Learn more about Skincare 

 Dr Barbara Sturm will likely need no introduction to any beauty buff. After all, the aesthetic doctor is behind the glowing skin of many of our favorite famous faces – Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, Oprah and Irina Shayk, to name but a few – as well as being the inventor of Hollywood`s favorite vampire facial. 

 Even if you`re not familiar with the A-list aesthetician, you may have spotted her on your TV screens this week, as Dr Barbara Sturm took to the stage on This Morning to share her skincare secrets. Talking all things anti-ageing, celebrity clients and her best-performing products, the in-demand doctor took her turn in the limelight to break down some beauty myths.

  “Skincare should be driven by science – it`s an organ, and we need to pay attention to the functions and the strengthening of the skin barrier. So we have to pay attention to the science of ingredients,” she said. And what are the main causes of aging? Inflammation.

  Luckily, my doctor is actually an inflammation expert and has devoted much of her practice to her anti-inflammatory philosophy. But if she can't get into her salon or spend a little money on a treatment, she has a range of powerful products that work  wonders, and we've rounded up our favorites below. 

 Sticking to just three steps as the secret to skincare – cleansing, applying serums and sealing in with a moisturiser – it couldn`t be simpler to follow. And remember, as Dr Barbara Sturm said: “Serums are the power tools of our skincare routine, because they`re very highly concentrated targeted power tools, which shoot active ingredients deep and fast into our skin.” So be sure to put them as your priority, and take a peek at our favourite picks.  How we tested:

 

 Swapping our standard skincare routine for a whole host of Dr. Barbara Sturm products, our beauty editor felt like a celebrity. Starting each day with the cleanser, followed by a selection of serums, and sealing it all in with a face cream, she was treated to a skincare routine many only dream of. After three weeks of skin pampering, these are our favourite products, all available to buy – even if you only opt for one.  The best Dr Barbara Sturm products for 2023 are:

Best cleanser – Dr. Barbara Sturm cleanser: £50, Drsturm.com

Best hyaluronic acid serum – Dr. Barbara Sturm hyaluronic serum: £250, Drsturm.com

Best moisturiser – Dr. Barbara Sturm face cream: £140, Drsturm.com

Best exfoliator – Dr. Barbara Sturm enzyme cleanser: £55, Cultbeauty.co.uk

Best SPF – Dr. Barbara Sturm sun drops: £115, Drsturm.com

Best for glow – Dr. Barbara Sturm glow drops: £115, Drsturm.com

Best niacinamide serum – Dr. Barbara Sturm the better B niacinamide serum: £110, Drsturm.com

Best vitamin C serum – Dr. Barbara Sturm the good C vitamin C serum: £110, Drsturm.com

Best face mist – Dr. Barbara Sturm hyaluronic face mist: £75, Drsturm.com

Best face mask – Dr. Barbara Sturm face mask: £95, Drsturm.com

 

 Dr. Barbara Sturm cleanser

 Dr Barbara Sturm sticks by the idea that you only need three statement skincare products, and the first is, of course, a cleanser.

  This gentle, foaming cleanser is soft and silky-feeling, cleaning the face of make-up, dust and dirt without stripping it of any oils or moisture. So, if you`re used to a dry or tight-feeling face after using your current cleanser, this is well worth a look. Two of the key ingredients include purslane and aloe vera, which work to moisturise and repair the skin barrier, yet give the gentlest clean our tester has ever experienced. 

 

 Dr. Barbara Sturm hyaluronic serum

 Hyaluronic acid has long been heralded as a skincare staple for hydrating the face and locking in much-needed moisture, and our tester fell in love with this lightweight serum. 

 A cocktail of low and high molecularly weighted hyaluronic acid has been included to deeply penetrate the skin layers for long-lasting moisture, which our tester certainly could feel. And a little goes a really long way, as just three drops were enough to glide over her entire face.

  However, there are other, much cheaper hyaluronic acid products on the market, so if you`re saving up for just one product, we would suggest your pennies would be better spent on one of the other fabulous finds in this list. 

 Dr. Barbara Sturm face cream

As far as face creams go, this one is rather fabulous. Statement ingredients such as skullcap and purslane are the core anti-inflammatory agents, reducing signs of irritation while soothing the skin with a soft, creamy formula.  And most of all, testers liked the fact that it absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves it feeling dry throughout the day.

 

Enzyme Cleanser Dr. Barbara Sturm 

Closer to talc than  classic enzymatic exfoliants, this cleanser takes some getting used to. Inside the vial is a white powder rather than a foamy, fluffy liquid.

To use,  mix a small amount of  powder and water in the palm of your hand and watch as it begins to foam gently.

Designed to be used only 2-3 times a week, it gently lifts dead skin cells for a fresh glow and perfectly prepares skin  for serum absorption. Dr. Barbara Sturm Sundrops

If you had to choose just one product, this sundrop would be a strong contender. Swap any face cream for SPF, and Smart Drops provides SPF 50 in an easy and convenient way. So if you don't mind putting on a lot of  sunscreen, this could be a must-have.

You can see the best effect even if you use only drops, and it is absorbed right away without the stickiness of sunscreen. However, if used in conjunction with other products, reapply regularly for true sun protection. Shining Drops by Dr. Barbara Sturm 

It can't be called a fake tan, but it gives a slightly similar effect, except it can look like it has a fake glow. 

Wild root extract tightens pores. Polynum bistorta  evens out skin tone, and purslane again acts as an anti-inflammatory.