At Skin & Sanctuary, there are certain people who quietly hold the place together, not through noise or performance, but through consistency, care, and an instinctive understanding of what good skin really needs.
Fatma is one of them. She joined us even before the clinic opened, and over the years she has become the person so many of our patients trust with their faces, their confidence, and often their stories.
What sets her apart isn’t only technical skill - though her knowledge is exceptional - but the way she looks after each and every person that visits the clinic. Fatma has that rare combination of precision, talent and absolute care: she listens closely, assesses with intelligence, and gives advice that always feels honest and right. She has spent more than twenty years refining her craft, beginning her training at just 16, completing three years at the London School of Beauty, and dedicating every year since to understanding skin at a deeper level.
Fatma is also a born-and-bred Londoner, with Turkish-Cypriot heritage - meaning she knows this city’s climate, its pace, and the stress it puts on skin just as well as our patients do. It’s why people return to her year after year, and why the rest of us, clinicians included, often find ourselves asking, “What does Fatma think?”
So, when Fatma calls something a non-negotiable, it’s worth listening.
Below are the three things she believes every Londoner’s skin needs in winter: simple, intelligent steps that protect the barrier, support repair, and keep the skin behaving well through darker days and colder air.
1. A barrier-supporting moisturiser
Ceramides ● Fatty acids ● Cholesterol
Cold air outside and central heating inside can significantly increase transepidermal water loss, making the barrier more vulnerable. Fatma recommends using moisturisers that contain the three lipids naturally found in healthy skin: ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol.
Together, these help to:
- prevent moisture loss
- support barrier repair
- minimise irritation from temperature shifts
A stronger barrier means every other step, from actives to professional treatments, works more effectively.
2. Fire & Ice Facial: controlled exfoliation, zero downtime
(including our upgraded Bespoke Fire & Ice option)
Winter often brings dullness - not because the skin is “dry,” but because its turnover rate slows.
Fatma’s preferred approach is the Fire & Ice Facial, which resurfaces gently and evenly, brightening the skin without visible flaking or irritation.
The treatment includes:
- controlled exfoliation
- soothing and hydrating mask phases
- optional upgrades such as massage and medical-grade LED for enhanced rejuvenation
It is also suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding, offering a safe option for results-driven refinement when actives may be limited.
3. A professional skin consultation when things change
Products help, but expert assessment helps more.
Fatma’s final non-negotiable is simple: if your skin begins behaving differently - increased redness, dryness that doesn’t settle, breakouts triggered by stress or weather - book a consultation.
A consultation allows her (and the rest of our clinical team) to examine what’s happening beneath the surface and adjust your routine or treatment plan with precision. This prevents over-correcting, over-exfoliating or guessing - all common in winter months.
If you need more guidance
Fatma sees patients every week, and winter is one of the busiest times for questions about barrier function, sensitivity and seasonal changes.
If you’d like tailored advice or want to understand exactly what your skin needs right now, you can book a consultation directly with her.
Book a consultation with Fatma
Save and share these winter non-negotiables with someone who might need them.