Women are following all the skincare rules, but are still left wondering why their skin is not improving with skincare

We recently spoke to 101 women in London about their relationship with their skin. It revealed some fascinating data that reflects many of the issues we regularly see among our patients at No23 Skin Clinic. 

Here’s what the numbers told us:

• 72% wear SPF every day
• 62% prioritise clear skin free of redness, pigmentation, breakouts
• 30% don’t know where to start with seeking professional help 

Despite following all the rules – wearing SPF religiously, exfoliating with actives, thoroughly cleansing, supporting the delicate skin barrier – why are concerns like hyperpigmentation, rosacea and acne so hard to shift?  

Doing everything “right” isn’t the same as doing the right thing for your skin

SPF is the perfect example. The numbers show that people understand that wearing it daily, all year round, is the single most effective way to protect your skin in the long term. 

But SPF was designed to prevent damage, not undo what’s already there. 

It prevents new pigmentation from forming or worsening, but it won’t necessarily eliminate pigmentation that’s already there, nor does it address other factors that can cause it, like hormones, inflammation, pregnancy, or post-acne pigmentation. 

This is the bit that gets lost in the skincare conversation, especially online: SPF is prevention, not treatment. 

In reality, much of the online advice is aimed at prevention and maintenance, not at addressing concerns already on your skin.

Where the confusion actually comes from

The entire beauty industry is a hotbed for consumer confusion. It feels like every day a new product is launching, promising to brighten, even out, and fade unwanted blemishes, texture, redness, you name it.  

Add in a constant stream of content telling you that SPF, double cleansing, a specific serum, or whatever’s trending, is ‘all you need’, and it’s no wonder so many are left unsure where to start and not seeing your skin improving with skincare alone. 

The honest answer is that most stubborn skin concerns rarely have a single cause. Dr Cherry Armstrong (Cofounder and Medical Director), rightly commented that even with good usage of SPF, for example, protection fades over time and areas can get missed or forgotten about when inside and sat next to a window… plus your skin is always evolving in response to environmental factors and life stressors, so your management needs to modify with it.

Which means skin usually needs a layered approach too, not just one hero product doing all the heavy lifting. 

What we know actually works 

This is where the conversation moves from prevention into treatment, and it’s one of the best parts of our dermatologists’ work. 

We can offer personalised routines, in-clinic treatments, and a proper look at what’s actually driving their specific concern, whether that’s hormonal, post-inflammatory or sun-related skin damage.

There’s no single fix that works for everyone, which is exactly why this is worth a proper consultation. 

The takeaway

For anyone who’s been quietly wondering why their skin isn’t matching their effort, that’s precisely the conversation No23 Skin is equipped to have.

Our team of dermatologists have decades of experience among them, with no one better qualified to understand skin. 

Book a consultation with No23. Skin today

Helen

CoFounder
No. 23 Skin

NB: This post is for information purposes only. If you require medical support and personalised treatment, please get in touch.