Great skin is something everyone wants but it doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly won’t without a good skincare routine.
While some may think the best results come from a product-heavy, complex regime, it’s actually down to the ingredients used.
According to Dr Catherine Hood, a skin expert at the leading Japanese cosmetics brand Hada Laba Tokyo, this is something everyone should focus on in the autumn months when the changing weather influences one’s complexion.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, she revealed that there’s one universally beneficial ingredient everyone should be using, regardless of their age or skin concerns.
She said: “Autumn is when the crisp air comes, the temperatures and humidity levels start to drop, and central heating starts to be switched on.”
Dr Catherine continued: “All these factors either individually or combined can lead to skin feeling much drier than usual and aggravate existing skin conditions such as eczema.
“Our skin is the first line of defence against environmental factors like the autumn wind so it is no wonder it can feel duller, drier and more sensitive during the colder months.
“To counter this, we really need to step up our focus on providing the right type of hydration to the skin to keep it feeling nourished. If our skin is not hydrated enough, it will become dry, dehydrated, tight, and flaky and will lack vitality.”
The skincare expert noted that this is essential for anyone wanting to improve their complexion, though even more so for people already experiencing skin changes due to things like perimenopause or menopause.
She explained: “It’s vital to take the right hydration steps to look after the skin as both oestrogen and collagen, which help to maintain the skin’s plumpness, moisture and firmness, start to dimmish. Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient we should be applying to our face and body.”
According to Dr Catherine, evidence shows that when applied to the skin, hyaluronic acid can help enhance hydration, as well as “reduce wrinkles and improve firmness and elasticity”.
The expert opined: “Advice I would give as we go into the autumn months is to look at your skincare routine and ensure it comprises of three steps: Cleanse, hydrate and moisture. I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to have that hydrate step, to really get under the skin for the hydration hit, which will help avoid the skin feeling dry and dull.”
When it comes to choosing the best form of hyaluronic acid to use on the skin, it’s worth looking at how deeply the formula penetrates the layers of the skin.
As recommended by Dr Catherine, the Hada Labo Tokyo range is “great for autumn” as the products all contain between five and seven hyaluronic acids (HA), all of which work hard to ensure the skin is hydrated effectively and “plumped from the inside, out”.
She said: “The different types of hyaluronic acid in the Hada Labo Tokyo Premium range work together with the large hyaluronic acid molecules moisturising the surface of the skin, but for deeper skin penetration smaller molecules are also necessary so they can work deeper into the skin.”
The new Hada Labo Tokyo Premium Lotion Intense Super Deep Hydrator (150ml), is available at Superdrug for just £21.99 and has seven types of HAs including fermented HA which enhances and strengthens the skin barrier function. Catherine claimed that the unique formula helps to “maintain high levels of moisture in the skin for less visible wrinkles and radiant, smooth skin”.
Not only is the range suitably tailored to women experiencing menopause, but also for people who have dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin.
