How To Get Glowy Summer Skin Without Makeup

From Meghan Duchess of Sussex to Pamela Anderson, going makeup free is all the rage, says Annabel Jones – but it’s easier said than done if you rely on the security of base to lend a dewy coat to an otherwise uneven, dehydrated complexion. Enter the world of Restylane Skinboosters, a group of injectable moisturisers. These hyaluronic acid skin quenchers flood the skin with hydration, without adding volume like traditional dermal fillers. Here’s the rundown from the experts at Galderma.

Everything You Need To Know About Restylane Skinboosters

You may already have heard of Profhilo, an injectable moisturiser that provides a slow release of hyaluronic acid for an intense moisturising boost. It also works to stimulate collagen and elastin which can help to remodel lax skin, particularly in areas of the body such as wrinkly knees, chest and neck. 

Polynucleotides (aka the salmon sperm facial) is another type of skin boosting injectable that’s been sought after ever since actresses like Jennifer Aniston brought it to our attention. 

Polynucleotides are a type of bio-stimulating injectable that’s designed to improve skin quality by promoting cell rejuvenation. Derived from salmon or trout DNA, they have an activating effect on human fibroblast cells (master skin cells) prompting them to increase its output of collagen, the skin’s structural protein, and elastin, the protein that provides bounce and resilience. 

The upside to injectable moisturisers and biostimulators like Polynucletotides is that they are an invisible way to improve skin texture, radiance and hydration. The downside is their impermanence. Whereas dermal fillers contain varying degrees of cross-linked hyaluronic acid, most skin boosters are not cross-linked. Cross-linking (pardon the scientific jargon) is the process of connecting polymer chains together to create structure. The less cross-linking, the less structure and vice versa. This process is why some fillers (more cross-linking) are used to give an angular appearance to the jawline, for instance, and other lighter fillers (with less cross-linking) are better for soft tissue areas such as lips.

Restylane Skinboosters by Galderma, on the other hand, is a smart hydrating injectable that sits somewhere in between, providing all the dewiness of a generic skin booster with results longer-lasting results –up to 15 months – as aesthetic practitioner Dr. Sindhu explains. ‘Normally something that’s classed as a skin booster doesn’t last very long. It will give you a hydrating effect with some collagen stimulation, but it disappears very quickly,’ says Sindhu.

She adds: ‘Hyaluronic acid is a substance we have naturally within our own skin – but we also have the enzyme that breaks it down. Without any cross-linking, an HA injectable will be metabolised fairly rapidly depending on the individual.’

Not an issue per se – if you have the means to maintain the results. If not, it can be a costly effort for a fleeting glow. 

Restylane Skinboosters by Galderma, says Dr. Sindhu, is a great option for women and men in their 50s or 60s and thereafter when more structural dermal fillers are no longer suitable. In a more mature face, Restylane Skinboosters work extremely well to boost skin quality.

And because Galderma’s iteration has ‘a tiny bit’ of cross linking, says Sindhu, ‘it acts sort of like a filler, making it ideal for mobile areas of the face like nose to mouth lines and barcode lines round the lips that are notoriously tricky to treat,’ she says. 

Another group of patients that tend to suit Restylane Skinboosters, says Sindhu, are those who are new to injectables. ‘Most of my patients prefer the natural look. They might be a bit apprehensive about looking overdone, so for this type of patient, Restylane Skinboosters is ideal. It’s what I call a hybrid HA injectable, meaning it’s in between a cross-linked and un cross-linked injectable, so it’s going to last longer and provide a fraction more structure.’

What effect can you expect? Technically, Restylane Skinboosters deliver micro-droplets of hyaluronic acid just beneath the skin, promoting native HA, elastin, and collagen production to give off a youthful radiance. 

Dr. Munir Somji from Dr MediSpa finds Restylane Skinboosters good for all ages and concerns. ‘It’s great for fine lines and wrinkles – especially those skin creases that makeup tends to settle in, such as the crows’ feet and smile lines.’ 

Injected into the lower levels of the dermis to provide intense hydration, Dr. Somji finds Restylane Skinboosters particularly effective in improving texture. ‘It’s a useful tool for acne scarring as it promotes collagen synthesis in the upper layers of the skin,’ he adds. Particularly if you’re combining it with an effective anti-inflammatory skincare protocol.

Dr. Somji combines Restylane Skinbooster injections with Alastin skincare, a post-procedure skincare line that calms and hydrates. ‘Alastin harnesses something called tri-hex technology, a blend of different peptides that are specifically designed to help with the skin’s regeneration processes,’ he explains adding: ‘It protects the skin from further damage, but also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as helping to smooth skin tone and texture.’

Whether you plan on cutting down on makeup during the summer months or not, one thing’s for certain. While the overfilled look is falling out of favour, a healthy glow is never going out of fashion.

Sponsored by Galderma. For more information, visit galdermaaesthetics.com

Dr. Sindhu Siddiqi and Dr. Munir Somji are Galderma KOLs.

GB-RES-2500059 DOP May’25