sooth irritated skin.

3. Protection

Protecting your skin is crucial for its’ overall health. Your routine should include a dedicated broad spectrum SPF 30+ which protects against UVA/ UVB rays. Anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C help to boost your SPF’s efficiency whilst protecting against environmental damage caused by pollution and free radicals.

Several bottles of OBAGI Daily Hydro-Drops eyelid eye gel cream and serum with yellow and white packaging on a light gray background.

Changes to our skin as we age

Skin becomes drier and more sensitive with age

As we age, our natural hyaluronic acid stores begin to deplete, so the skin holds less water and becomes noticeably drier and more dehydrated. If you already have dry or sensitive skin, this can lead to a crepey texture, tightness and dullness.

Dehydrated skin also weakens the skin barrier, increasing sensitivity and making conditions such as rosacea, eczema and dermatitis more reactive. This is one of the reasons rosacea can gradually worsen over time if it is not actively managed. Dry, unprotected skin also accelerates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Investing in the right cleanser, toner, exfoliator and moisturiser for your skin type becomes essential as we get older. Harsh, foaming or over-exfoliating products can strip the skin, while the right medical-grade ingredients will:

  • Keep skin smooth, soft and hydrated

  • Strengthen and support the skin barrier

  • Help restore a healthy skin pH

  • Reduce the overgrowth of harmful bacteria that can trigger breakouts and inflammation

We develop sun damage and hyperpigmentation

Years of accumulated sun exposure cause progressive damage to the DNA of our skin cells. Over time, this can disrupt melanocytes – the cells that produce pigment – leading to patches of excess pigmentation, known as hyperpigmentation.

As we age, we become more prone to:

  • Solar lentigines (sun spots)

  • Melasma – darker brown or greyish patches across the face

  • Freckles that no longer fade with the seasons

  • Cherry angiomas – small red or purple spots from clusters of blood vessels

Hyperpigmentation can also develop after years of acne, or due to hormonal changes such as pregnancy and the menopause.

This is where targeted, medical-grade active skincare can be truly transformative. Expertly prescribed skin-brightening creams combine antioxidants with key prescription-only ingredients to help block the enzymes involved in pigment production within melanocytes. Over time, this can visibly even out skin tone and create a brighter, clearer complexion.

Dynamic lines become static wrinkles

In our younger years, lines usually appear only when we smile, frown or raise our eyebrows – these are known as dynamic lines. With repeated movement and gradual collagen loss, these etched-in lines can persist even when the face is at rest, becoming static wrinkles.

Our collagen stores break down and elasticity is reduced

From our mid-twenties onwards, we slowly produce less collagen and elastin each year:

  • Collagen gives the skin its structure, strength and firmness

  • Elastin allows the skin to stretch and then spring back into place

As these supportive fibres break down, the dermis (middle layer of the skin) becomes thinner. This leads to:

  • Skin laxity and sagging

  • Fine lines and deeper wrinkles

  • Dark circles and hollows under the eyes appearing more pronounced

  • A more tired, crepey appearance, especially around the eyes, mouth and neck

Targeted anti-ageing treatments, alongside personalised medical-grade skincare, can help to stimulate collagen, improve elasticity and restore a smoother, more lifted look to ageing skin.

Skincare Consultations

What can I expect from my consultation with Dr Caroline?

At Dr. Caroline Warden Aesthetic Clinic we take a holistic approach to aesthetic medicine. This is why we will always start with your skincare first.

During your consultation Dr. Caroline will discuss your concerns around your skin and what goals you would like to achieve. She will then take a closer look at your skin with a dermatoscope, which allows for a closer, magnified examination. This enables us to get to the root cause of some of your concerns.

It is important to discuss your current skincare routine with you and any sensitivities you may have, so that we can use this information to recommend a personalised treatment plan that will benefit your skin type and help you achieve clearer, healthier skin in the longer term.

Which skincare treatments are discussed?

We offer a wide range of a skincare products, suitable for all skin types and all Fitzpatrick scale skin types. We only recommend evidence-based skincare, which are backed by extensive clinical trials, and which have a high patient approval rate. This is so that we can achieve the best outcomes for you.

Dr. Caroline will discuss any skincare products that we feel may benefit you, based on your personal aesthetic goals, what will give you the most effective results, and what is most suitable and achievable for you, given your skin concerns and any medical contraindications that you may have.

What happens after my consultation?

You are under no obligation to make a decision about any skincare products that we discuss during the consultation process.

At the end of your consultation, we provide you with a recommended skincare plan that you can take away and carefully consider. If however, you would like to make a purchase on the day, we sell our skincare both in our clinic and online, and you can purchase in clinic on the day stock levels permitting.

How long do our consultations last?

Consultations are around 45 to 60 minutes long.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a pink sleeveless top, sitting at a desk with skincare products in front of her, smiling and looking down at the products.

Skincare Products

We Recommend

Cleansers

Clears the skin of impurities, and helps to regulate sebum production

A bottle of Obagi Gel Daily Cleanser with a white body and blue cap, lying on a light gray surface with shadows cast to the right.

Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser

  • A mild, gentle cleanser that gently removes impurities, oil, and make-up to leave skin clean and fresh.

    Contains oat amino acids, a naturally derived water-binding agent to keep skin hydrated.

    ———

    Full ingredients list on

    www.obagi.com

  • Skin Type:

    Normal/ Dry/ Sensitive

A white bottle of Obagi Nu-Derm Foaming Gel with blue accents and label text indicating it is for deep cleansing to leave oily skin clean and fresh.

Obagi Nu-Derm Cleansing Foaming Gel

  • This gel-based cleanser is designed to cleanse pores and remove makeup, dirt and excess oil, leaving your skin feeling clean and fresh.

    Contains oat amino acids, a naturally derived water-binding agent to keep skin hydrated, and aloe, with soothing and antioxidant properties.

    ———

    Full ingredients list on

    www.obagi.com

  • Normal/ Combination/ Oily Skin

Four bottles of Obagi Clenziderm MD daily soothing foam cleanser arranged diagonally on a light gray background, casting shadows.

Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser

  • This lightweight, foaming acne cleanser, with 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA) helps to unclog pores, and wash away dead skin and impurities.

    The cooling menthol to leave skin feeling clean and refreshed.

    ———

    Full ingredients listed on

    www.obagi.com

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

Toners

Formulated to reset the pH balance of your skin.

A white bottle of Obagi Nu-Derm toner with the cap removed, placed on a gray surface, casting a shadow.

Obagi Nu-Derm Toner

  • This alcohol-free, non-drying toner helps to balance and maintain your skin’s natural pH.

    Contains Witch Hazel & Aloe , known for its soothing properties and its ability to remove excess oil.

    ———

    Full list of ingredients on

    www.obagi.com

  • Skin Type: All skin types

White bottle and box of Thoclor GF1 Labs aftercare skincare product.

Thoclor GF1

  • Comes in a spray. Contains the powerful disinfectant and anti-inflammatory Hypochlorous Acid at high concentration. This is the body’s immune molecule.

  • Oily/ Acne-prone skin. Eczema and Rosacea patients

A white bottle of Obagi Medical Clenziderm M.D. pore therapy with salicylic acid 2%, with the flip cap open, on a light gray surface.

Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Pore Therapy

  • A cult classic!

    A 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA) exfoliant that helps to unclog pores and clear away dead skin for clearer, brighter looking skin.

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

Exfoliators

Gently removes old, dull skin, helping to brighten the skin’s complexion and unclog pores.

A white bottle of Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm skin smoothing lotion with the cap removed and placed beside it, on a light gray background.

Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm


  • Exfoderm is a lightweight lotion containing phytic acid that exfoliates and removes old, dull skin while revealing fresh skin for a brighter, more radiant complexion for normal to dry skin types.

  • Dry to normal skin types

A white tube of Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm Forte exfoliation enhancer with blue and teal text, placed on a plain light gray background.

Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm Forte

  • This lightweight lotion with glycolic and lactic acids that exfoliates and removes old, dull skin whilst promoting natural skin turnover for a smoother, brighter complexion.

    ————

    List of full ingredients at

    www.obagi.com

  • Normal to Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

    Combination

A container of Obagi Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish + Mask containing 30% L-Ascorbic Acid on a light grey background.

Obagi Professional-C 30% Microdermabrasion Polish + Mask

  • A dual-action Vitamin C face mask that uses ultra-fine crystals to gently buff away the dull, outer layers of skin and infuses the freshly revealed skin with potent 30% L-Ascorbic Acid.

    For a brighter, smoother, and more youthful-looking appearance.

    • 88% of participants experienced a more luminous glow after the 1st use*

    • Formulated with L-Ascorbic Acid to brighten skin

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin/combination/normal/normal-dry

Moisturisers

Add & lock in moisture and smooth the skin’s appearance

A tube of Obagi Hydrate Light weightless gel cream with a pink badge indicating it is a 2024 NewBeauty award winner.

Obagi Hydrate Light

  • A weightless, oil-free moisturiser that delivers long-lasting hydration without clogging pores or feeling greasy.

    Designed for normal to oily and combination skin, it helps support the skin barrier while keeping the complexion smooth, calm and comfortable.

    It layers beautifully under SPF and makeup, making it ideal for everyday, shine-free hydration.

  • Skin Type: Oily/acne prone

Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream with a pump dispenser and cap, positioned against a light grey background, featuring a blue 'Accepted' badge from the National Eczema Association.

Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream

  • Skin Type:

White bottle of Obagi Hydrate facial moisturizer against a gray background.

Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturiser

  • This lightweight facial moisturiser formulated with Tara Seed Extract to provide all-day 8-hour hydration. Reduces trans-epidermal water loss for long-lasting hydration and smoother-looking skin.

  • Dry and dehydrated skin

Obagi Medical ELASTIderm Lift Up & Sculpt Facial Moisturizer product jar promoting firm, youthful, and hydrated skin

Obagi ELASTIderm Lift Up & Sculpt Facial Moisturiser

  • Skin Type:

Open jar of Obagi Hydrate Luxe Moisture-Rich Cream with the lid resting beside, casting a shadow on a light gray background.

Obagi Hydrate Luxe

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

Obagi Medical Daily Hydro-Drops in a clear bottle with yellow liquid and gold flakes, silver cap, on a light gray background.

Obagi Daily Hydro-Drops

  • Skin Type:

Serums / Actives

Help to brighten the skin and protect against the signs of ageing

A blue glass dropper bottle of Obagi Medical Professional-C serum with a white label, black dropper cap, and an orange and blue design on the label, set against a light gray background.

Obagi Vitamin C 10%

  • Skin Type:

A tube of Obagi Medical Elastiderm Advanced Filler Concentrate against a light gray background.

Obagi Advanced Filler Concentrate

  • Skin Type:

A blue glass bottle of OBAGI Medical Professional-C Serum with a white label and black dropper cap, placed on a light gray background.

Obagi Vitamin C 15%

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

A white vial of OBAGI ELASTiderm Facial Serum on a light gray background.

Obagi ELASTIderm Facial Serum

  • Skin Type:

A blue bottle of Obagi Medical Professional-C Serum with a dropper above it, dispensing serum into the bottle.

Obagi Vitamin C 20%

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

A white tube of Obagi ELASTiderm neck and décolleté concentrate standing upright against a plain background.

Obagi ELASTIderm Neck and Décolleté

  • Skin Type:

Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion with benzoyl peroxide 5% designed for acne treatment and clear skin

Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion

  • A lightweight 5% Benzoyl Peroxide lotion, which has been uniquely formulated to help clear blemish and acne-prone skin.

    It also helps to prevent future breakouts by removing the oil and dead skin that clogs pores.

    Visit the Obagi website for a full list of the ingredients.

  • Recommended for acne and blemish prone skin.

Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx skin brightening and blending cream, formulated to even skin tone and improve radiance

Obagi Blend Fx

  • Skin Type:

Obagi Medical Retinol 1.0 smoothing cream for anti-ageing and improving skin texture

Obagi Retinol 1.0%

  • A highly effective, slow-release, entrapped Retinol that gently encourages skin turnover to help even skin tone and minimise the signs of ageing, as as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

    Contains Retinol, which is a non-prescription Retinoid. Visit the Obagi website for a full list of the ingredients.

  • Best for oily/ acne-prone and mature skin.

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx brightening cream formulated to reduce dark spots and even skin tone

Obagi Clear Fx C

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

Eye Area

Refresh and rejuvenate the delicate eye area

Stack of four small jars of ELASTIderm eye cream with a gray background.

Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Cream

  • Skin Type:

Obagi Medical ELASTIderm De-Puffing Eye Serum designed to reduce under-eye puffiness and refresh tired eyes

Obagi Nu-Cil Eye Lash Enhancing Serum

  • A clinically-proven blend of ingredients formulated to address the appearance of sparse lashes.

    89% of participants reported improvement in the appearance of the density of their lashes*

    89% of participants reported an improvement in the appearance of the thickness of their eyelashes*

    *Results based on a 2021 16-week blinded study.

    Contains Biotin which supports the natural production of keratin. Visit the Obagi website for a full list of ingredients.

  • Suitable for all skin types.

Obagi Nu-Cil Eyebrow Boosting Serum designed to enhance brow fullness and promote thicker, healthier-looking eyebrows
Obagi eyelash growth results showing increased lash length and thickness after 8 and 12 weeks of use compared to baseline
Before and after skincare results showing smoother, clearer skin after 12 weeks of treatment

Obagi Nu-Cil Eyebrow Boosting Serum

  • Skin Type:

Obagi Medical ELASTIderm De-Puffing Eye Serum designed to reduce under-eye puffiness and refresh tired eyes

Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Serum

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

Sunscreen

An absolute must to protect your skin from UV damage.

Obagi Sun Shield Warm Tint SPF 50 sunscreen lotion offering broad-spectrum protection with infrared defense

Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50 Warm TINT

  • Dry to normal skin types

Obagi Sun Shield Cool Tint SPF 50 sunscreen lotion providing broad-spectrum sun protection with infrared defense

Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50 Cool TINT

  • ————

    List of full ingredients at

    www.obagi.com

  • Normal to Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

    Combination

Obagi Sun Shield Mineral SPF 50 sunscreen lotion with mineral-based broad-spectrum sun protection

Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50 Matte

  • Oily/ Acne-prone Skin

The Obagi Nu Derm System

Obagi Nu-Derm System: Transformative Results for Ageing, Pigmented & Sun-Damaged Skin

The Obagi Nu-Derm System is one of the most powerful and clinically proven medical-grade skincare programmes available for transforming the health, clarity and structure of the skin.

Designed to address moderate to severe signs of ageing and pigmentation, it works at a cellular level to repair and normalise skin function, delivering dramatic, long-lasting improvement.

Unlike cosmetic skincare, which only treats the surface, Obagi Nu-Derm is engineered to penetrate deep into the dermis, stimulating skin renewal and correcting skin damage from within.

It is considered the gold standard in clinical skincare for achieving clearer, brighter, firmer and more even-toned skin.

What Makes Obagi Nu-Derm So Amazing?

The system is unique because it does three essential things simultaneously:

1. Reprograms skin cell turnover

It speeds up the skin’s natural renewal cycle, removing old, damaged cells and replacing them with healthier, more resilient new skin.

2. Targets pigmentation at its source

It works on the melanocyte level to suppress excess melanin production, fading melasma, sun spots, age spots and post-inflammatory pigmentation.

3. Restores skin structure

By stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, it improves firmness, elasticity and fine lines, giving the skin a stronger, smoother, more youthful foundation.

Who Is Obagi Nu-Derm For?

Ideal for those experiencing:

* Uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation

* Sun damage or age spots

* Dull, tired skin

* Fine lines and wrinkles

* Loss of firmness or elasticity

* Texture irregularities

* Melasma or post-inflammatory dark marks

* Overall skin ageing

It’s especially life-changing for patients feeling their skin has **visibly aged quickly** due to sun exposure, pregnancy, stress or menopause.

What’s Inside the System?

The Nu-Derm System includes a carefully balanced routine of active, prescription-strength ingredients such as:

*Prescription Tretinoin – accelerates cell renewal & collagen production

*Hydroquinone (prescription only in the UK) – corrects hyperpigmentation

*AHAs/BHAs – exfoliate, refine pores & improve texture

Every product is designed to work synergistically to deliver controlled transformation through key treatment phases:

| 1–6 weeks   | exfoliation & resurfacing        |

| 6–12 weeks  | brightening & clearing           |

| 12–24 weeks | tightening & collagen rebuilding |

| Ongoing     | maintenance & protection         |

Real, Visible Transformation

With consistent use, Nu-Derm delivers:

✨ Brighter, more even skin tone

✨ Faded pigmentation & melasma

✨ Reduced fine lines & wrinkles

✨ Smoother, firmer texture

✨ Smaller-looking pores

✨ Healthier, stronger & more resilient skin

✨ A radiant, youthful glow

Most people start to see improvement within 6–8 weeks, with full transformation taking around 18–24 weeks.

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Why We Recommend Obagi Nu-Derm at Our Clinic

At Dr Caroline Warden Skin & Aesthetic Clinic, we specialise in evidence-based skincare and regenerative treatments. Nu-Derm is one of our most prescribed skin programmes because it:

* Treats the root cause of ageing* not just the symptoms

* Creates results close to a chemical peel or laser resurfacing, but through skincare alone

* Provides long-term improvement rather than temporary masking

* Is fully customisable for different skin types and skin journeys

* Works incredibly well when combined with injectable skin regeneration (e.g. polynucleotides, exosomes, microneedling, Profhilo)

> *It is the closest thing to resetting your skin to a younger, healthier version of itself.

Start Your Skin Transformation

Nu-Derm requires a prescription and medical assessment to ensure it is safe and tailored to your needs.

👉 Book a skincare consultation