Muddy Stilettos


<p>Once upon a time, a cleanser, moisturiser and a bit of SPF were enough. Fast forward to today and our bathroom shelves are groaning under the weight of retinoids, peptides, acids, LED masks and enough TikTok trends to make your head spin. Is collagen worth taking? Do tweakments actually work? And how on earth should your skincare routine change as you move from your 20s to your 50s?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1300" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T160120.680.jpg" alt="VICTORIA BECKHAM AND FACIALIST MELANIE Grant" class="wp-image-141714" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T160120.680.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T160120.680-462x600.jpg 462w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T160120.680-769x1000.jpg 769w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Thankfully, we&#8217;ve found the woman with the answers. <strong><a href="https://www.melaniegrant.com/melanie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melanie Grant</a></strong> is one of the world&#8217;s most respected aestheticians, trusted by A-listers including Victoria Beckham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and fresh from opening her elegant new London studio in <a href="https://www.melaniegrant.com/studios/london-studio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mayfair.</a> </p>



<p>Refreshingly, she&#8217;s also brilliantly no-nonsense.&nbsp;Her philosophy is simple: healthy skin comes from consistency, not chasing every new trend. We sit down with Victoria Beckham&#8217;s go-to facialist to separate skincare fact from fiction, discover the beauty habits worth investing in, and find out what our skin really needs at every stage of life. (Spoiler: you probably don&#8217;t need another serum.) </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-most-common-skincare-mistake-you-see-women-making-today">What&#8217;s the most common skincare mistake you see women making today? </h3>



<p>Overdoing it.&nbsp;There&#8217;s a real culture of&nbsp;<em>more is more</em>&nbsp;right now – too many active ingredients, layered too aggressively and switched too often. I see lots of well-intentioned routines that have actually compromised the skin barrier. The tell-tale signs? Sensitivity, redness and a complexion that never quite settles. Skin doesn&#8217;t need to be punished into looking good. The other mistake – less glamorous, but far more important – is still underusing sun protection. SPF is the single most effective skincare step there is. And no, the SPF in your makeup isn&#8217;t enough.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-thing-a-woman-in-her-20s-can-do-now-to-set-herself-up-for-great-skin-in-later-life">What&#8217;s the best thing a woman in her 20s can do now to set herself up for great skin in later life? </h3>



<p>I&#8217;m a huge believer in the saying, &#8220;An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure&#8221; – especially when it comes to skincare. Protect and don&#8217;t over-correct. Daily broad-spectrum SPF is non-negotiable, and an antioxidant such as vitamin C in the morning is an important habit to build early. Together, they&#8217;re your best defence against the damage that shows up decades later. </p>



<p>Beyond that, keep your routine simple and consistent, treat your skin gently, and don&#8217;t chase problems you don&#8217;t have. Skin in your 20s rarely needs aggressive intervention. And don&#8217;t underestimate the basics. Sleep, a great diet, hydration and not smoking will do more for your future face than almost any product.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-our-skin-need-most-in-our-30s-and-how-should-our-skincare-routine-evolve">What does our skin need most in our 30s, and how should our skincare routine evolve? </h3>



<p>This is the decade collagen production starts to slow and cell turnover becomes a little more sluggish. You might notice the first fine lines, some early pigmentation and skin that doesn&#8217;t bounce back quite as quickly. It&#8217;s the right time to introduce a retinoid, starting low and slow to let your skin adapt. Keep your vitamin C and SPF in the morning, add a retinoid at night, and pay more attention to hydration and barrier support. This is also when regular professional treatments start earning their place, as maintenance is far easier than repair.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-biggest-changes-you-see-in-women-s-skin-in-their-40s-and-what-really-helps">What are the biggest changes you see in women&#8217;s skin in their 40s, and what really helps? </h3>



<p>Collagen loss accelerates in your 40s, so the changes become more structural – a loss of firmness and volume, deeper lines, dullness and more uneven skin tone. For many women, this is also when perimenopause begins quietly influencing the skin. </p>



<p>What genuinely helps is consistency with proven actives. A good retinoid, peptides and antioxidants, paired with real attention to hydration. This is also where well-chosen in-clinic treatments come into their own. Skin boosters, microneedling and the right energy-based devices, in skilled hands, can all support tone, texture and firmness. Done well and done consistently, they&#8217;ll always outperform the occasional dramatic intervention.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-perimenopause-and-menopause-can-bring-dramatic-changes-to-our-skin-what-50-women-be-doing">Perimenopause and menopause can bring dramatic changes to our skin. What 50+ women be doing? </h3>



<p>Falling oestrogen has a profound effect on both the skin and the structure of the face. We lose a significant amount of collagen in the early years of menopause, while skin becomes drier, thinner, less elastic and often more reactive. The instinct is to fight harder, but the answer is actually to be gentler and more supportive. </p>



<p>Focus on barrier support with ceramides, fatty acids, richer moisturisers and hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration. Keep a gentle retinoid and peptides in the mix, stay loyal to antioxidants and SPF, and ease off anything harsh or stripping. It&#8217;s also well worth speaking to your GP or doctor about HRT and topical options, because skin health and hormonal health are deeply linked.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-only-have-the-budget-for-three-skincare-products-which-are-worth-buying-and-does-price-really-matter">Only have the budget for three skincare products? Which are worth buying – and does price really matter?</h3>



<p>A good cleanser, a daily broad-spectrum SPF, and one well-formulated active, such as vitamin C in the morning or a retinoid at night, depending on your priorities. Those three, used consistently, will do the heavy lifting. And no, more expensive isn&#8217;t always better. Formulation, concentration, stability and whether a product actually suits your skin matter far more than the price tag. Some of the products I rely on are everyday pharmacy heroes sitting alongside the luxury ones. Spend where it counts.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-tweakments-actually-work-and-which-are-a-waste-of-money">Which tweakments actually work – and which are a waste of money?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="769" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T155549.293-769x1000.jpg" alt="Melanie Grant salon, Mayfair" class="wp-image-141707" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T155549.293-769x1000.jpg 769w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T155549.293-462x600.jpg 462w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T155549.293.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px" /></figure>



<p>In my opinion, the tweakments that really deliver – when they&#8217;re done by genuinely skilled hands and used subtly – are biostimulators and skin boosters that improve skin quality from within, along with the right lasers, energy-based devices and micro-needling for tone and texture. The common thread is that the practitioner matters far more than the treatment itself. What&#8217;s a waste? Anything overdone, filler that distorts rather than enhances, and one-off, trend-driven treatments with no proper plan or protocol behind them. A tweakment is only as good as the person performing it and the strategy it sits within.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-skincare-trend-treatment-or-technology-has-you-genuinely-excited-right-now">What skincare trend, treatment or technology has you genuinely excited right now? </h3>



<p>I&#8217;m excited by the shift towards regenerative skin health, including polynucleotides, exosomes, and the growing sophistication of peptide and growth-factor science. The thinking has moved away from simply masking ageing towards genuinely supporting the skin&#8217;s own ability to repair and renew itself. At-home technology, particularly LED, has also become far more credible. Broadly, I love that the conversation is becoming about skin health and longevity, rather than chasing a single anti-ageing fix.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiktok-has-a-lot-to-answer-for-what-s-the-worst-beauty-advice-you-re-seeing-women-falling-for">TikTok has a lot to answer for&#8230; what&#8217;s the worst beauty advice you&#8217;re seeing women falling for? </h3>



<p>DIY actives such as lemon juice, baking soda and kitchen-cupboard &#8220;peels&#8221;, which can genuinely damage the skin. Close behind are over-exfoliating and stacking multiple strong actives at once in the name of a more &#8220;powerful&#8221; routine – the fastest route to trashing your skin barrier. I also worry about very young teens and tweens being sold anti-ageing actives they simply don&#8217;t need, and the framing of skincare as a competition or a maximalist performance. Your skin isn&#8217;t a content opportunity, and more steps don&#8217;t equal better skin.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-worked-with-victoria-beckham-for-years-what-are-her-skincare-non-negotiables">You&#8217;ve worked with Victoria Beckham for years. What are her skincare non-negotiables? </h3>



<p>Victoria is incredibly disciplined and consistent, which is why her skin looks so phenomenal. Her biggest non-negotiable is a thorough double cleanse every night to lift away every trace of makeup, SPF and pollution before her skin repairs overnight. We actually co-created The Daily Cleansing Protocol for Victoria Beckham Beauty to bring that treatment-room experience home. She also never skips a high-performance serum and, of course, daily SPF.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-biggest-skincare-secret-nobody-wants-to-hear-because-it-s-just-too-sensible">What&#8217;s the biggest skincare secret nobody wants to hear because it&#8217;s just too sensible? </h3>



<p>That there&#8217;s no shortcut. The unglamorous combination of daily SPF, a consistent routine, proper sleep, a nutrient-dense diet and patience. People want the secret to be a £300 cream. The secret is doing the boring basics, every single day, consistently. Skin is a long game.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-finally-if-you-had-500-to-spend-on-your-skin-where-would-you-put-it-products-treatments-or-devices">And finally, if you had £500 to spend on your skin, where would you put it: products, treatments or devices? </h3>



<p>I&#8217;d put the bulk of it towards a great in-clinic treatment with an excellent practitioner, then protect that investment with the right products at home – a proper SPF and a well-formulated active so the results actually last. If someone is genuinely consistent, a quality LED device can be a brilliant long-term addition. But a treatment you don&#8217;t maintain is money down the drain, so I&#8217;d always fund the upkeep, not just the headline.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="769" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T161619.915-769x1000.jpg" alt="Rosie Huntington-Whiteley" class="wp-image-141732" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T161619.915-769x1000.jpg 769w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T161619.915-462x600.jpg 462w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-29T161619.915.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Melanie counts Rosie Huntington-Whiteley among her clients</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quick-fire-worth-the-hype-or-a-waste-of-money">Quick-fire: worth the hype or a waste of money?</h3>



<p><strong>LED Masks:</strong> Worth it.&nbsp;The science is sound and they&#8217;ve earned their place, provided you use a good-quality device consistently. It&#8217;s a slow burn, not an overnight miracle.</p>



<p><strong>Collagen supplements:</strong> Somewhere in between. The evidence is emerging and genuinely promising in places, but they&#8217;re a supporting act, never a substitute for sun protection and a solid skincare routine.</p>



<p><strong>Gua Sha:</strong> Somewhere in between.&nbsp;Lovely for relaxation, easing tension and a bit of lymphatic de-puffing. The ritual itself has value, but it isn&#8217;t going to lift or reshape the face structurally.</p>



<p><strong>Silk pillowcases:</strong> A firm yes from me. They won&#8217;t transform your skin overnight, but they are a worthwhile upgrade. The smooth surface creates less friction than cotton, helping reduce sleep creases, while the fabric doesn&#8217;t absorb your skincare in the same way, so more of those expensive serums stay on your face where they belong. They&#8217;re also kinder to sensitive skin, naturally cooling and brilliant for reducing hair breakage and frizz. Think of a silk pillowcase as a brilliant supporting act rather than the headline act. My favourite? SLIP for its quality and value.</p>



<p><strong>The &#8216;glass-skin&#8217; trend</strong>: Somewhere in between.&nbsp;Hydration and radiance are great, but the hyper-glossy, multi-step look you see online often relies on heavy products that can cause congestion for everyday wear. Real, healthy skin has natural texture.</p>



<p><strong>SPF in your moisturiser: </strong>Not enough.&nbsp;People rarely apply enough to achieve the protection stated on the label, and most don&#8217;t reapply during the day. Use a dedicated broad-spectrum SPF – it&#8217;s one of the few things truly worth being rigid about.</p>



<ul>
<li><em>Tempted?&nbsp;Melanie&#8217;s London studio is at 129 Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 3NX. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.melaniegrant.com/studios/london-studio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melaniegrant.com</a>&nbsp;to book.</em></li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/lifestyle/beauty-lifestyle/best-featherlight-spfs-skincare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun saviours: 12 featherlight SPFs your skin will love</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/lifestyle/beauty-lifestyle/best-led-masks/">Glow like a pro: The best LED masks for smoother, clearer skin in 2026</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/lifestyle/beauty-lifestyle/best-value-hydrating-concealers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hydrating concealers that fake eight hours’ sleep</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>


Victoria Beckham’s facialist shares her skincare secrets

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