I ‘sanded' my face in the name of beauty — and I'd happily do it again
In the eternal quest for youthful skin, I've done a lot.
From slathering all sorts of serums and creams on my skin to having injections and lasers galore, I'll pretty much try anything if it means the cashier at M&S asks for my ID when I'm trying to buy a Paloma tin.
However, even I'll admit, the idea of microdermabrasion was something I wasn't champing at the bit to try.
Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that essentially 'buffs' away the outermost layer of dead skin cells from the face and body — either with a coarsely tipped tool called a 'diamond wand' or aluminium crystals — before mild suction carries those dead skin cells away and (hopefully) reveals a gleaming fresh layer underneath.
So you see where I'm getting at when I say it 'sands' away at the skin.
It's claimed to improve not only the appearance of your skin, but also to blast away blackheads, make your pores look smaller, improve pigmentation, even your skin tone, reduce fine lines and help your skincare products work better.
No surprise then, that apparently the celebs love it, with Kim Kardashian previously saying she employs microdermabrasion to exfoliate in the warmer months.
Be that as it may, I was cautious of what could go wrong. Such exfoliation has to have a certain level of recovery time, right? I'd never used this device before either, and without an expert observing my attempt, I felt the odds of user error were high. Then I'm walking around with said 'error' on my face, healing for who knows how long. https://www.instagram.com/p/DFihnOLM0mj/
Still, while the idea of dragging something akin to sandpaper over my face felt a step too far for even this skincare obsessive, I've been looking for a treatment to even out my skintone and help eliminate some pesky milia (small white bumps just under the skin) that won't budge.
So it felt serendipitous that Skin Krush's Microdermabrasion kit (£105) landed on my desk, and the lure of a new tool that may deliver a brighter, tighter complexion became too much to resist. If it can also reduce fine lines? Even better. If it can then do my washing up? We're laughing.
Full caveat, I've not had in-salon microdermabrasion, so I can't compare an at-home treatment to something done by an expert. I felt somewhat placated by the idea that the device wouldn't be as 'strong' as something being wielded by a trained professional, and that I could do a few bursts and stop immediately if it didn't feel comfortable. Plus, I could do it as and when I had a spare few minutes (in my pyjamas, too), and the cost-per-use would come in much lower than an appointment.
Opening up the package, I'm confronted by a cone-shaped tool that looks a little like the Blue Origin capsule that returned Katy Perry to terra firma, with a coarse tip at the end and a little hole that I assume is where the dead skin will be sucked after being coerced off my face. What a wonderful world.
The device comes with a range of 'Krusher' tips depending on the kind of intensity you're after: a fine tip, a medium one, and a precision one for getting into all sorts of facial nooks and crannies, such as around the nose.
Now, to business. Before taking the plunge, I took a look through the brand's website, where the before and after images from other customers were genuinely impressive, with clear improvements in blackheads and pores 'after only one use'. Some users also raved about using it to remove stubborn fake tan from their limbs.
Seeing as the whole process of microdermabrasion sounded wildly intimidating to someone with dry skin, before I put the device anywhere near my face, I needed to talk to the experts behind it, Sinead Gallagher and Jeanette Dunne, from Renew Skin Clinic.
'When you remove dead skin cells, you remove excess oil on the skin and allow the skin to breathe,' Sinead told me.
'You also improve the appearance of the skin and improve open pores and blackheads. That […]glow is due to skincare penetrating deeper into the skin and brightening it.'
Getting such a treatment done in the salon can cost upwards of £99 for a session (with various clinics suggesting anywhere between 6-10 sessions spaced out every couple of weeks, depending on skin type and concern) and while I'd imagine the professionals are doing a much more thorough job because they're, well, professionals, the founders say their tool is designed to be used alongside any in-house treatments.
'It's for people who may be time poor or may want to maintain the results of in-house treatments,' Sinead clarified. '[The Skin Krush device is] not as strong as you would get in a clinic, and we did a lot of research to ensure it was safe, effective and easy to use.'
Word to the wise, though, it's not suitable for everyone, and people with active acne or Rosacea are advised to stay away from strong chemical or mechanical exfoliants as they can cause further irritation.
Even without active acne or Rosacea, I was warned that the first time I used the device it may leave me red. They were not wrong.
As the tool swept over my skin, drafting up dead skin cells like a street sweeper while suction hoovered them up into a small filter, it left a red, hot line in its wake, with some fresh flakes remaining on my skin (I started on the lowest setting, so perhaps I need to up the suck).
Despite the suction being described as 'mild' it's certainly got some oomph, with the sensation akin to vacuuming a carpet without a brush head. As such, it's recommended you pull your skin taut to make sure the device can sweep across without causing damage.
But although I was worried I'd leave the bathroom looking like Samantha Jones after a chemical peel (IYKYK), the redness and heat were all but gone within an hour, and left no lasting mark.
Sinead adds that you should 'always test on your arm or the back of the hand before using it on your face' and 'only use on the lower setting and the fine tip until your skin becomes used to it', using no more than once a week.
After one use, I did notice my skin was super soft and the texture of my skin, especially around my cheeks, had improved (one milia spot persists for now). More Trending
I had no acne spots pop up that week either, or even attempt to surface. In fact, one spot seemed to disappear faster than usual. And while that may simply be hormonal, I wonder if the removal of dead skin cells had anything to do with feeling less clogged.
A week later I used the device again, but I got cocky. I wasn't as gentle in my sweeps, which meant I was left with a tighter, drier feeling and flaky skin on my chin.
Still, my skin felt softer again, and I write this eager to employ the crafty little treatment once more. Despite going a little too hard last time, my lotions evidently loved the easier access to my pores, with my skincare soaking in brilliantly and adding to the much-desired glow.
Looks like my dead skin cells aren't the only thing that's been sucked in…
MORE: There's still time! The last-minute Father's Day gifts to shop now
MORE: 47 Skin launches new BHA exfoliant to combat breakouts, clogged pores and dull skin
MORE: 'Everyone asks what fragrance I'm wearing – it's this little-known niche perfume'
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The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
My skin smelt like burnt bacon during £2k celeb laser treatment – I'm glowing but there was stomach-churning side effect
THANKS to the wonders of Instagram, 'The Cloud' and Facebook, I am constantly reminded how wonderful life was back when I had collagen. And how (relatively) wonderful I looked when I had collagen: banks and banks of the stuff giving my young, happy little face that unmistakable glow of youth. 8 8 Thanks to two decades of sunbathing (and a few sunbeds), that collagen has depleted quicker than you can say 'pigmentation' – which I also had a lot of. And this despite a recent facelift which, while undoubtedly brilliant at successfully halting the tide of ageing disintegration, did not address the actual texture or quality of my skin. Enough was enough. So, like all good millennials, I took to Dr Google... and promptly booked in for a CO2 laser, a treatment popular with celebs including Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow. In LA, the home of good skincare, facelifts and CO2 facelifts are synonymous – surgeons regularly book their clients for laser treatments as part of the aftercare package, such is the possible transformation. Some of the results looked mildly terrifying – people with peeling faces, scabs oozing pus and flaking skin. Unwilling to leave my skin to fate, or the hands of a dentist-turned- Botoxer, I booked in at London 's exclusive Harley Street Injectables. Clinic boss Alice Henshaw – who actually works with the surgeon who did my face, Dr Paul Tulley in London's Harley Street – had contacted me previously after reading about my op. (Yep, tweakments aren't my first rodeo). She is a highly rated aesthetician to many celebs and a whole raft of influencers, who regularly live Instagram from her clinic. 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Seconds later, there's a waft of burning. 8 8 'What's that smell?' I ask, my thoughts briefly turning to what I'll have for dinner. 'Oh yes, that's your skin,' Stevie replies, casually, as I inhale a whiff of bacon. Having never had a laser treatment before, I really don't know what to expect. The following day I look like I've swallowed a football, and my face is beetroot red It feels like an elastic band is being pulled taut and then snapped on my face, hard, and repeatedly. It's fine on my forehead, but REALLY hurts on my upper lip. My eyes start watering and I'm trying – and failing – to look sanguine as cameraman Ben blithely zooms in on my increasingly red face. The sensitive neck area also smarts a bit – a solid 7.2/10 for pain (10 being 'give me a gun now', 0 being a nice massage at Soho Farmhouse) – but Stevie counts down throughout, reassuring me I'm doing 'great'. (TBH all I'm doing is lying still, but it's sweet and I am determined not to swear.) 'F***!!!' I promptly scream as she goes in beneath my eyes. For this, I am given two in-eye lenses to prevent any radiation from getting through. Ben is also given dark glasses to stop any radiation 'bounce', too. 'Not for the faint-hearted' Thankfully, within 20 minutes, it's all over. I'm red, but won't scare small children on the Tube home. Alice packs me off with a bespoke aftercare kit – an ice pack, her own range of Factor 100 sun cream, 5DHA hyaluronic acid serum, a lux moisturiser and some Skincycles bio-cellulose sheet face masks to help with hydration. I am told to avoid all sunshine for the next couple of weeks, which comes in handy for the start of the spring heatwave the following day. I look certifiably insane walking the dog in a polo neck, sunglasses and a Ted Lasso visor – the only hat I could find – in the blazing sunshine. The following day I look like I've swallowed a football, and my face is beetroot red. I cancel lunch with friends. 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Metro
5 days ago
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I ‘sanded' my face in the name of beauty — and I'd happily do it again
In the eternal quest for youthful skin, I've done a lot. From slathering all sorts of serums and creams on my skin to having injections and lasers galore, I'll pretty much try anything if it means the cashier at M&S asks for my ID when I'm trying to buy a Paloma tin. However, even I'll admit, the idea of microdermabrasion was something I wasn't champing at the bit to try. Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that essentially 'buffs' away the outermost layer of dead skin cells from the face and body — either with a coarsely tipped tool called a 'diamond wand' or aluminium crystals — before mild suction carries those dead skin cells away and (hopefully) reveals a gleaming fresh layer underneath. So you see where I'm getting at when I say it 'sands' away at the skin. It's claimed to improve not only the appearance of your skin, but also to blast away blackheads, make your pores look smaller, improve pigmentation, even your skin tone, reduce fine lines and help your skincare products work better. No surprise then, that apparently the celebs love it, with Kim Kardashian previously saying she employs microdermabrasion to exfoliate in the warmer months. Be that as it may, I was cautious of what could go wrong. Such exfoliation has to have a certain level of recovery time, right? I'd never used this device before either, and without an expert observing my attempt, I felt the odds of user error were high. Then I'm walking around with said 'error' on my face, healing for who knows how long. Still, while the idea of dragging something akin to sandpaper over my face felt a step too far for even this skincare obsessive, I've been looking for a treatment to even out my skintone and help eliminate some pesky milia (small white bumps just under the skin) that won't budge. So it felt serendipitous that Skin Krush's Microdermabrasion kit (£105) landed on my desk, and the lure of a new tool that may deliver a brighter, tighter complexion became too much to resist. If it can also reduce fine lines? Even better. If it can then do my washing up? We're laughing. Full caveat, I've not had in-salon microdermabrasion, so I can't compare an at-home treatment to something done by an expert. I felt somewhat placated by the idea that the device wouldn't be as 'strong' as something being wielded by a trained professional, and that I could do a few bursts and stop immediately if it didn't feel comfortable. Plus, I could do it as and when I had a spare few minutes (in my pyjamas, too), and the cost-per-use would come in much lower than an appointment. Opening up the package, I'm confronted by a cone-shaped tool that looks a little like the Blue Origin capsule that returned Katy Perry to terra firma, with a coarse tip at the end and a little hole that I assume is where the dead skin will be sucked after being coerced off my face. What a wonderful world. The device comes with a range of 'Krusher' tips depending on the kind of intensity you're after: a fine tip, a medium one, and a precision one for getting into all sorts of facial nooks and crannies, such as around the nose. Now, to business. Before taking the plunge, I took a look through the brand's website, where the before and after images from other customers were genuinely impressive, with clear improvements in blackheads and pores 'after only one use'. Some users also raved about using it to remove stubborn fake tan from their limbs. Seeing as the whole process of microdermabrasion sounded wildly intimidating to someone with dry skin, before I put the device anywhere near my face, I needed to talk to the experts behind it, Sinead Gallagher and Jeanette Dunne, from Renew Skin Clinic. 'When you remove dead skin cells, you remove excess oil on the skin and allow the skin to breathe,' Sinead told me. 'You also improve the appearance of the skin and improve open pores and blackheads. That […]glow is due to skincare penetrating deeper into the skin and brightening it.' Getting such a treatment done in the salon can cost upwards of £99 for a session (with various clinics suggesting anywhere between 6-10 sessions spaced out every couple of weeks, depending on skin type and concern) and while I'd imagine the professionals are doing a much more thorough job because they're, well, professionals, the founders say their tool is designed to be used alongside any in-house treatments. 'It's for people who may be time poor or may want to maintain the results of in-house treatments,' Sinead clarified. '[The Skin Krush device is] not as strong as you would get in a clinic, and we did a lot of research to ensure it was safe, effective and easy to use.' Word to the wise, though, it's not suitable for everyone, and people with active acne or Rosacea are advised to stay away from strong chemical or mechanical exfoliants as they can cause further irritation. Even without active acne or Rosacea, I was warned that the first time I used the device it may leave me red. They were not wrong. As the tool swept over my skin, drafting up dead skin cells like a street sweeper while suction hoovered them up into a small filter, it left a red, hot line in its wake, with some fresh flakes remaining on my skin (I started on the lowest setting, so perhaps I need to up the suck). Despite the suction being described as 'mild' it's certainly got some oomph, with the sensation akin to vacuuming a carpet without a brush head. As such, it's recommended you pull your skin taut to make sure the device can sweep across without causing damage. But although I was worried I'd leave the bathroom looking like Samantha Jones after a chemical peel (IYKYK), the redness and heat were all but gone within an hour, and left no lasting mark. Sinead adds that you should 'always test on your arm or the back of the hand before using it on your face' and 'only use on the lower setting and the fine tip until your skin becomes used to it', using no more than once a week. After one use, I did notice my skin was super soft and the texture of my skin, especially around my cheeks, had improved (one milia spot persists for now). More Trending I had no acne spots pop up that week either, or even attempt to surface. In fact, one spot seemed to disappear faster than usual. And while that may simply be hormonal, I wonder if the removal of dead skin cells had anything to do with feeling less clogged. A week later I used the device again, but I got cocky. I wasn't as gentle in my sweeps, which meant I was left with a tighter, drier feeling and flaky skin on my chin. Still, my skin felt softer again, and I write this eager to employ the crafty little treatment once more. Despite going a little too hard last time, my lotions evidently loved the easier access to my pores, with my skincare soaking in brilliantly and adding to the much-desired glow. Looks like my dead skin cells aren't the only thing that's been sucked in… MORE: There's still time! The last-minute Father's Day gifts to shop now MORE: 47 Skin launches new BHA exfoliant to combat breakouts, clogged pores and dull skin MORE: 'Everyone asks what fragrance I'm wearing – it's this little-known niche perfume' Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Telegraph
Three reasons why British strawberries are excellent for your health
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High in immune-boosting antioxidants and low in natural sugars 'They are a great source of antioxidants – rich in anthocyanins and phytochemicals, which can help prevent inflammation,' says Dr Megan Rossi, the founder of The Gut Health Doctor and a research fellow at King's College London. In terms of their sugar content, strawberries are in the middle ground for fruits, overall, with much less than mango or banana, says Lenherr. 'They do have natural sugar in them and berries tend to have lower sugar levels than tropical fruits.' Strawberries also have a high water content, without too much of the extra sugar of other high water content fruits such as watermelon. 2. High in vitamin C One serving a day would hit the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, helping to boost the immune system and ward off seasonal colds. Some experts believe the high vitamin C content also makes strawberries important for the production of collagen, the 'scaffolding structure' in the skin. 3. Good for gut health Strawberries come low on the FODMAP scale, a way of measuring the short-chain carbohydrates that can cause digestion problems. Lenherr says: 'It means that they contain minimal fermentable sugars that, for some individuals, can trigger bloating, gas, and discomfort, especially for people with irritable bowel syndrome or sensitive digestion. They can be an easy option for those who want to incorporate fibre (at 2g per serving, it is nearly one tenth of your daily intake) without having to choose higher FODMAP-containing fruits, such as apples and pears. A low FODMAP serving of strawberries is 65g per five medium strawberries.' How to maximise the health benefits of strawberries Find the ripest A ripe strawberry offers the most health benefits, while an underripe fruit has lower vitamin C content and decreased phytonutrients. Look out for strawberries with a shiny, red colour and a sweet smell; if a strawberry has a strong alcoholic smell, it is mostly overripe. Eating a perfectly ripe strawberry is so important that some nutritionists prefer a frozen strawberry to a fresh one, especially if it's out of season. Hope says: 'Generally speaking, they are both good for you, but frozen strawberries are flash-frozen from the time they are picked, and all the nutrients, including vitamin C, are locked in.' The UK strawberry season usually runs from May to September when the juiciest, most flavoursome strawberries are produced, so this is the healthiest time to consume them. Outside of this window, strawberries are imported into the country from mainly Spain and Egypt. Go for home-grown 'Consumers have reported British strawberries (in season) to be sweeter and contain more fructose which provides us with energy,' says Rossi. 'When they are grown here, there is less time between them being picked and being eaten. Transport hauls could be degrading the phytochemicals.' In plain terms, the quicker the journey from harvest to consumption, the more nutrients will remain in the strawberry, ensuring higher quality and better taste. Try organic As much as we all love strawberries, they are listed as one of the 'dirty dozen' fruits most likely to contain pesticide residue, a substance used to deter pests. 'Organic strawberries won't have as many pesticides in – that's a fact,' says Rossi. However, if you don't want to stretch to organic varieties, to reduce exposure to pesticides, Rossi and Lenherr recommend soaking the fruit in either water or baking soda for 10 minutes, and then patting it dry. Rossi notes that bicarbonate of soda may, of course, affect the taste of the fruit. Healthy (and delicious) ways to eat strawberries 'I love pairing strawberries with tahini and 70 per cent dark chocolate,' says Lenherr. 'It is such a lovely sweet, slightly salty combination. Tahini is full of plant-based calcium which is great because I don't eat dairy. It also has great levels of antioxidants and healthy fats. 'The higher the percentage of cocoa in chocolate, the more antioxidants it has in. Its bitterness also stimulates digestion.' Rossi recommends strawberry and pistachio cheesecake. 'We know pairing fruit with healthy fats is a great thing for people conscious of blood sugar regulation. It also slows absorption of sugars and helps us absorb fat-soluble vitamins.' Hope even recommends eating the strawberry leaves. 'People chop the leaves off, but they are actually very nutritious,' she says. 'You can take the stalk away, but if you're making a smoothie, blend them as well.'
