A top facialist reveals the biggest things she's learned

London-based super facialist Kate Kerr has treated thousands of faces—she's seen skincare trends come and go, brands rise and fall, and consumer habits transform entirely. Yet many of the biggest lessons she's learned have little to do with the latest viral product or aesthetic treatment…

Healthy skin looks different on everybody

"One of the biggest misconceptions I see is people chasing somebody else's skin. Social media has created a very narrow idea of what 'good skin' looks like, but healthy skin isn't about being poreless, perfectly smooth or completely blemish-free.

"Healthy skin is resilient, calm, comfortable and functions well—but it’s a constantly evolving journey. Life is always changing and impacting our skin in different ways, so it’s about managing this as we go along. Nobody ever achieves a perfect skin utopia that lasts forever! Once clients understand this, they often stop fighting their skin and start working with it."

Multi-functional products rarely solve the problem

"Over the years I've found that there’s no one product that solves everything. Often people using overly simplified routines with products that claim to target every skin type have the most reactive or compromised skin.

"Multi-functional products that claim “soothing, calming or repairing” benefits usually only treat the signs of inflammation created by a skin issue, and don’t tackle the underlying cause itself. This is why I go in with active skincare that tackles the underlying skin issue itself, so that the skin doesn’t rebound with inflammation.

"Often this approach requires multi-step product regimes with various actives, so I am always sceptical about any products that promise to do everything for every skin type.”

The skin barrier influences almost everything

"If there's one topic that's become increasingly important during the last decade, it's barrier health. Whether somebody is concerned about breakouts, redness, sensitivity or premature ageing, the condition of the skin barrier often plays a significant role.

"The importance of daily exfoliation for barrier health is often misunderstood—this is critical for driving the skin renewal process, and also getting rid of anything that leaves a film on the skin surface (like creams, oils and balms) as these actually upset the barrier further and lead to more inflammation.

"They can also congest the skin from the outside and prevent skincare from penetrating properly. When the barrier is compromised, skin becomes far less predictable and much harder to manage."

Consistency beats intensity 

"People are often looking for a quick fix, whether that's a new clinic treatment, a trending ingredient or an expensive skincare product. The reality is that skin responds incredibly well to consistency—what you do on a daily basis is usually the most important thing to controlling various skin conditions like rosacea and acne.

"I simply cannot transform skin from seeing someone once a month for a facial or a laser treatment: clinic treatments take everything that step further and give the best overall results, but that daily skincare regime really is the foundation for success!"

Professional guidance is key

"We have access to more information than ever before, but not all of it is accurate or relevant! It’s no wonder many clients arrive feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice online. There’s a huge disconnect between what they know about ingredients and products, and what is happening in their own skin.

"Instead of coming to see an expert practitioner for advice on a bespoke regime, they just reach for the latest trending product which often costs them more money in the long-term. One of the most valuable parts of my role is bringing my decades of expertise to help people understand their individual skin, what it needs and how our treatments and products are going to work for them, rather than following generic recommendations."

What does the future hold?

Looking ahead, Kate believes the next decade of skincare will be defined less by trends and more by understanding.

"Ten years ago, most conversations were about fixing a specific concern. Today, clients are much more interested in understanding their skin and how to look after it for the long term. We’re seeing more people out there with ‘work done’ but the quality of their skin isn’t necessarily the best, so it’s that switch towards skin health and longevity.

"I think we'll continue to see a shift away from chasing perfection and towards building healthy, resilient skin that has a glow, functions well, ages well and will keep looking great over the years!

"We're also becoming far more sophisticated in how we think about skin as a holistic approach. The connection between hormones, lifestyle, stress, nutrition and skin health is becoming increasingly recognised, and that's exciting because it allows for a much more integrated approach.

"Of course, there will always be a new ingredient, a new device or a new trend around the corner, and that's part of what makes this industry so fascinating. But if the last 10 years have taught me anything, it's that the fundamentals never go out of fashion. Great skin has always been about consistency, patience and understanding what your skin actually needs. I suspect that will still be true 10 years from now."