A Seattle-based dermatologist, Dr. Sugai posts new videos every Saturday covering sunscreen, retinoids, serums, moisturizers, and haircare, walking through the clinical reasoning behind product choices rather than just the conclusions. His Hawaii and Harvard training comes through in takes that stay close to what holds up in a clinical setting.
Why Is He A Guru?
Board-certified dermatologist trained in dermatology residency at Harvard Medical School, with years of patient-facing practice in Seattle.
294Products
259 yay92% approval rate
22 nayDoesn't pull punches
14 hot takesWhere he breaks from the pack
Dr. Daniel Sugai's top picks.
The products Dr. Daniel Sugai has crowned best in their category, and brings up again and again.
Kiehl's had an amazing lineup of products from acne to anti-aging. Their Ultra Facial Moisturizing Cream with glacial glycoprotein and squalene is just one of my favorite moisturizers of all time.
My ultimate favorite has to be the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser. That one's so good, I love it. It has niacinamide and a really nice blue bottle that lasts forever. A very small amount goes a long way.
After a chemical peel, patients using SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion Tinted Sunscreen have complained that the tint doesn't match them, it just changes their skin tone completely.
I've used La Roche-Posay Mela B3 serum quite a bit in the last couple years since it came out and I have to say that's also unfortunately pretty mid. I do love the brand. They make great skin care, but I haven't been impressed. My patients haven't been impressed by their melisel ingredient that was supposed to even compete with hydroquinone, prescription hydroquinone. And I'd say I've been a little disappointed by it.
Do not use Neosporin, guys. Also, avoid basitracin, triple antibiotic, polysporin. All of those have to be removed from the shelf. Like we said, keep it simple. Don't put any of these in your first aid kits. And if you were to ask me what's the worst ingredient in these, it would have to be neomycin over bacitracin. But if I were to rank the worst, neomycin is the worst, most allergenic over bacitracin. But I do see a lot of bacitracin allergies. And these contact dermatitis rashes can be quite serious and very blistering.
Every review.
All 294 products Dr. Daniel Sugai has reviewed, grouped by product type. Click a product to see the full guru consensus.
"The Skin 10004 rubs in a little bit faster and it has a nice dewy finish. Both these chemical UV filter based sunscreens are solid with very familiar chemical UV filters. This one has four UV filters: abenzone, homoalate, octaalate, and octocrylene. It has one of my favorite ingredients, centella. Very nice in soothing the skin, helps with barrier repair, helps with wound healing, very lightweight. Both are great for those who are oilier skin types, acne prone or with dry, dehydrated skin because it will give you a dewy finish. I like the lightweight texture where you could apply this if you have acne prone skin. Korean formulations are just superior when it comes to being lightweight and having no white cast. When I applied these to my eyelids, I had no stinging whatsoever. For the skin 10004, I love that it's in an airtight pump with a nice little cap to protect the pump. Very convenient to apply. The supporting formula players in this are very nice. You have panthenol, centella asiatica, also multiple forms of hyaluronic acid and the antioxidant green tea as well as soothing oat and rice extracts. Just keep in mind this does not have iron oxides, not a tinted sunscreen. So if you have hyperpigmentation or melasma and it is a sunny day, you might want to go with a tinted formulation. Out of all of these, I'd have to say that I really like the skin 10004 sunscreen."
"If you want to go all mineral, CeraVe's Invisible Mineral SPF 50 is really nice. I don't know how they did it. They kept it so nice and lightweight despite being all mineral."
"If you want more of a dewy glow up, go for Beauty of Joseon, they're tinted sunscreens, very lightweight and give you a nice dewy finish versus this one's more of a matte pore blurring finish."
"I've always recommended their Toleriane Double Repair moisturizer, has niacinamide and ceramide, very lightweight moisturizer for those with acne prone skin, oily skin, combination skin. But they also came out with a broad spectrum SPF 30 version of this recently, and it is truly lightweight as well. It's a chemical UV filter, great for everyday use, not necessarily before going to the beach or the pool. But man, does this just blend in so quickly. So if you have oily skin, acne prone skin, you want some niacinamide, go for this one. This is a great daily moisturizer before going to school or the office."
"People sometimes ask me what do I do if I have makeup on and I'm at a wedding and I want to reapply. You can consider Supergoop's resetting powder. I believe they have different shades, this one's a light shade here. This is all mineral zinc oxide, and this is something you can conveniently apply over your makeup, and you can put in your purse, your bag, your pocket, and you can easily apply it, reapply sunscreen over your makeup there."
"One of my new favorite sunscreens of the year would have to be La Roche-Posay's UV Air. It truly is like air, it's so lightweight, it's designed like a serum, it also has a fine tipped applicator. This is for the friends who say 'I hate sunscreen because it feels so heavy, it feels like it clogs my pores.' This truly feels like a skin care serum. It has hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin and niacinamide as well, which I love for those who have acne prone skin or if you have hyperpigmentation. So, this is just almost a near-perfect sunscreen. It is a chemical UV filter, unlike K's which is all mineral. Lightweight, breathable, and practically invisible under makeup."
"For those who are acne prone or rosacea prone, I like EltaMD's UV Clear SPF 46. It's great because it has niacinamide, which helps regulate sebum production, helps brighten the skin, and is very soothing [...] mixed into a sunscreen. If you have acne prone or rosacea prone skin and don't like thick sunscreens, this sunscreen is amazing, so gentle, so soothing, and very lightweight, and it won't clog up your pores. Just know it's not all mineral, it's a combination of zinc oxide and octinoxate."
"Patients have told me CeraVe's Sheer Tint SPF 30 isn't always the right tint for them, but it's the sunscreen I personally travel with all the time, it just matches my skin tone so well. It goes on a little thicker, but it acts like a BB cream, helps hide blemishes, and gives a really nice finish. It doesn't feel heavy, blends in very well, and is very hydrating. Good job to CeraVe for being a great drugstore brand, and I believe they might be coming out with different shades as well."
"For those a little older, after age 40, dealing with pre-skin cancers or skin cancers, I like Isdin's Eryfotona, which has a DNA repair ingredient. [...] It's a European sunscreen that comes in non-tinted and tinted versions, and it's very lightweight, though you have to shake it up well to disperse the UV filters evenly. [...] It blends in very well, only one tint though. I really like that it has the DNA repair mechanism, since as we get UV radiation damage and get older we aren't as good at picking up DNA repair mistakes. It's also packed with antioxidants, so you're paying more for it, but it's a great reliable brand. I recommend it to patients a little older, after age 40 or 45, dealing with pre-skin cancers to full-on skin cancer tumors."
"This one isn't traditionally an iron oxide tinted sunscreen, but a quick plug for EltaMD's UV Skin Recovery with green tint. My patients have come in saying that they use it and really like that it complements the redness of their face, whether they have seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea. It's a nice green tint you can use as a hack to cover up redness [...] instead of getting expensive prescription medications."
"My patients love Eucerin's Tinted Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen. I give it to my patients and they all come back raving that it is so nice, so gentle. It's very affordable, fragrance-free, and all mineral. I've even thrown it on my kids and they like it too, and I like all mineral for pediatric patients. It's very accessible online and at your local drugstore, so you don't have to spend luxury skincare money. The only downside is it only comes in one universal tint, which doesn't apply for everyone, but for my skin type it works very well."
"After a chemical peel, patients using SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion Tinted Sunscreen have complained that the tint doesn't match them, it just changes their skin tone completely."
"Any kind of Mineral Sunscreen Stick, Neutrogena, CeraVe, or Cetaphil, my kids really like those sticks to reapply sunscreen so they can jump back into the pool."
"Any kind of mineral sunscreen stick, Neutrogena, CeraVe, or Cetaphil, my kids really like those sticks to reapply sunscreen so they can jump back into the pool."
"Incorporate a tinted sunscreen like [...] Neutrogena and Beauty of Joseon have different shades, which I love. They're being very all-inclusive in terms of having available shades for various skin tones."
"I just had to give another shout out to the AM SPF 50, that's a great one with niacinamide, very lightweight, much more of an elegant finish than their SPF 30 AM. I've talked about it on the channel multiple times in the last year since using it. It's a great thing to use at the end of your routine, always end with an SPF product, going for SPF 30 and above. Just know that that SPF 50 product, that AM product, is not water resistant, so you want to go for a water resistant sunscreen if you're going to go do water play or work out outside and get sweaty."
"If you have hyperpigmentation, go for a tinted sunscreen. [...] The iron oxides are important to block visible light, and you can see that in EltaMD's UV Elements."
"Chemical you can find in K beauty products. Say Beauty of Joseon. Those are very lightweight. They have very little chance of causing a white cast. That's good for those who are acne prone who don't want a thick sunscreen that could clog up their pores."
"Things we've talked about on the channel tinted sunscreen would be dermatology universal tinted moisturizer, Ulta MD tinted daily, their UV daily, and their UV clear come in tinted formulations. [...] Those are all great to consider if you have melasma."
"Tinted sunscreen would be dermatology universal tinted moisturizer, Ulta MD tinted daily, their UV daily, and their UV clear come in tinted formulations. [...] Those are all great to consider if you have melasma. That's a non-negotiable everyday apply your tinted sunscreen."
"I just started using this sunscreen this year. One of my favorite hydrating sunscreens. I like the texture of this one. For those who have dry, dehydrated skin, this is a little thicker texture, but still very lightweight, but not watery. It goes on like a thicker cream, but it just blends in so well. If you have dry, dehydrated skin, it's going to trap in all that moisture. And if you had hyaluronic acid serum on first and then put this right over it, it will do a great job as being like a moisturizer and a sunscreen at the same time. There's no greasy finish to it. And this layers well with makeup. And you can see there's no white cast with this. This does have chemical UV filters."
"I love having it in my sunscreens. It has a zinc oxide base. It's quite lightweight. They made a tinted sunscreen that I like. This is zinc oxide base, but you are paying for that technology and the price point is higher. I pulled up a recent paper that they did in reconstructed 3D skin models. The OS-01 increase epidermal thickness, improve expression of barrier and repair genes. And thus when I talk about that it reprograms these senescent cells they become healthier more functional cells and thus don't kill them but just help them behave younger they won't evaporate them but they'll just reprogram them to start behaving in a younger state."
"They even just came out with a body SPF. [...] By having this OS1 proprietary peptide, you're going to increase collagen production, but you're also going to clear out the old senescent cells that are just hanging out. [...] It downregulates those senescent markers and by doing that you improve the epidermal thickness and reprogram your tired cells and actually maybe increasing collagen production in this way as well besides being a cell signaler and telling your fibroblast to make more collagen. So if you have crepey skin, if you're getting crepiness around the elbows, the knees, the décolletage area you want to work on, I think this peptide technology is quite nice and I love having it in my sunscreens. It has a zinc oxide base. It's quite lightweight. [...] This is zinc oxide base, but you are paying for that technology and the price point is higher. I pulled up a recent paper that they did in reconstructed 3D skin models. The OS1 increased epidermal thickness, improved expression of barrier and repair genes."
"I like sunscreen sticks on the neck because it's a really easy surface to reapply sunscreen there, the back of the neck. I love sunscreen sticks like Neutrogena, [CeraVe], Cetaphil, and EltaMD. They make great sunscreen sticks for reapplication."
"I have Eucerin Sensitive Mineral Face. My patients have been liking this sample quite a bit. I'll use it after chemical peels. Iron oxides will help block visible light as well as the UVA and UVB. Invisible light we have found is a big contributor to flaring hyperpigmentation and melasma. So if you have hyperpigmentation, try to go with a tinted sunscreen."
"My wife's all-time favorite is the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, water resistant 40 minutes, SPF 40. It's a higher price point, but she loves how invisible it really is. It's truly invisible, it just disappears quickly. She finds it layers really nicely with her makeup as well, putting makeup right over it serves as a great primer. Every year I talk about that being her still her favorite."
"The La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen is one of my top two picks for water resistant body and face sunscreen this summer. It rubs in very well, great for spreading on the face and body, and I've been giving my patients samples of this."
"Neutrogena came out with a new SPF 70 ultra sheer face liquid sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and they claim that it has minimal white cast for SPF 70, which is quite impressive. It looks pretty good, it has a little bit of a white cast. It has vitamin E, and Neutrogena is very affordable. I put this right by my kids' shoes in the mudroom where they put on their shoes before heading out the door to school, and I just have them apply this to their face before heading out. They actually like this because it doesn't have that white cast for their very fair skin tones."
"With moisturizers being so important in your 40s because we start to get drier skin, it's important to get your moisturizer game up, getting really good nourishing moisturizers and consider those with peptides now because peptides are cell signalers and they will tell your skin to make more skin, thicker skin. Neutrogena are affordable options with peptides in their moisturizers."
"I really like the UV Daily Tinted and I feel like I haven't used that much before but I got a hold of the UV Daily Tinted and I really like the tint. It's really quite hydrating with the hyaluronic acid in it."
"The UV version has been really nice so I've been recommending this to patients who have scars they're dealing with scars and they want to protect it from the Sun but also help with remodeling the skin"
"This is one of the newest products, the Kiehl's Autotone discoloration and UV solution, and it's SPF 30. What it has is this new ingredient called Meliso that was developed by L'Oréal, and they have tried to revamp the way we attack hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation involves too much melanin being produced. We have tyrosinase inhibitors, tyrosinase being an enzyme that creates melanin. If we block that enzyme, we hope to make less melanin and less dark spots. Instead of targeting that enzyme, Meliso looks at the byproducts that come together to make melanin. We're going to deactivate them so that they don't come together like building blocks to make melanin. I like this one a lot. I've been using this a lot on my way into the office. There's no tint to it, it does have a little nice color to it, but it is a nice moisturizer with SPF for sure. I like efficient skin care, so you're attacking the melanin hyperpigmentation as well as protecting yourself from UVA and UVB."
"This sunscreen is very lightweight and has centella asiatica, which is a great soothing ingredient and may even have healing capabilities. I recommend this not just because it's lightweight but also because it has niacinamide, which is a vitamin B3 analog that's soothing, anti-inflammatory, regulates sebum production, and helps repair the skin barrier. The texture has a little green tint to it. It has licorice root extract, which is great for hyperpigmentation. It glides out on the skin with no sting at all, and doesn't sting even if I put it on my eyelids. Because of the niacinamide and centella, I have to say this is probably really good for patients with rosacea, peeling skin, and acne-prone skin. It's also good for patients with sensitive skin and skin of color because it's so lightweight and does not have a white cast."
"This one also has niacinamide and it's also very hydrating of course has the hyaluronic acids SPF 50 plus and PA4 plus but I wanted to highlight this because this is for people who only want zinc oxide containing products. There are some patients who are sensitive to chemical UV filters and even chemical UV filters that break down in the sunlight you can become sensitized or have an allergy to those byproducts so there's some patients who want to get into K Beauty but they're not able to tolerate the UV filters. This is how you can get into the game. You can tell of course it is thicker because it has zinc oxide but they do a great job, it's still very lightweight for a mineral sunscreen. What I also like is that if you have sensitive skin this has a much shorter ingredient list than the others with a lot of botanical ingredients that you might see in K Beauty. This one they keep it pretty simple and short so I like that a lot. It has adenine as well, vitamin E, really nice ingredients but not a lot of extras which I'm okay with for those who have sensitive skin."
"This one is quite an interesting sunscreen. I do like it, I think it's close to being a really good sunscreen, but I have to give it a seven out of 10 because as soon as it comes out of the pump it smells like feet, it smells like stinky feet, and I just do not like that. I have a hard time putting this on my face. When you work it in though, that smell goes away, but it's pretty offensive, has a sour smell to it, and so it's quite off-putting for me. I like that it's zinc only and it rubs in really well with very little white cast. I think if you had deeper skin tones you might notice some white cast with this, but for me I think it's good. It's not water resistant. It's SPF 40, so we always want to go for SPF 30 and above, but 40 is just fine. This one was close to being great, it's just the smell. I don't know what happened with the smell, but it is quite off-putting."
"It's not an expensive brand, you think oh is it really that good, but it's actually a really good brand for your tinted sunscreen. I actually love those little samples of them that I would travel with. I keep it in my car if I forget to reapply when I'm in a rush and I leave the house without putting sunscreen, I'm going to get in the car and put it on before I start driving, so that's a great one to have."
"The other one you could consider if you have redness would be Dr. Jart+, their color correcting cream. They have green tinted to help complement red to hide the redness. If you have rosacea you can consider that as well."
"This is a mineral sunscreen Skinceuticals physical Fusion UV defense sunscreen this one is very nice because it's mineral and it's tinted this is a nice gentle mineral sunscreen that you put on whether you're starting off a retinoid whether after a chemical peel or a procedure this has not irritated any of my patient skin after a procedure when their Skin's very vulnerable and prone for IR to be irritated"
"This is one of my kids favorite Brands I like the brand my kids like the the stick and the sunscreen cream and they say it feels nice and smooth on their skin"
"First up we've got Supergoop, this is the Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50. It's water resistant for 80 minutes. It's a little thicker than the other one, but it still disappears right away, just a few swipes and it goes right into your skin. It's SPF 50 and PA4+, so the UVA coverage is at its max. It does have a smell to it, it has some botanical ingredients so it has a nice sweet citrus smell. This one is good for face and body, it's five and a half fluid ounces. You pay for a Supergoop, it is more expensive."
"The jelly cream really does look like jelly. It was really fun to apply and I actually didn't expect to like it as much as I did. The fragrance was much more toned down and very nice, sensorial experience applying it, and it wasn't overwhelming. After applying it, after each hour, I felt like that glow was sustained. My skin is a bit oilier than hers and it was really nice to just run my fingers over my forehead because it was just gliding over it like baby smooth skin. It has niacinamide, squalane, hyaluronic acid, adenosine, and also has humectants as well. The cream really does have a nice glowy effect. However, if you're really oily and with active acne, be careful with this because you're going to occlude all the inflammation, bacteria, and trap sebum that's feeding the bacteria in your pores. So maybe just more for dehydrated, mature skin or for those who just really want to glow up and you only use this like every once in a while. I'll probably only use this on special days before speaking engagements, if I want to glow up before a big event. I'm going to use this cream. I have to give it a pretty high score because it was so fun to use and it really did have a nice glowy effect."
"This really helped save me during the winter to spring months when my skin was feeling quite dry and irritated. This Korean skin care brand has gotten popular among my viewers and patients, and it's particularly good for those with dry skin, sensitive skin, or anyone who wants to repair their skin barrier any time of year. What stood out to me was the texture, it comes out thick but melts very quickly, so it doesn't linger or feel like it's bothering you. The formula also has ceramides and barrier supporting lipids, which are great for rebuilding the skin barrier if you have eczema or atopic dermatitis. It's so nice and soothing, it's not irritating my skin even when my skin has been raw."
"Get Cicaplast, a rescue moisturizing balm that is so great. It has madecassoside, which is anti-inflammatory and soothing and helps with wound healing, and it also has panthenol, which is moisturizing as well as hydrating. I recommend this to use on the face, it's great as a barrier to protect from saliva pooling there and also helps soothe any irritation from the rash around the mouth. If it's still resistant despite using barrier creams or balms or ointments, then see your dermatologist. It can also be used as a diaper rash cream, so it's so versatile, you can use this on cuts, burns, contact dermatitis, and irritation on the behind for your babies."
"You can use Vanicream's moisturizer, either the regular OG moisturizer or their newer enhanced moisturizer with hyaluronic acid ceramides. Definitely consider this one if the baby has eczema."
"Another alternative to this would be Avène Cicalfate Restorative Protective Cream, another great rescue versatile cream that is meant for babies and adults."
"CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is a great product with niacinamide and it's lightweight. It has ceramides to help support the skin barrier by being part of the glue that holds the skin cells together."
"If you just have sensitive skin and you want to stick with a brand that's just very reliable for those with sensitive skin, Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer works so well for my patients."
"Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Cream or the water gel are very plumping because they are filled with hyaluronic acid. If you apply that to damp skin, it's going to help plump up your skin and temporarily hide those fine lines and wrinkles very well. That's one of my wife's favorite moisturizers."
"CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is still one of my all-time favorite moisturizers, whether that's the Moisturizing Cream in the jar or the moisturizing lotion in the pump. [...] But there are definitely patients who come in and say CeraVe burns my face. [...] When you have a compromised skin barrier, you're going to feel different sensations: irritation, redness, tightness, even burning and stinging, especially with gentle moisturizers like CeraVe. There could be other factors happening, like eczema or atopic dermatitis, or seborrheic dermatitis where a yeast overgrowth called Malassezia causes flakiness around your eyebrows, nose, chin, and facial hair area. People start thinking they have sensitive skin or are allergic to everything when CeraVe burns their skin, but really the skin is just inflamed and we need to repair the skin barrier. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream does have ceramides to help repair the skin barrier, but sometimes it will still burn even my face."
"Consider CeraVe SA Cream with salicylic acid. That's a beta hydroxy acid that will also help exfoliate the skin gently. [...] I really love those products. Those are great to start off with, especially applying after a shower. It will help with those dry, ashy knees and elbows."
"One of my favorite body moisturizers for eczema would be La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M, that works on the microbiome. There is a disregulation of the microbiome when it comes to eczema. You're going to be able to increase proteins to fight the bad bacteria that's causing inflammation and also upregulate good bacteria to help protect the skin barrier. You can actually use it to slug your cuticles for nail health. You can also slug your face before going to sleep or starting off your day. You can put a small amount, just a thin film goes a long way, and get a nice glossy finish to your face. But also slug your elbows, knees, your shins and trap in all that moisture but also help trap in those active ingredients."
"La Roche-Posay Lipikar Urea 10%. Urea is so great at drawing in water and also gently exfoliating dead skin cells. So I really love those products. Those are great to start off with, especially applying after a shower. It will help with those dry, ashy knees and elbows. And if you want to slug it and apply a product over that will really help lock everything in and you'll wake up with much smoother skin."
"Eucerin's roughness relief, [...] urea is in Eucerin and the product. Urea is so great at drawing in water and also gently exfoliating dead skin cells. So I really love those products. Those are great to start off with, especially applying after a shower. It will help with those dry, ashy knees and elbows."
"If you've already done the retinol and you're tolerating it well, consider a retinaldehyde. Some great picks I'd consider would be Avène's RetrinAL. They make a nice eye cream, and they make a nice retinol for the face."
"I've always recommended Vanicream because it's one of the go-tos when it comes to sensitive skin. Whenever you talk about sensitive skin care, Vanicream always has to enter the discussion because they really do minimize their ingredient list. They don't mess with any fragrances or dyes. This new moisturizer, you can use it for your face and body. It's in a nice convenient pump, and the texture is awesome. I mean, I was praising Vanicream at the American Academy of Dermatology. They've done such a great job with this product. It feels nice. Even my social media manager, Olivia, she was just like, "This is my new favorite moisturizer." So, I have to agree that this was a home run for them. You can use it for your kids, for your adults, you can use it for yourselves and for your kids. So, big thumbs up. I'm so glad they added this to their line."
"My favorites to pair with my retinol would be Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. I'm also introducing peptide moisturizers into my routine as someone in their late 30s."
"I'm also introducing peptide moisturizers into my routine as someone in their late 30s. I started retinoid in my mid-20s, which I say is a good time. Vitamin C serum early 30s, I would have started though late 20s, and then now in my late 30s I say a peptide moisturizer is a perfect time. So either Neutrogena collagen bank, Ntorium's Multipeptide Moisturizer..."
"The rival to [CeraVe] Moisturizing Cream would have to be Cetaphil's Moisturizing Cream that actually repairs the skin barrier in a different way. They use glycerin, a humectant. It uses niacinamide, or vitamin B3, which is soothing and will help repair the skin barrier. Plus, it uses panthenol, vitamin B5, and that one's a special ingredient that will help moisturize and hydrate and support the skin barrier. Cetaphil has done studies that shows that those combination of those three ingredients will help repair the skin barrier, decrease evaporation of moisture from our skin and trapping in moisture and increasing the hydration in our corneum."
"RoC Advanced Hydration Plus, their water cream. You can only get at Costco right now. It's going for like 35 to 40 bucks for a pack of two. Great deal. [...] It's very similar but very good. [...] Has hyaluronic acid. It has pro collagen amino acids to support firmness and absorbs really well. Great for those who have oilier skin types, combination skin types. So if you want something lightweight, absorbs very quickly, doesn't have a greasy, heavy feel. This one's going to help plump up your skin with that hyaluronic acid and temporarily hide those fine lines and wrinkles."
"This is Cetaphil's hydrating and firming cream that is new. I talked to the scientists at Galderma. They sent me the evidence behind it. They're pairing mandelic acid with mandelic acid in this firming cream. And they found that they synergistically work together to clear out senescent cells and increase collagen and increase dermal thickness and epidermal thickness in the skin. So this helps with crepey skin of the neck, your elbows, your knees. So a nice moisturizer that you can even use on your face too at an affordable price."
"Neostra's Triple Firming Neck Cream has peptides, which are still very exciting to me, especially for those who can't tolerate a retinoid. [...] I've loved this cream. It's so nice. I've even brought it to my face as a facial moisturizer to layer over my retinoid. [...] You can have your retinoid game on your face and then follow up with a peptide moisturizer like NeoStrata, not just for your neck, but also on your face to get that collagen boosting. It is lightweight yet rich. It has glucosamine in addition to peptides. Just an overall great moisturizer. I love the texture and how it just melts into my skin when I apply it at bedtime. It is a higher price point though, but to me, it's worth it."
"In the summertime, do consider a lightweight lotion to keep your moisturizing game up. You don't want a thick occlusive suffocating moisturizing cream. And so the Moisturizing Lotion by Cetaphil is great."
"Talking about traditional peptide moisturizers, do they work? Not really in the way people think. They are cell signalers typically. So you get the palmitoyl pentapeptide 4, tripeptides 1 and 7. Those [...] peptides [...] will pretty much give the text instructions to your fibroblast and skin cells to make more collagen in your dermis or second layer and does help with fine lines and wrinkles. [...] If I were to [...] rate peptide moisturizers in general about a 7.5 to 8 out of 10 in terms of anti-aging, I don't think it's going to be nearly as good as a retinoid, especially tretinoin or tazarotene that's prescription, but it will be a nice supplement to the anti-aging routine."
"AmLactin with lactic acid is gentle, has been around for a while, great for keratosis pilaris on the back of the arms, but it really could help soften the skin and maybe add some help with the texture of the skin that might be playing a part with the crepiness around the knees."
"I like niacinamide in my products like the La Roche-Posay Toleriane matte moisturizer. It's great for skin brightening to some degree, but it's not your main player. It's not going to replace vitamin C. It's not going to replace a prescription retinoid for decreasing dark spots. It can be effective in repairing your skin barrier and reducing sebum production in small amounts when it's mixed into your product."
"Lion Pose, their Pep Talk Biopeptide Barrier Cream with peptides in it that mimic human placenta. Even though it says placenta on the label, it just mimics placenta, doesn't have real placenta in it, so don't get freaked out when you see that on the packaging. So much big hype around peptides right now and I'm really excited about it because for my patients and friends who can't tolerate retinol, you can still work on building collagen through peptides. The peptides in this one, I'm hoping will work on increasing collagen production. For my staff who have very dry skin, they've particularly loved this moisturizer. It comes out in a nice pump that's fun to dispense your cream out of, kind of reminds me of Bubble Skin Care or SkinFix, that airtight pump that you push down on the top and it dispenses it into a semiflow shape. It's very nourishing and thick. You can really tell there's lipids, cholesterol, lipids that are nourishing to help moisturize the skin, and then also you have the peptide."
"Loral chose vitamin C serum and L'Oreal revital lift will have salicylic acid but I say that's better for those with acne prone skin but once you have acne out on the skin it will not treat that"
"The inky list makes a nice Peptide Moisturizer so those peptides will be a cell signal or to tell your skin to make more collagen which is excellent right we want to do that in addition to retinol retinoids by like say skin better science those will help increase collagen production that's our goal is to increase the thickness of our dermis and increase collagen."
"Neutrogena's new daily facial moisturizer has panthenol and niacinamide and vitamin E antioxidant. It comes out more of a cream to lotion texture and is very lightweight. I've been enjoying that one a lot and it disappears quite quickly too. So you can go ahead and do the same strategy where you kind of put dots on your face and moisturize or just get a good dollop out in your hands and distribute it evenly on your face."
"Vanicream is a very affordable brand if you have sensitive skin. It's a daily moisturizing so good, works well with actives, works well with retinol at bedtime. But during the day if you want to use that in the morning after your serums go right ahead, it feels great."
"It's much thicker, feels more nourishing. I'd rather use this one in the winter time when I want a thicker moisturizer. It rubs in really well, doesn't pill, layers well with serums and subsequent sunscreens. Skin feels nice and silky smooth. I have to give this one an 8 out of 10. [...] Bubble did a good job with this one. No niacinamide in this one, [...] but that avocado oil I think is working really nice in this moisturizer."
"The gel texture is very lightweight and I think it's impressive that it doesn't pill. I've used a lot of moisturizers that have pill where it just gets all clumped up, but this I don't see that at all, so this is really nice. And it doesn't have any offensive smells. This is good, I like this one a lot. I'm going to give this one an 8 out of 10. I think Bubble did a great job with this moisturizer. I actually have patients who come in who are on my prescription acne medications and they want to use this. I'm going to say go right ahead. It's lightweight, I don't see anything offensive in it, so I think their moisturizers are spot on."
"Naturium makes a moisturizing cream with peptides. It's nice to have peptides in your skincare so it's just like getting that collagen boost because peptides are cell signaling they can tell your skin to make more collagen, which is nice. If you can't do a retinoid, consider other things like this."
"You need something to hold in that moisture. The hyaluronic acid is a sponge that's just pulling in all that moisture but it also can evaporate readily so you need an emollient property. There are different moisturizers out there. You can go from as light as a lotion like CeraVe lotion, Vanicream's lotion in a pump. CeraVe makes a nice lotion. Those are all great and convenient in a pump. A lot of my male patients like it because they are so resistant to wearing moisturizers. They will just do a pump because they don't want to open up a jar, stick their hand in, and a pump is great, just one-handed, boom, get it on onto damp skin."
"Gold Bond's Rough and Bumpy Moisturizing Cream in that gold jar are so nice. I love that one a lot. That one really can soften up your arms. Don't go scrubbing and using a scrubber or brush or those harsh cloths to wipe away your KP. Just trust your moisturizers with those chemical exfoliants to help soften those bumps instead."
"I like snail mucin quite a bit because snail mucin is full of hyaluronic acid. I like the cream version of this too but it was in a tub but now I hear it's in a tube. The jar was pretty messy where the jar lid would come up and all the slime would come up with it and it get real messy but now if it comes in a tube I'm glad COSRX changed that because I really do like the texture of the cream. This is great to put over damp skin if you put your hyaluronic acid serum on damp skin it's really going to draw in that water because that's what hyaluronic acid does, draws in water like a magnet and then you apply a moisturizer or if you slug over it that's a great hack."
"CeraVe makes a nice one that's four percent benzoyl peroxide cleanser. I like benzoyl peroxide because it mildly exfoliates and its antimicrobial kills the bacteria that causes acne."
"Eucerin has urea which is a humectant that draws in water and it's a keratolytic so it's very nice for those with dry thick elbows knees dry cracked heels and KP."
"Eucerin makes the Intensive Repair Lotion, and it has a lot of urea in it to help really soften plaques in the bottom of the feet. Urea is a great humectant that draws in water but it's also a keratolytic that will break up dead skin and help it peel away more readily. It's one of my favorite body moisturizers."
"This new moisturizer is designed for oily to combination skin. It's very lightweight while also giving you 48 hours of hydration, and it has a mattifying effect. It's packed with two ingredients I love, salicylic acid and niacinamide, and it helps control excess shine for twenty four hours. I have it on right now, I applied it this morning, and it has long lasting mattifying effects while helping improve the look of my pores. I was out doing yard work today and it withstood heat, pollution, and humidity. Whether I was trying this product out in New York, Las Vegas, LA, or Seattle, I have not had any irritation when it comes to different climates, even on the airplane where it gets very dry, it has not caused any stinging on my face. With this gel finish it just melts in quickly into the skin and I just love how it can be mattifying but also makes my skin feel plump and hydrated. It spreads very easily without leaving a heavy sheen, which is important since I'm layering sunscreen over it. I also love how portable this product is, I was able to travel with it easily. For all my friends out there with combination oily skin like myself, especially in the summertime, this product is for you. You can find it at Target."
"Skinbetter science AlphaRet Overnight Cream has become the industry's best-kept secret. I've mentioned it on my channel for many years, and it has quietly earned a permanent place in my practice. It's hands down the best retinoid I can recommend that does not require a prescription, one of the gold standard retinoids with over 10 years of transformative results. I've rated it 10 out of 10. It hasn't made a name for itself through viral trends, but is relied upon by professionals who care about real outcomes, long-term skin health, and consistency. Traditional retinoids rely on multiple conversion steps to become active retinoic acid in the skin, and during that conversion process you can lose potency and also get increased irritation. That irritation leads to dryness, redness, and peeling, and eventually patients stop using it. A retinoid you can't use consistently is not an effective retinoid. This is where AlphaRet is fundamentally different. Formulated with skinbetter science's number-one, 33-time award-winning AlphaRet technology, it uniquely combines a retinoid with an alpha hydroxy acid for visible improvement in fine lines and wrinkles. That pairing allows AlphaRet to bypass the traditional conversion process, delivering efficacy with little to no irritation."
"The fragrance turned us off, but if they toned it down, I would actually like the smell of it. The finish was really nice, it did blend in very well, and it did have a nice hydrating effect on my face. It has niacinamide and other supporting ingredients that make it a really nice serum with humectants to help draw in water. What I did like is that it did not peel when I was able to layer other moisturizers over it and then sunscreen, or at bedtime I was able to use this before my retinoid and it didn't cause irritation on my skin. These hydrolyzed collagens won't penetrate deep layers and signal your skin to make more collagen like a retinoid would, so long term this should not have any influence on the thickness of your skin. Overall, I like the cream more than the serum."
"My favorite at the moment that's very affordable is MaeLove The Glow Maker. This is a smaller brand, but it is so gentle and lightweight, I love the weightless feel of it, plus it has a nice glowy finish after applying this vitamin C serum with L-Ascorbic Acid, ferulic acid, and vitamin E."
"For a brightening product in the morning, I like Vichy Liftactiv 16% Vitamin C Serum because it has hyaluronic acid that will also plump up your skin. So you're almost getting a two-in-one product there."
"SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. [...] Get about five to six drops of your serum onto your face and to your neck, and that's probably enough, and then just put your sunscreen over it to seal it all in. That is going to be great at brightening your skin."
"Naturium, which is very good for those with dry, dehydrated skin. Very hydrating. I love that airtight pump product, and it's probably my favorite product in the Naturium line."
"For a nice body moisturizer, something with urea would be Eucerin's Advanced Repair Cream. One of my favorite body moisturizers because it comes in a nice jar, a little goes a long way. Urea is a nice humectant that draws in water, but also is a keratolytic that will peel away dead skin and exfoliate gently dead skin. So if you have dry, thickened elbows or knees, feet, hands, you can go ahead and use this Advanced Repair Cream on those areas, and the urea will really come to the rescue and make your skin nice and soft. And if you apply it within 2 minutes after getting out of the shower, when your skin's slightly damp, it's going to work so well and just trap in all of that moisture."
"If you want more of a plumping action, I love the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5. It does have fragrance. For me, I love the fragrance. It smells very nostalgic to me."
"One of my favorite moisturizers to layer over your retinoid would be Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid. Neutrogena has done a great job with it because it's packed with hyaluronic acid and it's one of my wife's favorite moisturizers. We have the signature blue jar all over our house and it just layers really well. No heavy residue, very lightweight. Having a hydrating moisturizer is one of the best ways to hide fine lines and wrinkles, and having a dewy finish will give you that glow up to help reflect light evenly off the face."
"I've used La Roche-Posay Mela B3 serum quite a bit in the last couple years since it came out and I have to say that's also unfortunately pretty mid. I do love the brand. They make great skin care, but I haven't been impressed. My patients haven't been impressed by their melisel ingredient that was supposed to even compete with hydroquinone, prescription hydroquinone. And I'd say I've been a little disappointed by it."
"I'm liking the data behind this. Thiamidol by Eucerin. Eucerin came out with the Radiant Tone line last year and they have Thiamidol in it. I have a few patients who have tried it and they actually do see success with it, especially on their breaks from hydroquinone. We avoid the rebound from hydroquinone by being on the Radiant Tone line. The downside to it is one, you have to use it frequently. The studies show you get max benefit by using it four times a day, which is a lot. You got to use it in the serums twice a day, sunscreen, and also in the night cream. There's ways to apply it four times a day but it is a lot. And also it's heavily fragrance, and I worry about my patients who are sensitive to fragrance. I am not sensitive to it, so I've used the Radiant Tone line without any issues, but it is quite strong. Hydroquinone can cause a halo effect around your dark spots, and the nice thing about Thiamidol is that it's blocking tyrosinase powerfully without causing any halo effect around your dark spots."
"Cocokind's Ceramide Barrier Serum has a cult following, and I can totally see why. It's one of the most gentle, modern barrier support options out there. It's lightweight. It has ceramides just like in the name. And ceramides are part of the glue that hold those bricks together, it's part of the mortar. So you want to replenish your lipid matrix with the ceramides and strengthen your skin barrier. It has squalane which is barrier friendly and it helps hydrate the skin and also help with some moisturization, and then glycerin is a classic humectant that draws in water like a magnet and [...] will plump up your keratinocytes and help give you a little bit of a glow. [...] Following up with a moisturizer [...] over this could help plump up the skin enough to hide fine lines and wrinkles. It's so lightweight you can use it before your sunscreen in the morning. [...] You can consider this for oily or acne prone skin, whereas other heavier balms you've got to be careful if you're acne prone. This one [...] I'm more confident with patients with oilier skin types because it's so lightweight and it's better for people who don't want thick creams that just feel heavy on the skin."
"They came up with a vitamin C serum. So we have depeptide technology for collagen boosting. You have vitamin C which is 15% ascorbic acid and you got 2% gluconolactone or PHA which is a gentle exfoliant. So you're getting some exfoliative properties as well as brightening properties and some collagen boosting. So I love this vitamin C serum so far and very affordable. This Neutrogena vitamin C serum is great for beginners or for people who want to try out a higher percentage vitamin C serum."
"This is the RoC retinol firming stick. It's very easily applied to large surface areas. If you want to bring it down to the neck, I recommend it to the whole décolletage area. People who've asked about crepiness of the neck, the back of the hands, the knee area, the elbows, you can go ahead and apply this retinol stick to all those areas. I do trust RoC. RoC's a great brand that I've been using since I was a dermatology resident back in Boston. And so when they came out with this firming stick, I love it. It will not replace surgical lifting and pulling back for like a facelift, but it's something to do at bedtime in your routine if you want to tighten up those areas or help preserve the collagen in those areas. I think it's a great thing. This stick, it just makes it so easy to roll on very quickly before you head to bed. Also very travel friendly. You don't have to worry about your serum breaking in your travel bag and getting stuff all over the place. Just having this firming stick. So easy to travel with."
"I love The Inkey List, a very popular Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate that draws in water like a sponge. It's a water magnet. It tries to plump up the skin."
"After cleansing our face morning and night, we can apply a hyaluronic acid serum onto the face. Hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate that draws in water like a sponge. It's a water magnet. It tries to plump up the skin. Vichy's Mineral 89 serum, a classic one. I love it."
"The vitamin C is an ethylated vitamin C, so more stable than ascorbic acid, but less data on how well it works in the epidermis in reducing dark spots. [...] As soon as it comes out of the bottle, this fragrance is overpowering. It's saccharine at first and then it becomes this floral ginger scent, which I think is overpowering. Right off the bat, I think that Olay needs to change that. They need to take out the fragrance or tone it down big time because I can imagine a lot of my patients with sensitive skin or rosacea getting irritation from this. [...] The texture is great and it rubs in really well with no sticky residue, and when I apply my sunscreen or moisturizer over this, there's no peeling. [...] It is nice and hydrating. [...] It has peptides, which [...] are cell signalers and can help increase collagen production."
"Vitamin C serums are special because you can use them in the morning you can use them at night too but I always say use your vitamin C in the morning after you cleanse. Vitamin C and they have other antioxidants many times will neutralize free radical damage from pollution and sunlight. [...] Four to five drops could really help protect the face help with dark spots. [...] Sometimes ascorbic acid, the active form of vitamin C, can cause irritation in the skin especially if you have rosacea but Vanicream has used a vitamin C derivative to help make it gentler on the skin, more stable, doesn't oxidize as readily. I love it, it's actually really nice, my patients like it, not irritating the skin."
"This one is an ethylated vitamin C derivative not ascorbic acid so one can argue that this is more stable and penetrates deeper into the skin than ascorbic acid. I like that it has niacinamide and sunflower seed oil. They use sunflower seed oil in their moisturizing cream which I love, great for conditioning the skin and is very moisturizing. This is a nice $20 Vitamin C Serum. Just three to four drops for your face, couple more drops for your neck or décolletage area, you can even put on the back of your hands if you are worried about photoaging. Studies have shown that vitamin C serums can reverse photoaging. If it does go deeper into the skin and stays stable it may influence collagen production and help with fine lines and wrinkles as well."
"I've talked about CA deaja that's a K Beauty brand with aoic acid up to 10% 15% and up I prescribe in clinic but 10% the max you find over the counter"
"I like eye creams during the day with caffeine like morning time but you could go to sleep with an eye cream but I'd say it's probably for me more important to use it during the daytime sometimes I'll treat myself and put a little bit of Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado before going to bed. Avocado oil is very nourishing and moisturizing for this delicate area."
"The other one that's quite popular, I got in Japan when I visited last year, was the Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion. Which, this is not really a lotion, it is an essence I'd say. Comes out very, very, very lightweight. But check this out, put this on the face. That's really nice, soothing, feels nice and cool on a hot day, right on the clean skin. Very nice. It's going to plump up the skin. Again, we're going thinnest to thickest, so you would do that. You want to throw another thicker serum on top of it and, you know, like a true K beauty product user, you go with like an essence and then serum, a thicker one, and apply that right over. So that's a nice start there. Very great, just blends into the skin instantly. You get the skin elasticity, feels nice and plump."
"I'd say their hyaluronic acid serum by CeraVe, not a winner. I've never been impressed by the texture on this. I mean, it just comes out looking a little sad there and look how it kind of peels up. Look, I can almost roll it into a ball. I mean, what's going on here? This is, I've never seen hyaluronic acid serum do that. It's usually like in a dropper bottle, but it's almost like dried up glue, Elmer's glue. Not feeling that texture at all."
"Another one you can consider with peptides would be Cetaphil Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum. This is a really cool bottle here. Look at those beads there. So peptides I'm definitely going to incorporate at my age in my late 30s."
"The Ordinary makes one, The Inky List makes azelaic acid. I'm fine with those. I haven't seen my patients get irritation with those azelaic acid formulations."
"Azelaic acid you can consider, and I'd like to call out the Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion, it was really nice. I recommend that one for an over the counter option."
"Glow Recipe's guava vitamin C dark spot serum has a really nice texture to it, very silky smooth. You can put this on after cleansing and then follow up with your hyaluronic acid serum. You can do it in that order, it's a very popular way to use both hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. You can totally do that, they won't interact in a negative way, so you could cleanse, put your vitamin C serum, then your hyaluronic acid. If you were to flip it and put your hyaluronic acid on damp skin and then your vitamin C serum, it's fine, nothing bad's going to happen, it's going to be just fine. And if you want to double up on two lightweight serums, go for it."
"This serum doesn't have ascorbic acid, which is a very active form of vitamin C, it just has a derivative. I'd give it about a 7.5 out of 10. I think it's introducing people to great ingredients like trans-azelaic acid and vitamin C, niacinamide has a lot of good things in it, and it's for a very affordable price. If you can tolerate it and you're seeing results, go right ahead. I don't see any dangers in this. I like the price, one fluid ounce for $17, you can't beat that. [...] For me personally, I'd rather go for the vitamin C, E, and ferulic acid combo because I like the studies behind having that synergistic effect."
"This brings me to PCA Skin's Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum. I like hyaluronic acid for instances where I really want to plump up my skin and hide those fine lines and wrinkles, and it gives you a nice dewy, glassy skin finish. As soon as I apply this to my skin and let it set, my skin feels smoother and I get a nice glassy look. It has a blend of hyaluronic acid, the hyaluronic acid pro complex to support your natural hyaluronic acid levels, as well as ceramides and niacinamide to help repair the skin barrier and reduce transepidermal water loss, and it helps promote brighter, healthier skin."
"This is another PCA Skin product that I have definitely loved. I applied this after a chemical peel and wow, my skin was glowing afterwards, so I am definitely impressed by this. This is an excellent peptide serum by PCA Skin, and I tend to use this at bedtime before I apply my retinoid. It has Argireline, which helps reduce muscle contractions to some degree and thus minimize fine lines and wrinkles from dynamic movement, and it does not replace neuromodulating injections. I definitely feel like I have a nice youthful finish after my chemical peel and applying this. I didn't have any stinging when I applied this, and it really carries on the benefits from my peel while holistically rejuvenating my face. This one's great, I give it two thumbs up."
"They came out with a brightening serum, which I think is really cool. This has the AHA blend, niacinamide, and an ethylated vitamin C derivative. I've been doing this two to three times in the first couple of weeks I got this. I'm actually really excited because traditionally AmLactin is not something I recommend for the face. I always say it's too strong, can make you photosensitive, but they made a very gentle meant for the face formulation with vitamin C. Very lightweight and makes your skin so smooth afterwards. No fragrance, fast absorbing, and not irritating so far. Do this in the morning and I only do about three times a week. I treat it like a leave-on exfoliant."
"Skin Better Science Alto, this one has 19 antioxidants so great. My patients love it actually. I carry this in my office just because it's so awesome."
"Olay Retinol 24 has peptides and niacinamide that will really help with firmness by increasing cell-to-cell adhesion and help boost collagen production. You also have the brightening effects of niacinamide, really nice thing to apply at night where you don't necessarily need a moisturizer over your retinoid when it comes to that particular product."
"CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum has licorice root extract that's soothing but also works on dark spots as well as niacinamide too. So those are great brightening retinoids to consider."
"I've talked about Naturium quite a bit. I love their vitamin C serum. Their vitamin C complex is hydrating, but they've done a great job with their retinaldehyde, as well. It has a nice cool yellowish color, and that's actually the color of the retinal. And it's actually hard to formulate retinaldehyde because it's"
"May Love Moonlight Super Serum is another retinaldehyde that I like, and that's probably the first retinaldehyde product I've been exposed to, and I love that one. It has a nice cool color, as well, and so gentle and hydrating. May Love has done a great job with their products."
"La Roche-Posay's Retinol B3 with niacinamide's another great serum to consider. It has its famous thermal spring water, which is full of great anti-inflammatory minerals, very soothing for the skin, and also hydrating. So, great for those with rosacea because it has the niacinamide in it, and it has barrier support from the thermal spring water."
"If you're in your mid-20s and up and you want to work on fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and keeping your pores at a minimal size, consider a retinol cream or serum at bedtime. All you need is a thin film, or a pea-sized amount to the entire face. RoC was the first retinol I ever used as a dermatology resident. My only critique is that this serum is quite fragrant."
"I believe adapalene 0.1% and 0.3% work better on these blackheads and whiteheads and also inflammatory acne like tretinoin and tazarotene. So I would go with adapalene."
"You can get a serum by Olay Retinol 24, their cream is also good, and what retinoids do is a vitamin A derivative that will increase collagen production and increase cell turnover so it will help with those fine lines and wrinkles."
"I've talked about this a lot on the channel and what I like about it is that it's affordable, Costco have a great deal, a two for one deal at times. It has niacinamide in addition to its retinol complex, which is retinyl and retinol, so you have those two nice retinols put together. It's very tolerable, very gentle if you have sensitive skin. We love retinol because it's a vitamin A derivative that will help increase collagen production, but this also has peptides in it to help boost collagen production as well, so you have a peptide complex. Niacinamide is a vitamin B3 analog that will brighten the skin, help regulate sebum production, and it also helps with repairing the skin barrier. So instead of having a niacinamide serum that's 10%, which is way too high, I like to have niacinamide mixed into my skincare products. This is something you'd use at bedtime, just a pea-sized amount. If you have dry skin, definitely moisturize over the retinol."
"Another great option that I've really enjoyed is Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol. It could be fragrance or non-fragrance and very affordable. And they've even come with the Retinol Pro+ line that does disclose the retinol, whether it's a serum or the cream. So good job to Neutrogena for getting into the disclosure game and telling us what percent retinol you have in your products."
"Rock was the first retinol that I ever tried and it's very affordable with no fragrance. They've done a great job with the retinol. I've enjoyed alternating retinol with my prescription tretinoin, and for myself personally, especially in the winter time when things start to get dry and sensitive on the face, I'm going to use a retinol. Rock has always been one of my favorite OGs in my routine."
"Rock is the first retinol I ever used as a Dermatology resident, so this is a brand that is very near and dear to me. This is their Max Hydration, their fragrance-free retinol. A pea size amount for your entire face, half a pea for your neck. Break it up into two dots on the face. I like to put a little extra on my forehead and on my nose because it can take it, it's more hearty skin. It's all you need all year round. Continue your pea-sized amount into the summer as well."
"It's a 1% pure retinol and they have peptides in the retinol to help boost collagen further. I like that. The thing that gave me good feedback is that it dried my face when I put it on consistently for a whole week, and when I have dryness from a retinoid it does remind me of tretinoin, which is increasing cell turnover like no other. When I start getting dryness it actually gives me feedback saying hey it's doing something. If I put a retinol on and I use it consistently every night and it's not doing much, I'm going to think is it doing anything? So if I'm getting dried out with an over-the-counter retinol that means it's doing something. You don't want irritation though, that's different. Really just a pea size amount to your entire face is all you need, maybe a little bigger than that, but usually just a pump sized amount is all you need. Just connect the dots after you put some dots on your face and it blends in really nicely."
"L Ro P makes an adapalene gel as well but I would not layer these two I would keep them separate just the same as I would not layer a Retinol Serum with a retinol cream or a retinol oil and a retinol cream. You can have adapalene and retinol but I would alternate them by the day. Use one night adapalene, pea size amount to the entire face and then the next day you can do your retinol. Don't double up and do it either twice a day of the same product or layer the two. You're just going to run into trouble and cause a bad contact dermatitis."
"This one has niacinamide peptide complex and your retinol, so this is very gentle. Just a tiny amount is all you need to treat your whole face. It seems like not enough, but I promise it's enough. Kiehl's has made a nice night serum. This one packs a bigger punch than their other one that has peptide, but this one is the fast-release wrinkle-reducing night serum, so this one is really nice."
"If you wanted to go with The Ordinary, that's quite popular. I actually did not like their retinols. Their retinols felt too oily, greasy. It just didn't feel nice going on on my skin."
"I went out to a conference and RoC was there and I said hey, I heard a lot of good things about you, can I try your retinol out? And I did and I was like wow, this is really nice and elegant feeling. It rubbed in really well, didn't irritate my face. I was starting off on tretinoin which I know is a little rough because I'd get dry and irritated in the winter time in Boston where it gets really cold. It was nice to have RoC's retinol all during the winter and I could alternate, like one day tretinoin, other day over the counter RoC. They've always had a special place in my heart. I like their retinol. The one I use was the RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream and that one's heavily fragranced. I still like it but it is quite strong, the fragrance."
"If you're a teenager you don't need Drunk Elephant's retinol unless you see a dermatologist and you have acne and there are better acne medications than Drunk Elephant's retinol."
"The inky list came out with this recently I've always loved their other retinol that came out you know a few years back now they have a whole 1% retinol this one actually does pack a punch cuz I've used it and it has caused dryness when I use it every day for a whole week which is fine you know dryness is okay with your retinol but when it when it has it gives me dryness I know there is something to it that means it is quite potent"
"Supergoop, their Mattescreen, they came out with different shades, so that's great because not one shade fits all skin tones, and so I use the sunrise, but they also have golden hour and sunset. If you want to blur out the pores, you want a matte finish and you have oilier skin, go for the Mattescreen. So good job to Supergoop for that."
"I've always talked about the Anthelios Tinted SPF 50 from the beginning of the channel six years ago. My only critique is that it only contains titanium dioxide, which is not great at capturing longer wavelengths of UVA, so I'd say probably go with the other ones that have zinc oxide instead. I really challenge La Roche-Posay to put some zinc oxide into their Anthelios mineral tinted, because we want better longwave coverage, since longer wavelengths of UVA go deeper into the skin and can influence collagen."
"I use Desitin, the purple, the max strength that has a higher percentage of zinc oxide, which is very soothing, anti-inflammatory. I'll just put a small amount on the behind when I did any kind of diaper change, to protect that skin as much as possible, especially if the baby is having loose stools or frequent diarrhea. [...] My top two would have to be Desitin the purple, not the blue, and Boudreaux's Butt Paste."
"SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF has been a standout. It's nice for those with acne prone skin, oilier skin types. It has the milk thistle extract, silymarin antioxidant that works well with your vitamin C and vitamin E in that serum to work on regulating sebum. You don't want to have more sebum to add to the acne causing bacteria. It will help regulate that while brightening your skin."
"The most affordable I found is Scar Away. You can get this at your local drugstore or on Amazon. Silicone is interesting because the texture of this is very thick. It has this very nice film that you can just apply over the scar. By having a nice film over your scar, it's going to keep a nice homeostasis, a nice equilibrium. You won't be telling your fibroblast to make more of a good thing, too much scar tissue. And so it actually keeps it nice and flat. For small areas, I do like putting silicone gel over the area twice a day, morning and night."
"You don't need to get beef tallow on your face and you're going to smell like a brisket. You're going to clog up your pores. [...] This does not have any preservatives. This will go bad. beef tallow belongs in your cast iron skillet and not on your face. [...] Be very careful with what can come with it. I see other products with essential oils or beeswax in it and both can cause an allergic contact dermatitis very commonly, especially on the face. [...] Go with gentle skincare instead."
"Do not use Neosporin, guys. Also, avoid basitracin, triple antibiotic, polysporin. All of those have to be removed from the shelf. Like we said, keep it simple. Don't put any of these in your first aid kits. And if you were to ask me what's the worst ingredient in these, it would have to be neomycin over bacitracin. But if I were to rank the worst, neomycin is the worst, most allergenic over bacitracin. But I do see a lot of bacitracin allergies. And these contact dermatitis rashes can be quite serious and very blistering."
"I actually like Betadine quite a bit for cleaning wounds. It's less traumatic and harsh on skin cells. Dermatologists like Betadine so much that some skin surgeons will actually tell their patients postoperatively to clean the site with Betadine and they still turn out with great looking scars."
"Hiboc Cleanse is a great medicated cleanser. It has chlorhexidine gluconate which is a powerful antiseptic. I actually use that when I'm going to do an excision. You can just buy this over the counter and if you use it on your underarms, it kills the bacteria that causes body odor. But I do worry about bacterial resistance and how we're going to develop new bacteria that are going to be resistant to such a great antiseptic that I only use in special cases to clean a surgical area. We are making bacteria by overusing chlorhexidine. I'd rather have patients alternate it with benzole peroxide cleansers to help with that bacterial component and not use Hiboc Cleanse all the time. Plus, Hiboc Cleanse can be dangerous around the eyes, the ears definitely can be oculotoxic and ototoxic."
"I have patients with allergic contact dermatitis, and when I have a patient coming in with a rash that looks like an outside job, meaning looks like something got on their skin causing a geometric rash or a linear rash like poison ivy, I'm going to ask them certain things like have you been using Neosporin or Bacitracin. Triple antibiotic a lot of times patients will say yes, how did you know? It's just a very commonly seen thing in my clinic. And you know, in Europe they don't have over-the-counter antibiotic ointments. In the US we do and we overuse it. And so not only are we getting resistance, but we're also getting allergic rashes to these antibiotic ointments. I've seen patients come in with really bad severe redness, blistering, and it actually can turn from itchy to painful where it mimics a skin infection. I've seen patients who saw infectious disease for many months for a mysterious rash or mysterious infection that wouldn't go away with all the antibiotics they kept adding more antibiotics because they're using Neosporin."
"The Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch, [...] covering the acne is not so much to control your acne, you're going to still have to see your dermatologist, but to keep your fingers from picking at it say during the day while you're studying, reading, going about your day. You don't want to be picking at your acne. You're going to have that as a nice protective film and then you're going to work with your dermatologist on treating your acne."
"It's called Aklief, it's [trifarotene], it's another retinoid so it acts similar to tretinoin and retinol but this one is a little bit lighter. It's more of a lotion than a cream and I find that it goes on really well for chest and back if you ever get any body acne or can also help with anti-aging in that sense too. I definitely don't see it being as drying as the tretinoin at all. I still do put moisturizer over it but I don't feel as though I need to."
"SkinCeuticals also has a really nice serum called the Phloretin CF where you've got 10% ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, plus you have phloretin so you have a different combination of antioxidants that are just so nice. I like that one a lot."
"If you're in your 40s and 50s and you want something with a peptide or if you want more lipid rich more nourishing moisturizer you're going to go for a higher price point you're going to go for Skinceuticals their lipid moisturizer is very popular"
"This is a solid product, only 30 something bucks you can get at your local store like say at Target or Amazon. It's a really nice product to consider to add to your regimen. The only downside would really be if your acne is out of its league, you've got to go see a dermatologist. It's not a magic bullet. If you have deep cystic bumps, that's something you'd need to see a dermatologist for. This is good for superficial acne, but it's a great product. I can see why it went viral because it's good to have a spot treatment in your back pocket, something that makes you feel mentally better. There's a psychological component of having acne, you want things to be sped along and not feel like there's nothing you can do about it. So if you can psychologically feel better by using this and not trying to go at it with your fingers or tools, we win. We're using these really good ingredients to help break up the dead skin cells, kill the bacteria, and hopefully get clearance."
"This has peptides which I love for cell-signaling purposes, really helps with those fine lines and wrinkles. It has niacinamide and bisabolol so it's anti-inflammatory, has some soothing properties as well as some antioxidants. If you want to start off and you have sensitive skin, don't go with the Intensive. You want to do this at bedtime because these retinoids are usually photosensitive, so you want to do it at night time so that you get your full benefits from your retinoid. This is usually on dry skin, so wash your face, make sure it's dry, and then apply your full pea-size amount to your entire face. You can do little dots and then connect the dots, and then use your moisturizer afterwards."
"CeraVe's Cream to Foam Cleanser is also nice at removing makeup and good for those with multiple different skin types, whether it's combination to dry. I think that's a really nice cleanser."
"If you have dry sensitive skin, definitely don't use hand soap, you don't want squeaky clean skin. Things that come to mind would be Cetaphil's Gentle Skin Cleanser with niacinamide, glycerin, and panthenol."
"For traveling, use Vanicream's body wash or even their facial cleanser instead of the heavily fragranced stuff at the hotel. The facial cleanser is so gentle that I used to use it as a body wash for my kids when they were younger."
"For dry sensitive skin, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is one of my favorites. [...] The green and white hydrating CeraVe has been an OG for my patients with acne who are having dryness from their prescription medications. Those are great picks."
"My favorite all time would have to be La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser. One of my favorites, really suds up well. You know, Father's Day is coming up. It's a great way to get your face all lathered up and then use it as a shaving cream."
"Vanicream came out with the Z-Bar which you can use to wash your face if you have seborrheic dermatitis of your face and that's a gentle fragrance-free cleanser. That was a big move on their part to make a fragrance-free shampoo but it will definitely benefit those who have very sensitive skin, especially facial seborrheic dermatitis."
"So, instead of using pore vacuums, I recommend keeping your pores clear with a nice exfoliating cleanser without beads, something with salicylic acid, whether it's Cetaphil's gentle exfoliating SA cleanser or CeraVe's acne control cleanser."
"You can use an exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, whether it's CeraVe's salicylic acid cleanser or Cetaphil's gentle exfoliating cleanser. Those are great."
"For my sample closet, I picked out La Roche-Posay Effaclar 2% Gel Cleanser. Patients love this. I like to use that after the gym. You can use it on your body and not just on your face."
"CeraVe makes a nice creamy foaming wash that has 4% benzoyl peroxide. So different brands that have made nice benzoyl peroxide products that you can consider that's exfoliating and also kills the bacteria that's feeding off of the trapped sebum leading to acne. So I actually have both in my bathroom and I will alternate between the two."
"Biore is the popular one out there that I've used. I remember from when I was like in med school or even maybe undergrad. You apply it to clean skin that strip and you let sit for a few minutes and you peel it off and it's so gratifying seeing all those little columns of trapped keratin, dead skin cells and sebum in each pore being pulled out by this adhesive tape. But it is temporary relief. It's not going to give you relief longstanding where you're going to have clear pores. It's just taking out what you have at the moment. And of course, if you don't change your habits, your cleansing habits and practices, you will have clogging of those pores once again."
"Cetaphil came out with a new hydrating foaming cleanser and this one uses amino acid technology. When you see foaming you think that's more for oily skin, but this one's actually for dry, sensitive skin. This is good for those who wear makeup or water resistant sunscreen. This might be a little bit better at removing that type of material than the gentle skin cleanser. You have to rinse this off for the amino acid technology to fully work. It's very nice to use this without stripping the skin barrier."
"This is a gel cleanser that turns into a low lather when activated by water. It has the three essential ingredients glycerin, vitamin B5, and vitamin B3 or niacinamide, and it's just great for those with oily skin. I like to use this in the summertime. I just used this the other day to cleanse my face in the morning before shaving and you can end your day with this as well. They noted fragrance free. The original Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser had masking fragrance in it, so it wasn't truly fragrance-free, but they added fragrance to mask the scent. Some people like that smell. If you want to stay with the original regular Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, from my understanding Galderma is not pulling that off the shelves. They're going to keep it going with the original fragrance scented version of this, but they'll also have the fragrance-free version for those who have a known sensitivity to fragrance or don't want the smell."
"This one unfortunately made my face feel squeaky clean for the last few times I've used it. I bought this over a month ago and I did not like it. It was just way too drying. It felt too tight on my face afterwards. I have combination skin, [...] and it was just not good for my skin. [...] It does have soothing ingredients like aloe, it has glycerin which is hydrating, it has lavender and spearmint leaf. I take caution in brands that really push botanical ingredients. All natural does not mean all safe."
"My tried-and-true has always been Neutrogena's Norwegian Hand Cream. Rich in glycerin, which just is a water magnet. Just draws in water and moisture and keeps it into your hands. And of course, outperforms a lot of the luxury creams out there. So, don't break the bank when it comes to your hand moisturizer."
"I love that Costco has stepped up and has featured O'Keeffe's Working Hands at Costco and it's on sale right now at my local Costco. [...] I love that it's not a very long ingredient list, so great for those with sensitive skin who don't want all the [...] other extras, essential oils and such that could irritate your hands. Every [...] ingredient in this is serving a purpose. You have the mineral oil, you have urea, you have humectants, all those things that help draw water but help heal with [...] those cracks and splits in your fingertips that are just so painful. [...] So great for those with landscaping, construction, and mechanics work. O'Keeffe's Working Hands will help soothe. [...] And if you fall asleep with the hand moisturizer with cotton line gloves, next day you're going to feel like your hands are much smoother and they might help heal those fissures much faster."
"Eucerin is just known for making great urea based products. [...] User has done a great job with making it very delicate for our hands. And so their Advanced Repair Hand Cream is just a plus. There you have urea to help bring in moisture and help peel away dead skin. So those who have that rough sandpapery texture of their palms go for this one. So it helps soften thickened skin. You have ceramides which are part of the glue that hold our skin cells together. [...] You have it here in the Eucerin product as well. So great for that rough texture, especially in the wintertime."
"The Aquaphor Healing Ointment is a classic in the tube or jar, but now they have it as a spray, which a lot of people don't know about. It's a great hack if you have kids with dry skin and you want to spray a larger surface area instead of dipping your hand in a big jar of Aquaphor and trying to spread it over kids that are just moving all over the place. A nice spray just to cover a large surface area. If you have dry cracked heels, spraying your feet with this spray has been a game changer. This has been a big essential in my household."
"The other nice body wash that I recommend to patients, Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash. So affordable, a little goes a long way and also great for kiddos. This one is fragrance-free and Aveeno is known for their oat technology which is soothing for those with eczema skin that's inflamed."
"If you have eczema, turn to Aveeno lotions because they're enriched with oat technology. They have colloidal oat, which is known to be soothing, especially for inflamed skin from eczema."
"Coco Kind's made a really nice Retinol Body Cream. I've been loving this texture. The [...] retinol, the vitamin A, helps with collagen production and thicken up your skin."
"The first one I've ever used was the Versed retinol body lotion, and that is really good. You can get this at Target, you can get it on Amazon. [...] The texture is really nice. So you've got this retinol and you go ahead and apply it there. If you have easy bruising, I tell my patients to apply a retinol or vitamin A cream on the forearms and the legs, it helps rebuild collagen and thicken up the skin in those areas."
"Consider a retinol body lotion to use at bedtime. Verso makes a nice one if you want to prevent crepiness, you want to prevent hyperpigmentation or treat hyperpigmentation."
"The one that has never irritated my skin or my patients is Aveeno's Therapeutic Shave Gel. This one is so good, so I give this to all my family members and friends as gifts. I throw this in the bag because this is so essential. This is such a great shaving gel and it's just soothing, never hurts the skin, never stings the skin, never irritates my skin. No added fragrance, and women can also use this too for shaving."
"One of my favorite shampoos that were released last year, Vichy Dercos. That shampoo has selenium sulfide and salicylic acid. I will use it on my scalp, but I also will wash my face with that as well."
"Head and Shoulders tried-and-true. Their Bare Shampoo though, I like that the bottle you can actually roll it up so you can get every last drop out of the bottle, and then you can also recycle the bottle and the cap. So, very nice job with that shampoo."
"There's ketoconazole 1% shampoo by Nizoral. I prescribe 2% ketoconazole shampoo to my patients but they have it available over the counter as 1%. So that's another option you can consider for scalp itch and the flaking. You can do it every other day to every day to stay on top of the yeast."
"[CeraVe] has entered the shampoo game and they have made some great products with zinc pyrithione anti-dandruff shampoo or their two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. Great products."
"Classically Neutrogena T/Gel, but I hear that's really hard to find or they've discontinued it, which is really sad. I've been recommending that from when I was a first year resident at Harvard."
"I like Nutrafol because we're addressing multiple potential causes of your hair thinning with these supplements, and they even customize it to either men or women. [...] Age can differ too. I like that they've customized their women's supplements to either mature users or premenopausal females. I love that they've customized it and they're trying to address multiple root causes. I'm so glad I'm partnered with Nutrafol for this video. [...] There are a lot of supplement companies that approach me for skin health and hair health, but this is the brand that I've been recommending to my patients the most and for the longest, so I feel very comfortable talking about this. I talk about Nutrafol nearly every day with my patients who come in with these hair thinning issues. [...] I can't recommend it enough when it's appropriate for the patient, after I evaluate their scalp and hair and also other things that could be playing a part with their hair issues. I really do recommend Nutrafol, and it's easy for me to talk about, especially when it's backed by science and data."
"This is their retinol eye serum with ginseng and retinol. You're going to apply one pump, break it up, apply it around the eyes, and then get the eye patches and apply them right over your serum to seal it in. When you take it off after 15 to 20 minutes, you're just going to instantly glow up. It helps with depuffing and helps deliver retinol to the area."
"RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream is their bestselling product and I can see why. I've been recommending this a lot to my patients over the years. It's a gentle retinol product that patients have used around the eyes. [...] I'm okay with retinol, over-the-counter retinol products around the eyes, especially those that are formulated for the eyelid skin. [...] Just use a small amount for around the eyes and use your ring finger to gently tap in the product."
"I've been talking about Avène retinol for quite a bit on the channel, and I think their eye cream with retinaldehyde is a winner as well. So retinaldehyde is theoretically stronger, more potent than retinol. So if you are an advanced user, you're still a little worried about irritating the skin, retinaldehyde by Avène is a good go-to. Retinaldehyde is more potent because it only requires one conversion step to become active and to go in the nucleus of the cells to do its magic versus retinol has to be converted twice. So it targets fine lines and wrinkles and texture. And you have Avène soothing thermal water in it to help with tolerance."
"Other nice one that I like, higher price point though, is SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye Cream. Nice product, but is a higher price point with caffeine. I like that one a lot."
"I do like eye products that have caffeine or a higher concentration of peptide. For example, OneSkin OS-01 Eye Topical Supplement has a higher concentration of peptides in their eye products because this is very thin delicate skin. It's the thinnest skin of our body, the eyelid skin, so we have to take care of that and you do need specialized products for that area."
"We can achieve just improvement in the area with a caffeinated eye serum like L'Oreal Revitalift, which helps plump the skin while also tightening the blood vessels causing the blue discoloration, and the caffeine helps with the puffiness under the eyes. The hyaluronic acid seems counterintuitive, like why do you want to depuff but also hydrate, but it'll help with the nice crows feet that we get when we smile and you can achieve a little bit of softening there by having hyaluronic acid in a serum like that."
"If you have any target areas with flaking in the eyebrows or on the nose, around the cheekbones that you want to treat, go ahead and use some Vaseline or [Aquaphor]."
"A versatile product that I could never live without would be Aquaphor's ointment. This is just money, you use this all the time. You can use it around the mouth, on the neck in the folds so things don't pull there, and to moisturize the body. If you have a baby with eczema or atopic dermatitis, put this on right after a lukewarm bath while the skin is still a little damp, especially where they're having irritated eczema, then put them in their pajamas so it seals it all in and traps the moisture, so they sleep better. If it's still inflamed and they're scratching through the night, see a dermatologist for treatment. It's also great for diaper rashes and irritation around the mouth."
"We recommend Vaseline or Aquaphor instead of Neosporin. Hate Neosporin. I just saw a Neosporin allergy the other day post-surgically on someone that was putting it on their knee surgery scar and got a big nasty rash from the Neosporin. So, use Vaseline instead."
"Aveeno Skin Relief Healing Ointment just came out and is petrolatum free. It has shea butter, glycerin, and soothing oat. The oat technology in Aveeno is special because we've seen evidence in papers of oat being anti-inflammatory. It's soothing, great for those with atopic dermatitis and eczema. It's very soothing to those with cracked skin who have exposed nerves and they're very itchy or with pain. Oat will help soothe it. I've used this on my lips, I've used it on my hands and it does rub in well without that tacky feeling."
"Whether it's a CeraVe Healing Ointment in a little jar or look at this cute little Vaseline. Go ahead. I got big Vaseline here. Apply a little bit around the nose. You can apply on the lips. Get in the corners there. And you can apply the corners of your eyes. The canthus medial canthus lateral canthus. You can even get it on the eyelids. Just the thinnest film cuz you don't want to get clogged up pores and lead to milia cysts on the eyelid. So just a small amount but people do find that their tretinoin can diffuse towards the eye causing dry eyelid dermatitis irritation cracking and so you can put this as a barrier ointment to protect the eyelids."
"Cetaphil Healing Ointment, the only thing with Cetaphil Healing Ointment though is it has beeswax which I worry about on the lips. I'm seeing a lot more beeswax sensitivity."
"When it comes to lip sunscreens, very hard to find lip sunscreens and you don't want to just put your regular sunscreen on your lips because it's not meant to be ingested, but there are good lip sunscreens out there like EltaMD, their UV Lip Balm is good."
"One Skin, that brand that has made good peptide containing sunscreens, have a lip product out that does not have beeswax. So, that's good. Keep an eye out for that one. I'm really looking forward to trying that one out soon."
"I also like Eucerin's Roughness Relief Spot Treatment for really dry thick elbows and knees. This has an extra boost of urea, so check this one out if you have keratosis pilaris."
"I'm okay with pimple patches if you're using the occasional pimple patch to protect yourself your finger from picking at that acne lesion I'm all for it. Those hydrocolloid patches prevent you from picking at them because I can tell when a patient has been picking I see this angulated triangular shaped scab on the forehead you know on the cheeks I can tell when you're picking and those are really tough you know those atrophic indented scars that you develop there those are so tough to treat right so even lasers we have a hard time filling in those indented ice pick scars so try your best to not go after them."
"I'm okay with pimple patches if you're using the occasional pimple patch to protect yourself your finger from picking at that acne lesion. Neutrogena makes some pimple patches, those are all fine to use. Those hydrocolloid patches that prevent you from picking at them, because I can tell when a patient has been picking I see this angulated triangular shaped scab on the forehead, on the cheeks. I can tell when you're picking and those are really tough, you know, those atrophic indented scars that you develop there, those are so tough to treat."
"Some nice options would be [CeraVe] renewing sa cleanser or the Cetaphil gentle clear 2% salicylic acid these are great options choose one you don't have to go with both I've been using this one more recently very nice to have in the shower"
"I feel like people are damaging their skin by trying to grab unnecessary physical exfoliating scrubs like St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub or other scrubs with harsh beads."
"I've even seen patients get irritation from Paula's Choice BHA solution. So, leave on exfoliants, be very, very careful, especially if you're using a retinoid."
"I don't really care for The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, that leave on that vampire purplish red solution. The chemical peel like effect that patients are getting is nice in terms of that deep pore cleaning action. It's really exfoliating the skin, but I've seen patients overuse it and I'd say you would use that like once a week. It's so powerful. Summer time, you got to be very careful with the sun. So, I would say be careful with the strong leave on exfoliants."
"Snail Mucin actually has a lot of hyaluronic acid. It has humectant properties that draw in water and support the skin barrier. It'll give your skin that nice bouncy hydrated look. It definitely will reverse that dull look and you'll have this nice glassy look where light would just reflect so nicely off of the skin."
"This is the [...] current body [...] LED hair growth helmet, sent by CurrentBody Skin for review, using low level light therapy at the 660 nanometer wavelength to help thicken hair. Unlike random viral gadgets, it's built around wavelengths actually studied in the literature, with 120 LEDs and full scalp coverage, which matters for even light distribution on diffuse thinning. CurrentBody publishes clinical testing showing improvements in shedding, hair density, and hair growth measurements after 12 weeks of consistent use. [...] It's rechargeable so you're not tied to an outlet, has soft cushions, connects via Bluetooth so you can listen to music during the [...] 10 minute sessions, doesn't get hot on the scalp, [...] stays snug when [...] moving around, and has a side timer showing time left in the session. CurrentBody recommends [...] 10 minutes a day for 16 weeks, and adherence and consistency matter most since people often quit after 3 to 4 weeks without seeing results. That said, hair loss treatment is rarely one miracle product fixing everything, so [...] a helmet alone is probably not enough [...] for significant androgenetic alopecia, strong hormonal drivers, nutritional deficiencies, or scarring alopecia. It doesn't give overnight results, but it's potentially useful for early thinning, diffuse scalp shedding, mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia, or as a non-drug adjunct, especially combined with treatments like minoxidil."
"Starting up at the start of the pandemic I noticed that my patients and myself included were dealing with a lot of hair loss and hair shedding and so I started using this LLLT technology with consistent use I noticed that hair density had improved and even my barber noticed that and he noticed increased thickness of my hair which yielded increased density which I was very happy about. I love how it doesn't get hot or warm on my head and then you can go ahead and get stuff done, you know, like working on your skincare routine and such. I get some reading done while I have this cap on. With the hands-free design and those 282 lasers and LEDs, if you're experiencing hair loss or hair thinning, the goal is to get regrowth but first of all we have to maintain what we have and hopefully stay consistent for thicker density hair. When you start off with the cap or any other hair loss treatment a lot of times in the first three months you may notice some increased hair shedding and that's normal but don't be alarmed. Don't be discouraged. At three to six months you're going to notice less shedding and you're gonna feel like you're starting to go in the right direction but after six to 12 months that's when you start seeing thicker density hair. Stay with it. After 12 months it's like working out. You stop working out you're not going to be in shape so the same goes for the cap."
"I always want to show you this texture here. Very lightweight and makes your skin so smooth afterwards. No fragrance, fast absorbing, and not irritating so far. Do this in the morning and I only do about three times a week. I treat it like a leave-on exfoliant."
"I use Lily Silk pillowcases and I've used their pillowcases and they're nice. But whenever you do a pillowcase in silk you pay more, but if you're a side sleeper like myself, totally worth it because when I wake up with a regular pillowcase those sleep wrinkles are real and we've seen it published in plastic surgery journals that these sleep wrinkles over time when you have frictional rubbing and pressure on your face you can get static wrinkles or reds that don't go away, the permanent wrinkles from laying on your side for so long and so consistently they lead to wrinkles that just stay there, not just right after you wake up but throughout the day. Every day these sleep wrinkles are real, try your best to relieve the tension and pressure on your face."
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