Celebrity & Royal Facialist Sarah Chapman Reveals How To Get Her Signature Glow
Meghan Markle, Victoria Beckham and Naomi Watts all have Sarah Chapman on their speed dial. Better known as the super facialist that creates the glowiest skin ever using her own award-winning luxury skincare line. Here, Sarah reveals her life in beauty and how to create her signature glow.
What’s your first beauty memory?
We spent many years living in Norway when I was young – a skiers’ paradise. Before hitting the slopes, I remember layering a thick moisturiser borrowed from my mum to protect my skin from drying out in the freezing conditions. Thanks Mum, this probably saved my skin!
Did you always want to go into the beauty industry?
I was always interested in beauty from a young age experimenting with make-up and melting products to mix up into creams in our kitchen. When I left school, I discovered you could train to be a make-up artist so that was it for me. I started working in fashion and special effects, which is where my interest in skin began, and I soon moved into beauty therapy, aromatherapy, massage and then performing clinical facials.
What is your go-to treatment?
We’ve just introduced EmFace at the clinic, which uses synchronised radio frequency and HIFES muscle stimulation to reduce wrinkles and give an overall lifting and tightening. It sounds intimidating but it’s completely non-invasive and you see brilliant visible results after the course, so that’s my current number one.
What are your go-to skin saviours?
My Overnight Facial Elixir is still my do-it-all, desert-island product. I know when I put this on in the evening, I’ll wake up with a glow. I am also enjoying the Rub Solid Balm by Mirror Water – it smooths any stubborn dry body patches and smells divine.
“My Overnight Facial Elixir is still my do-it-all, desert-island product.”
What are your beauty golden rules?
- Listen to your skin and adapt your skincare to what your complexion needs at that point in time. Too often we get caught up in having a certain skin ‘type’ but our skin’s condition ebbs and flows along with hormones, seasons, age, stress… the list goes on!
- Take a holistic approach to your skin health. Supplements can work wonders. Start with a good quality omega supplement to keep your skin hydrated, moisturised, and smooth. It’ll also soothe inflammation, help to minimise redness and speed-up skin recovery.
What are your make-up bag heroes?
I’ve been enjoying Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Minette – the formula blends so effortlessly into the skin. Chanel Aqua Vitalumière base for a light touch, and my Glow On-the-Go for when I need extra dose of luminosity.
What beauty advice would you give your twenty-year old self?
Wear a hat and stay out of the sun!
Here at The Handbook HQ, we’re big fans of Sarah’s SPF
Do you have any wellbeing rituals?
I start each day with stretching, walking or exercise and I am a fan of oral supplementation and blended smoothie drinks to boost nutrients, protein, and energy. I also love incorporating facial massage into my evening routine – a combination of sweeping, tapping and knuckling movements. It’s brilliant for aiding lymphatic drainage, stimulating blood flow, and helping to stimulate collagen and elastin production. I use an oil-based formula to give my skin some slip, like my Ultimate Cleanse Cleansing Balm or Overnight Facial Elixir.
Where do you shop for special and unique beauty finds?
I’ve recently discovered The Go-To, which has a very chic curation of gift ideas and accessories, including some gorgeous French beauty brands. And Net-a-Porter, Violet Grey, Space NK, Blue Mercury, and Shen are all go-to beauty destinations. Although I can also be found indulging in Santa Maria Novella in Florence for some old-school formulas.
What’s your signature scent?
There are two Frederic Malle fragrances I always come back to: L’Eau d’Hiver and Lys Mediterranee. Both are interesting yet fresh and clean. There is a Santa Maria Novella fragrance called Freesia which I love for a light, freshly laundered scent.
Where, what or who are you inspired by for product development?
I’m constantly inspired while I’m performing treatments at the clinic, speaking with my clients about their skin and what’s going on in their lives. This is when I’m really in a ‘flow state’ and often where new product ideas are born. I always say we work from ‘face to formula’, not the other way around. I’m a self-confessed nerd when it comes to skin science, so I’m always scouring the latest industry research and bouncing ideas around with my NPD team.
How do you switch off from such a busy and demanding job?
I rarely switch off completely, but that’s just the reality of doing what I do! In the evenings I try to put any technology away at least two hours before I go to bed, which really helps my quality of sleep. I can be very distracted by my two Italian greyhounds Sidney and Stanley, they’re always full of energy and keep my mind occupied when demanding attention. I also love to travel, although it doesn’t happen enough.
What are your relaxation staples?
If I have time on the weekend, one of my favourite ways to relax is giving myself an at-home facial. I’ll include a 5–10-minute steam with my Pro Hydro-Mist Steamer, microneedling with my Platinum Meso-Melt Infusion System and a massage to release any built-up muscle tension; I’ll use my hands on my face and my Theragun on the body.
What products do you use on your celebrity clients to get the iconic “Sarah Chapman glow”?
If I’m working with a client in the lead-up to an event and I’m familiar with their skin, I’ll suggest they add in my 10-day Radiance Recharge System. It’s a powerful combination of vitamin C and lactic acid that I use to create my signature glow. On the day of the event, a face mask is my secret weapon followed by lashings of a hydrating serum and moisturiser to ensure long-lasting radiance.
For more information on Sarah Chapman’s skincare, visit her Skenesis Clinic and Boutique in London.
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