A balanced diet is important, but there's more than one way to give your skin vitamins. There are also topical antioxidants, which are serums and creams that contain ingredients that nourish the skin (think vitamin C serum).
"These can really help to repair the skin from sun damage," says Dr. Palmer. Not sure how to use them? The best time to apply them is right after cleansing so that your skin can soak them in, or they can be layered under your sunscreen for added protection.
Though it's tempting to grab a coffee the minute you wake up, Joanna Vargas, a skincare facialist in NYC, says choosing the right beverages can be a game changer. "Drink a shot of chlorophyll every morning to brighten, oxygenate, and hydrate your skin. Drinking chlorophyll also helps drain puffiness by stimulating the lymphatic system, so it's also good for cellulite."
If you're not keen on downing a shot of the stuff, chlorophyll supplements can be found at many drugstores and health food stores. She also advised drinking green juices with lots of veggies in them: "It will transform your skin in a matter of days — and it helps oxygenate the skin and stimulates lymphatic drainage, so it's de-puffing, too."
To fight infection and clogged pores, Dr. Prystowsky recommends washing concealer and foundation brushes once a week. For brushes you use around your eyes, she recommends twice per month, and for any other brushes, once a month is fine.
Here's how: Put a drop of a mild shampoo into the palm of your hand. Wet the bristles with lukewarm water. Then, massage the bristles into your palm to distribute the shampoo into the brush. Avoid getting the metal part of the brush wet/or the base of the brush hairs because the glue could soften and the bristles could fall out. Rinse the shampoo out and squeeze out the water with a towel. Lay the brushes on their side with the bristles hanging off the edge of the counter to dry.
“After sunscreen, the second most important agent in your anti-aging regimen should be a nightly application of retinol (such as retinyl palmitate or retinaldehyde), a compound derived from vitamin A. Recent studies show that improved over-the-counter formulations are as effective as the prescription versions. When used nightly for at least 12 weeks, retinol minimizes fine wrinkles, brightens skin tone, improves brown spots, and makes skin feel smoother.”
Caroline Chang, MD, owner of Rhode Island Dermatology Institute and associate dermatology staff at Brown University
“If you take off your eye makeup too vigorously, it can stretch out your eyelid skin, causing wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.”
Jeanine B. Downie, MD, director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, NJ.
“While having a consistent regimen is super important, you have to know when to slow down and take breaks. If I find that my skin is getting too irritated by products, I use nothing except cleanser and moisturizer for a few days.”
Caroline Chang, MD, owner of Rhode Island Dermatology Institute and associate dermatology staff at Brown University
“Many women take care of their faces, but don’t pay attention to the area below. You should treat your neck and chest with the same products you use on your face, including sunscreen, moisturizer, and anti-aging treatments.”
Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles and author of Feed Your Face
“If I didn’t get a good night’s sleep, I pop a pair on while I’m making breakfast and then take them off before I put on my makeup. Fine lines ares softer and puffiness is diminished. My favorite is Skyn Iceland, but other brands make them as well.”
Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles and author of Feed Your Face
“You don’t need a facial brush or special product. For light exfoliation, I use just a washcloth with moderate pressure. Plus, I also like that it’s easy to wash—and that’s important, because dirt and bacteria can lead to breakouts.”
Jeanine B. Downie, MD, director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, NJ.
“It has a scientifically proven peptide that helps with anti-aging and collagen preservation.”
Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, director of Capital Laser & Skin Care in Washington, DC
“The closer you get, the more damage can occur. Make sure a reading light is over the book, not your head.”
Lily Talakoub, MD, of McLean Dermatology in Mclean, VA
“They trap bacteria more than anything else.”
Jeanine B. Downie, MD, director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, NJ.
“The puckering will crease your upper lip, leading to ‘lipstick lines.’”
Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles and author of Feed Your Face
[NOTE: Our HMUAs do not stay for the photo session and rarely offer extra lipstick to our clients. So we offer clients straws to drink through during their photo sessions so lipstick doesn't get messed up.]“Oil and dirt build up, and then your skin is in contact with it. Wash it at least weekly.”
S. Manjula Jegasothy, MD, founder of the Miami Skin Institute
“If your lips are dry and cracked, over-the-counter cortisone cream moisturizes and helps with mild inflammation that can compromise the skin barrier.”
S. Manjula Jegasothy, MD, founder of the Miami Skin Institute
“Apply moisturizer while your skin is still a little wet to ‘seal in’ the water. Choose one without dehydrating alcohol.”
David Lortscher, MD, founder and CEO of Curology
“Soap washes away the natural oils that protect your skin, just like your dish detergent gets rid of the oil in a frying pan.”
Lily Talakoub, MD, of McLean Dermatology in Mclean, VA
“It’s effective and non-pore-clogging and feels almost like you’re not wearing sunscreen at all.”
David Lortscher, MD, founder and CEO of Curology
“I recommend applying Vaseline or a rich hand cream and wearing gloves overnight. If you have dry feet, moisturize them the same way and then put on socks.”
Caroline Chang, MD, owner of Rhode Island Dermatology Institute and associate dermatology staff at Brown University
“Bumps on your back, chest, shoulders, and buttocks that don’t go away with the usual topical acne treatments are often caused by yeast on your skin that inflames and irritates the hair follicles. Treat and prevent these bumps by using dandruff shampoo as a body wash. Leave it on your skin for a couple of minutes, then rinse it off.”
Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles and a clinical instructor at the University of Southern California
“It smooths out the surface so it’s easier to hide.”
Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles and author of Feed Your Face
“If you have dry, cracked, and bleeding skin, you need a richer body cream or balm that has some weight to it, like this one.”
Jeanine B. Downie, MD, director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, NJ.
“Cover it with a small adhesive bandage called a hydrocolloid dressing. That absorbs pus and oil and creates an acidic environment to prevent bacterial growth. It usually reduces a sore pimple overnight and gets rid of it in a couple of days.”
David Lortscher, MD, founder and CEO of Curology
“For body dryness, this is my favorite product. The glycolic acids and urea help to gently exfoliate dry skin and hydrate to maintain skin’s natural moisture levels.”
Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, director of Capital Laser & Skin Care in Washington, DC
“People assume germs in the environment are responsible for blemishes, but the bacteria on your face are usually from your own hands.”
Paul Dean, MD, of Grossmont Dermatology Clinic in San Diego and founder of Skin Resource MD
“It’s a marketing term manufacturers use to imply that a product is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Consumers are led to believe that these products contain few or no irritating ingredients. In actuality, there are no federal standards, guidelines, or definitions that govern the use of the term.”
Fayne Frey, MD, a dermatologist in New York and founder of FryFace LLC
“Anything that involves increased perspiration, moisture, and friction increases the risk of breakouts. That includes cradling your phone.”
David Lortscher, MD, founder and CEO of Curology
“A lot of people think their undereye circles are caused by aging, a lack of sleep, or alcohol. But in a good 70 percent of my patients, they’re actually caused by mild eczema. Talk to your doctor about using over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream under your eyes two or three times a week (keep it out of your eyes), and you may see a big difference.”
S. Manjula Jegasothy, MD, founder of the Miami Skin Institute
“Most people use deodorant just in the morning, but putting it on at night too helps the aluminum crystals plug up your sweat glands like corks. You may also want to try a higher-strength deodorant like Certain Dri.”
Lily Talakoub, MD, of McLean Dermatology in Mclean, VA
“A wound heals 50 percent better if it’s kept covered. It’s an old wives’ tale that you need to leave it open to the air. It can get infected, and infection leaves hard scars.”
Jeanine B. Downie, MD, director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, NJ.
Skin Care and Beauty Tip Sources
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