Archives for March 2018

As we get older, anti-aging products naturally play an increasingly significant role in our skin care routines. Fighting wrinkles and hyperpigmentation creep higher and higher on our priority list. And finding the right products is a challenge for a lot of people — especially when some of the more efficient products and procedures can leave you with bank statements anywhere from the hundreds to thousands.  I do have to admit that as a board certified dermatologist, most of my favorite products are on the pricier side and both the surgical and non-surgical enhancements I perform can cost a pretty penny. But if your purse strings are a little tight, there are still plenty of options for you.

So here are some of the best products that allow you to age with grace at any income.

The absolutely essential products to an anti-aging skin care routine are under eye products, anti-wrinkle products, dark spotpreventing/correcting products, face masks and moisturizers.

The best budget under eye product in my opinion is the Garnier Ultralift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Roller. This product contains caffeine which helps to constrict blood vessels and combat under eye puffiness.

My favorite inexpensive anti-wrinkle products are the Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Serumand L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydranutrition Advanced Skin Repair Serum. This products contain retinol, which is a weaker version of anti-aging powerhouse retinoids. Retinoids are an ingredient scientifically proven to stimulate collagen production. However, prescription retinoids can often be too irritating. Should you want to give a real retinoid (not the weaker retinol) a chance, try Differin Gel. This is the first over the counter prescription strength retinoid. You’ll find it in the acne aisle, because retinoids are used to treat comedonal (whitehead/blackhead) acne. Use this product spraining. A pea-sized amount to the entire face.

Ambi Skincare Fade Cream is my favorite dark spot correcter, and can reduce the appearance of dark spots in just a month. It’s important to only apply the cream to the dark spots, because otherwise you could accidentally lighten the skin around them. This product contains 2% hydroquinone.  It cannot be used for more than 3 months at a time.

My favorite anti-aging face masks are the Freeman Feeling Beauty Pineapple Facial Enzyme Mask — an exfoliating acid mask — and BioMiracle Anti-Aging & Moisturizing Face Mask Sheets — which reduces fine lines. To find out more about face masks and which types could work best for your skin type, check out my comments on the subject in Beauty Store Business.

Chemical peels have got somewhat of a bad wrap in the past. Who remembers the classic Sex & The City episode where sex pot Samantha got a peel ahead of Carrie’s book launch? Or when Dennis from Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s chemical peel went awry? Don’t let the sitcoms scare you though — chemical peels can work wonders for the skin when done correctly. And as celebrities and influencers have publicly embraced them and other cosmetic procedures, people have become more and more curious about chemical peels. Have you every wondered whether a chemical peel would be good for your skin?  Here’s what you need to know about them.

First of all what exactly is a chemical peel? It’s a chemical solution applied to the skin causing it to exfoliate, revealing a fresh, renewed layer underneath. It’s an outpatient  procedure performed by a health care professional.

To put things simply, chemical peels rejuvenate your skin. They remove the layer exposed to the elements and reveal another one. They make you look healthier and younger by unclogging your pores, clearing acne, evening out and softening skin, and reducing fine lines. They improve the texture, cell turnover, moisture retention, and collagen production.

Cell turnover, moisture retention and collagen production aren’t terms you probably hear of often if you aren’t well versed in beauty and health, but they are absolutely fundamental to maintaining beautiful, youthful skin. Chemical peels are especially helpful because as we age, our bodies stop doing these things on their own naturally at the rates they once did.

You can get chemical peels from an esthetician or a physician. Those administered by an esthetician tend to be very gentle. While they may give your skin a glow, they don’t compare to the medical grade peels that a board-certified dermatologist would perform.

In my office, the three most popular peels performed are the vi-peel, the modified jessner’s peel, and the salicylic acid peel. The VI-Peel works well for preventing many signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots. The modified jessner’s peel works well for conditions like melisma. Lastly, the salicylic acid peel works wonders for acne.

Don’t get a chemical peel if you’re pregnant or nursing. The effects they can have on children are still largely unknown. There are plenty of other alternatives for patients that are pregnant or nursing that don’t put their children at risk.

Although chemical peels can help people of all complexions and hues, the lighter your hair and skin, the lower your risk of uneven skin after the procedure. Patients with darker hair and skin are still eligible for chemical peels, but should be mindful and cautious, and seek doctors experienced with ethnic skin.

If you’re suffering from sagging skin or severe wrinkles, a chemical peel is not the right procedure for you. Chemical peels also don’t work for dynamic forehead wrinkles (you need botox for that!).  If you want to know what procedures I recommend based on your age, check out my blog post 4 decades of beautiful skin.