What the celebrity facialist behind Cillian Murphy and Dua Lipa’s skin wants you to know about looking after your face

Have you ever wondered just how celebrities look so flawless on our screens or the red carpet? One person who knows more than most is Debbie Thomas, a leading facialist with a roster of A-list clientele, who works out of her renowned D.Thomas Clinic in London.

Thomas knows everything that’s worth knowing about skincare, so we couldn’t resist the chance to ask her some questions about how to emulate that star-quality glow. Here are her thoughts on everything from 12-step skincare routines to retinoids…

My ultimate budget beauty buy…

A good drugstore SPF 30 or above, broad spectrum, used daily. Price matters less than compliance. The ‘best’ SPF is the one you will use and apply, even more cost effective brands now have a spectrum of textures for their SPFs, so its easier than ever to find one that feels good on your skin.

The things I’d never do to my skin…

I don’t do complicated routines. I never subscribed to the 12-step K-beauty trend, it never made sense to me. And I’m not aggressively stripping or peeling my skin, because protecting your skin barrier is a fundamental step to healthy skin and a fresher happier complexion. I don’t chop and change products. I am consistently boring with my effective but simple-to-do regime and my skin thanks me for it. I keep my regime simple by using less products but making sure they are complex enough to give multiple benefits to my skin.

The one product I couldn’t live without…

My Cellis Cleansing Gelée. Cleaning the skin is as important as maintaining the barrier. Do both and everything else works better. This cleanser does even more though with added calming ingredients and a molecule that actively binds moisture to the skin for up to 72 hours. Skin is very thoroughly cleansed but never stripped.

What I’ve learnt from working with celebs on their skin…

Yes they are often genetically blessed, but just remember they are nearly always filmed or photographed post-glam team makeover. Add in great lighting and maybe a little airbrushing and you’re not necessarily seeing their real skin.

However, for most of them they know their skin is part of their trade so they do want it to look good. Most have regular facial or device-based treatment every few weeks, and more frequently around filming/shoots. They stick to tried and tested home care routines. These steps aren’t just to keep the skin looking its best but also to counteract some of the harsh treatment the skin gets on a shoot, (different make-up being used, quick cleansing between shoots, harsh hot lighting etc). The main complaint I treat with celebrities is actually sensitivity which can leave skin blotchy and rashy as well as feeling stinging and sore.

How to get glowy, plump skin at home…

Get the basics right and stick to them for at least 12 weeks:

• Gentle cleanse 2x per day
• Hydration that supports the barrier (look for ceramides in particular)
• SPF 30+ daily, don’t forget to use enough and to re-apply.
• A retinoid a few nights a week if your skin tolerates it. The secret with retinoids like retinol is to start slow and low, and work your way up. It is important to stay consistent so every four days is fine, but keep to that routine until your skin desensitises then move up to every three days. Don’t randomly use it a few times a month or it will never work.

What I wish everyone knew about skincare…

Glowing fresh skin is usually: hydrated + even-toned + not inflamed, so you don’t need ‘more steps’, you need fewer mistakes and more consistency.

The tweakments that really work…

Lasers are the main event for me, they can genuinely shift skin quality (pigment, redness, texture, pores, laxity, scarring etc) while actually supporting skin health and slowing down visible ageing. Lasers are where I see the most meaningful, measurable long-term changes when they are done properly by an experienced practitioner.

Other options I have myself include wrinkle relaxing injections (which can be brilliant for softening expression lines or sculpting the lower face), and injectable biostimulaters, which can help with boosting deeper hydration or even tightening the skin from within.

I always see the most natural results from combining treatments subtly rather than going full force with one option.

Treatments I’d avoid like the plague…

Trending gimmicks, ‘one-size-fits-all’ packages, and anything performed by inexperienced hands; even the best machine can be used badly. With energy-based devices, who is holding the tool matters as much as the tool. The right treatment is the one suited to your skin, so a proper consultation and assessment beats a menu being offered to you every time.

I wish people wouldn’t forget…

Their neck. Neck skin is thinner and often more delicate, so treat it like a sensitive extension of the face. That means SPF 30+ down the neck and onto the chest daily (most neck ageing is caused by sun plus time). Introduce retinoids even more slowly (the neck can’t tolerate the same aggression as a forehead) Keep the barrier strong with moisturiser, and focus on minimal friction and no over-exfoliation. If the concern is texture/crepiness/pigment (red or brown mottling), then laser and energy-based treatments or micro needling, chosen carefully by an experienced expert, can make a real difference.