Terri Vinson, cosmetic chemist and founder of Synergie Skin recently launched her book Skinformation. Terri shares her expert advice on long-term skin health.
How should we decide what skin treatments and products (if any) are best for our skin?
Have a professional consultation with a qualified skin therapist or find a resource that will cut through the hype and educate you on effective ingredients and treatments, such as my book, Skinformation. There are thousands of treatments and products on the market, but you need to choose those that will best serve YOU.
The ideal basic skincare regimen should always include active ingredients vitamin A, vitamin B3 and vitamin C serums, along with a good physical sun protective moisturiser.
My number one must-have product is vitamin B3 (niacinamide) serum. Vitamin B3 is considered the great multitasker of cosmeceuticals and is vital for the long-term health of our skin. It boosts skin immunity for defence against external damage, it increases the production of the skin’s natural ceramides to help hold water in the skin and promote internal hydration. It regulates oil flow and minimises redness for irritated or acne prone skin. And yes, it also boosts collagen and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation in ageing skin. Who doesn’t need vitamin B3 in their skincare routine? … NOBODY!
What do you feel is the biggest challenge to long-term skin health?
The greatest threat to the long-term health of the skin is the sun. Solar damage causes malignant cancers, uneven skin tone and ageing. If you only choose one product as an insurance policy for your skin, make sure it’s a zinc oxide based physical sunscreen.
More recently during the Covid-19 pandemic, I have seen a steep rise in redness and inflammation concerns. Higher stress levels causing elevated cortisol hormones in our bodies and mask wearing, has left our skin barrier dry and irritated and this leads to an imbalance of good and bad bacteria on our skin surface. Balancing our skin microbiome is essential, and incorporating prebiotic and probiotic skincare along with vitamin B3 serum will help with skin redness, breakouts and sensitivity.
What is your number one tip for the long-term health of your skin?
Use broad spectrum solar protection daily… in fact, do not even bother with any other skincare product if you don’t have a great physical sunscreen containing a minimum of 20% zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is not only a great broad spectrum mineral sunscreen ingredient, it can also be used to calm the skin and is safe to use on even the most sensitive skin types. That is why old-fashioned zinc cream still holds up as the nappy rash go-to for soothing baby’s sensitive little derrière. Zinc oxide is also the only sunscreen approved by the FDA as giving exceptional protection to both UVA and UVB rays in a single ingredient. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, often need to be created as combinations of different sunscreen ingredients to be as effective as zinc oxide alone. There are also concerns with many chemical sunscreens irritating skin and causing sunlight sensitivity reactions and damaging our marine environment. Zinc oxide is my preference every time.
