Why Is Everyone Talking About Skin Longevity? A Galway Expert Weighs In
Skin longevity has become one of the most talked-about ideas in beauty, sitting somewhere between skincare science, preventative ageing and lifestyle. But beyond all the chatter, it asks a simple question: how do we actually look after our skin in a way that keeps it healthy over time?
For Tara Casserly, founder of Base Skin clinic in Galway, it starts with stripping things back. “Skin longevity to me means having healthy, happy skin that can age at a slower pace. Treating your skin with respect, protecting the barrier and feeding your skin with good quality ingredients will do this. Healthy skin is the goal.”
That focus on protection over perfection runs through her approach, particularly when it comes to everyday habits that build over time. SPF, she says, is non-negotiable. “Every skin therapist and dermatologist will rave on about this for good reason but if you aren’t protecting your skin from UV exposure it’s burning you, damaging your cells, causing inflammation and pigmentation and breaking down collagen. It’s 100 percent essential.”
“Skin longevity to me means having healthy, happy skin that can age at a slower pace.”
Alongside this, she points to lifestyle balance as a key part of long-term skin health, where consistency matters more than restriction. “Having a healthy balanced diet with plenty of water. Yes you can have some sugar and alcohol but keep it balanced. We are what we eat. Omegas are essential.”
Where she sees people going wrong most often is not in neglecting their skin, but in overdoing it. “We are very much a market of over users at the moment, often thanks to TikTok trends in skincare. Irish skin is fragile due to our environment and we need to treat it with respect.” That over complication often extends into full routines layered with multiple products, when in reality, less is often more.
When it comes to ingredients that have stood the test of time, Tara returns to one category in particular: retinoids. “You can’t go past retinoids in this case (retinol, retinal, retinyl palmitate) used in the correct doses and timeframes. They work incredibly on the skin, treating acne, pigment, congestion, fine lines etc. But it’s very important to get expert guidance.”
Looking ahead, she believes the industry may be moving towards a reset, “It will go back to the ingredients and technology that has been proven to work over the years.” In an industry often defined by excess, her approach is simple; skin longevity is built through consistency, protection and understanding what the skin actually needs – not what’s trending.
Elle’s Skin Longevity Picks
- Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Omegas +, €89, millies.ie
- SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum, €195, phare.store
- Image Skincare Prevention+ daily hydrating moisturiser SPF 50, €63.50, meagherspharmacy.ie
- AlphaRet overnight cream, €185, phare.store
- EltaMD cleanser, €50, instituteofdermatologists.ie
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