The notion of “less is more” is having a renaissance and, for those of us who very much like to take a low-key approach to life, this is marvellous news.
Need to bake a cake? Just whack a smidge of icing on a shop bought sponge, throw a flower on the top and hey presto! A contemporary naked cake that’s bang on trend.
Of course, this approach is not new in the beauty world, but what is new is how we are achieving this modern, fuss-free look. For years, makeup giants tried to sell us the idea of “less is more” which still meant trowelling on at least an inch of makeup just to look as though we weren’t wearing any makeup at all. Well, we just aren’t buying it anymore - literally and figuratively - especially as we now know that the key to achieving a natural, fresh face is down to good skincare.
According to research firm MINTEL, the UK beauty and skincare market is expected to be worth an estimated £27bn by 2020. This is good news for us, as the variety of treatments in the UK is growing, while the cost is shrinking.
More and more young men and women in their 20s and 30s are investing in non-surgical treatments, knowing that it will likely lead to fewer invasive treatments in future. And us older lot are taking advantage of new technologies that are helping to reverse the signs of ageing without going under the knife. These treatments are based on science and produce a wonderful fresh look which is timeless - unlike the fickle trends of the recent past...trout pouts and Brazilian butt lifts (blame the Kardashians!).
The lowdown on subtle aesthetic treatments
There are so many options when it comes to skincare, it can actually be quite confusing, but there are a few popular go-to ones that are known to produce quality results.
Chemical peels
Chemical peels sound horrendous, but, in addition to being probably the least scary of all non-surgical aesthetic treatments (there are no needles AT ALL), they are an ever-popular choice for people who want a really deep exfoliation to remove the outer layers of dead skin cells. This treatment also stimulates the growth of new skin cells, along with plenty of collagen and elastin.
Hydrafacials
The ultimate facial, a HydrafacialTM is like an intensive power wash for your face which uses a handheld device to cleanse and exfoliate the skin. Following this, a light glycolic and salicylic acid peel adds an extra layer of exfoliation. The handheld device is then used to vacuum out all the gunk from your pores. Finally, a plumping, hydrating, collagen-rich serum is applied to produce a lovely, soft, plump, dewy look. What's not to love?
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy touches on a more homeopathic approach to aesthetic treatments, where a cocktail of hydrating and rejuvenating substances are injected just below the surface of the skin, giving instant and long-lasting moisturisation and plumpness. It is often used in parallel with “Baby Botox”, where very small doses of botulinum toxin are injected into the to the face. This allows for natural-looking movement while minimising the appearance of lines.
What else is on the aesthetics horizon?
If you want to avoid chemicals, you can book in for “face gym” sessions where a therapist tightens your facial muscles by giving them a workout using some pretty swanky kneading techniques.
Light therapy, also called phototherapy, is also gaining popularity. It is known that different coloured light can help with various skin issues, including acne, psoriasis, rosacea and eczema. Often used alongside facials, different wavelengths of LED light are used to fuel skin repair and rejuventation.
Advances in non-surgical aesthetic treatments are continuously being made. Although using stem cell technology sounds like something out of Frankenstein’s laboratory, this breakthrough treatment is hugely popular with men and women. These clever little stem cells, which are derived mainly from plants and used in creams, can work wonders for rejuvenating skin so it looks fresher and plumper. Less, in fact tiny in this instance, is most definitely more.