EXPERT ADVICE
Discover expert skincare advice tailored to your skin’s needs. From tackling acne and oil control to fine lines and wrinkles, our science-led guides help you achieve a healthy, radiant complexion
EXPERT ADVICE
Lift and sparkle: 001 Skincare’s new facial treats
Gua sha - pronounced ‘gwar shar’ – is one of the most important new phrases on the beauty block. Because learning the principles of this ancient Chinese skin therapy means you can give yourself a brightening face-lift any time, any place. (Not to mention reinvigorating your skin top to toe if you carry on downwards.) What we’d really like you to do is watch the wonderful Ada Ooi’s little film, ‘Gua Sha & Me’, about how she came to incorporate the principles of this tool, much used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), into her legendary facials. However, since you might be reading this on top of a bus or in a rush, here are the headlines – but please do make time to sit and watch the film and Ada’s tutorials too. Her knowledge is awe-inspiring. The UK, especially London, is home to some truly wonderful facialists and the hugely gifted Ada is right up at the top, as her client list of celebrities and the royal family attests. (She’s far too discreet to give away any names but Jo raves about her treatment in Ada’s ‘magic’ hands.) In Asia, it’s pretty routine to have a facial every fortnight but here time and budget, let alone a culture where facials are often considered a special event, make that unlikely to happen. Now, however, we can all have a slice of Ada’s face-transforming skill. Ada grew up watching her pharmacist grandfather combining Western medicines with remedies taken from the principles of TCM, including gua sha. Later she trained in TCM and aromatherapy and established a reputation for formulating stellar products as well as her facials. Her de-puffing beauty device Eyecicle won a Gold Award in the 2017 Beauty Bible Awards, by the way, for its effective tightening, brightening and smoothing of the skin round the eye area. On September 2nd, 2019, Ada launched her gorgeously luxurious, natural facial oil, called VA Repair & Reglow TCM-Warming Concentrate. This warming formula is based on cherry kernel oil, rich in skin-nourishing vitamin A, laced with vitamin E and essential oils of benzoin, frankincense and juniper berry. The oil is wonderful in its own right, and perfect for post-summer parched skin. But combine the product with Ada’s microSculptor™ No.3 THE THREE SLOPES (see picture above) and something magical happens. This satisfyingly tactile piece of hand-carved and polished Bian stone can be heated or cooled before you use it, for maximum effect. So – using the microSculptor™. Ada explains that gua sha means ‘scraping skin’ and at its most basic that’s what happens. But this is a sophisticated device and the three slopes, or sides, are designed to be used in slightly different ways to treat different parts of the face from your jawline via your nose and cheekbones to your eyes and forehead. There are clear directions in the accompanying leaflet and also Ada’s tutorial here. For the best results, don’t skimp! Like everything else you need to do it regularly, once or twice a week. And that diligence will pay off in terms of helping to smooth wrinkles, improve skin tone and texture, and firm contours as well as reducing the bête noire of many readers – dark circles and puffiness around the eye area. It may feel a bit complicated at first but trust us, we have come to love the ritual of applying the fragrant oil and treating our faces to a session of gua sha – it feels so invigorating and we are always amazed at the really rather miraculous results in terms of brighter skin and more shapely contours. Finally, big tick to all of you who spotted the name link between Ada Ooi and 001 Skincare – it took us more than a few moments…! Article from Beautybible.com Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey
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This celebrity-approved face tool sells every two minutes around the world
4 NOVEMBER, 2019 Iris Law and Lily Allen love it. Ever wondered how celebrities achieve that sculpted, contoured look without going under the knife or spending hours being pummelled by a facialist? It all lies in the power of sophisticated beauty gadgets.Face tools lift, tone, sculpt and plump without any of the pain or effort and one is so popular that it's flying off shelves at a rate of 1 every 2 minutes worldwide.Beloved by model Iris Law and musician Lily Allen, 001 skincare Cryopress is selling at a rapid rate because it gives people the option to have a facial without leaving the house.Thanks to its sustained cold temperature at -8 to 2.5°C, it biologically triggers the skin for an intense facial workout, increasing blood circulation and continuously pumping oxygen and nutrients to the skin, encouraging lymphatic drainage.Because of its shape and cooling properties, the manual rolling motion promises to boost blood circulation, delivering oxygen to the skin's surface while eliminating lymph and puffiness. The brand also claims the tool will give you tighter and firmed skin, minimised pore size and a reduction of muscle tension.The reviews online speak for themselves, with one beauty fan writing: “When I heard that you can get home-cryo facial kits, I got excited. A bona fide instrument for massaging and icing-up my face was too tempting not to try – and I blooming love it.”As well as its skin-boosting abilities, one shopper waxed lyrical about how it boosted her self-care, too. "I can't get enough of this product! It really has boosted my wellbeing as well as my skin. Very straightforward to use with no gimmicks. I loved, love, love it! I think it does stimulate the face and it is unbelievably calming mentally."So how exactly does it work? The makers of the tool explain: “The extreme cold temperature will cause rapid constriction of blood vessels, leading to immediate skin tightening. It will also trigger a temperature increase causing a stable dilation of blood vessels and lymphatic capillaries."Afterwards, your skin will feel revitalised and firm. You’ll notice a new lift, just like post-workout, you’ll have a healthy glow and, if you suffer from acne, eczema or other skin conditions, you’ll also find redness and itchiness has calmed down." Article by BIANCA LONDON - GLAMOUR UK Read the full story here
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Celebrity skin gurus share their best skincare tips and products
APRIL 17, 2020 Instead of a cooped-up quarantine, think of this as a self-care staycation. What better time to commit to a skincare overhaul?We asked Lady Gaga’s skin expert Ada Ooi, along with celebrity aestheticians Vicki Morav (who works her magic on Kyra Sedgwick) and Mimi Luzon (skin savior to Gigi and Bella Hadid), to weigh in with their best skincare advice, routines and brands.If you follow their expert tips, you may actually emerge from this anxiety-ridden time looking refreshed. (Or at least distract yourself in the meantime.)Oil checkLondon-based Ooi — whose Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques are beloved by Mother Monster, Kate Middleton, Ellie Goulding and Rooney Mara (to name a few of her famous clients) — recommends massaging your face with oil while you’re #stayinghome.It may seem counterintuitive, but she says the strategy will balance stressed skin and prevent pesky pimples and blackheads.“A lot of my customers with acne don’t realize that the excessive sebum or blocked pores are actually created by their skin layers being too dry and sending a wrong signal to the brain that the skin needs more oil,” she explains. “Oil attracts oil, oil melts oil, and a good face oil with small oil molecules doesn’t clog pores.”Quench your skinOoi also suggests moisturizing your skin with a pro-level serum. A pea-size drop of Alpha Glow Flash Facial — a three-in-one serum, primer and mask from her cult-favorite 001 Skincare line — works like a spa visit in a bottle.Its nine powerhouse ingredients, including hyaluronic acids, phospholipids, aloe vera and rose extracts, perk up dull and dry skin and aid in optimal water retention.“It also contains a low dose of salicylic acid and retinyl palmitate for breaking down stubborn sebum and providing gentle exfoliation,” Ooi tells The Post. Article by Nicole Zane - NEW YORK POST Read the full story here
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August 2020: Little Black Book Of Health, Beauty And Wellness Practitioners
AUGUST 2, 2020 Alpha Glow Flash Facial By 001 London A three-in-one product that acts as a serum, primer, facial, Alpha-Glow Flash Facial from 001 Skincare is made with nine specially selected ingredients to help target key skin concerns. The effective active ingredients include hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, vitamin A and C, and aloe vera, which combine to hydrate, plump, brighten and soothe the skin, revitalising the skin’s tone, texture and glow. Article by Bridget Arsenault- ForbesRead the full story here
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The TCM answer to Red Carpet Skin
June 08, 2020 Find out how to get Red-Carpet Skin at home! Celebs, they’re just like us. Whilst we see them boasting perfectly plumped skin that looks effortless on the red carpet, it’s important to remind ourselves that great skin doesn’t come overnight. Although there are many facials and treatments that can give your complexion an extra boost before the big event, bright and radiant skin starts with a daily skincare regime that promises long-lasting effects.Speaking of A-list-level glow, few people know red carpet skin better than Ada Ooi. Not only is she one of the most sought after royalty facialists, she is also the founder of 001Skincare London, a luxury natural skincare brand based in London. Loved by high profile fans like Kate Moss, Lady Meghan Markle and Ellie Goulding, her facial treatments (exclusively available at The St. Regis Hong Kong Spa) utilise the brand’s award-winning skincare products combining with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles and western technology to deliver visible results.Want to get red-carpet ready skin from the comfort of your home? Read ahead for our review of 001Skincare London’s glow-inducing skincare line.The Promise"The excesses to which we expose ourselves daily—high pollution levels, work lives filled with psychological stress, overly processed foods—all require a counterbalance.”—Ada OoiAs a TCM practitioner, Ada Ooi believes in “beauty from within”, which comes from maintaining the balance of our Qi. 001 London achieves this by fusing potent actives from around the world in the products, combining modern biochemistry with traditional apothecary principles to restore skin balance, provide resilience to counteract environmental imbalance and future-proof our skin at a cellular level. 001 Skincare's Amino Acids and Lipids Recovery Cream001 Skincare's highly nutritional Amino Acids and Lipids Recovery Cream. Image: Courtesy of 001 SkincareThe IngredientsWhile the principle behind 001Skincare London stems from TCM, which believes skin problems are a reflection of yin-yang imbalance and disrupted flow of Qi in the body, science is the name of the game of its skincare ingredients.Take the Amino-Acids & Lipids Recovery Cream for example, which, in our opinion, is the best investment for your skin. “Almost all chemical components in this cream naturally occur in the skin, making them highly identifiable and able to work synergistically across skin layers.” Here, Ada is referring to the amino acids, lipid proteins and antioxidant complexes that formulate this nutritional cream. Whether produced internally or applied topically, amino acids—which come in the form of olive oil and sunflower oil in this cream—keep the natural moisturising factor (NMF) in the skin balanced, which helps to reduce wrinkles, fine lines and sensitivity from temperature changes.Another hero ingredient is flaxseed oil, which contains more than 70% alpha linolenic acid, omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs). Essential to smooth, hydrated skin, these EFAs protect our skin against dryness, inflammation and signs of aging. That’s not all, as this “SOS cream” (as Ada likes to call it) is also packed with vitamin E from shea butter and cocoa butter, which are effective antioxidants for cell regeneration, brightening and anti-aging. The result? A cocoony, fast-absorbing formula that gives comfort and a touch of luxury on the skin. MicroSculptor No.3 (The Three Slopes) with the VA Repair and Reglow Concentrate. Image: Courtesy of 001 SkincareHow to UseAs a cosmetic acupuncturist and facialist with a TCM background, Ada is also a pioneer to introduce ancient Chinese rituals to modern skincare. She has invented the microSculptor, a more precise, polished version of gua sha—a facial massage tool that has been used since ancient times—that everyone can use at home to achieve spa-level results.With proper massage and contouring technique, gua sha can stimulate bio-responsive movements to lift and sculpt the skin, encourage blood circulation, boost collagen, release tension and smooth away the appearance of wrinkles while awakening the skin's natural glow. The microSculptor No.3 (The Three Slopes) is a sophisticated device made of hand-carved, polished medical-grade natural Bian stone with three slopes on one side. Designed for massage across the whole face, from the forehead to jawline to décolletage, it is best paired with the VF Sebum Detox Concentrate (TCM Cooling Blend) or VA Repair & Reglow Concentrate (TCM Warming Blend).“Our skin is a reflection of the internal well-being,” says Ada, which explains why she has created two oil-based serums: a cooling blend and a warming blend to counteract the heat or cold in the body. For example, my acne-prone, dry skin type is a sign of too much “heat” in the body, which is indicated by heated-nature induced acne or irregular sebum secretion. In my case, the Vit-F Sebum Detox Concentrate infused cooling, astringent and balancing ingredients such as watermelon seed oil and siberian fir needle is the most suitable for my skin. Not only does this serum purify and clarify the skin with detoxifying ingredients like juniper berry, it also plumps the skin with a hydrating blend of rice bran oil, omega-3, -6 and -9 to help enhance the skin’s overall appearance.The oil-based serums can be used alone as part of a skincare routine, but the magic happens when it’s used with the microSculptor in a facial scraping massage. First-timers may find the tool a bit complicated to use first but with Ada’s 1-minute step-by-step gua sha tutorial, you can also transform your skin into an instant glow.Our VerdictIt’s not difficult to see why celebrities and royalty go to Ada before photoshoots and red carpet events. 001Skincare London delivers what it promises: counterbalancing the skin at a cellular level. Every ingredient has been handpicked and clinically tested for its specific functions for the skin, making sure each product is a unique blend of the best in eastern principles and western technology. Add to that the innovative facial tools that allow optimal absorption of the products, doubling the benefits of a single product with a holistic ritual that feels like a treat for the skin. Whether you have acne-prone, aging or sensitive skin, 001Skincare London is the TCM answer to your skin concerns.Shop 001 London at 001london.co.uk Excerpt from Asia Spa MagazineStory by Pearl Yan Read the full story here
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I’m an Eyecicle convert
FEBRUARY 10, 2020 “The Eyecicle is brilliant at de-puffing and as a salve for ageing pillow face. Gone is the headachey, boot-faced you and in her place the toxily cheekboned bint you remember from the mid-noughties.Rosacea and hayfever sufferers adore the cooling relief that Eyecicle offers. Models rely on it to debloat post-flight. And dermatologists recomend bedding it in peels, botox and fillers, which may of course explain the Red-Carpet hysteria.” Excerpt from The TimesStory by Hannah BettsRead the full story here
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The cult eye massage tool celebrity make-up artists swear by
FEBRUARY 20, 2018 Lisa Eldridge, Nichola Joss and Pati Dubroff all love it "One device sitting in its own league is 001 Skincare’s Eyecicle, which is hard to ignore given its legion of influential fans.Celebrity make-up artist and Lancôme ambassador Lisa Eldridge says she keeps one at home and one in her kit, “for a wake-you-up massage”. Pati Dubroff (Margot Robbie’s go-to make-up girl) called it her “new best friend”. Karen Alder (Saoirse Ronan’s make-up wizard) claims within minutes of using it her “tired hooded eyes look open and lifted,” while facialist (to Meghan Markle, no less) Nichola Joss says she can “definitely see the benefits of using it” adding, “This is great for when eyes feel puffy first thing in the morning”.This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.So, what exactly is the Eyecicle? Designed to be chilled, the cooling device (of which there are two, made of seam-free rounded glass) boosts blood circulation when smoothed around the eyes, which in turn encourages toxin drainage, ergo deflating puffiness and bringing a brightness to the eye area by way of fresh oxygen and nutrients. Or so the theory goes.While you might think it a fancy alternative to using the backs of cold spoons against the eyes in a bid to tighten and brighten excess baggage, the Eyecicle comes with many more options for use than that of the age-old life hack. Try the orbs for rolling around the eyes, the shafts for smoothing the skin in various directions and the tips for targeting pressure points (full instructions with diagrams are included).We’ve been using it ourselves, and totally approve. Though we can’t promise it won’t gather dust between enthusiastic anti-ageing spouts, it’ll be one trick we’ll certainly come back to. Especially after a late night or before a big day." Excerpt from Harper's BAZAAR Story by Bridget March Read the full story here
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INTO THE GLOSS/ THE TOP SHELF/ Lisa Eldridge
APRIL, 2015 Oh, don’t get me started on my evening routine!.... “Then I use serums. I’ve got one I like at the moment—this ACTIVE MARINE COLLAGEN SERUM by 001 Skincare.” Excerpt from INTO THE GLOSSRead the full story here
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10 Luxury Christmas Gifts for Beauty Gurus
DECEMBER 9, 2019 “With its precious Chinese Bian stone, this tool will help to soften the appearance of wrinkles and leave your skin with a youthful glow.” Excerpt from Hong Kong TatlerRead the full story here
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Best immunity-boosting products to bolster your body’s defences during lockdown
APRIL 1, 2020 Wellness focused article documenting best products to utilise during lockdown; 001’s Microsculptor is highlighted. “Another health-boosting tool inspired by Asia, this gua sha sculptor (which is based on traditional Chinese techniques) is designed for intensive facial massage. Why is that relevant to your immune system? Lymphatic drainage, that’s why. Our lymphs have the ability to hold and expel all toxins, many of which can hold in water-retention and even crystallise. These tools have the ability to follow the contours of the face, pushing out that water-toxin combo from your face and releasing it into the lymph. Be sure to check out practitioner Ada Ooi on Instagram (@ada.ooi), who is the acupuncturist to the stars, for a full demo on how to best use these. Come for the sculptor’s eliminating abilities, stay for the aesthetic results; we think you’ll see an immediate lift, slimmer face and better microcirculation after the first use." Excerpt from The Independent Story by Gregory AllenRead the full story here
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