Beauty: The problems facing the quest for perfect skin

GET THE LOOK: It was all about the full glossy pout on the Milan catwalk this week for the the Roberto Cavalli fall/winter 2018-2019 collection. The perfect foil for creamy white, try Buxom Full-On Lip Cream, Â£15, to get the look right (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni).

placeholder image — GET THE LOOK: It was all about the full glossy pout on the Milan catwalk this week for the the Roberto Cavalli fall/winter 2018-2019 collection. The perfect foil for creamy white, try Buxom Full-On Lip Cream, Â£15, to get the look right (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni).

Don't let constant skin break-outs grind you down. Beauty Editor Stephanie Smith finds out how beauty brand Dermalogica is tackling the problem. Plus Get the Look and beauty products of the week.

Most of us get the odd break-out from time to time, but acne is a skin condition that causes serious distress to many people, not just teenagers but also adults.

Skincare brand Dermalogica specialises in treating difficult skin conditions such as acne through a programme of topical cleansing, care and treatment products. You can visit the counter (there’s one at Harvey Nichols in Leeds) where a therapist will be able to examine your skin using its Skin Mapping service, and suggest a plan of action.

Dermalogica says: “For adults, particularly women, the key factor behind break-outs is stress. Women also have the continuous fluctuation of hormones from the menstrual cycle to pregnancy and then menopause, all of which can impact on acne development. One of the key differences symptomatically is that teen acne tends to be very oily and they have resilient skin, whereas as adult acne is not necessarily oily. In fact, it can be quite dry, dehydrated and sensitive.”

Dermalogica Calm Water gel, Â£44.50, at Harvey Nichols.

For adults, Dermalogica experts recommend a pre-cleansing oil, then a medicated wash, a mild hydroxy acid exfoliator daily or a few times a week to minimise congestion, and a hydrating mist to tackle dehydration layered with a treatment serum with anti-acne actives on key affected areas. The Dermalogica MediBac Clearing System for adults costs £44.

All skin types can also benefit from Dermalogica’s new Calm Water Gel, a weightless water-gel moisturiser for dry, sensitive skin, transforming into a skin-quenching fluid on application, forming a barrier against environmental assault.

Good skin care habits are essential for both teenagers and adults. Dermalogica advises sufferers to clean make-up brushes regularly, wash pillowcases weekly and disinfect mobile phones daily to help reduce bacteria.

Avoid also pore-clogging, congestion-inducing habits like working out with make-up on – and reduce your stress levels. There’s more advice at Dermalogica.co.uk.