Ask The Expert: Does your skincare work better if you shave your face?

Is it a good idea to shave your face to make it smoother, and more radiant, and to get the best results from your skincare regime?

Ten years ago no one would have thought of this as a good reason for whipping out a blade and skimming it across their skin to remove the peachy fuzz and dead skin cells.

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But, that's all changed now, and online there have been more than half a billion views of videos showing you exactly how to do it with lots of testimonials swearing that it works.

To get the lowdown on whether or not you should shave your face, we spoke to the experts to see what exactly we should be doing.

Shave Your Face - Good or Bad?

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The trend seems to have come out of social media with users chasing that surreal glow on their skin without the use of highlighter. Dermaplaning tools have launched aplenty, but what is it they purport to do for your skin?

It's intended to be a minimally-invasive procedure to reveal fresher skin that is smoother, and brighter, and to minimise the look of acne scars or imperfections.

In a professional's hands, it is a very hygienic and safe procedure, but it's when something to do at home is it really safe to take it into your own hands.

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Expert Tips

Kimberley Medd from beauty brand Face the Future, says 'Shaving your face, especially at home without the correct sanitised equipment can easily spread bacteria and infection and lead to breakouts or folliculitis. Shaving the face can also cause trauma to the skin and lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It is only a very short-term fix and will be causing the skin more harm than good in the process.'

'No skin type should be shaving their face, but darker skin types will be more likely to suffer from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from this process,' she adds.

'Instead of shaving the face, there are treatments available such as DMK Alkaline Wash, which work to dissolve the hair and weaken the growth over time so you will achieve less regrowth in the long run. This also causes no trauma to the skin and actually helps remove dead skin cells in the process.'

GP Visit

If you want to shave your face because the hair looks longer or is causing you distress, it may be time to seek professional help.

Dr Saleena Zimri, Lumenis aesthetician and founder of Skin Doctor Clinics says, 'If you’ve been suffering from excess hair on your face or abdomen, visit your GP in the first instance. Your doctor will take a detailed medical history when diagnosing hirsutism. Discuss your medication use with your doctor to help them determine the cause of your condition. Your doctor will likely order blood tests to measure your hormone levels, to understand the root of the problem.'

'For a long-term solution, I would recommend laser hair removal such as Splendor X,' she says. 'It's the first laser hair removal that uses Blend X technology, meaning it can be used on all skin types. The IPL system has power, speed and versatility that make the coverage rate and hair removal process really quick. Another benefit to laser hair removal is that it can help remove varicose veins and pigmented lesions.' For safety, it seems wiser to ask for advice before you decide to shave your face at home.