CLM Aesthetics

DO YOU REALLY NEED SPF IF YOU'RE INDOORS?

Think your windows protect you from the sun? Not quite!

Sunlight contains two main types of UV radiation that affect our skin: UVA and UVB. Here's where it gets interesting.

Around 95% of the UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface is UVA, with approximately 5% being UVB. UVB is largely blocked by ordinary window glass. It's the main cause of sunburn and also contributes to skin cancer.

UVA is a different story. Depending on the type of glass, around 50–75% can pass through ordinary clear windows. UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and contributes to collagen breakdown, pigmentation, photoageing and skin cancer.

One study even found more visible signs of photoageing on the side of the face that had received years of sunlight through a window!

So, should you wear SPF indoors?

My advice? Make broad-spectrum SPF 50+ part of your morning routine. Think about all those little exposures throughout the day: driving, sitting near a sunny window, walking to the car or popping outside.

One day without sunscreen isn't going to undo everything, but repeated incidental exposure adds up over time.

X x Courtney

References: Mac-Mary et al., Clin Interv Aging (2010); Duarte et al., Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed (2009); Tuchinda et al., J Am Acad Dermatol (2006).

*Disclaimer: This information is for general education only and not personalised medical advice. Everyone’s skin ages differently depending on genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors.

“IF I START, I’LL HAVE TO KEEP DOING IT FOREVER.”

Not necessarily.

This is one of the biggest myths I hear about aesthetic treatments.

Some treatments have temporary effects, so repeating them may be needed if you want to maintain the same effect. But that doesn’t mean your face will suddenly “get worse” if you stop.

Your skin and face will simply continue to change naturally with time.

Think of aesthetic treatments more like maintenance than a subscription you can never cancel.

And your treatment plan should always be reassessed over time — because your face, skin and goals can change too.

References: Carruthers et al. Dermatol Surg. 2004; Sundaram et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016.

*Disclaimer: This information is for general education only and not personalised medical advice. Everyone’s skin ages differently depending on genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors.

Xx Courtney

CLM Aesthetics | Walkerville, Adelaide

“SKINCARE CAN’T DO ANYTHING ONCE YOU’RE OVER 50.”

Absolutely not.

Your skin doesn’t suddenly stop responding because you’ve hit a certain birthday.

Evidence supports several topical ingredients for improving aspects of skin ageing, including retinoids, vitamin C and sunscreen.

But skincare isn’t magic — and it can't completely stop intrinsic ageing or reverse every change.

The goal is healthy, well-supported skin… not trying to make 45 look like 25.

And honestly? Your skincare routine should evolve as your skin does.

References: Kafi et al. Arch Dermatol. 2007; Pullar et al. Nutrients. 2017; Sjerobabski Masnec & Šitum. Coll Antropol. 2010.

**Disclaimer: This information is for general education only and not personalised medical advice. Everyone’s skin ages differently depending on genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors.

Xx Courtney

CLM Aesthetics | Walkerville, Adelaide

VITAMIN A: CONSISTENCY BEATS INTENSITY

If you’re serious about anti-ageing skincare, vitamin A deserves a place at the top of the list.

It’s one of the most evidence-backed ingredients we have for acne and photo-ageing, with different forms ranging from retinol and retinal to prescription retinoids.

But here’s the catch: STRONGER ≠ BETTER

The strongest product in your bathroom is no use if it leaves your skin constantly dry, irritated and peeling — and you end up using it once a week.

A well-tolerated vitamin A that you can use consistently is far more useful.

And the results can be impressive. One 52-week study found consistent 0.1% retinol use improved the appearance of fine lines and mottled pigmentation, while also increasing markers associated with collagen production.

So rather than chasing the strongest product, find the strongest vitamin A YOUR SKIN can tolerate consistently.

Mines the ESK ultimate A **chefs kiss.

And remember the other non-negotiable: SPF 50+ EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Because you can’t out-skincare UV exposure.

CONSISTENCY > INTENSITY.

X x Courtney

Disclaimer: For general education only, not personalised medical advice. Vitamin A products aren’t suitable for everyone, and should not be used during pregnancy. Prescription retinoids require medical assessment. Introduce gradually and use SPF 50+ daily. Speak with a qualified health professional if you have concerns or are considering a retinoid.

REFERENCES:
Kafi R et al. Arch Dermatol. 2007;143:606–612.
Kang S et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1995;32:78–87.
Weiss JS et al. JAMA. 1991;266:2062–2067.
Lee DH et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018;17:1224–1232.

Christmas is coming!

It’s that time of year where I clock off, swap the scrubs for Christmas chaos and cocktails and spend some proper time with my family & friends.

CLM Aesthetics will be closed from 24th December to 13th January.

So if you’re wanting to squeeze in an appointment before Christmas, don’t leave it until the last minute!

Get yourself organised and book in.

See you soon.

X x Courtney

Walkerville, Adelaide

**BOOKING LINK IN BIO**

LADIES, LISTEN UP!

Hormones can influence acne throughout a woman’s life, but the hormonal environment changes.

During the menstrual cycle, fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone can affect the sebaceous glands and inflammation. For some women, acne predictably worsens before their period.

Then comes perimenopause. Oestrogen becomes more variable and eventually declines, while androgen activity can become relatively more influential. Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands, increasing sebum production and contributing to clogged pores and inflammation. So how might we approach acne differently at different stages?

TEENAGE ACNE

Often starts around puberty as androgen activity increases. A typical starting point may include a topical retinoid to prevent clogged pores, benzoyl peroxide to reduce inflammatory acne, or a combination depending on the type and severity of acne.

CYCLICAL ACNE

If breakouts reliably appear around your period, hormonal influences may be playing a bigger role. Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid can help. For persistent hormonal acne, a doctor may also consider hormonal options such as a combined oral contraceptive or spironolactone when appropriate.

PERIMENOPAUSAL/MENOPAUSAL ACNE

New acne at this stage deserves a little more investigation.Topical treatment can still be useful, but the skin may now also be drier and more sensitive because of declining oestrogen. For persistent hormonal acne, a doctor may consider anti-androgen treatment such as spironolactone. New or unusual acne may also warrant assessment for other hormonal causes.

Same condition. Different hormonal environment. Different approach.

X x Courtney

*Disclaimer: This information is for general education only and is not personalised medical advice. If you have persistent, painful, scarring or new-onset acne, please consult your GP, dermatologist or other qualified medical practitioner.

REFERENCES:
Reynolds RV, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1–e30.
Khunger N, Mehrotra K. Int J Womens Health. 2019;11:383–388.
Lipson J. Skin Therapy Lett. 2024;29(4):5–7.
Azarchi S, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(1):150–161.

You don’t need to chase every line and wrinkle on your face.

I know it can be tempting.

You notice one line, then another. A little pigmentation. A change in texture. Maybe something you didn’t notice six months ago suddenly becomes all you can see.

But your face is meant to move, change and age.

Good aesthetics isn’t about removing every sign of ageing or trying to create a completely different version of you.

Sometimes the most natural result comes from treating one or two things that genuinely bother you, while leaving other things completely alone.

And sometimes, the best plan is a combination of treatments, skincare and simply giving your skin time — rather than trying to do everything at once.

More treatment doesn’t automatically mean a better result.

In fact, knowing what NOT to treat can be just as important as knowing what to treat.

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s balance.

It’s understanding how your face is changing, what you actually want to improve, and choosing treatments that work with your features rather than against them.

Because the best aesthetic result shouldn’t make you look like you’ve had everything done.

It should still look like you.

Just you, cared for.

Disclaimer: This information is for general education only and not personalised medical advice. Everyone’s skin ages differently depending on genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors.

HAS YOUR SKIN “GOT USED TO” YOUR SKINCARE?

“I swear this product used to work, but now it does nothing.”

I hear this one a lot.

But has your skin actually become “immune” to your skincare?

Usually, no.

For most skincare ingredients, your skin doesn’t simply become resistant to them. What can change is how noticeable the results are.

When you first introduce a product, improvements may be more obvious. As your skin improves, you may reach a maintenance stage where the product is still doing its job, but the changes are less dramatic.

Your skin can also change over time. Hormones, age, stress, sleep, climate, sun exposure and your skin barrier can all influence what your skin needs.

Irritation can also be mistaken for products “stopping working”. Adding more active ingredients or using them more frequently can disrupt the skin barrier, causing dryness, redness or breakouts.

And sometimes… your expectations have simply changed.

Before throwing out your whole routine, ask:

Has my skin changed?
Am I using my products consistently?
Have I introduced too many actives?
Has my environment changed?
Am I expecting a maintenance product to keep producing dramatic results?

Sometimes your skincare hasn’t stopped working. Your skin, environment or expectations have changed.

X x Courtney

References:

Draelos ZD. The science behind skin care: Moisturizers. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2018.
Ananthapadmanabhan KP, et al. Dermatologic Therapy. 2004.
Rawlings AV, Lombard KJ. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2012.

*Disclaimer: This information is for general education only and not personalised medical advice. Everyone’s skin ages differently depending on genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors.

WHY DOES MY FACE LOOK DIFFERENT EVERY DAY?

Ever looked in the mirror one morning and thought, “What happened to my face?”

Then looked again a few days later and thought, “Oh… there I am.”
Your face can genuinely look different from one day to the next, and it doesn't necessarily mean your skin has suddenly aged or that you've “lost” your results.

A big reason is fluid.

Poor sleep, dehydration, a salty meal, alcohol, hormonal fluctuations, stress and inflammation can all influence how much fluid your body retains. This can temporarily change the appearance of areas such as the under-eyes, cheeks and jawline.

Allergies can also contribute to puffiness, particularly around the eyes, while inflammation from things like a breakout or irritated skin can temporarily change how your face looks and feels.

Sleep is another big one. When you haven't slept well, changes in fluid distribution, blood flow and inflammation can contribute to puffiness and a tired-looking complexion.

And then there are hormones. Changes throughout the menstrual cycle can influence fluid retention and skin behaviour, meaning your face and skin can look and feel different at different times of the month.

This is why judging your skin, facial shape or “aging” based on one particular morning isn't always helpful.

Sometimes what you're seeing isn't a permanent change.It's simply your body responding to what's happening inside it.So before you panic about what you see in the mirror, think about the bigger picture.

How did you sleep? Have you been drinking enough water? Had more salt or alcohol than usual? Are you stressed? Feeling unwell? Experiencing allergies? Where are you in your hormonal cycle?

Your face doesn't have to look exactly the same every day.And that's completely normal.

X x Courtney

References:
Watanabe M, et al. Relationship between sleep and skin health. Sleep Medicine Reviews.
Kumar S, et al. Skin and systemic effects of dehydration and water balance. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology.
Sies H. Oxidative stress: a concept in redox biology and medicine. Redox Biology. 2015.

*This information is for general education only and not personalised medical advice.