How to get glowing skin | skincare tips and beauty advice with Emma from ERA Clinic

We all dream of amazing, flawless and glowing skin!  But how do we achieve that and what is the best skincare routine, what anti-ageing treatments are worthwhile and how do we fight through the seemingly endless skincare advice and thousands of products now available, to find the best skincare solution for us?

I am really enjoying my collaboration with Emma at the ERA Skin & Laser Clinic in Thame. Emma is passionate about sharing good skincare advice and educating women like us on the best way to look after our skin and how to choose the right treatments. 

We all know the basics - drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, cleanse and moisturise every day but what about all the extras?  Do we even understand what all the creams, serums and facials can do for us or do you just buy willy nilly because you saw it on Instagram?  Emma and I started chatting towards the end of all the lockdowns and one thing she had noticed was the rise in enquiries due to the amount of time we have all spent looking at ourselves on Zoom calls and not liking our skin!

I got together with Emma and Paige from ERA a couple of weeks ago for a chat on an Instagram Live - we chatted about HydraFacials and skincare and on this blog post I am sharing their tips in more detail ...  you can watch our live chat on my IGTV.

Learn how to get glowing skin with Emma and Paige from ERA Clinic at Thame (outfit details below)

How do I choose the right facial, with so many options out there?

It's so confusing, how do I choose the right facial for me?  Emma advises deciding what you want to achieve.  There are two main types of facial, there is the Beauty Facial which is very relaxing and the Medi Facial which penetrates much deeper into the skin.  

If you want to relax then choose a beauty facial, you will feel amazing afterwards, you will possibly fall asleep during the facial and your skin will feel soft and cleansed.  But the results are not long-lasting beyond that day.

However, if you want to really treat your skin, if you have specific skin concerns like acne or fine lines and wrinkles, or pigmentation for example then choose a medical grade facial like the HydraFacial. 

Starting off with a deep exfoliation means the products used really penetrate your skin.  With a HydraFacial you get the best of both worlds - especially at ERA as they include a hand and arm massage and the HydraFacial although it uses a machine, is relaxing and gentle and not at all uncomfortable.

You will come out with an immediate glow to your skin and the results will continue to improve for a week or two afterwards, the products carry on working and your skin will feel so hydrated.

I wrote about the HydraFacial in more detail here.

How do I choose the right skincare products, it can be so expensive?

The truth is that if you 'invest in your skin' you will get amazing results.  But there are so many 'buzz words' around skincare that the massive choice, especially online, can be overwhelming. 

First of all, you don't need to buy everything all at the same time.  And medical grade products tend to last much longer as you only need to use a really small amount.  For example a full size Cleanser from ZO Skin Health, used twice a day, will last around 5+ months, you only need such a small amount.

You can't buy medical grade skincare products on the high street and it can be really difficult to know what to choose, that is why ERA offer a complementary skin analysis to advise you on what is best for your skin.  Start slowly and build up to more items in the range.

Find my blog post here about the importance of a good skincare routine.

What do you advise about mixing skincare brands?

Paige recommends sticking to one brand for all your skincare needs.  Unless you know what you are doing and most of us don't!  Get a skincare plan from a skincare specialist and stick to it.  They will advise you on products that work safely and properly together and when and how to use them.

What is your 'top tip' for skincare?

Emma - exfoliate!  Emma explained that a good medical grade exfoliator with active ingredients will speed up skin cell turnover.  It is the dead skin cells sitting on top of our skin that causes our skin to look dull.  Encouraging new skin cells will leave you looking radiant!

Paige - use SPF every day!  Paige explained that using an SPF just in makeup is not enough, you'd need to reapply your makeup every 2 hours to get any benefit (and none of us is going to do that) so buy a dedicated SPF, moisturise, apply the SPF then put your makeup on top.  I talk more about daily SPF on my post here.

Is there one must have anti-aging product you can recommend?

Retinol is the best anti-ageing product BUT you must buy the right one for your skin, to find the most suitable option, check out the Best Retinol Serums available, so if you decide to use retinol get proper advice.  Start slowly and build up as a lot of women do get a reaction to retinol and then stop using it, this is because they had the wrong product and started using it twice a day - too much too soon - you need to build up your tolerance to retinol.

What lovely words of wisdom from Emma and Paige, they certainly understand beauty and women and give super simple and clear advice!

​Is there one thing that you realise you need to change about your own skincare routine now you have read this?  Emma reminded me of the importance of exfoliating certainly and I will work harder to remember to include the ZO Exfoliating Polish twice a week!

Autumn outfits with my new tan cross body bag (details below)

And outfit details ... I love a pleather pant and these are new this year from Marks & Spencer, they are the leather look high waisted legging and come in three colours, I am wearing the black but they also come in brown and hunter green.  Paired with a previous season denim shirt from Boden but they have similar again this year, try the Eliza Broiderie Shirt in Mid Vintage Denim.  And of course my favourite style of bag, this is the tan cross-body bag with detachable strap from Kate at Spirit & Grace Style.  My trainers are Veja from The Shoe Studio at Selfridges.

​Have an enjoyable weekend everyone!  My daughter is home from uni, and my niece will be 21 on Sunday so we have a family lunch and I have lots of fun things planned with my daughter next week plus it is my son's 24th birthday on Tuesday!

Love from
Michelle xx

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Disclaimer: ERA Clinic gifted me a course of 6 x HydraFacials and a skincare starter pack from ZO Skin Health.
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Click here to read other blogs I link up with:

Is This Mutton
#WowOnWednesday 

​Mummabstylish
#Chic&Stylish

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