Getting the Good Skin Recipe Right with Sian

We chat with Sian and share her skin story.

A chef, food stylist, style icon and Scorpio. We have loved getting to know you and your skin here at Skin Clinic Blyss. What has the journey been like for you?

Style icon, why thank you, I’m blushing. Scorpio, of course I told you that! Honestly from our first interaction, the experience with Jodie and everyone at the clinic has been one of the most supportive and uplifting experiences I have had. To be greeted and looked after with such warmth, knowledge and kindness has been of great significance to me as I have been struggling with some skin issues in the last six months. I’ve looked forward to seeing Jodie every month and felt immense gratitude for her nurturing energy and such an air of relief knowing I’m in the hands of someone as knowledgeable as her.

We often say the recipe for good skin contains five essential ingredients, a cleanser, a morning serum, a night serum, moisturiser and a good SPF. What 5 kitchen ingredients can you not live without?

• Olive oil
• Fresh herbs
• Lemons
• Butter
• Parmingiano Reggiano
• (Salt has to be in here too but surely that goes without saying)

I feel like authenticity and genuineness are both traits that you exemplify but also look for in people. How do you find and maintain these in life?

I am someone who is very much guided by my emotions and intuition. In some periods of my life I have deterred from this and tried to be head strong but I never felt the coherence to my heart I needed. Being creative, I think the need for an emotive response in my life is paramount.

When I am in alignment with my truth everything flows and the right people, places, events and scenarios are united. I think this goes for all of us. Admitting our fears, struggles and allowing vulnerability enables us to all truly be ourselves and support each other. I think authenticity comes from succumbing to the fact that we are human and none of us really know what on earth we are doing!

I feel like one of the biggest journeys you had here with us was exploring how stress can really affect the skin. How do you try and balance stress and life with your many roles?

The last few months have been a huge learning curve for me and a fierce reminder that our mental, physical and spiritual health are undeniably intertwined. I find it quite difficult to relax and am someone who puts an immense amount of pressure on myself. Ironically this can lead to periods of being underproductive and stagnant. Stress has greatly impacted my skin with rashes and unpredictable break outs. Doesn’t matter how many beautiful, organic meals I eat or infrared saunas I melt in a week, stress wreaks havoc on the body.

Joe Dispenza and his teachings (through his books, podcasts and meditations) help me immensely. Daily rituals never go astray, a cup of bone broth, magnesium, a long walk, an oil defuser at night. Allowing myself to be curious and inspired, through music, art, nature and architecture. Above all, my greatest source of reprieve and balance comes from the people I have in my life. I honestly owe so much to the support and guidance of my friends and family.

Food influences the world around us and our relationship to it. How do you think it factors into our skin and its health?

Food has to be one of the most imperative factors to our skin. It can be nonsensical to me for people to spend a fortune on topical skincare and procedures and then not feed their skin from the inside out. The studies now showing the interrelationship between the skin and gut are undeniable. I think awareness and mindfulness around our diets is crucial for many reasons, our environment, our bodies, our community.

Eating as much organic, seasonal and unprocessed food as possible is something I am lucky enough to have had instilled in my from the day I was born. When we cook things ourselves we eliminate many additives, oils and unnecessary ingredients in our food. I also believe that food can bring immense joy and satisfaction to our lives so I am not one to shy away from some hedonistic joys, a perfect martini, a bowl of pasta and a cone of pistacchio gelato to name a few.

Do you have a favourite skincare product that Skin Clinic Blyss has given you?

The Universkin cleansing oil is so nourishing and uplifting. I use it every night with a Gua Sha for a moment of self indulgence.

We were lucky enough to have you in for Laser Genesis, BBL and peels with Jodie and a HydraFacial and LED with Jack. What’s been your favourite treatment so far?

The regular LED treatments have been an absolute favourite, not only healing my skin but giving me thirty minutes to relax. BBL would have to be the treatment I noticed the most significant results from, what a game changer!

What’s the biggest takeaway lesson you have from your skin journey here at Skin Clinic Blyss?

Patience. Always the virtue I struggle with the most! We all want to apply a new product to our faces and wake up the next morning miraculously made over but good things take time. Jodie and the team at the clinic have reminded me that I’m investing in my skin for many years to come, not just for tomorrow which in turn has reduced a lot of stress I had about my skin concerns and lead to great results.

A good recipe often requires a quick taste test to see how the flavours are going and if anything needs tweaking. We approach skin treating skin in a similar manner always having a pivot point when something isn’t working the way we anticipated it would. How important was it to you that we were able to tweak around your skin’s treatment plan in response to your changing skin?

Knowing that there was always a solution gave me so much faith and peace of mind, given that my skin has been fickle of late. The reassurance that there would be an end to the unpredictability helped me to relax about it all. The psychological benefit of being in the hands of people you trust when it comes to your health is incredibly important.

You are often on the go to many different locations; how do you adapt your skincare to your constantly changing environments?

This probably sounds obvious but I think keeping things simple is key. I try to drink plenty of water and get to bed early as those factors greatly impact my skin. I then stick to the basics, double cleanse, serum, moisturiser and the odd sheet mask. Sun screen every day is always a non negotiable.

What is important to you when having your skin professionally treated that you found at Skin Clinic Blyss?

When it comes to something as personal and identifying as our face, you obviously want to feel as though you’re in safe hands. I find the beauty and skin care world very overwhelming at times, with so many differing opinions and products on offer. Having professional support that was knowledgeable, down to earth and simplified was important to me and something that was given immediately at the clinic. It’s honestly been such a pleasure to meet you all and be in your wonderful hands.