The truth behind your complexion: Dr Terry Loong’s ultimate skincare secrets

Have you ever wondered why your skin is visibly dryer at certain times of the month? Or maybe you want to know why you’re experiencing that extremely sudden acne breakout? From sleep patterns to beauty regimes – The Body Shop’s global skincare expert, Dr Terry Loong is here to give us a quick lesson or two on why our skin is acting the way it is.

With 11 years of experience – Dr Terry is an expert in taking a fresh, and natural approach to a clear complexion. The skincare specialist, currently practicing in London, targets an array of skin imperfections with advanced treatments. In her London Clinic, Dr Terry (also known as “The Skin Energy Doctor” creates bespoke skin programmes to improve complexion, skin tone and firmness, as well as energy, body weight, sexual vitality and confidence in the boardroom and bedroom.

Determine your anti-ageing needs:

To determine whether your skin is hydrated and youthful – complete Dr Terry’s snap, pinch & pout method:

Snap: Gently pull your skin under the eyes, if it snaps back instantly – your elasticity is good. If however, it does not, make sure to use youth-enhancing eye products and remember to drink a lot of water.

Pinch: To determine how meaty and youthful your skin is, pinch the area just below your cheeks. If they are meaty, you are preventing ageing well. If they are not, work on stopping further ageing by using youth-promoting products.

Pout: Pout your lips in front of a mirror, when done pouting, rest your lips normally. If the pout lines still appear, you need to conserve your skin by using wrinkle reducing and youth-enhancing products.

Your skin cycle:

If you have ever experienced time-of-the-month breakouts, you’ll know the importance that hormones play in the role of a clear complexion. What you probably don’t know is that your skin, like most things endures a monthly cycle that consists of four, interchanging phases. For each phase, you should ideally swap skincare products in order to suit your skins needs. These 4 phases are:

Week 1 – The dry phase: This is the time in which you experience your period. During this phase, you want to focus on products that sooth your skin (such as moisturisers). Ditch the exfoliators and formulas that contain harsh chemicals – this will only irritate your skin further causing redness and acne.

Week 2 – The skin improving phase: This is the week before ovulation. As estrogen levels are starting to raise – your skin is visibly improving. Throughout this week, focus on using products such as cleansers, moisturisers and oils that contain essential oils and vitamins. This is the best time to do facial treatments such as lasers, facials, and exfoliating.

Week 3 – The glowing phase: Your estrogen levels are at their highest – resulting in good skin. Pores are at their smallest, and your skin is ultra hydrated – creating a beautiful glow. Your skin is less oily, and you feel good. Don’t use many products during this time as you don’t need them. Instead, focus on taking selfies or planning a romantic date!

Week 4 -The oily phase: Your skin isn’t looking so good during this phase. Your body is secreting a high amount of sebum – therefore resulting in oily skin. You probably endure the most amount of skin irritations and imperfections around this time. Stress and irregular lifestyle may worsen symptoms during this time. When in this week, focus on cleansing the face thoroughly and then replenishing with an ultra-hydrating moisturiser or oil. If you are prone to acne, remember to prevent breakouts by using anti-acne products such as sprays and spot creams in the beginning of this phase. Your skin is extremely sensitive around now, so don’t pick this time to try out new products and skincare.

Dr Terry’s do’s & dont’s:

Do: Use natural skincare, take Omega 3 supplements, massage your face daily, get enough sleep and find a reason to laugh everyday.

Dont: Use age as an excuse, over-consume alcohol, caffeine and sugar, sacrifice your sacred me-time, hold on to age-prolonging anger or grudges, work overtime and stress.

In addition to your interchanging beauty routine, Dr Terry believes in the importance of a balanced everyday life. Ensure you are getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily, whilst drinking lots of water and getting more than enough sleep.

We couldn’t have had a better advice, don’t you think?

Shannon Gallagher