I’m a pharmacist, these are ‘unsexy’ products really work – and I…,
A pharmacist has shared the products she can’t do without—but if you’re expecting pricey perfumes, skin tightening gadgets and luxurious shower gel, you’ll be disappointed.
Posting on TikTok as @pharmaestheticsbyriya, Bexley-based aesthetician and qualified dispensing pharmacist Riya has attracted over 40,000 followers with her no-nonsense advice about the products that genuinely promise bang for your buck, and tips for skin health and confidence-boosting treatments.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘On TikTok, I like to share honest, practical advice about products that really work (even if they’re not always the most “glamorous” ones!) in order to help people cut through the noise.’
In one recent video, which has been viewed more than two millions times, she shared some of the products she can’t do without, which are all easily available on the High Street.
She snapped some images of things she spotted while walking around a branch of Boots, and added information about why they were a good investment.
First up was a tube of Kelocote, a medical grade silicone gel priced at £19.50.
Riya describes it as being ‘great’ to treat and prevent a variety of scars, including keloid scars, which is where an excess of collagen forms in the scar tissue, creating an unsightly red lump or line.
She adds it can also be used after having surgery, micro-needling or radio frequency aesthetic treatments and it can be used to reduce raised acne scars.
A bottle of glycolic acid from no-frills cosmetic brand The Ordinary is highlighted as being great for ingrown hairs, back acne, softening rough skin and brighten dark areas, and just £7.70.
A £8.65 bottle of Hibiwash antiseptic solution can be used pre-shaving or waxing the bikini line or underarms to make sure no nasty bacteria causes problems after the hair removal, and it can be used to treat incidences of body acne.
A Boots own product, their cracked heel balm, makes the cut as it’s ‘a great dupe for [the much pricier] Flexitol and is just as good’.
She adds it contains 25% urea which is the ‘best thing for dry, cracked heels’, and just £8.99
Keeping on the skin issues theme, she heralds Naturim’s £21 KP Body Scrub and Mask as being one of her ‘favourite treatments’ for ingrown hairs, rough skin, and to prime your skin pre fake tan.
Purified Power Patches (£7.99) are Riya’s favourite spot-blasting stickers because they use ‘fantastic ingredients that actually will target your spots effectively’.
A tub of Vaseline is a multi-talented must-have for just £2.99.
‘Don’t underestimate the use of this simple product’ she wrote, adding it can be great for minor cuts, nose irritation, chaffing, cuticle care, softening dry elbows and feet and to slather on top of skincare if you’re ‘slugging’ your skin.
Picking up a £3.85 tube of Bepanthen nappy cream, Riya comments that ‘it does so much more!
‘Works so well as a lip balm, treat minor cuts and burns, dry and cracked skin, chafing, and for post aesthetic procedures.’
Riya also advised her female followers to ditch perfume-heavy intimate wash Femfresh and instead opt for QV Gentle Wash.
She added that the £10.49 bottle ‘will last you forever’, contains no irritants and it won’t disrupt the pH balance of the vulva.
The final product she highlighted was Driclor, a heavy duty antiperspirant which promises to stop any embarrassing sweat patches appearing on your clothes.
Riya wrote of the £8 product: ‘If your standard deodorants are not cutting it, this is what you need!
‘Apply at night and you’ll be ready to go for the next day sweat-free.’
Riya’s followers loved her insider tips. One commented: ‘I feel like the more aesthetic a product, the worse it is for your skin. Always second guess any product that looks good.’
Another said: ‘Thanks for these recs! Had back acne for a year now and got it out of nowhere so been trying everything bar accutane to get rid of it with no joy. Excited to try these out.’
