Tips from Dr Zoya’s Skincare Routine

The skin is the largest organ in the body, we can’t expect it to be perfect all the time’ says Trikwan’s Dr Zoya Diwan as she tells us all about her personal skincare routine. Our skin deals with a lot and is constantly protecting us from exposure to the outside world, whether that be from the sun, various pollutants or any surfaces and materials it comes into contact with. So just as we look after our other organs by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, we need to take care of our skin by providing it with the ‘nutrients’ and substances it needs to continue doing its job well.

Apart from the many skincare products out there, some of our favourites being mentioned in this blog, Dr Zoya also mentions a few habits we can fit into our busy routines which give your skin a bigger helping hand than you might expect. Here are her top 3 tips that will cost you nothing at all:

1. Change your pillowcase every 2-3 days
2. Wash your makeup brushes every 2-3 days (especially if you wear makeup everyday)
3. Wash your towel regularly

These materials and tools pick up a huge amount of dirt and pollutants as they are reused and so simply making sure that they are fresh to use can make a massive difference to the condition of your skin.

However, those tips alone can’t provide your skin with all the essentials it needs to stay clear, glowy and hydrated. So, here are the different types of products that Dr Zoya personally recommends for all of our morning and evening skincare routines:

Morning:

Step 1: Cleanser – Dr Zoya uses the Obagi Gentle Cleanser, containing Aloe Vera, this cleanser is very gentle on the skin.

Step 2: Toner – Obagi Toner, this toner is alcohol free and therefore not drying. It also corrects the skin’s pH in preparation for further products.

Step 3: Vitamin C Serum – one of Dr Zoya’s favourite products, the Professional-C Serum is an antioxidant serum that minimises the appearance of sun damage and pigmentation. Any Vitamin C serum you choose to invest in should carry Vitamin C in the L-Ascorbic acid form and should always appear as a clear formula, if it isn’t then your serum may have oxidised and therefore will not work effectively! Importantly, if you suffer with acne Vitamin C products will not work well for you, therefore you should target the source of your acne with other options before using any L-Ascorbic acid-based products. Learn more about Vitamin C in skincare here

Step 4: Moisturiser and SPF – These products can be combined or separate, but it is important to use both! Your sun protection should be at least SPF 30 and UVA 4* to be truly effective and protect you from sun damage. Obagi Hydrafactor, the product that Dr Zoya uses, combines these two essentials together into one product which provides the perfect base for any makeup you may want to apply.

Evening:

Step 1: Cleanser – once again, Dr Zoya uses the Obagi Gentle Cleanser.

Step 2: Toner – Obagi Toner, this toner is alcohol free and therefore not drying. It also corrects the skin’s pH in preparation for further products.

Step 3: Retinol (left to sit for 5-10 mins) – incorporating this Vitamin A derivative, or its stronger sister, Tretinoin, into your skin care routine is a great way to tackle a multitude of issues with one product. Retinol and Tretinoin increases mitosis and dna repair in the skin, which increases cellular turnover and therefore tackles fine lines, pigmentation, sun damage, rough/bumpy skin and congested pores.

Step 4: Moisturiser – Dr Zoya uses either CeraVe’s Moisturising Lotion or Obagi Hydrate. Hydromanil in Hydrate traps moisture and is non-comedogenic, therefore it won’t clog any pores while it holds moisture into the skin.

Step 5: Eye Cream – Obagi Elastiderm, another favourite product of Dr Zoya’s, replenishes lost elastin in the skin around the eyes and therefore also helps to improve the fine lines that often catch under-eye concealer when applying makeup! There are no fat pads sitting under the eye, therefore any depletion of elastin and collagen in this area is even more obvious than in the rest of the face, so it is important to find yourself an effective eye cream to combat this and include it in your regular skincare routine.

On top of her daily skincare routines, Dr Zoya also tells us how she uses Obagi’s Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish and Mask 2-3 times a week. This product gives your skin a big hit of 30% L-Ascorbic acid for 10-15 minutes and it leaves the skin feeling smooth, brighter and fresh.

Profhilo Injections are the final treatment Dr Zoya incorporates into her annual skincare. These injections are composed of ultra-pure Hyaluronic Acid, which is not cross-linked, therefore is not a filler, but when injected into strategic areas of the face is a powerful tool to stimulate collagen and elastin production right at the source. Within 2 weeks post-treatment the skin becomes noticeably glowier and more hydrated, while the skin’s surface will become smoother and fresher, therefore advancing the quality of the skin at multiple levels. This treatment, which requires 2 appointments, 1 month apart, last 6-8 months so it is wise to incorporate 2 Profhilo treatments per year into your annual skincare, just as Dr Zoya does.

It’s important to always keep in mind that our skin is constantly, dynamically changing, and so we will need to adapt our skincare routines depending on what issues are concerning us at the time. A few years ago, Dr Zoya was struggling with pigmentation in her skin and so she adapted her routine to include the Obagi Nu-Derm System, which transformed her skin and completely resolved her pigmentation; now her routine incorporates only the products she needs to maintain her skin’s quality. Her advice final advice to all of us trying to navigate the confusing world of skincare is:

‘Our skin changes all the time, don’t overdo it, keep your routine simple and target specific problems you may have first, before developing a routine to maintain your results.’

FOR MORE ADVICE ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SKINCARE, BOOK A SKINCARE CONSULTATION WITH DR ZOYA DIWAN OR DR SANJAY TRIKHA HERE