3 Questions with Dr Michelle Lim

by Janice Teoh

I caught up with Dr Michelle Lim, who forms part of the core aesthetic team at SW1 Clinic. Her background in ophthalmology lends her a deeper insight into beauty issues especially around the eye area. SW1 Clinic located at Orchard Paragon on Singapore spans over 8000 sq feet of space housing over 20 treatment suites and fully equipped day surgery center; it has been touted as a one-stop aesthetic and plastic surgery haven, a beauty mecca for the A-listers and fashionistas in Asia.

What is one secret to staying youthful?

I am a strong believer of preventive ageing. But I have 2 young kids, so beauty sleep is an impossible task for me! Instead, I have laser treatments for the face and neck done once every 4 weeks, very light botox in the forehead, and around the eyes every now and then to ensure my skin stays wrinkle-free for as long as possible. This helps my skin glow and makes up for my hectic schedule as a working mom.

A peek into your vanity closet…what skincare are you using right now?

I switch my products around but within the same brands, depending on how my skin feels! Currently, I use products from the SW1 Clinic and SKII.

In the mornings, my skin normally feels a little greasy after I wake up, so I reach for SW1 Clinic’s Skin Gym. I love it because the thermal effect and the matte but non-drying texture of my skin after the wash. I then use the SKII Facial Treatment Clear Lotion which has very mild percentage of BHA in it, then the facial treatment essence. I like the SW1 Clinic’s White Plasma, a hydrating serum which contains the anti-pigment tranexamic acid, and then I apply my regular moisturiser from SKII.

I repeat the same routine in the evenings, after removing my makeup, except I use SW1 Clinic’s Skin Laundry I, which is lightly foaming, and add on SW1 Clinic’s Sleep Mode 3 to 4 times a week. Sleep Mode is a gentle chemical exfoliator which I use religiously to keep my skin unclogged and also to maintain the glow between my laser sessions.

What is one skincare tip you would impart to your daughter?

Use sunscreen! Freckles can look cute when you are young but pigmentation problems haunt women in later life, and broad-spectrum sunscreens help block out UVA rays which cause skin ageing.