Skincare Expert Teresa Tarmey Talks Favourite Products, Best Tips & More

The Skincare Step I’d Never Skip…

… would be SPF (and cleansing, if I’m allowed two). But I’d never, ever skip SPF. After working with lasers for 20 years, one of the biggest concerns I see is pigmentation. You can minimise it from the surface, improve, maintain… but it’s very difficult to remove entirely. The damage is underlying – not to mention the other aspects of sun damage such as broken capillaries, fine lines, dehydration and loss of collagen and elasticity.

The Most Underrated Skincare Ingredient…

… is tretinoin. It does so much that I think it’s almost criminal not to be using some form beyond a certain age. It’s typically not expensive and gives you a noticeable and consistent result if you’re using the correct product/brand. Don’t be shy: there are so many incredible formulas out there that allow you to start slow and step it up gradually.

My Ride-Or-Dies…

Since creating my own brand, most of my favourites are now at my fingertips, like my SPF (no pilling, no white cast and leaves the skin glowing) and serum. For each product, I’ve chosen the ingredients and worked on the formulas for a long time, so I know they’re brilliant. Beyond that, I love Dr Sam’s cleanser and moisturiser and Dr Emma Craythorne’s brand Klira for her genius concept of prescription-style skincare. For the body, I turn to dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite and her hydrating body serum.

A Myth I Always Ignore…

… is that using cleansing oils is a good idea. Why use a cleanser that will clog the skin and require use of another cleanser after that to remove it? Unless you’re wearing bullet proof make-up, you don’t need it. I’d stay away: it can act as a barrier for actives as well. My cleanser does a thorough job or I really like Simple’s face wash if you’re on a budget.

The In-Clinic Treatment I Recommend…

I love hands on treatments but you can’t really beat a machine. It doesn't have to be aggressive, quite the opposite actually. You can be as gentle as you like – a microneedling pen or a low-level ultrasound (we use Dual Focus by Lynton in the clinic) offers simple yet very effective product/vitamin delivery. There’s a laser called Clearlift by Alma that gives gorgeous, glowing results with zero downtime. I’d say a combination of all the above is great depending on the client. It’s not one size fits all. 

One Affordable Brand I Rate…

… is La Roche-Posay. The whole line is great: simple but trustworthy.

My Golden Rule…

… when trying new skincare, especially potent actives, it’s best to take it slow. See an expert first and get a recommendation, and start with the gentlest option (with acids, for example, lactic is my go-to as it’s super gentle and gives you a great glow).

The Skincare Gadget I Swear By…

For the skincare obsessed, microneedling is absolutely a must. It’s easy, speedy and affordable. The scientifically proven benefits absolutely outweigh any concerns around needles. They don’t need to hurt, you don’t need to bleed, just a tiny prick can really make a difference. Mine is 0.2 of a mm (can you imagine how tiny that is?), small but so mighty. The skin is very clever and with those tiny pricks, you’re forcing it to heal which then naturally produces collagen and helps with concerns like pore size, fine lines, texture and of course delivering ingredients like peptides deeper into the skin. 

One Throwback Beauty Product I Still Love…

… is not skincare, although it does make my lips lovely and plump: Juicy Tubes by Lancôme. I was obsessed decades ago and just discovered it still exists.

The Lifestyle Factor That Makes All The Difference…

Sleep, sleep, sleep. We all know how puffy and dehydrated we look when we’ve not slept enough – at least I do, I look like a puffer fish. It’s also important for managing so many other things like stress. Sleeping is healing, regenerative and so much more. I get plenty of it. 

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