Lauren Stevens is a self-confessed lover of skin and science. A master dermal therapist and founder of Inspiring Skin Health, Brisbane’s leading studio for intentional and evidence-based skincare products and therapy, she shares six tips for achieving optimum skin health.

1: What you eat and drink can change your skin

I’m very interested in the effects that good nutrition and gut health have on the external appearance of your skin. As someone who has worked with skin for years and years, I can say with certainty that many skin problems stem from what is going on beneath the surface. So I gently nudge my clients toward consuming less refined sugar, alcohol, and processed foods on a regular basis. However, I also believe in finding the right balance, and I enjoy a glass of wine (or two) with my chocolate. It may not sound exciting, but eating low-human-intervention whole foods and drinking plenty of water will make a huge difference to all types of skin.

2. Always, always wear sunscreen

In Brisbane, putting on sunscreen feels as natural as wearing clothes. You may skip this part of your daily routine on cold or cloudy days, when the sun is deceptively damaging. My first assessment of a client with premature aging is their sunscreen habits. Most of the time, it's a step they forget in their daily lives, except on extremely hot or sunny days. With so many excellent brands of extremely wearable sunscreens to choose from, you can make a big difference by starting today. As opposed to the 80s and 90s, when putting on sunscreen often felt like smearing coconut-scented oil all over your face. Incorporating sunscreen into your morning routine has never been easier, thanks to how far the industry has come! 

3. Move your body

It is my personal opinion that daily movement is one of the most effective stress-reduction techniques for improving your skin’s appearance and feel. A previous lack of exercise might be due to the thought that it would be uncomfortable and inconvenient, plus you might not be a typical gym fan.  These days, I’ve realised it’s all about finding something that feels good - and right - to you. 

My skin looks so much fresher and glowing after my twice-weekly Pilates session, 10 minutes of morning meditation, or a walk around my neighbourhood as the sun is setting. In fact, a daily 20-25-minute walk has been shown to offer more health benefits than a weekly hour-long gym session and will significantly improve your skin’s appearance. Additionally, meditation has been scientifically proven to prevent, and possibly reverse, premature aging. This has been proven in multiple studies, and it’s why I love to chat about the effects of stress on skin and the gut-brain-skin connection.

4. Your skin is totally unique

There is a lot of noise in the beauty industry. Knowing what is genuinely effective from what is simply industry hype can be challenging. My clients feel and look so much better when they simplify their approach, even though the lure of industry marketing is so tempting. At Inspiring Skin Health, my favourite way to do things is to streamline routines and customise everything. It involves understanding your skin’s needs, creating a personalised approach that incorporates the 1:1 treatments we provide, and enabling you to complement those treatments at home with the right products.

5. Your beauty has no age

I am perfectly fine with the fact that my skin no longer looks the same as it did in my early twenties. I’m all about ageing well, feeling confident and glowing, and being authentically you at every stage of life, not fading away or feeling like something is slipping out of your hands. I want to empower my clients to take charge of their routines and their perspective of their skin, and really know what it needs to look its best.

The right skin therapy approach can minimise, mitigate and prevent premature aging - you know, when you feel like everything is moving too quickly and you want to take strategic steps. Using clinical treatments like Skin Microneedling, Light Therapy and Hydrafacials can support your skin through its natural evolution, and are often better than invasive approaches. Through the use of a small number of the right products, an effective routine and good nutrition, I have treated hundreds of clients whose skin appears bright, firm and fresh at any age.

My definition of beauty and aging extends beyond your skin to include your compassion for others and yourself, the joy in your life, your experiences, your story, and the wonderful things ahead for you.

A good dermal therapist in your corner brings the whole picture together.