Skincare Sunday: Rethink your skin regime

“We know the skin builds up resilience and research shows that results plateau,” explains cosmetic scientist Colette Haydon. Apparently, after around three months of using the same ingredient to fade a sun spot or smooth out a wrinkle, we see the full benefits. After that, any improvement stays pretty much the same. If, however, you disrupt the routine and give your skin short, sharp programs, focusing on one key active – even using a hydrating or anti-aging mask every day for one week – your skin will stop being complacent, kick into gear and give you the best results. “It’s like changing our gym workout as the body adjusts – you need to switch up and alternate those high-tech products,” says facialist and skincare formulator Sunday Riley.

With our extensive collection of masks, peels, serums and so on (mine is so big, I have a ‘walk-in wardrobe’ of skincare), it’s not a case of clearing it all out and starting again. “Keep everything – just don’t use them all at once, and you’ll get better results,” says Haydon. “Ask the skin to do one thing at a time; use a retinol for, say, four to six weeks, then stop. Next, change your active and use a peel for two to three weeks, then stop again.” Other experts I speak to recommend doing a three-month winter course of retinol and a month of AHA or BHA peels every three to four months. The idea is to give the skin the tools to do one job, and do it well.

Haydon also suggests taking a skincare vacation every now and again: “If you’re going away for the weekend, just pack a cleanser and face cream. I believe that stripping skincare back to the basics for a few days makes the difference in the long run.”