Social media is great for sharing knowledge, but when it comes to skincare, there's a lot of misinformation. Now, beauty brand Coats has launched SnapDerm to put us directly in touch with dermatologists for free.
The service is accessible to anyone via Snapchat. To tap it up you just add the brand (@coats_skin) on snapchat, DM them detailing your skin issue or skincare enquiry and you'll receive advice back from a certified derm in under 24 hours.
For the unfamiliar, Coats is a derm-approved British skincare brand, specifically designed to nurture skin with barrier-building, carbon neutral products, created with balance in mind.
The SnapDerm scheme is the first of its kind to democratise free and tailored access to dermatologists through snapchat, and it's helping to unravel the barrier to entry for many skincare addicts who would otherwise find the cost of a skin consultation with a dermatologist prohibitive. Plus, it ensures the advice we receive is truly safe and suitable for out skin.
“We are seeing an explosion of interest in skincare from tweens and teens who are understandably turning to social media for information and advice, sometimes leading to usage of products not designed for their skin,” explains Ross Nutter, Coats' managing director. "Our SnapDerm offers a private platform for sharing concerns, asking questions, and receiving advice from certified dermatologists. This reflects our commitment as a brand to provide accessible, reliable advice for young skin beginners to make informed choices.”
Users of any age can chat to one of the dermatologists who are on hand to help identify your skin type, explain ingredients, recommend skincare routines and answer general skincare questions.
I've been experiencing dry skin and irritation on my eyelids, so I headed to the chat to ask for advice, which ingredients to avoid and the best product recommendations. I received a personalised response the next day reassuring me that the skin on the eyelids are very thin and therefore prone to irritation. Since this was out of the ordinary for me, they recommended I visit my doctor to check for eczema to be sure. As for products, they suggested I avoid anything with fragrance or active ingredients on the area. They advised me to wash with a gentle cleanser and apply a gentle moisturiser and recommended the Coats hydrating cleanser (£12) and triple moisturising cream (£16).
Given how confusing it can be to glean skincare advice from social media, we appreciate a brand that's gone above and beyond to ensure we're properly educated on the products our skin will actually appreciate.
For more from GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk
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