Beauty Talk:
Dr. Lisa Chan

It’s beauty month at Lane Crawford. We have gathered tried and tested advice to help keep you well informed on the latest beauty trends.

Here, Dr. Lisa Chan, a general practitioner with an avid interest in aesthetic medicine, offers professional and personal insight on skincare and streamlining beauty routine.

Personally, cleansing, moisturising, and sun protection are the mainstays of my routine. I believe in a holistic skincare approach, which is about staying healthy and keeping your mind and body in balance. Apart from skincare products, I get machine-based treatments and injectables regularly as they tend to give faster and more prominent results for me. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is my personal go-to for improving pesky acne spots and brightening skin complexion. High-energy devices are also my regulars for firming and lifting, along with injectables for fine lines and volume loss.

Professionally, I always adopt a personalised, tailor-made approach for every patient. Concerning skincare, I would say stick to the basics, a gentle cleanser, pH balancing toner, serum, moisturiser, and sunscreen. I personally don’t recommend patients try new products or home-based treatments – when it comes to our skin, less is often more.

There has been increased interest in skin minimalism, aka “skinimalism”, which translates to using minimal products rather than multiple, complicated, and time-consuming skincare steps day and night. This simplified routine may be good for people whose skin has not responded well to a complicated skincare routine, or those who get irritated with redness and breakouts easily with new products.

The use of multiple ingredients on the skin at a time may pose abrupt changes in pH of the skin, which can then lead to pH off-balance and skin irritation. People with underlying skin diseases like rosacea, eczema, or poorly controlled acne may flare-up easily when multiple ingredients are mixed together.

If you have already found what works for you, then stick with it! However, it doesn’t mean that using multiple-step skincare routines is not good. There was a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2019 which found that a multi-step routine (involving a cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum, and day and night cream) led to greater improvements in skin hydration level than a simple routine involving only a cleanser and day cream. Consider giving the minimalist approach a try if you feel overwhelmed by the number of products you have at home, or the time it takes to get ready for work.

Try to keep the skincare products to a basic minimum and cut out other products gradually. Toner may not be needed unless your skin is oily. A good cleanser with proper face washing technique should rid your skin of sufficient dirt and dead cells.

Second, slowly reduce the frequency of using certain elements, such as exfoliation products or chemical peels. Third, know your skin’s priorities and what it needs most. When in doubt, make sure you consult your doctor.

No matter how simple our skincare routines become, the three essentials are non-negotiable: gentle cleansing agent, moisturiser, and sunscreen.

One of the main skin-ageing environmental factors is the sun’s ultraviolet light – which affects our skin even in wintertime and cloudy days. It is estimated that more than 80% of skin ageing – including a dry appearance, scalping and wrinkling – are accentuated by exposure to UV light.

Even when we simplify our “steps”, we should not switch the products we use frequently such as suddenly switching between face creams every other day. This is especially important for those working in the beauty industry who may receive trial invitations from brands from time to time. It can take up to 30 days to see results as our average cell turnover is around 28 days – so pick a product and stick with it to keep things simple and effects prominent.

Sunscreen is a big must - photoaging is a very real thing. No one likes premature wrinkles and pigmentation. Make it a habit to apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every morning, even on days when you plan on being indoors. Remember to cover your ears, neck, chest, and hands as well - those are the tell-tale areas that sometimes get neglected.

Proper hydration is also important. Besides drinking plenty of water, I use a lightweight moisturiser during the day and a creamier formula at night. Before big events, applying hydrating masks is a great way to give your skin that extra boost. When required, some people may also benefit from the incorporation of light and energy-based devices and injectables into their cosmeceutical routines.

Finally, staying both physically and mentally healthy does wonders for your skin. Apart from maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I’ve taken up mindfulness practices and it’s really helped me to become more positive, not to mention softening those frown lines.

Disclaimer: Dr. Lisa Chan is participating in this interview solely for informational purposes and does not endorse or promote any of the products contained herein on LaneCrawford.com or its associated companies/platforms.