Skincare
What can I expect from my consultation?
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 use 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.
The Importance Of Skincare
Our Health
As the body’s largest organ, our skin plays a key role in our immune system and keeping us safe. The importance of our skin
As the body’s largest organ, our skin plays a key role in our immune system and keeping us safe, from regulating our body’s temperature to acting as a protective barrier to keep bacteria and germs from entering our bodies.
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. Although the skin tries to protect itself, it cannot do this alone. This is why it is important to look after our skin by taking additional precautions.
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.
3. Slowing The 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.
2. Better Mental Health
We’ve all 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.
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.
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 skincare routine should target three key areas
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.
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.
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.
3 Changes to our skin as we age
Our faces tell our life’s story, but it doesn’t have to give all your sunbathing and face wipe transgressions away.
Skin becomes drier
As we age our hyaluronic acid stores begin to deplete, making our skin more drier. For those who already have dry skin, this can leave our skin look and feeling crepey and dehydrated. Dehydrated skin affects our skin barrier function, leading to an increase in skin sensitivities, and can exacerbate pre-existing conditions such s rosacea. This us why rosacea can get progressively worse as we age if left unmanaged. Dry skin also leads to crepey skin and an increase in lines and wrinkles.
Investing in the right kind of cleanser, toner, exfoliator and moisturiser for your skin type is an absolute must as we get older. Certain products can be more drying than others. The right ingredients should keep your skin smooth, hydrated, strengthen and support skin barrier function and restore you skin’s pH levels to maintain healthy skin and prevent the overgrowth of bacteria.
We develop hyperpigmentation
Years of accumulated exposure to the sun causes irreparably damage to the DNA of our skin cells. This damage results in the misfiring of melanocytes, the cells which cause the production of pigmentation in the skin. Excess pigmentation is known as ‘hyperpigmentation’.
As we age we are more prone to solar lentigo (sun spots), melasma (darker brown patches, or greyish patches across the skin), permanent freckles which no longer fade with the seasons, and cherry angiomas (red or purple spots cause by broken blood vessels), which typically appear after the age of thirty. Hyperpigmenation can also occur after years of acne flares or from significant hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy and the menopause.
This is where medical-grade actives can have a truly transformative effect on the skin. Skin brightening creams are specially formulated with anti-oxidants and key prescription-only ingredigents, that can help block the enzyme which produce pigmentation in the melanocytes, clearing the skin for a more even-looking complexion.
Dynamic lines become static wrinkles
Our faces tell our life story.
Our collagen stores breakdown and our skin loses elasticity
As we age our collagen and elastin begins to break down. Collagen is a protein that makes skin cells strong, and elastin is a protein that kepps our skin flexible. This steady loss causes the skin’s middle layer (dermis) to become thinner, resulting in skin laxity, dark circles appearing more visible underneath our eyes, and the increased development of fine line sand wrinkles.
Dark circles and crepey skin under our eyes
Learn More About Your Skin Type
Medical-grade Vs Over-the-Counter
Why we recommend Obagi
Cleansers
Clears the skin of makeup, impurities, and helps to reduce and regulate sebum production
Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser
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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.
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Full ingredients list on
www.obagi.com
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Skin Type:
Normal/ Dry/ Sensitive
Obagi Nu-Derm Cleansing Foaming Gel
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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.
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Full ingredients list on
www.obagi.com
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Normal/ Combination/ Oily Skin
Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser
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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.
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Full ingredients listed on
www.obagi.com
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Toners
Formulated to reset the pH balance of your skin.
Obagi Nu-Derm Toner
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This alcohol-free, non-drying toner helps to balance and maintain your skin’s natural pH.
Contains Witch Hazel, known for its soothing properties and its ability to remove excess oil, and Aloe.
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Full list of ingredients on
www.obagi.com
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Skin Type: All skin types
Thoclor GF1
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Oily/ Acne-prone skin and Rosacea patients
Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Pore Therapy
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A 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA)exfoliant that helps to unclog pores and clear away dead skin for cleaerer, healthier-looking skin.
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Exfoliators
Gently removes old, dull skin, helping to brighten the skin’s complexion and unclog pores.
Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm
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Dry to normal skin types
Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm Forte
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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.
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List of full ingredients at
www.obagi.com
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Normal to Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Combination
Obagi Professional-C 30% Microdermabrasion Polish + Mask
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Moisturisers
A well-formulated facial moisturiser helps lock in moisture, smooth the skin’s appearance and promote a radiant-looking complexion.
Obagi Hydrate Light
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Skin Type:
Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream
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Skin Type:
Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturiser
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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.
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Dry and dehydrated skin
Obagi ELASTIderm Lift Up & Sculpt Facial Moisturiser
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Skin Type:
Obagi Hydrate Luxe
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Obagi Daily Hydro-Drops
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Skin Type:
Serums / Actives
Help to brighten the skin and protect against the signs of ageing
Obagi Vitamin C 10%
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Skin Type:
Obagi Advanced Filler Concentrate
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Skin Type:
Obagi Vitamin C 15%
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Obagi ELASTIderm Facial Serum
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Skin Type:
Obagi Vitamin C 20%
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Obagi ELASTIderm Neck and Décolleté
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Skin Type:
Treatments/ Actives
Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion
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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.
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Recommended for acne and blemish prone skin.
Obagi Blend Fx
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Skin Type:
Obagi Retinol 1.0%
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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.
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Best for oily/ acne-prone and mature skin.
Obagi Clear Fx C
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Eye Area
Refresh and rejuvenate the appearance of the delicate eye area.
Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Cream
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Skin Type:
Obagi Nu-Cil Eye Lash Enhancing Serum
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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.
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Suitable for all skin types.
Obagi Nu-Cil Eyebrow Boosting Serum
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Skin Type:
Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Serum
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Sunscreen
An absolute must for all skincare routines to protect your skin from UV damage.
Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50 Warm TINT
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Dry to normal skin types
Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50 Cool TINT
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List of full ingredients at
www.obagi.com
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Normal to Oily/ Acne-prone Skin
Combination
Obagi Sun Shield SPF 50 Matte
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Oily/ Acne-prone Skin