Plastic surgeon and founder of 111Skin Dr Yannis Alexandrides reveals the latest skincare trends

When businesses were forced to temporarily close during Covid-19, thousands of men and women fell to their knees in frustration from not being able to schedule a laser treatment or face lift with Dr Yannis Alexandrides, an American and British board-certified plastic surgeon who is also the creator of skincare line, 111Skin.

“For the first time in 21 years, Yannis’ clinic was forced to close for a few months and this became a real issue for a lot of people. Our clients weren’t able to receive any clinical procedures and were looking for an at-home solution to amplify their skincare,” shares his wife Eva Alexandrides, CEO of 111Skin.

The outcome of this pandemic has also led to an emergence of a couple of trends observed by Yannis. The first was a clear return to science where consumers were researching more about viruses and the immune system, and really started trusting medicine. “People appreciate and understand why we don’t use any chemical preservatives in our products. As a result, more medical brands like ours were pushed into the spotlight,” he says.

The other trend he noticed was a demand for at-home skincare treatments. “With everyone working from home, they want to look good on their Zoom calls but don’t have time to visit their facialist or skin doctor, so they have been investing in more skincare,” he adds.

His latest line of Concentrates launched in the UK last year, featuring five types of intensive treatment programmes, addresses this very need. To be administered at home, these high-potency infusions tackle pandemic-related skin concerns such as maskne, dullness, dehydration, inflammation, fine lines and wrinkles, in just seven days.

Proven to deliver medical-grade results without any downtime, the Concentrates are line extensions to 111Skin’s key skincare collections — Reparative, Treatment, Clarity, Radiance and Intensive. The Y Theorem Concentrate ($260) is enriched with the brand’s patented NAC Y2 compound formulated to accelerate healing and calm red, inflamed skin. The Firming Concentrate ($295) — Eva’s favourite — has been clinically proven to improve skin firmness elasticity using a biomimetic peptide.

The Hydration Concentrate ($260) contains hyaluronic acid and other natural moisturizing factors to increase water levels and moisture retention in the skin. The Radiance Concentrate ($260) — a hit with the younger customers — has hydrolysed yeast protein to brighten and illuminate the skin and a blend of gentle acids to dissolve dead skin. The Clarity Concentrate ($260) ideal for those with oily acne-prone skin blends colloidal sulphur, willow bark extract and microalgae to dissolve sebum, unclog pores and balance natural oils.

Each box contains seven glass vials, one to be used a day for seven consecutive days, ideally at night in tandem with your regular skincare. The best way to apply it is manually pat in neck-up because according to the good doc, “the neck is the new face”. You can even add in a few drops into your night cream or foundation, suggests Eva.

If you have multiple skin concerns, you can address the most pressing one in the first week, followed by another box of Concentrates for your next skin problem the following week. Yannis recommends using the seven-day program every few months whenever your skin is in need of supercharging or quick repair.

“There is such a huge demand for this at-home programme because it mimics the results of an in-office procedure,” adds Eva, who spearheads the creative direction and product development for 111Skin. “Think of it as a skin booster; the last line of defence before making that trip to see your dermatologist or aesthetic doctor.”

Founded in 2010, 111Skin (named after the address of Yannis’ medical practice at 111 Harley Street in London) was created as a clinically-engineered, surgically-inspired skincare line — backed by over 20 years of medical expertise — that replicates in-clinic treatments all the while creating a sensorial experience. Developed by both Greece-born Yannis and his Bulgarian wife Eva, 111Skin currently offers over 50 custom skincare solutions free from silicones, parabens and sulphates. Among its list A-list fans are Jennifer Aniston, Priyanka Chopra, Sofia Coppola, Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian, many of whom swear by 111Skin’s fast-acting face and eye masks.

The product that put 111Skin on the map is the Dramatic Healing Solution, an all-in-one concentrate that was originally given out free to patients after surgery. “Many of my clients returned asking for more bottles. They were saying that it’s not just that the skin healed faster and better but also it made the skin the quality of the skin so much better. They basically were using this as a daily serum so that gave me the idea to create an original skincare line,” explains Yannis.

A pioneer in innovative cosmetic treatments, Yannis was among the first surgeons to advocate non-surgical procedures with a philosophy of prevention over intervention. “A lot of my peers ask me why do I do this? Won’t I lose patients? But the truth is, skincare innovation is the future. Our products are the next level of care for the skin. For example, a mild chemical peel might not be necessary if someone uses the Clarity or Radiance concentrate, as these products do similar things. I believe it’s my duty to the patient to give them options, and if there’s a way to delay surgery, that is the way to go.”