Debra Brock met the nurse prescriber specialising in aesthetics, and Neostrata distributor, to find out how to choose active skincare that works, and steer clear of what causes more harm than good.
 
DB: How did you first get interested in skincare"
LB: I?m a nurse and specialised in dermatology during my time in the NHS. I was fascinated by how we could treat serious diseases of the skin, but wanted to see what could be done for more everyday skin concerns. I started a private aesthetic practice and built a chain of clinics, which I later sold. I was doing some training work for a brand in France and Italy when I came across US skincare brand, NeoStrata, which I now distribute in the UK.
DB: There?s obviously a vast array of skincare on the market – how should people choose what to buy" LB: The first thing to say is that there are two categories of skincare products on the market, pharmaceutical and cosmetic. Pharmaceutical products can only be prescribed or dispensed by a medically qualified professional, whereas cosmetics are obviously sold much more widely. Sometimes you hear brands like NeoStrata referred to as ?cosmeceuticals?, but that term doesn?t have any legal meaning. Our products are cosmetics, but they contain higher levels of active ingredients than those generally available on the high street. For that reason we only supply clinics, because it?s important that our products are introduced in a structured way, under supervision.
DB: What ...