Make-up artist Romy Soleimani guides you through her top creams and best skin care tips.
Not only does Romy Soleimani create the world’s most out-of-this-world skin on the A-list, but she also possesses it herself. At 47, she’d have most 25-year-olds rummaging through her bathroom cabinet for ways to look as good as her. Luckily she let us do exactly this, and we weren’t disappointed.
When make-up artists talk ‘no make-up make-up’ we all give an inaudible sigh because it seems less unattainable than a reservation at Rao’s. “I don’t want to see make-up,” says Romy, (perhaps a tad controversially for an internationally renowned make-up artist). But as the creator of the Insta-skin phenomenon #romyglow, she’s convinced it’s about investing the time, energy and right products into the skin, rather than an elaborate cover-up job. “You might see a shoot that I do is labelled ‘raw skin’ but it takes a lot of layers of skincare to get you there. How I get that yummy skin is how I treat the skin first. People feel really good when their skin looks good, so skin quality is of the utmost importance.”
Here’s Romy’s ultimate guide to must-have skincare you need to know about. You’re welcome.
1. Make Your Cleanser Manuka
Rub Naturopathica Manuka Honey Cleanser into dry skin. Manuka is intensely nourishing and helps the skin heal quicker. I always massage it in thoroughly, working across the entire face because when you stimulate skin, it floods with colour and truly becomes alive.
2. Japanese Cloth Tablets
A bag of disposable little Japanese Cloth Tablets, will last ages. Just drop one into hot water and it instantly opens up - perfect for one-off cleansing and much more hygienic than leaving a flannel on your sink.
3. Clue Up on Cryo Sticks
I’ve been using Biologique Recherche Cryo-Sticks for at least four years now but suddenly they're gaining popularity because a lot of brands are making them. Keep them in your freezer and they’re magic for calming redness and some anti-inflammatory action. I got the idea from the amazing facialist Joanna Czech, whom I adore. Whenever she's doing a great treatment on me, I think to myself, how can I incorporate that into my work?
4. Sub-Zero Sheet Masking
I like to use cryo sticks on top of sheet masks for work because I feel it's more efficient and pushes the nutrients from the mask, deeper into the skin. For sheet masks, I like all the 111Skin sheet masks, Knesko Nanogold Repair Face Masks, and Colbert MD do great ones too.
5. Laser Your Own Skin
So many dermatologist lasers work by damaging the skin to create collagen but the LYMA Laser repairs skin by healing, so you feel like you're treating your skin. I’ve only had my LYMA Laser for 10 months and I take it on every single job with me because it’s so easy to travel with. For me, it’s vital that it’s light, cordless and the batteries are rechargeable. I’m lucky enough to have every single Celluma device that you can think of and the Celluma iPro LED Face Mask, is an excellent one but if I’m honest, I don't often feel inclined to just sit under there for ages. With the LYMA Laser, I swipe across an area, count to five slowly, then move on to another area, totalling about 20 minutes. If I have a sunspot, I’ll use the LYMA to lighten it or sometimes I’ll hold it on the apples of my cheeks if I want to build more collagen there. Since I've been using it, my skin doesn't feel fragile at all, it has so much strength and bounce.
6. Get into Facial Misting
I'm big on face misting. Actually, the LYMA Oxygen Mist that comes with the laser is gorgeous and they should make a huge version of it because I’m always using it all up! I often like to use the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist that contains Neroli orange blossom. I'm a big smell person and mists have to feel fresh.
7. Combine Your Creams and Oils
It depends on who's sitting in front of me and if their skin is very oily but I often combine creams and oils, applying them on some areas of the face but not others. The levels of skincare I use are ever evolving and when something new comes along, I’ll always try it into the mix. Lately, I’ve been liking the Aurelia Balance Glow Day Oil that’s got probiotics in it, working that into the skin with the ReFa Pro Platinum Electronic Roller. However LYMA Skincare Serum and Cream is a firm favourite of mine as it is a unique combination of proven ingredients including essential oils (L22), prebiotics (proven beta glucan Wellmune), a safe form of retinol (bakuchiol), hyaluronic acid and many more state-of-the-art patented, cosmeceutical ingredients at doses proven to work.
8. Switch Your Serums
I select serums depending on what my skin needs. I now use LYMA Skincare on a daily basis as its all-in-one protocol has simplified my life and its efficacy on my skin has been notable since day 1. In the past, I often fell to the Furtuna Skin Porte Per La Vitalita Face and Eye Serum, or to the Retrouve, a skincare range from the original founders of Kiehl’s. The Retrouve Nutrient Face Serum is so rich and potent, it almost looks like honey and I usually throw that on after using the LYMA Laser as a last step before bed.