Val Garland is one of the most respected makeup artists of our time. Having worked with some of the biggest stars (from Kate Moss to Lady Gaga), written best-selling books and even been a judge on the BBC’s Grow Up, Val is a self-proclaimed star. You can trust what you know. I interviewed Val in 2018 to celebrate the release of her book Validated, and I know her to be one of the most personable and easy-to-talk to makeup artists I’ve ever met. So when I spotted her at an event recently, I went to her for some advice.
As you know, my skin has been feeling really bad lately, which is very unusual for me. I have been experiencing breakouts and severe dryness (especially under my chin), which has led to obvious peeling and uneven skin texture. For this reason, we wanted to ask Val for advice on how to get makeup to sit smoothly on your skin without accentuating any unsteady areas.
Her simple answer? First, prepare your skin. Without it, there’s only so much you can do with makeup. She recommended some great products to me. She also said she’s a big fan of London facialist Joan Evans of Skin Matters.
Somewhat coincidentally, an invitation actually landed in my inbox to meet Joanne, who works at the science-backed skincare brand Environ. I made a reservation without thinking anything. Or rather, if Val Garland is okay…
(Image credit: Rebecca Fearn)
Joanne is an award-winning skin expert with her own studio and, as Val describes, has a very warm presence. I immediately felt at ease with her and felt safe enough to discuss my skin issues. She agreed with my opinion that there was a problem with my skin barrier after using tretinoin which was clearly too strong for me. This caused areas of dryness and sensitivity, as well as deeper pores and more breakouts. She recommended me the Advanced Vitamin Facial.
This started with a deep cleanse and some extractions, using my fingers and small needles to reach some very deep pores. It sometimes felt tight, but it wasn’t painful. Afterwards, she focused on healing my skin and building a barrier to prevent further breakouts and irritation. This includes a treatment that uses sound waves to penetrate active ingredients deep into the skin, and a mild lactic acid peel that gently exfoliates without further irritating the skin.
(Image credit: Rebecca Fearn)
Joanne also used her own Calming Gel, which contains ingredients such as glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol. This gel is extremely soothing and refreshing for the skin and is perfect for everything from inflammation and inflammation to cuts and post-beauty work. Joanne recommended this to me when I was about to take a long-haul flight and my skin was rough and I felt like cheating.
As you can see in the photo above, after a few days, my skin was on the mend. I really believe this is because of Joan’s work during the facial. A complete reset was needed to dry out and heal existing stains and prevent further damage.
The stains have faded and my skin doesn’t feel as dry as before. I have stopped the tretinoin for the time being (I will re-evaluate until I look and feel a little better) and have started taking skin supplements from the Advanced Nutrition Program (also at Joanne’s recommendation). I’m already feeling the effects. .
I would definitely recommend Joan Evans and Skin Matters here, but the lesson I learned from this experience is that it’s always best to take a gentle approach when you have skin issues. If you are experiencing unusual irritation or breakouts, stop the active ingredient and reduce your skin for a while. If it’s within your budget and ability, make an appointment with a trusted skin professional like Joanne. They will get you back on track and give you advice on daily life.
Learn more about booking Skin Matters here.
Advanced Nutrition Program Skin Accumax 120 Capsules
