“The Beauty Doctor can see you now – step into her office”
Fashion and beauty walk hand in hand, our focus on what we wear, how we wear it, how we look; from the way we cut or colour our hair, to the way our skin feels; the face we show to the world is our first impression as to how we will be perceived. Trying to replicate Queen Cleopatra’s beauty regime can be quite time consuming, not to mention sticky with all that milk and honey!
I met with a new bespoke client recently, an Aesthetics Doctor, Dr Qian Xu, a woman whose speciality is to make both men and women feel and look good in their skin. I’m not talking vanity here, more the nuances as to the importance of good skin care the benefits of, all quite fascinating.
I don’t know how many of you when hitting puberty, suddenly woke up to find that your once smooth skin was starting to change, pimples suddenly appeared, added to that your body started to take on a different shape. You’re placated with phrases such as ‘don’t worry you will grow out of it’, ‘it’s just a phase’. None of which alleviates the sigh when you look in the mirror, saying to yourself ‘how long’, ‘why did this happen’, ‘what can I do’ and no more chocolate, what cruel blow has fate delivered to me?!
Then one day, the voices of the wise sages start to come true, and your skin reverts pimples gone, hooray, but then at the back of you mind, a little voice says, ‘now how do you keep it that way’?
Fashion and beauty make for good bedfellows, the beauty industry is forever trying to keep us staying younger (whatever that means). So going back to speaking with Dr Xu, it was so refreshing to hear her side of the story, as to why she does what she does, to assist our skin with its forever changing facets. I learned as in her words “from the moment a client walks through my door to when they leave, I want for them to have experienced an holistic approach to their skin care with science combined”.
Dr Qian Xu – Skin Aesthetics
Results orientated Qian is acutely aware of how empowering it is to know that you and your skin are looking good, doing great, and will continue for many years to come, provided as with all things you look after it. It was interesting to learn how many people ‘think’ they know their skin type, and that breakouts are not necessarily the result of a product that does not agree with you.
As our conversation was drawing to a close (I could only keep her at my studio for so long guys, under the guise of measurements and fitting)! I donned my ‘Master Mind’ hat and quizzed her as to skin care:
A Few Facts and Myths of Skin Care
Is there such a thing as good or bad skin?
“NO. Everyone’s skin is different, some more sensitive, some more oily, some more prone to pigmentation, and others more prone to wrinkles. It is important to get to know your skin and use the right products for your skin. It amazes me how many people are wrong about their own skin type, and using the wrong skincare products. No wonder they are not getting the result they want”!
Is it only teenagers who are prone to acne?
“NO. Acne is more common in teenagers because of the hormonal changes during puberty. However, acne is becoming common in adults. The most common causes are hormonal, stress, air pollution and using the wrong skincare products on your skin. The treatment of acne should aim to address the issues, not with antibiotics”.
What role does diet play in our skin care?
“Having a healthy balanced diet is vital not only for skin health, but also for general health of the body. Vitamin A, C and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids are just some of the nutrients which help to maintain healthy skin”.
Do I have to give up chocolate?
“There is evidence to suggest that having a diet high in sugar speeds up the ageing process. However, this does not mean you need to cut out all the sugar. If you love chocolate, you can still have it now and again, just don’t over-indulge”.
Phew that giving up chocolate question was sailing a bit close to the wind, I could hear some of you holding your breath! There you have it, a brief insight into healthy skin with some myths debunked; if you would like to talk further with Dr Qian Xu her website is https://www.saclinic.co.uk/ email: info@saclinic.co.uk or telephone 020 3494 4363 for a personal consultation.
Now its time for me to get back to my sewing!