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"OVERCOMING SKIN DISCOLOURATION AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT BEAUTY"
Vitamin C Glow Serum and Active Fading Serum, both £41.50
Interview
On layering formulations, avoiding others, and finding the positives
BEHIND THE BRAND
DW AESTHETICS DW Aesthetics founder Cynthia Adjei on helping skin discolouration sufferers transform their complexions with her non-toxic skincare range. Read the full interview at spellmagazine.com
“I spent my teenage years in my bedroom wishing I looked like my pretty friends. With the onset of puberty, my skin tone began to change. My face and neck became darker than the rest of my body with lighter patches developing on the side of my neck to my chest. Acne and oily skin also kicked in, which felt like a triple attack on my confidence.
steroids and high concentrations of hydroquinone and acids. These types of ingredients should be used with caution in conjunction with professional skincare advice. Instead, use sun protection every day and minimise sun exposure. Also, introduce mild acids to your weekly regime and double cleanse to ensure every scrap of make-up is removed.
“To try and address the problem, I began using products that caused more damage because I couldn’t afford quality skincare and wasn’t knowledgeable about ingredients. I count myself lucky that I didn’t cause myself long-term harm.
“Layering your skincare can be an effective method for treating multiple skin concerns in one go. While previously a basic routine was a three-step process, nowadays it can mean layering six or more products. Thinner formulations cannot penetrate through the barrier of thicker ones, so my advice is to always apply the lighter formulas first.
“Women with hyperpigmentation should avoid skin lightening products that contain SPELL
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MAGAZINE
“Make-up is a quick option for covering discoloration. There are so many options available, and it can be a temporary or long-term solution depending on how your discoloration affects you. Make-up was a great saviour for me. However, it added to my insecurity as I couldn’t face the outside world without covering up. “Unrealistic beauty images have created false standards that lead women to feel insecure and anxious about their looks. Filters have reached such a dangerous place for young girls and older women, too. Clients send me heavily edited images of how they want their skin to look, trying to fit an ideal that doesn’t exist. I feel it's my duty to highlight the positives about their real skin."