After more than 30 years in the aesthetics and skincare industry, I’ve seen many trends, ingredients, and so-called “aesthetic buzzwords” come and go. Much like fashion, things appear, disappear, and often return years later with a new name and a lot more hype.
Peptides are a perfect example. They’ve been used in professional skincare for decades, then quietly faded into the background — and now they’re back again, especially across social media. Some innovations genuinely move the industry forward. Others simply sound exciting.
Why I Don’t Jump on Every Aesthetic Trend
If there’s a treatment, ingredient, or device that I don’t offer in my clinic, it usually comes down to one of two reasons:
- I am not trained in it
- Or I’ve made a conscious decision not to use it
Both decisions are taken seriously and always with client safety in mind.
The Two Principles I Work By
I live by two rules in my clinic.
Firstly, if I wouldn’t be happy to put something on my own skin or into my own face, I will not use it on a client.
Secondly, every client on my treatment couch is treated as though they were my mum or my daughter. That is the level of care, honesty, and responsibility I believe every practitioner should provide.
Aesthetic Trends on Social Media vs Science
I’m asked constantly about treatments and ingredients people see on Instagram and TikTok. Certain words start circulating, claims get simplified, and suddenly it feels like everyone is doing the same thing.
If you are considering anything that is injected, ingested, or introduced into the skin, it’s important to pause and do your research. Popularity alone does not equal safety, suitability, or effectiveness.
Regulations That Exist to Protect You
There are regulations in place to protect clients — and they matter.
In the UK, any product that enters the skin should be:
- UKCA marked (UK) or CE marked (EU)
- Approved for its intended use
- Manufactured under regulated medical standards
These approvals indicate that a product has undergone safety and quality assessments. Products labelled “for cosmetic use only” or “for research use only” are not intended for injectable or invasive treatments and should not be used in this way.
Unfortunately, products without sufficient clinical evidence or long-term safety data can still circulate within the industry, which is why practitioner responsibility is essential.
Why Science Comes Before Trends
Anyone who knows me knows I’m very science-led.
Before anything enters my clinic, I spend time researching how it works, what it does in the skin, and whether it makes sense biologically — not just whether it sounds good in marketing.
If I can’t clearly understand the mechanism of action and supporting evidence, I wait.
Exosomes: Why I’m Choosing to Wait
Exosomes are everywhere at the moment, and I’m asked about them often.
They act as delivery systems involved in cell-to-cell communication. At present, long-term human clinical data is still limited, and I’m not comfortable influencing cellular messaging without more robust evidence.
In addition, many exosome products currently available are plant-derived. From a scientific perspective, plant cell signalling does not translate directly to human skin behaviour. This doesn’t mean exosome technology has no future — it simply means I’m choosing to wait until there is more evidence available.
Polypeptides: Why They Work Best on the Skin
Another topic I’m asked about frequently is the injection of polypeptides.
Polypeptides function as cell-signalling molecules — they act like tiny text messages that tell skin cells what to do, such as supporting collagen and elastin production.
They work best when used topically, where they can interact directly with skin cells.
Injecting polypeptides does not appear to offer additional benefit compared to topical use, and they are broken down quickly by the body. Their role is to communicate with skin cells, not to act like fillers or wrinkle-relaxing injections.
Final Thoughts
Not everything new is unsafe — but not everything trending is effective either.
Experience teaches you when to slow down, ask questions, and sometimes say no. I will always prioritise evidence over excitement, science over sales, and client safety over trends.
If something doesn’t feel right, doesn’t make sense scientifically, or hasn’t been around long enough for me to trust it, it simply won’t enter my clinic.
Have Questions? Please Ask
If you ever have questions about a treatment, ingredient, or trend you’ve seen online, please always feel free to ask me. I will always endeavour to help, explain, and answer your questions as honestly and clearly as I can.
Education and open conversation are just as important as treatment.
