Do you need to have a consultation?

An example of Melasma. Photo iStock @ Getty Images

In a word. Yes.

Heading into a shop which sells camouflage creams isn't necessarily going to get you the best result for your camouflage situation. Skin Camouflage Cream colour matching needs to be performed in natural daylight, most shops will be lit mainly by fluorescent lighting. A colour which looks perfect in the shop may look very wrong when you return home and start wearing it.

Secondly you will have other customers around you when trying to match the camouflage cream to the skin around your problem area which can cause embarrassment.

You could test out colours by trying to obtain samples from online stores but even if this results in you finding a perfect skin colour match you may not actually be finding your best solution. Without the skill of a Skin Camouflage Practitioner and in my case one who is also an experienced make-up artist, you may be missing out on very efficient solutions to your problem.

Take John from Tunbridge Wells for example. John came to see me after developing Melasma patches which had formed symmetrical, brown patterns on each of his cheeks causing him much embarrassment. He had begun by using his wife's cosmetic concealer over the Melasma patches but always found the brown patches then appeared grey/blue through the concealer. John then went to a shop which sold Dermacolor Camouflage Cream and found the perfect colour match for the skin on his face. He returned home and excitedly applied the cream over his Melasma patches only to be disappointed as that familiar blue/grey colour began to slowly come through the camouflage cream. John applied more layers of cream which helped a little but then had a very obvious amount of Camouflage Cream on his face.

John then searched online and made an appointment with me in Clapham to find a better solution. I began by applying a layer of Camouflage Cream in John's colour, over the Melasma patches to demonstrate how that alone wouldn't work for him. Sure enough the previously brown patches began to show through, only this time they appeared a blueish grey. I was then able to show John a solution which surpassed all his expectations. Mixing in a small amount of a fiery orange Dermacolor cream with John's own skin match caused something magical to happen, his Melasma patches completely disappeared. Not only that but John found he was wearing only a very thin layer of camouflage cream compared to the thick and rather obvious layer he had been wearing in an attempt to cover the Melasma previously.

I was then able to show John exactly how much of the orange tone to mix in each time, demonstrate the application, and have John have a go at application while he was with me ensuring everything was being done correctly. John soon picked up the technique and went away very happy with the knowledge he now had regained some control over his situation. He was also very relieved to only have to apply a very small amount of camouflage cream which was invisible to anyone not in the know.

I gave John a list of outlets which sold his recommended products along with a referral letter for his GP should he wish to obtain the products on NHS prescription.

You can book a consultation in Clapham, London for Melasma or many other conditions through this website www.camouflageconsultations.co.uk

Although a consultation can initially feel like extra expense, in the long run it can actually save you both time and money and give you a much more satisfactory result.

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