Want Skincare That Actually Works? A Super Facialist Confirms These 8 Products Never Fail

Teresa Tarmey says, “Redness is one of the skin concerns I treat most often, whether it’s rosacea, simple flushing or post-inflammatory or procedure redness. While skincare and in-clinic treatments are the long-term solution, sometimes you just want your skin to look calmer straight away. This Erborian CC Red Correct is one of the cleverest complexion products I’ve ever found, because it uses the usual green pigments to neutralise redness, but then it adapts to your natural skin tone. Which means the finish is incredibly natural—your skin will still look like skin—just healthier and more even. I often recommend it to clients with rosacea or anyone whose skin flushes easily because it provides immediate confidence while we work on improving the underlying redness over time. Watch this space in this category.”

“My skin has become noticeably drier during perimenopause, so I always keep a richer cream like this close by, just for any rough patches or flare-ups. I don’t use it all over every day, but whenever my skin feels compromised, irritated or particularly dehydrated. I also recommend it during the winter months or after treatments when your skin barrier needs extra support. It’s deeply comforting without feeling overly complicated—just excellent barrier care.”

“Cleansing is the foundation of every skincare routine, but it’s always one of the steps people get wrong most often. First, you don’t need two separate cleansers! I wanted to create an all-round cleanser that removed makeup, SPF and pollution thoroughly without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped. If your cleanser compromises your skin barrier, everything you apply afterwards is trying to repair the damage. Mine is gentle enough to use every day but effective enough that skin genuinely feels clean afterwards. It’s the cleanser I use morning and evening because I know what a game changer it is!”, explains Tarmey.

“I’m always, always asked if eye creams are worth it, and my answer is usually, ‘Only if they’re doing something your face cream isn’t.’ We all know the skin around the eyes is thinner, more delicate and often the first area to show signs of fatigue or dehydration. Or stress! This is one of the few eye creams I come back to time and time again because it hydrates beautifully without feeling heavy, but more importantly, it immediately makes the eye area look fresher and just rested. No one should expect an eye cream to perform like an injectable or a laser, but I do expect it to keep this delicate area healthy, comfortable and well cared for, and this one does that so well.”

Tarmey claims, “We’re getting good at looking after the skin on our face, but be honest, most of us stop at the jawline, as [founder of Joonbyrd]Dr Alexis Granite says. The skin on your body deserves the same attention. What I love about Alexis’s Joonbryd body range is that it’s based on proper dermatological science rather than fragrance or indulgence. My favourite is the Future Romance Body Glaze, ‘cos it leaves my skin beautifully hydrated and nourished without feeling sticky, and it’s become part of my daily routine.”

“I rarely wear foundation because I spend my life looking at skin close up. I’d much rather improve the skin itself and then use something lightweight to even everything out. Lisa’s Skin Tint does exactly that, but it’s a hybrid formula with excellent skin-nourishing ingredients, so it’s killing two birds with one stone. It gives me a healthy, believable finish that lets my real skin show through, instead of masking it. For me, makeup should enhance good skin, not hide it, and this does that beautifully.”

“SPF is the closest thing we have to an anti-ageing product. It’s the one product I never, ever skip, regardless of the weather or the season. I formulated mine because I wanted something that people would actually enjoy wearing every day, so it hydrates beautifully, sits well under makeup and doesn’t leave skin feeling greasy or heavy. As a facialist, I spend so much time treating pigmentation and loss of skin quality, and daily sunscreen is still the best way to prevent both. If someone asked me to recommend just one skincare product, it would almost certainly be SPF.”

“Klira is one I keep coming back to, and I have huge respect for its founder, Dr Emma Craythorne, who is a brilliant dermatologist. Emma really understands skin, and that expertise is behind the whole concept. Your Skin Special is personalised to your individual skin and concerns, using prescription ingredients where appropriate, so it takes a lot of the guesswork out of active skincare. I see people constantly buying whatever ingredient is trending, when two people with seemingly identical concerns can actually need very different things. I love that Klira takes the opposite approach: understand the skin first, then give it exactly what it needs. It’s smart, targeted skincare from someone whose opinion and expertise I really trust,” Tarmey says.