The one thing world-renowned dermatologist Dr Andrew Markey believes is that skincare shouldn’t be complicated. So he’s developed a skin-transforming routine to start anyone off on a full-blown healthy skin overhaul, at any time. It’s set to become your skincare alphabet: ABCSPF™.
“If you think about ageing skin, what’s at the heart of it is damage,” Dr Markey explains. “And there are three skincare ingredients which work beautifully together to help slow down the ageing process. And conveniently they just so happen to be called A, B and C. Add in an SPF every single day - and your ABCSPF™ routine is complete. ”
“ABC+SPF should be the absolute backbone of any active skincare routine*, all year round. Every step builds collagen. Of course you’ll still need cleansers and serums and moisturisers - but these actives are your ‘must-haves’.”
Ready To Try?
We're so passionate about the smoothing, brightening, youth-boosting and general, all-round rejuvenating effects of this routine that we’ve made it super-easy for you to get going.
Skin Generally Well-Behaved?
Every morning, cleanse and prep skin with cleanser and mist, then follow with:
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THE ‘C’: Superactive Capsules Pure Double Vitamin C & Vitamin E Serum then add your skin-type specific moisturiser
Every night cleanse and prep skin with cleanser and mist, then follow with:
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THE ‘A’: Super Retinol + Vitamin C Night Renewal Moisturiser
Do this for six weeks straight (that’s ONE skin cycle) and then either graduate to Advanced level, or stick with this!
If you're sensitive...
When it comes to the Retinol step, Dr Markey advises starting off with a quarter of a fingertip of product, which is around 2 pumps. “Apply that two nights a week for a couple of weeks. Then if your skin is happy, increase it so that you’re applying it every other night, then after a couple more weeks, you can increase it to every night.”
THE STEP-BY-STEP:
Every morning, cleanse and prep skin with cleanser and mist, then follow with:
Every night cleanse and prep skin with cleanser and mist, then follow with:
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THE 'A': Super Retinol + Vitamin C Night Renewal Moisturiser
Ready To Go Next-Level?
Already using retinol? This is for you. “The is something you can graduate to after you’ve worked through lower-dose retinoid products. I like to measure application in 6-week skin cycles, so ensure you have been using Retinol for at least six weeks before you try this."
THE STEP-BY-STEP
Every morning, cleanse and prep skin with cleanser and mist, then follow with:
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THE ‘C’: Superdose Vitamin C C-Suite Rapid Action Power Brightener, then add your skin-type specific moisturiser
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SPF: Super Healthy Skin Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50
Every night cleanse and prep skin with cleanser and mist, then follow with:
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THE ‘A’: Super Retinol Ceramide-boost Anti-aging Face Serum
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Apply your favourite moisturiser (all the way down to your neck and chest)
Let's Talk Ingredients
You probably know these three ingredients better by other names. The ‘A’ is Vitamin A, which in skincare is more commonly called Retinol, from the family of retinoids.
Vitamin B? That would be Niacinamide, a brilliantly-skin soothing form of Vitamin B3.
And finally, not needing any explanation, the ‘C’ stands for Vitamin C - the super-skin brightener.
And there’s one final step that has a three-letter acronym all of its own: SPF. “Once you add suncare management onto the ABC, you absolutely have the core of what you should be looking for in a great skincare routine,” says Dr Markey. “Ask yourself: ‘Is there a bit of A, bit of B and bit of C in my routine - and is there a lot of SPF?”.
The ‘A’: RETINOL
“Retinol breaks down to Retinoic Acid in the skin. It speeds up cellular turnover - switching on cells ‘keratinocytes’ and ‘fibroblasts’,” says Dr Markey. “Everything gets supercharged - glow, firmness, fine lines, smoothness - and texture changes. It’s a dermatologist's favourite gold standard go-to treatment for skin problems.”
“Super Retinol + Vitamin C Night Renewal Moisturiser is an excellent and gentle introduction to using Retinol,” says Dr Markey. ”BEAUTY PIE’S Super Retinol range is very well researched with proven effects on the skin. I like that the range has gentle concentrations, which is a good thing as too many people are walking around with too much irritation and inflammation from using too many aggressive actives on the skin. So start gently, whether you think you have sensitive skin or not.”
Ever want to hit ‘REFRESH’ on your face? This superstar Swiss overnight formula has everything anti-ageing in it – Encapsulated Retinol (resurfacing), Ficucell Vita (antioxidant), Shea Butter (nourishing), Vitamins E and C (elasticity) and Ferulic and Hyaluronic Acids (plumping and hydrating). It’s super-smoothing, fine-line and wrinkle tackling, brightening, and we think possibly the best Retinol night moisturiser ever.
SHOP SUPER RETINOL
The ‘B’: NIACINAMIDE
“If Retinol is my skincare ‘wow,’ then for me, Niacinamide - or Vitamin B3 - is all about calming,” says Dr Markey. That’s why dermatologists love it - it’s a really helpful molecule that soothes and calms skin, so it works really well in conjunction with other active ingredients. Niacinamide helps rebuild the barrier function of the skin, and also triggers the production of ceramides. “It helps with pore refinement - and is really useful for helping even out pigmentation - plus vascular discolouration and spottiness on the chest, which drives clients bonkers.”
We wanted to make a Niacinamide Serum that was next level, and though we say it ourselves, this one is just excellent. With 10% Niacinamide for barrier strengthening, improved elasticity, boosted ceramide production and more, 2% Oxygeskin which helps reduce the appearance of pores while refining and smoothing the skin’s surface, and 3% Evermat which makes large pores look like they’ve shrunk, plus Oleanolic Acid and Arctic Cloudberry, for an absolutely incredible healthy skin glow.
Use after toner or essence, under serum or moisturiser. Swiss. For all skin types, but a particular must-have for breakouts and rosacea. Vegan. Cruelty-free (of course). And clean.
SHOP SUPERDROPS
The ‘C’: VITAMIN C
“Vitamin C (or Ascorbic Acid as it’s also known) and its brightening benefits appeal to everybody,” says Dr Markey. “In a skincare programme, it’s an absolute master at prevention, and helping to reduce ongoing damage. Because it’s an antioxidant, it gobbles up free radicals. It stops inflammation which can be caused by UV light and environmental pollutants. It stimulates new collagen and helps the stability of new collagen, too. It protects skin from developing a pigment response and helps with brightness and evenness of skin tone. It increases the skin’s tolerance to UV light and acts as a subtle SPF in addition to the sunscreen you are using. It’s also safe to use during pregnancy.”
These super-targeted ‘one-shot’ capsules hold high doses of stable actives, dispensed with a simple twist, squeeze and tap. A double dose of pure Vitamin C is boosted with Vitamin E acetate for moisture and antioxidation. They also help to firm, smooth and brighten, minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even out skin tone. A daily must-have anti-ageing vitamin dose for your skin.
SHOP VITAMIN C
Add Your SPF
“You MUST MUST MUST use a broad spectrum sunscreen - it’s a critical component of Sun Management,” says Dr Markey.
SHOP SPF
When To Start Your ABC
“A number is not the best way to decide,” says Dr Markey. “We all have different skin types. You could have someone with well-preserved skin at 40 years old, and someone aged 22 already showing signs of sun damage due to lots of holidays in the sunshine. The general rule is to start in your 30s and apply the ABC approach rigidly - but many can benefit from starting in their 20s. (And parents should always apply the Sun Management habits to their children.)”
But Whenever You Start, Stick With The Programme...
“I always try to emphasise and point out that the answer to successful anti-ageing is CONSISTENCY,” says Dr Markey. “Sun damage changes are persistent conditions, so you must be persistent in treatment. The skin cycle is actually about 40 days (or 6 weeks), so give creams enough time to do their jobs. You need 6 weeks from the bottom of the epidermis to the top to get good results. And then ideally, continue this for a second and third time. That’s when you’ll really get the outcome you want.”
And For An Extra Vitamin B Dose...
“A lot of patients complain about age spots on their neck and chest,” says Dr Markey. “Niacinamide features prominently in BEAUTY PIE’s Uber Youth Neck & Chest Spray. Being a spray it’s also lovely and light and refreshing to use.”
This high-tech powerhouse has got 5% Niacinamide to brighten and lift the look of sunspots, 4% Idealift Peptides to fight the sag, and so many lifting ingredients you might need anti-gravity boots just to use it.
SHOP UBER YOUTH™
*If you are pregnant, cut out the Retinols, and go only ‘BCSPF'!
