Personalised skincare: How to customise your skincare routine

Here’s the rub: we have never in the history of humankind been more spoiled for skincare options. But, unless you’re a dermatologist or extremely devoted to label-gazing, that has only complicated things.

More choice isn’t always the path to skin nirvana but can lead us down a road to overwhelm, over-consumption and over-use of actives.

“Our skin is part of what makes us unique, there is no one size fits all,” says Dr Deb Cohen-Jones, a medical practitioner who co-founded the online prescription skincare service, The Secret Skincare, with Dr Clara Hurst.

“It is so important for people to use skincare that works specifically for them.”

The emphasis here is on specific: Unless you’re both very in tune with changes in your complexion and armed with an encyclopaedic knowledge of ingredients, finding ‘the one’ will be a trial and error approach, potentially littered with disappointment, half-tried tubs in landfill and sometimes a full-on skin tantrum.

So, could a prescription product, one that is tailored to your individual skin issues by a qualified professional via an online platform, signal the end of purchase regret?

“We have a philosophy of ‘skin minimalism’. We combine multiple, medically-proven ingredients that are handmade to order based on a person’s medical details and skin history,” says Dr Cohen-Jones.

“By stripping back the unnecessary products and focusing on what’s really working for an individual’s skin, we not only support the skin in a healthier way by not overwhelming the barrier with too many ingredients, it also sends less waste to landfill.”

The first big hurdle that a prescribed product can bypass is nailing your skin type: The difference between sensitive and sensitised or dry and dehydrated is crucial if ingredient efficacy is paramount. To get it right, online prescription services like Software (skin.software) will generally ask you to complete a skin questionnaire, and then prompt you to upload a photo of your skin for visual review.

“Many people don’t have a full grasp of their skin profile so there is often misinterpretation,” explains Software founder Niamh Mooney. “Photos and follow-up questions from doctors can counter that.

“It is the combination of strong ingredients and the selection of actives that makes personalised formulations so unique and so effective.”

Although the process is online, that doesn’t necessarily make it impersonal. “Patients who have suffered acne and other skin conditions are often very vulnerable and emotional,” says Niamh, who staffs Software with registered GPs who have additional dermatology training.

“AI is clever but it’s not empathetic. Human expertise and experience is still the best way to support patients through their skin journey with empathy and consideration.”

That said, if your skin is no trouble and all you need is some help in narrowing down existing options, that kind of personalised service exists too. Askbella (askbella.com.au) uses AI technology to select the best options for your skin type from over 100 existing brands.

“There has been a rise in at-home diagnostic tools that allow consumers to gather detailed information about their skin and create customised skincare routines,” says Niamh.

“Personalised skincare is part of a larger paradigm shift where people are embracing and celebrating their individuality.”

Given the rapid rate of tech development and rising consumer sentiment to reduce waste and overspending, Dr Cohen-Jones believes prescription services will soon become the norm rather than the exception. “We believe in the next few years personalised skincare will no longer be considered a ‘luxury’,” she says.

“It’s about working to streamline your routine, and focusing on nourishing your skin with simple, effective ingredients.”