How to build a skincare routine that works | therapyinc Norwich
- therapyinc
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Confused by skincare ?
Stop searching. Start building confidence.
Learn the not so secret secrets of how to choose products that genuinely work, & build healthier skin - with expert advice.
In a skincare world flooded with thousands of products all promising life-changing results, how do you know who to trust, & who's just trying to sell you a story ? My knowledge around skincare didn't come from one breakthrough moment. It developed gradually over 30 years & thousands of conversations with men & women.
They've been my greatest teachers.
And the greatest lesson ?
time is the one thing your skin never gets back...
Every day you spend on products that don't deliver is another day your skin loses strength & resilience. My background in biochemistry & skin science gives me one perspective, but my clients taught me something just as important: knowing who & what to trust. Every consultation begins with the same question.
Tell me about your skin ?
The answer is rarely just about products.
if the goal is to look at least as young as you feel, then skincare becomes a journey - a facial isn't just for Christmas...
It's about understanding your skin, creating the right routine & making small, often no or low cost decisions that quietly compound with time. Over the decades I've watched thousands of DIY experiments unfold & trends disappear quicker than they arrived, while simple, refined routines quietly continued producing healthy skin year after year.
Eventually, clear patterns emerge.
The clients whose skin always stood out with the healthiest skin weren't necessarily spending the most money. Their answers are almost always surprisingly simple.
"I've always worn sunscreen."
"I've used the same core products for years."
"I found a routine that worked and stuck with it."
No miracle ingredient.
No secret treatment.
Just consistent care with products that had earned their trust. Healthy skin isn't usually the result of dramatic decisions. It's the result of good decisions repeated often enough for the years to reveal their value.
The clients doing everything achieving average results for their age, beautiful products, complicated routines - were still searching.
Every new ingredient.
Every social media trend.
Despite all the effort, many achieve less by comparison, not because they weren't committed, they just continued to be consistent with lotions & potions that sounded impressive, rather than optimised for their skin & lifestyle. Consistency isn't enough, spending more becomes less.
when marketing wins...
Exceptional marketing & exceptional science often look exactly the same.
How are you supposed to know the difference?
Every week another expert tells you everything has changed.
Every month another ingredient promises to transform your skin.
It's no wonder so many people feel overwhelmed.
That's why I'm far less interested in telling you what to buy, because once you understand the fundamentals of skin health, something wonderful happens.
The noise gets quieter.
You stop chasing attention and start recognising what has genuinely earned your confidence.
the cost of getting it wrong...
The biggest cost isn't money - regrettably, it's time.. Skin ageing doesn't pause while we're trying another trend.
Collagen continues to decline.
Sun damage continues to accumulate.
Biology keeps moving forward whether we like it or not.
I worry less about the money some might think is a waste, & more about the years I lose...
My recommendations remain remarkably simple. Start with the basics. Skin health vastly improves with a cleanser & moisturiser optimised for your skin condition at the time. Depending on the season or the reason, exfoliation (protein), hydration (water) & moisturisation (lipid) can go from fine tune to drastic change. The serums & active ingredients are not in any way created equal & often concentration is utterly irrelevant.
Results & value are entirely dependent on brand ethos & integrity. I wouldn't veer away from Dermalogica for the behaviour changing formulations Vitamins C & A - I'm a biochemist. I'm yet to meet any client who can't use retinol.
Protect your skin from the sun.
Use ingredients with evidence, not headlines.
Not all formulations are created equal - get advice.
Do. Not. Buy - anything with a parfum.
Look after your health because vibrant skin is an inside job.
Stay consistent.
New ideas are exciting, and some genuinely move our industry forward.
Others quietly disappear.
Time has a wonderful way of revealing the difference.
And with that comes common sense & patience - do not complain you're not prepared to pay for a gym membership, buy expensive kit, visit the best personal trainer in the country once a year, & then expect to enter the marathon. 10K steps a day is great, but you need a plan.
your skin confidence journey
Skin at therapyinc is a philosophy, designed to help you understand your skin, simplify your routine & build habits that deliver long-term results. You'll experience treatments that evolve with your skin, receive a different upgrade & professional guidance at every appointment, & discover confidence doesn't come from buying stuff that doesn't work (especially if you don't use it...)
If you're in Norwich or Norfolk and would like to stop guessing and start understanding your skin, a four-month Skin Confidence Journey is designed to help you build a routine that delivers long-term results.
Why isn't my skincare working ?
Invariably it's not because you're doing anything ‘wrong’. It's because you've been consistent with products that aren’t optimised for your skin. Most people don't need more products; they need a better plan.
Do expensive skincare products work better?
Sometimes, but often you're paying for beautiful packaging, clever marketing or a luxury experience. Price doesn't tell me whether something works. Ingredients, formulation & evidence do.
How do I know which skincare ingredients work ?
For you ? In 3-6 skin care cycles, I’d always allow at least 3 months of continuity. Time has a wonderful way of separating innovation from marketing. Vitamin C & A are the behaviour changing ingredients - but the way they’re formulated to be effective is entirely reliant on the brand integrity. You often get what you pay for. We give you a Dermalogica Skin Health Kit at your first appointment - we’re that confident in the basics.
Should I have a facial before buying skincare ?
I think so. It’s quite some challenge to recommend products if I haven’t seen, touched and understood your skin. The best skincare routine starts with understanding your skin, not shopping for it.
How many products do I actually need?
Usually fewer than you think. We often see incredible improvements (instantly !) with the very basics used well. I'd much rather see you using four products consistently than twelve occasionally. There’s a free guide below that has some game changing combinations.
Comments