Demystify Skincare Interview

Demystify Skincare: From Anti-Ageing To Acne, It's Time To Be Clear About Skincare

Let's face it; skincare can be a total minefield for Australians, thanks to the combination of both individual and unique skin needs and an influx of complicated advice, products and services.

Leading expert in the industry, Clear Skincare, is striving to make skincare clear and dispel the common misconception that you have to make do with the skin you're in. The brand offers bespoke programmes for each client, led by expert doctors, nurses and therapists who offer clinical advice on the best treatments specifically for their skin.

As one of the country's most experienced anti-ageing, skin, acne and laser clinic specialists, the brand brings over 20 years' experience in over 50 clinics, having treated more than 420,000 Australians last year alone.

With more than 35 per cent of Australian women silently suffering from adult acne, one of the breakthrough treatments is Dr McCaffery's Acne Treatment – exclusive to Clear Skincare Clinics, the treatment eliminates acne, breakouts and pimples without using any drugs and has no side effects. Since it launched in 2012, clients have enjoyed a 95 per cent success rate.

Along-with the breakthrough acne treatment, Clear Skincare Clinics is delivering outstanding client results from Dermapen – a device that uses the world's most advanced skin needling technology to treat fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars and skin texture with minimal downtime.


Following high demand from clinic clients, Clear Skincare launched its cult product range into Priceline stores across Australia earlier this year – allowing clients greater access to enjoy clinic quality results focused products at home.

With anti-ageing, acne, hydration and everyday ranges available in more than 350 Priceline stores and 50 Clear Skincare Clinics, men and women are able to purchase affordable, tried and tested clinic products that have been formulated with the world's most active ingredients. The products continue to work on the skin after they've been applied - when you sleep, when you work and when you play.

Each Clear Skincare product has been directly informed by the thousands of clients that visit the clinics, and are continually adapted to ensure they treat the evolving needs of different skin types.

Clear Skincare Clinics' products are high performing, affordable, cosmeceutical and deliver clinic quality results at home.

Interview with Dr Philippa McCaffery, Clear Skincare Clinics

Question: How should our skincare regime change as we move from Winter to Summer?

Dr Philippa McCaffery: Winter may mean that your skin becomes extra dry and sensitive, so during this time, it is all about keeping your skin hydrated and nourished with ingredients such as Vitamin C and Clear Skincare New Skin which is a rich retinyl palmitate cream that's great for winter dryness.

As we come into the warmer months, it's all about protecting from the sun so you will need UV protection every day to help ward off wrinkles, premature aging and pigmentation. Make sun protection part of your routine by using a moisturiser with SPF such as Clear Skincare Sunscreen SPF30+ Oil Free.


Question: What ways can we learn what to use to keep our skin looking and feeling its best?

Dr Philippa McCaffery: The best way to learn about your skin, and what it needs, is to get it assessed by an expert skin therapist. We offer them at Clear Skincare, and each one is performed by our most senior skin therapists. Our skin therapists will advise you on how to effectively treat a range of skin concerns: from pigmentation, wrinkles and fine lines, acne and acne scarring, capillaries and redness, open pores and skin texture.


Question: How can we best determine our skin type?

Dr Philippa McCaffery: Each and every person has different skin types and concerns. The combination of both individual and unique skin needs can be overwhelming and determining your skin type is important.

Clear Skincare brings over 20 years' experience in over 50 clinics, having treated more than 420,000 Australians last year alone. Led by expert doctors, nurses and therapists who offer offer one-to-one skin consultations and clinical advice on the best treatments specifically for your skin type.

We suggest booking in for a complimentary skin consult to determine your skin type and address any concerns.


Question: What are the essential ingredients everyone should be using to keep their skin healthy this summer?

Dr Philippa McCaffery: There are many great ingredients to look out for in your skin care, but for summer you should be looking primarily for a high UV protection. Make sun protection part of your routine by using a moisturiser with SPF such as Clear Skincare Sunscreen SPF30+ Oil Free.

Clear Skincare sunscreen uses active ingredients including octocrylene, oxybenzone to filter the infiltration of harmful UVA and UVB radiation from the sun to your skin. Because Clear Skincare sunscreen does not use zinc or titanium dioxide there is no need for an oily binding agent, enabling Clear Skincare Sunscreen to be oil-free.


Question: How can we prevent breakouts?
Dr Philippa McCaffery: It all starts with picking the perfect products. As people with acne-prone skin know, some skincare products can bring on breakouts, but the right active ingredients will make skin look clear, healthy and glowing. Products containing salicylic acid can help clean up pores and prevent further pimples from forming.

The makeup you use also has a big impact. Oil-based makeup is a pore-blocking breakout booster, so it's best to avoid it. But don't fret about going bare-faced, opt for a non-comedogenic (non-pore-blocking) mineral powder instead, it's kinder to sensitive, acne-prone skin and still gives great coverage.

We would also recommend that you exfoliate properly. Despite usually being more sensitive than other skin types, acne-prone skin needs exfoliation. Go gently by using low-concentration Glycolic or Lactic Acid Peels, such as Clear Skincare Overnight Acne Peel, or Glycolic Peels containing microdermabrasion crystals.

Healthy eating is of course also key. Cutting out dairy, high-GI foods such as white rice, and refined carbohydrates like white pasta, bread, cakes and biscuits, may help improve your skin – try it and see.


Question: How can you best manage a breakout, if it does occur?

Dr Philippa McCaffery: A beach day can be the perfect pimple fix because the sun and salty water is a fantastic natural exfoliant and helps to dry out oily skin. But always protect your skin from UV rays with sunscreen that's specially formulated for acne-prone skin, such as Clear Skincare Oil Free Sunscreen. Better still, clinic-based LED treatments are safer than sun exposure and have the same positive effect – minus the damaging Australian rays.

You can also try spot treating the breakout with Salicylic Toner – this will break down the oil in the active breakout.

Finally, if you've tried all of the above and nothing is working, consider a more permanent solution such as Dr McCaffery's Acne Treatment. This drug-free solution has a 90 percent success rate at eliminating acne, breakouts and pimples, and is available in Clear Skincare Clinics across Australia.


Question: Can you tell us about Clear Skincare?

Dr Philippa McCaffery: Clear Skincare is a leading expert in the industry. We strive to make skincare clear and dispel the common misconception that you have to make do with the skin you're in. We offer bespoke programmes for each client, led by expert doctors, nurses and therapists who offer clinical advice on the best treatments specifically for your skin.

We're proud to say we're one of the country's most experienced anti-ageing, skin, acne and laser clinic specialists, bringing over 20 years' experience in over 50 clinics. Just last year alone we treated more than 420,000 Australians!

Following high demand from our clients, we launched our cult product range into Priceline stores across Australia earlier this year – allowing clients greater access to enjoy clinic quality, results-focused products at home.

Question: Which of the Clear Skincare treatments would be best for Spring skin?

Dr Philippa McCaffery: As we come into the Spring months, it's time to shed all of the dry skin from the cooler season. We recommend Clear Skincare Clinics Signature Peels as the perfect start to give the skin a much needed exfoliation.

Skin Peels are the most affordable and effective solution to improve skin texture, exfoliate dead skin cells and refine open pores – allowing you to achieve incredibly smooth and younger looking skin fast. Clear Skincare Clinics offers a unique range of Skin Peel treatments to target your skin concerns and leave you with a smoother, tighter and brighter complexion.


Interview by Brooke Hunter