A Skin Care Master Class
When beauty editors in France begin researching skin care feature stories, the first person they turn to is Caroline Debbasch. As Scientific Communication Director for French beauty brand Clarins, she spends a good part of her week in the company’s laboratories working side-by-side dozens of researchers and chemists. It is her job to understand the latest discoveries, breakthroughs and advances in cosmetic formulas.
Debbasch comes with impressive credentials. A Doctor of Pharmacy with a DEA in Toxicology and a University Doctorate in Ophthalmic Toxicology, Caroline made the transition from Research and Development expert to communication professional. It is her job to translate complex scientific terminology in to everyday French and English. She is so skilled at doing this that journalists around the world trust her explanations and opinions in all skincare matters.
Here, she offers a master class in the latest skin care trends and tips on how to make your products work harder for you.
- 50+ skin care knowledge
“There is real headway being made by scientists in understanding how skin changes and reacts for women 50+ going through menopause,” she says. “We know that estrogen decreases up to 50 percent during this period and that hormones play a much bigger role in skin health than first thought. We’ve identified a new plant active that is particularly healing and replenishing. It helps increase collagen production without the side effects of retinol.”
- The effects of pollution
“Researchers are spending more time studying how pollution affects skin. And what they have discovered is that pollution sticks to skin. I then reacts with the hydro-lipidic barrier making it less efficient. It can lead to irritated, sensitive skin. And skin cells can be slower to renew. Most threatening is that pollution an oxidize on skin causing it to age faster. We’re learning that thorough, gentle cleansing daily is essential to keeping skin healthy.”
- Massaging your skin does work
“Gently massaging your skin daily, especially for women 50+, does work. It stimulates microcirculation in skin and helps products to absorb efficiently into the epidermis. It is best to use cooler water. I don’t recommend using hot water when washing your face.”
- Daily UV protection
“I’ve spend much of my career working in sun care research so this is a topic close to my heart. It is essential to wear a UVA/UVB product daily, year round. It’s not just a summer concern. Sun damage shows up on most people in their 40s as dark spots. You’ll even find signs of aging and spots on your hands appearing during this decade.”
- Remove your makeup
“Leaving your makeup on overnight isn’t just uncomfortable to skin. It can oxidize on your skin which in turn can age your skin faster. You’ll look younger, longer if you carefully remove makeup each night.”
- Serum Know-how
“There are a lot of misconceptions of how to use serums. Most women don’t know that you need to use a cream after using a serum. Always apply your serum on damp, cleanser skin. It will improve its efficacy.”
- Lip care
“Most men and women neglect their lips – especially in winter. The lip area is the only skin that doesn’t have oil glands. This means it is susceptible to drying out quickly. It is important to protect them with a nourishing balm and to use one with SPF in summer.”
Tell us the best skincare tip you’ve ever learned and you could win a collection of Clarins’ remarkable new Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors. Just leave a comment below. We’ll draw from all entries on Friday, February 13th.
371 Comments
Kat
February 22, 2015 at 12:44 pmMy skin has really benefited by using a daily moisturizer with AHA, and CC Powder with SPF 15.
mariem
February 21, 2015 at 12:44 pmsome coconut oil over the face,Eat healthy and always take your makeup off at night…
Gail F
February 21, 2015 at 11:59 amAlways.. always.. always.. take your makeup off last thing at night, with a good quality remover/toner
Gail F
February 21, 2015 at 11:59 amAlways.. always.. always.. take your makeup off last thing at night, with a good quality remover/toner
Freya
February 21, 2015 at 11:24 am4 rules to healthy, glowing skin … 1.) SPF. Always, always, always wear SPF of at least 15. Luckily many skin care & cosmetic products have SPF in them now so it’sthe work is pretty much already done for you. Even if its something you’ve never considered doing before it’s never to late to start. 2.) REST. It’s not always easy to get enough rest in this day & age when we’re all so busy but if you can get at least 6 hours of sleep a night your skin, as well as your body & mind, will thank you. 3.) HYDRATE. I personally do not like to drink water but if I don’t then my skin pays the price! Staying hydrated keeps your skin from drying out (along with your hair & nails) & will do wonders for your complexion. My trick to getting enough H20 in my body daily is to make “Spa Water” where I take a large pitcher, fill it up with water & add 1 peeled cucumber cut into 4 or 5 large chunks & 1 lemon (if you don’t like lemon feel free to use a lime) washed very well & cut into slices. Put in the fridge overnight & the next day you’ll have a days worth of water that tastes absolutely delicious. Plus along with keeping yourself hydrated the cucumber acts as a natural diuretic & will minimize bloating & puffiness while the acidity of the lemon keeps the walls of your bladder slick to ward off UTI’s & other infections (consult your doctor if your are taking medications, primarily blood thinners, before your consume lemons as they too act as blood thinners). 4.) TWICE DAILY SKIN CARE ROUTINE. Wash your face, apply a seum & then a moisturizer in the mornings & at night. If your don’t have the time to do this every day then at the very least make sure to wash off your makeup before you go to bed & apply a moisurizer or, even better, an overnight sleeping cream (Garnier just released one). Another trick for the busy girl is to keep a bottle of micellar water & some cotton rounds by your bed for those nights when you’re already cuddled up in bed, knee deep in a Netflix marathon. Micellar cleansing water is basically an all in 1 product that’ll not only remove all of your makeup but will also tackle dirt & excess sebum (you can purchase Simple brand micellar water at CVS or Walgreens). I know this sounds like a lot but this is the easiest way I know to keep skin looking young & healthy.
Dave Lackie
February 23, 2015 at 7:23 pmAMAZING Freya!! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom and tips. I so appreciate it.
kym
February 19, 2015 at 9:00 pmFor stubborn blackheads on my nose i apply 2 biora strips on top of each other works every time
Deborah Seaton
February 19, 2015 at 7:24 pmStay out of the sun , that’s free and massage some coconut oil over face and neck, oh and smile that always looks good .
chipo
February 19, 2015 at 3:21 pmFeel good, Eat healthy, stay healthy and use some good beauty brands.
Marlene Paquet
February 19, 2015 at 2:33 pmA clay mask once a week….keeps pores clean and skin clear….
Nicole Getsie
February 18, 2015 at 4:56 pmDon’t rub your face dry when towel drying, pat it dry to avoid irritation, wrinkles, etc.
Use an index card or business card underneath your eyes when applying loose powder eye shadow to avoid it getting under your eyes and smudging.
When putting on moisturizer, sweep in an upward and outward motion to help prevent and smooth wrinkles.
Louanne Baelde
February 18, 2015 at 3:35 pmApply a lip balm lightly before your lipstick, this way your lipstick is always smooth and your lips super soft.
Stephanie Obrowski
February 18, 2015 at 7:17 amno matter if you wear makeup or not that day, always wash your face at night before you go to bed-it really helps get the days gunk off of your face. If you go outside without makeup you should use a moisturizer that they have the new ones aimed at blocking out all the environmental pollutants etc with sunscreen. ALWAYS wear sunscreen
Christine Christensen
February 17, 2015 at 11:27 pmHi Dave to you pick a winner for this yet?
Illy Junus
February 17, 2015 at 1:23 pmFor dry skin, if you want your makeup to stay, is to exfoliate and cleanse you face every day
Sandy
February 16, 2015 at 8:00 pmI swear by Paula’s Choice products: 2% BHA Lotion and Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum. These products are fantastic and not overly expensive.
Debbie Acquaviva
February 16, 2015 at 10:37 amCleanse,exfoliation,facial mask ,moisturizer, eye cream,
Astrid Sanders
February 16, 2015 at 3:33 amAlways keep an eye on your skin and respond to it. A breakout or dry patches or lacklustre skin is trying to tell you something so take note and make the necessary changes. Don’t wait for it to become a big problem.
Dave Lackie
February 23, 2015 at 7:26 pmGreat advice Astrid. I completely agree with you.
Ioanna Alexopoulou
February 15, 2015 at 9:15 pmI use an eye cream every day! 🙂
Sophie Marsolais
February 15, 2015 at 9:06 pmWear mineral sunscreen every day. You are set!
Teresa Claire
February 15, 2015 at 1:07 pmI use a lip balm all year…especially in winter. I also use sun screen in winter too.
Laurie B
February 14, 2015 at 6:04 pmAlways try to find a cream/lotion that has UV protection. The sun can cause so much damage to skin and can be very difficult to notice some changes that can be life threatening.
Alana
February 14, 2015 at 4:22 pmLashes can get brittle as we age , and winter is tough on them. Apply olive oil to them at night using a q tip to keep them luscious!
rosa c.
February 13, 2015 at 10:02 pmfor anyone who hasn’t read the beautypedia and tried paulas choice products i highly recommend them they have done wonder for my acne prone skin!
Maria Yeung
February 13, 2015 at 8:00 pmBest skin care tip is to use sunscreen on a daily basis regardless if it’s sunny out.
Verena S.
February 13, 2015 at 4:16 pmI swear on homemade face masks. They feel good and make my skin glow.