KEEP IT SIMPLE

Breathe new life into your skin with a fortifying yet fuss-free regime.

- Evie Leatham, Jennifer George, and Hannah Thompson

As our at-home skincare regimes become more complex and the ingredients we use more potent, the risk of doing harm instead of good increases. "I see many patients experimenting with multi-step routines," says London-based dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite. "They use a number of different products and aggressive actives that, ultimately, can cause irritation."

Happily, the beauty industry has responded proactively, with innovations designed to support the skin's innate function rather than beat it into submission. This holistic approach harnesses simplified formulas to strengthen protection and combat sensitivity, giving your skin a much-needed fresh start.

CREATE THE RIGHT CULTURE

A term taken from ecology and applied to our beauty regimes, 'rewilding' refers to the concept of nurturing the skin's natural microbiome, which comprises bacteria and other microorganisms (also known as skin flora).

"Your skin is an extraordinary ecosystem," says the UK-based REN Clean Skincare Founder Rob Calcraft, whose new venture, Cultured, is among the brands experiments with rewilding. "Like the warp and weft of fabric, the microbiome is intrinsically entwined with every element of our skin's biological actions, making it central to dermal health."

When the microbiome is thriving, the skin looks and feels healthier. However, it can become imbalanced by a poor diet, stress, pollution, UV light, and even products such as soap (the microbiome needs a pH of about five, but most soaps are pH 10). Any of these factors can result in a lack of diversity in microorganisms, leading to irritation, dullness, breakouts, or flare-ups of conditions such as rosacea.