Royal Skin-Care Secrets You Need to Try for Yourself

It’s not just the glow of motherhood: Meghan Markle owes her spectacular complexion in part to facialist Sarah Chapman.

By Jessica Matlin, Harper's Bazaar
It's not easy to nod off during one of Sarah Chapman’s treatments. “I really pummel the skin!” the London skin guru says with a laugh. Chapman is known not just for working with Meghan Markle but also for her vigorous facial massage protocol, designed to unearth cheekbones and melt signs of fatigue. (In fact, her hands are so incredible, they’re insured for £1 million.) Can’t make it to her Chelsea clinic? Chapman shares her secrets for looking radiant and rested.

 

 

MASTER THE CLEANSE

I like to cleanse with balmy formulas because they have enough slip that I can comfortably do an intense massage. Here’s your at-home version: Make loose fists, and literally knead your knuckles into the muscles. Then drum your fingertips on your face until you’re flushed. You’re getting the blood flow going, which helps oxygenate and bring nutrients to the cells. You’re also draining away that tired look. I know Meghan really enjoys my [Sarah Chapman] Ultimate Cleanse. 

LOOK BETTER IN A FLASH

Here’s my quickie “I look like hell” routine. Cleanse and massage, and follow with a steam. I use the Sarah Chapman Pro Hydro-Mist Steamer. This helps the subsequent products really get into the skin. Then apply a mild lactic acid peel, which hydrates, exfoliates, and brightens. Finish with a vitamin C serum (to brighten) and a hyaluronic acid cream (to plump). Have a big event coming up? Try my Radiance Recharge System. It’s a careful 10-day sequence [which includes the aforementioned ingredients]; Meghan used it leading up to the wedding.

PREVENT PILING

After cleansing I sometimes put up to seven layers of product on my face, but I apply them in a specific order to prevent them from balling up. That’s my pet peeve! I always start by applying the thinnest, most watery formula. Let it sink in until your skin feels dry, then reach for the next product. If you’re in a rush, mix them all in your hand and apply them together.

EASE UP ON EYE CREAM

People who use eye cream tend to use too much. The tissue there is 10 times thinner than the rest of your face, so it can’t sustain all that product. Sometimes it will just sit on top of the skin, causing milia [small, painless white bumps]. You only need a drop the size of a half-grain of rice, and tap it under the eye area. Apply the excess onto your 11’s [the brow furrow lines] and along the brow bone.

CONSIDER YOUR DIET

If a client has skin issues, I dig into what they’re eating. I had a girl who came to me with acne, and once we finished talking I realized that between lattes and smoothies she was ingesting two pints of milk a day. While scientists debate the connection between dairy and blemishes, I think there’s a link. Once a client eliminates milk, their skin improves. For everyone, I recommend omega oil supplements (for strong, flexible skin) and probiotics (essential for gut health, key to good skin). I love WelleCo The Super Elixir Greens and the Beauty Chef Glow Inner Beauty Powder.

MIND THE DETAILS

When we do facials we treat the neck, chest, and shoulders because we consider them part of the face. They’re all susceptible to the same sort of damage. Think about the way your chest is angled to the sun—you can catch a lot of UV damage unexpectedly. The same goes for the back of the neck and even the ears. As an aesthetician, I see these areas close-up all the time, and sometimes they do look old. It’s a small detail that can age you. 

NEEDLE THE RIGHT WAY

I love micro­needling. It creates micropunctures that enable maximum absorption of your skin-care products and stimulates your own collagen. It can also improve dark spots (from past breakouts). If you’re going to try it at home, be sure to invest in a good device with quality needles. One to try: Environ Cosmetic Roll-CIT.