Q With so many moisturisers touting so many different benefits, how do I choose the right one?
A The first task at hand, says Teri Tay, consulting skincare specialist from Swiss-developed skincare brand Bioxil, is not to be distracted by ads for the latest product.
Instead, focus on understanding how your skin works.
Even the most potent potions will not give you a glowing complexion if your lifestyle is working against you. For example, eating too much sugar will promote the formation of protein-sugar compounds, "increasing the production of brittle, cross-linked collagen fibres", she says. Basically, that means more wrinkles. So basics such as a balanced diet are your essential building blocks for good skin.
Age can also be a determining factor. Something like Clinique's Superdefense Age Defense Moisturiser (above, left; $89 for 50ml, at Clinique counters from Oct 10), for example, plays a more preventative role by combating the effects of psychological stress such as uneven skin tone.
A product such as Bioxil's Advanced Wrinkle Lifting Moisturiser (above, right; $375, from Bioxil Skin Lab, 01-06 VivoCity), on the other hand, is meant for more mature skin where signs of ageing are already visible and works to improve elasticity by stimulating collagen production.
The kind of moisturiser you need will change as your lifestyle changes and as you grow older. So, the most important thing, says Serena Teo, general manager and skincare therapist from beauty salon Su Beau Derma Clinique, is to make sure that you choose a brand that knows the ins and outs of the "principles of skincare". This way, its sales staff can recommend products that suit your changing skin conditions.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Sep 19, 2008.
