Skincare Heroes For Your Healthiest Skin Ever

Words by Verity Clark


The last decade has seen the beauty industry accelerate exponentially. From the constant carousel of new trends to the raft of quick fixes that promise to turn back the clock overnight, repair has been the name of the skincare game.


This year though, the beauty industry is taking a collective deep breath and slowing down. Spearheaded by groundbreaking treatments and a crew of innovative brands that are embracing a more mindful, long-term approach to skincare.


Driving this skincare shift is a greater understanding of how we’ve been damaging our skin through everyday aggressors including UV exposure and pollution but also, ironically, harsh, overly complicated skincare routines. As a result, there is a growing desire for treatments and products that offer gradual but long-lasting results.


This holistic approach to skincare is something that is reflected in the Harrods beauty department. Good skin health comes in the form of cutting edge skincare, of course, but also in the myriad skincare treatments delivered by our skin experts. On the Lower Ground Floor you’ll find exclusive facials designed to boost skin on a cellular level from brands including Omorovicza and Element Eight. And those who can’t bring themselves to leave The Beauty Halls can experience instant - but long-lasting - skin rejuvenation at the hands of our experts on counters ranging from skin analysis at Kiehl’s and Lancôme to La Mer.


Looking forward, the skincare to reach for is that which not only meets immediate needs but contributes to long-term wellbeing. Because, in the skincare world at least, it is the tortoise, not the hare who wins the skin health race.

Lancôme Absolue L’Extrait The Cream

Using extreme cold to revive and reenergize flagging bodies has become a popular lifestyle habit all over the world but you needn’t jump into a freezing lake to reap the benefits. The Cryosculpt Service available on the Lancôme counter uses a Cryo-Sculptor device backed by longevity science to fuel microcirculation in the skin which helps to brighten complexions as well as provide an immediate lifting effect. The brand is also on a mission to restore vitality to complexions at home, with their latest innovation, Absolue Blackbiosis, an active that promotes longevity (see, it’s everywhere) at a cellular level. Found in the Absolue L’Extrait Cream skin is left velvety to touch, fine lines are softened and general radiance is restored. Biohacking at its beauty best.



Shop Now

Valmont Vitality

One brand that has dedicated itself to cellular science is Valmont. Cell renewal is in the Swiss skincare experts DNA, literally. DNA (specifically that of wild salmon, great for rejuvenating lacklustre skin apparently) is the signature ingredient in all Valmont products. This year sees the introduction of a new three-step skincare range Vitality (a serum, eye cream and a cream available in three different textures) which harnesses the original DNA formula plus a supercharged ingredient called Silanols. Lots of clever science is at play but essentially Silanol DNA works to reboot flagging cells and put some vim back into skin.



Shop Now

Omorovicza Blue Diamond Super Serum

According to research from Budapest skincare brand Omorovicza, one of the leading causes of biological ageing is cellular senescence. Cellular what? Senescent cells —also known as ‘zombie cells’— have stopped dividing but haven’t died. Instead of letting them flounder, Omorovicza’s Blue Diamond Super Serum, £350, reawakens these dormant cells. The result? The Blue Diamond Super Serum is clinically proven to reduce skin cell ageing by over 91%*, helping to boost skin longevity. For you, that means a brighter, bouncier complexion. The peptide fuelled power of this super serum is also available in facial form thanks to the new Blue Diamond Skin Therapy Session, £175, available exclusively at Harrods. Tired, stressed skin be gone.



Shop Now

La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift

The beauty buzzword du jour? Longevity. The idea is that by protecting skin health as early as possible you can help ward off some of the most familiar signs of ageing, something which Swiss skincare brand La Prairie have been pioneering since 1978. Skin Caviar Liquid Lift has been a staple for sculpting skin for over a decade but the latest iteration is the best yet. The clue is in the name, a lifting effect is the formula’s main aim; something which can be experienced first hand with the ‘Contour and Sculpt Facial’ available at the Beauty Suites, £250. At home, similar results can be achieved thanks to nutrient-rich (300 and counting) Caviar Micro-Nutrients which have been added to the signature cellular complex to boost skin’s metabolism, plump and firm. But if you’re serious about skin health then routines need to be continued wherever you are. Enter the 30ml travel-sized version, to help prioritise skin health on demand.



Shop Now

Shop Skincare Heroes

Future Proof Your Skin

More people are understanding the concept of wellness as a treatment with results,’ explains facialist Nichola Joss. ‘Information regarding holistic wellness as an effective way of looking at our overall health is more widely available, and we no longer see the skin as a separate entity.


Mind, body and gut health all play into how the skin behaves and more positive practice of kindness towards our body in general can reflect on the skin.’ Here, find four ways to improve skin health. Your future face will thank you.

Lancaster Sun Perfect Illuminating Cream SPF 50

Wear sunscreen every day. It’s no secret that UV exposure is one of the main causes of visible ageing but it’s not all doom and gloom. ‘Sun protection is being recognised more than ever as essential for maintaining healthy skin,’ says aesthetic doctor Dr Asha Chhaya, ‘especially with SPF’s ability to guard against premature ageing.’ But forget the gloopy, unctuous formulas of yesteryear, today’s sunscreens are a joy to use and do more than just protect, they repair too. Case in point: Lancaster Sun Perfect Illuminating Cream SPF 50, £35, which is equal parts skincare and suncare.

Shop Now

Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream

Use an eye cream. The gorgeous whipped texture of Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream, £47, helps nourish the delicate eye area and now comes packed with essential fatty acids and hydrating vitamins B+E as well as a common morning staple, caffeine. The hard stuff isn’t just useful for waking up tired minds, it’s fuel for sleepy eyes too. That’s one skincare smoothie for breakfast, please.



Shop Now

Lyma 30-Day Supplement Starter Kit

Add a supplement into your daily routine. The Lyma 30-Day Supplement Starter Kit, £199, boasts ten patented ingredients that have been engineered to transform sleep, anxiety, focus, immunity and beauty. Because there is no better feeling, than feeling your best. Powerful stuff.

Shop Now

La Mer, The Night Recovery Concentrate

Don’t skip a night serum. One brand who understands the importance of repair and recovery while you rest is La Mer. The Night Recovery Concentrate, £590, is designed to strengthen stressed, sensitised skin (retinoid users, microneedling fans and in-clinic treatment devotees listen up) as you snooze. How? The famed miracle broth concoction plus a skin barrier boosting ferment are delivered via a clever time-release system that maximises efficacy through at night.

Shop Now

Holistic Health Rest & Reset by Clinique La Prairie

Consider a night time supplement. While supplements are already a key part of daily self-care for many of us, incorporating them into night time rituals is new territory. Clinique La Prairie’s Holistic Health Rest & Reset is a two-month supply of capsules that use 12 synergetic ingredients (you’ll be most familiar with ashwagandha, valerian extract, vitamin B6 and magnesium) that are thought to promote brain health and stress resilience, as well as reinforce biological sleep-wake cycles. Now, that’s how you sleep smarter.

 

Shop Now

Element Eight, O2 Niacinamide Eight Active Serum

Increase your oxygen levels. Did you know that by age 40 the levels of oxygen in our skin reduce by up to 60%? Given that oxygen is vital for metabolising cells, it’s no wonder that a lack of it contributes to signs of ageing. The bad news is that it takes a bit more than a blustery walk to replenish depleted oxygen levels. The good news? Element Eight has done the hard work for you.  A patented technology OATH™ (Oxygen Amplified Therapy, obvs) has drip fed targeted skincare with liquid oxygen to improve skin cell health. For a supercharged oxygen experience try the Oxygen Amplified Therapy Face Treatment which uses an oxygen infusion to restore glow but it’s the 02 Niacinamide Eight Active Serum, £285, that is the jewel in the crown; the high concentration of plumping niacinamide coupled with our faithful friend Oxygen, leaves skin firmer, more even, vibrant and with a smoother appearance.

 

Shop Now

Shop Future Proofing Skincare

PARTNERSHIP Omorovicza, La Prairie, Lancôme, Valmont, Lyma, Lancaster, Kiehl's, La Mer

Harrods Stories

Bringing you a weekly dose of everything from pro-approved beauty buys to the season's must-try trends