At 54, Lisa Snowdon is someone who takes a very keen interest in the future of her skin – but with firm boundaries about how far to go. ‘You don’t want it to be like, “Oh jeez, what’s she done?”’ she tells Good Housekeeping.
‘We all do this thing in the mirror,’ she says, tugging her jawline back. ‘And we go, “If only it could just look a little like that…” Then you go, “Okay, what am I going to do about it?” A facelift ? A neck lift? No. It’s just not for me at this stage of my life.’
But while a surgical reset isn’t Lisa’s style, she freely admits she’s found herself wanting to put back what menopause has taken from her skin. Not just a smidge of softening around the jawline, but also a general feeling that her skin had lost some of its youthful radiance.
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Lisa says she’d noticed changes in her skin after menopause
‘It’s about the glow for me,’ she says. ‘I want that skin quality and that glow that starts to get a little dull through those hormonal years. And just trying to get a bit more firmness back.’
Looking different was never on her wish list. ‘It’s just about trying to look like me,’ she says. ‘But just the best version of me.’
It’s this ‘less is more’ mindset that led Lisa to try Sculptra, an injectable treatment that stimulates the skin’s own collagen production. What appealed was knowing that it was encouraging her skin to rejuvenate itself from within, slowly and discreetly, rather than relying on fillers for instant plumping.
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Lisa has seen a lifted jawline and glowier skin from trying Sculptra
‘I wasn’t after changing the volume areas on my face,’ she says. ‘I’m all about those little tweakments that encourage the body to do the work. That really speaks to me.’
She tells us she also liked the fact Sculptra slotted into her busy life as a model, podcaster and presenter. ‘There’s no downtime and it was quick,’ she says. ‘I had a little bit of numbing cream, the cannula goes in and I could feel a strange wobble in the cheek, but it wasn’t painful and I didn’t have any bruising.’
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Lisa feels like the best version of herself
Four treatments in, she tells us she only fully appreciated the effects when she saw her before and after photos, taken at the six-month mark. ‘They speak for themselves, right? It’s unbelievable,’ she says. ‘I look like myself, but just 10 years ago.’
‘You don’t notice it because you’re seeing yourself every day, but then when you see it side by side…’ she adds, with a huge smile. ‘It’s about getting that youthful glow back. My jawline is much more lifted and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that? It’s got that renewed volume, which I love, but it’s in a really natural way.’
‘You don’t lose the essence of the way you look,’ she says. ‘It’s just a little gorgeous glow-up and a boost.’
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The lift to the lower part of her face had Lisa ’blown away’ she says
Lisa had her treatment done by one of the industry’s leading aestheticians, Dr Ash Soni, and she’s careful to emphasise that Sculptra needs skilled hands. ‘You do need to make sure that you go to a reputable practitioner, do the consultation and ask all the questions,’ she says. ‘It’s still an injectable, so you need to know the ins and outs.’
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The treatment stimulates the production of collagen for firmer skin
Although Sculptra is her ‘big ticket’ skin investment, she also credits the smaller daily habits that are helping to stack up to glowier skin in her 50s. ‘As I’ve got older, I layer more product,’ she says, naming Medik8 Exo-PDRN Prismatic +Serum, Medik8 C-Tetra Advanced and Rodial Salmon DNA Water Oil among her current favourites.
‘I’m constantly wanting hydration, and good products and good treatments that help promote that glow. I do anything I can to promote collagen production.’
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Lisa says Sculptra fitted into her lifestyle and had no downtime
One brand she uses religiously is Correxiko, which she’s sworn by ever since discovering its marine collagen powder in lockdown. ‘In 2020 my hair was falling out, my skin was changing, and a friend said I had to try it. I just became obsessed – I noticed my hair shedding less, and I was getting thicker nails.’
She’s been an ambassador for the brand ever since, and is equally passionate about Correxiko’s new clinical-grade LED mask, which has become as much a part of her evening routine as brushing her teeth.
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The Correxiko mask is also a key part of Lisa’s skin regime
‘I absolutely love the LED mask,’ she says. ‘You can set it so it pulses, which really helps stimulate the fascia and collagen. It’s not just about the LED alone. And it really bathes the whole face in light. It covers the top lip area, which a lot of us struggle with, and it goes up to the hairline, which again is good for us ladies in menopause.’
For Lisa, the fact that the mask feels like a moment of self-care is almost as important as the skincare benefits. ‘I find it really relaxing. I’ll put it on, listen to a meditation and just have 10 minutes to myself,’ she says. ‘It helps with collagen production, inflammation and pigmentation, but I also just really enjoy using it. It’s one of those things that’s easy to do every day.’ (There’s currently 20% off if you add her ‘Lisa50’ code at checkout.)
Correxiko LED Light Therapy Face Mask
Correxiko LED Light Therapy Face MaskCredit: correxiko
She’s also become a firm advocate for sun protection and doesn’t hesitate when asked for the one skincare habit she’d recommend to everyone. ‘Definitely SPF50 every day,’ she says, naming Tatcha’s as a favourite. ‘Not doing that sooner is one of my regrets.’
The glowy results she’s reaped from her skin regime are filtering into her makeup bag, too. ‘I don’t feel like I need to use as much foundation because I want my skin to show through,’ she says. ‘Less is more when it comes to makeup. I don’t want to dull that glow.’
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Lisa says having Sculptra has boosted her confidence as well as her skin
And yes, she concedes her new glow-up regime comes with a price tag, but it’s one she thinks is worth it.
‘I much prefer to spend money on my beauty rather than handbags or shoes now,’ she says. ‘I don’t even wear heels any more. I put my feet in these fabulous shoes I’ve bought over the years and think, “How did I do that?” Now I’d much rather invest in things that give me confidence when I look in my mirror and see my skin’s glowing.’
And looking like Lisa does right now? She’s already walking tall, no heels required.
The cost of Sculptra varies depending on the area treated and the practitioner. Expect to pay from £350 nationwide. Sculptra at The Soni Clinic starts from £750 per session. Always see a registered practitioner for a consultation