Dr. Mamina.

"I love the Rich Cream. They have their famous ingredient, the TFC8 complex, a proprietary molecule or formula that includes stem cell properties, and they also use a lot of antioxidant rich ingredients in their product. I definitely do see benefits with the Rich Cream. I just wish it wasn't so expensive. Because I do think the Rich Cream does work, I'm going to give it a four, but it's just very expensive. I don't want people to feel pressure that they have to get it."

"I really like this moisturizer. It's super hydrating and it also leaves you with a really nice glow, and I love how it has SPF in it. It honestly does come with a lot of products, so I feel like this is really worth the cost, and it's also super gentle on my skin. I'm a huge fan of that moisturizer. [...] It's a moisturizer that I've been recommending for years to my patients, especially the ones with acne. I just find that it's very soothing for people who can get dry or irritated potentially from other acne products or Accutane. This one is the SPF version, there's a version with SPF and one without, so it's easy to just recommend using both in your skincare routine, one in the morning and one at night. The La Roche-Posay products do have spring water, which has soothing properties, minerals, and prebiotics, and this one, the double repair moisturizer, has shea butter, niacinamide, ceramides, all ingredients that I really like in a moisturizer. This one is dermatologist approved."

"I'm also especially proud of the Beauty Pie Youth Balm Extreme Retinal Triple Renewing Serum. I actually helped formulate that product, and one of the things I wanted was encapsulated retinaldehyde so that you get all the benefits while minimizing irritation. It combines encapsulated retinaldehyde with granactive retinoid, giving you two advanced retinoid technologies in one formula, so you're getting an immediately acting retinoid and one that's a little more sustained and a little more potent."

"One product that I like that combines two smart actives in one formula is the Personal Day Just Like New Adaponoid Serum. It has TX Vector which is a stabilized triexemic acid ester for pigmentation alongside adapoid which is an [adapalene] precursor that's more gentle than traditional retinoids while still delivering meaningful cell turnover and collagen stimulating benefits. I really think this is a very well-thought-out dual mechanism formula for both pigmentation and overall skin renewal."

"I've seen the Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum go viral multiple times and I think that it could be helpful in this case. Niacinamide can help with oil production as well as brightening the skin from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the acne marks. The tranexamic acid helps with hyperpigmentation. So this would be something good for people who deal with hyperpigmentation from acne."

"The Zip Halo is one of my two favorite microcurrent devices, the ones I think win overall when it comes to at home microcurrent devices. I think it's best for skincare enthusiasts or people who like a little more customization. I really like it because in addition to the traditional microcurrent, it also adds nanocurrent technology along with an app that guides different treatment protocols depending on your goals. It's a more customizable experience, and if you love skincare technology, it's definitely a very impressive device. The Zip wins on customization and technology, and I also love that it's easy for traveling."

"There's a side effect that's super rare -- I don't think I've ever seen it in somebody who's used a prostaglandin analog eyelash serum, but it has been seen with glaucoma drugs, and that is pigmentary change in your iris, which is the colored part of your eye. The concerning thing about this side effect is that if it does happen, it's permanent. [...] It's usually more common in green or hazel eyes, and people end up getting a brown speck in their eye. I used to recommend these eyelash serums because for a long time they were the only options with real efficacy, but that has changed. There are now lash serums that grow lashes through different mechanisms and they are mostly peptide-based without the prostaglandin risks, and those are what I recommend."

"EltaMD is a clinical brand, just because a lot of derm offices sell it. It's a sunscreen brand and they have so many sunscreens. We love EltaMD because very well studied, very well formulated. Definitely a lot of science behind the formulations. All the sunscreens have zinc oxide in it to ensure that there's good UVA coverage. They also make sure that they have tints that are available and that suit well for all skin tones. Their most viral product is the UV Clear. That one is great for people with oily or acne prone skin."

"The packaging is so adorable and it feels so smooth on your skin. It blends in so smoothly and it makes your skin look so glowy. I love this, I am a fan of that Kosas sunscreen. I do think that depending on what I have on my skin there can be pilling, so I've honestly haven't been that motivated to use it because I've just been kind of discouraged by the pilling. I don't think it agrees with all skin tones. I think it happens to work with mine, but I don't think it's dark enough for people with darker skin tones. It's a lovely sunscreen and if it matches your skin type go for it. When people ask me what's their favorite sunscreen, I tell them it's the one that you're willing to wear. So if you like this and it's going to motivate you to wear sunscreen every day, I'm a fan."

"Nutrafol is a supplement with actual multi-mechanism evidence, not just a single ingredient like [...] biotin. It contains hydrolyzed marine collagen as its core ingredient, plus saw palmetto, which is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that addresses androgenetic alopecia, ashwagandha to help with stress-related hair loss, and anti-inflammatory ingredients like curcumin. It addresses different root causes and can be genuinely complementary to your hair care routine, unlike taking a single ingredient biotin gummy at thousands of times the daily dose."

"St. Ives Apricot Scrub, and anything with large, jagged, irregular particles, has a fundamental design problem. These particles can create micro tears in the skin barrier rather than gently buffing the surface, and those micro tears trigger inflammation, can accelerate barrier breakdown, and can worsen acne in people already prone to it. The apricot kernel specifically has an irregular, sharp shape under a microscope, there's litigation about this, and the data supports the concern."

"These viral collagen sheet masks, this one's like the Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask, they're so fun. They really do hydrate the skin. I think your skin can look super glowy and dewy and plump, but I think it's more just the short-term benefits. [...] I wouldn't incorporate this regularly in your routine expecting long-term benefit. It has that immediate effect when you remove it, so viral doesn't always mean effective. [...] That said, some of these masks do have some benefits, especially when used mindfully."

"Retinoids are such an important component of an anti-acne routine. [...] They're not going to work quickly at getting rid of acne, but it's something that's going to really do an amazing job at getting to the pore, clearing out and unclogging all those pores so that your pores don't have the ability to make an acne bump. I would prefer prescription retinoids like tretinoin or adapalene over The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane, but I think it's great that she got amazing results from it. That said, don't think that you're going to get results like that with just that one treatment. [...] Retinoids are super important if you have acne."

"Thayers is a drugstore brand and it's famous for their witch hazel toner and I feel like it's gotten a little bit of flack because some people say witch hazel is too irritating for the skin. I think it is formulated where a lot of skin types can use it. Obviously, I wouldn't recommend it for people with dry or sensitive skin. I do appreciate that they did come out with a milky toner with snow mushroom and that one is very lovely. All skin types can tolerate that one."

"This one is interesting. It does have some gentle exfoliating enzymes, has protease as well as other fruit enzymes. I definitely think that using some kind of exfoliating product is helpful. I would be very cautious with somebody in their teens because your skin cell turnover is still pretty good. I would be okay with this one just because the enzymes look pretty gentle and it also has gentle ingredients. It looks like there's glycerin and panthenol, allantoin, and some sodium hyaluronate. So this does look like it's going to be nourishing in addition to very gently exfoliating. I like it."

"The viral Anua toner, I know we've all seen this on our For You page at least once by now. It's the number one toner on Amazon and in Korea. This toner has more of a watery texture and it's really good for sensitive skin, it just feels so soft and hydrating on your skin. I absolutely love this toner, like genuinely this toner has helped so much with my texture, and especially if you have acne prone textured skin this is going to be perfect for you. This is one of my Holy Grail skincare products at the moment, it's just so good. So if you haven't tried it out, try it out, because there's a reason why this is number one."

"Ever since I started using this I've seen a big difference in the texture of my skin and also my pores, so honestly I feel like this did make a big difference in my skin and me personally I really like this product. This toner by Glow Recipe I think it's nice, it has like a gentle blend of PHAs, polyhydroxy acids, and BHAs. Polyhydroxy acids are great form of exfoliating acids for people who have like dry or sensitive skin. I think this one also has some ceramides and it's part of the watermelon line so it also has like hydrating properties from watermelon. This toner also has hyaluronic acid, so it's like soothing, hydrating, and gently exfoliating. I think it's fine if you're looking for like a gentle exfoliating product and you're prone to dry skin. I think it's worth looking into."

"I honestly love this eye cream. I feel like it really has made a difference. Honestly, this is like one of the only products that has actually helped my under eyes. [...] This eye cream has vitamin C, it has THD ascorbate vitamin C, which I am a fan of, and it's great for people who have sensitive skin. Ascorbic acid can be a little irritating for some people, so it's a nice form of vitamin C. [...] It also has a peptide that can help with collagen production, so theoretically it can help with fine lines and wrinkles. It has caffeine, and I am a fan of caffeine in eye creams because the issues around the eyes are different from the rest of the face. We want to work on hiding dark circles, helping to kind of depuff any kind of swelling that we might have, and I think caffeine is something to look for in eye creams."

"The NuFace Trinity and the Zip Halo are my two favorite microcurrent devices, the ones I think win overall when it comes to at home microcurrent devices. I love the NuFace Trinity for beginners, those who just want a proven workhorse. If I had to recommend a microcurrent device to the average person, NuFace would definitely be one of my top picks. It has the longest track record in the category, it's FDA cleared, it's easy to use, and there are years of real world experience behind it. It's a device that I recommend most often because it's simple, it's reliable, it just works. NuFace wins on simplicity and track record, and it also comes in a mini."

"For the best professional level home microcurrent device, the one that I like is the MyoLift Mini. If you've already been using microcurrent and you're ready to take things up a notch, it's definitely worth looking into. It's marketed more towards aestheticians and skin care professionals, and it offers a lot more customization and control than most consumer devices. There's definitely more of a learning curve, so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners, but advanced users absolutely love it."

"This is FDA cleared. It's widely available at Sephora and Amazon, which makes it very accessible. It's a solid entry-level option for somebody wanting to try clinical grade mask without committing to the higher price points. The radiance is lower than Omnilux or Current Body, which means sessions may need to be a little longer to reach an equivalent dose, but it works and the ease of access is definitely a genuine advantage."

"Neosporin is a triple antibiotic ointment. It contains neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin. Neomycin is one of the most common contact allergens in all of dermatology. We see Neosporin contact dermatitis regularly in our practice. Someone applies it to a small wound and within days they have a full allergic reaction spreading beyond the wound site and it freaks people out because it almost looks like a really bad infection. The skin is red, swollen, but a telltale sign is that it's very itchy too. And in most cases it looks way worse than the original wound. Interestingly, one of the other antibiotic ingredients, bacitracin, does have a meaningful allergy track record as well. The frustrating part is that plain petroleum jelly like Vaseline does the same job just as effectively. Moist wound healing is what promotes healing and minimizes scarring and infections and plain petrolatum delivers that without any allergy risk."

"First Aid Beauty, also a Sephora brand. I am a fan of a lot of their products. They make great products that are targeted toward keratosis pilaris, which is an issue we see a lot in the derm practice. So, I do recommend First Aid Beauty products often to my patients. I also love their ingrown hair peel pads, which is great for people with ingrown hair. So, use alongside a retinoid. I'm also a big fan of their radiance peel pads. I think that those are gentle and are great exfoliant for people who want something to improve texture, hyperpigmentation, but don't want anything too harsh. Huge fan. The price point's not terrible."

"SK-II is a J beauty brand that's also a luxury brand and they are famous for their Facial Treatment Essence. I'm a huge fan of this product. This product has a yeast ferment filtrate with galactomyces that has been found to help brighten the skin. And there's other goodies in there that really nourish the skin. Like it just seems like water, it seems like it does nothing but it does so much. It hydrates, nourishes, helps brighten the skin. I think their treatment essence is where they shine. Super expensive though."

"I think that these are so cute and I'm glad that they exist, but I don't think that they should be a treatment for your pimples. I don't think that they do anything to help my skin and help my pimples. I am a fan of pimple patches as a way for people to avoid touching their pimples, it keeps the pimple protected and in a way it can provide an environment for that pimple to heal because of that moisture and occlusion. I do find other types of hydrocolloid patches to be a little bit better, so I wouldn't run and get this one. If you want something cute and you happen to be like a pimple picker, then maybe you can do this one. If you're dealing with acne, I would start with some good topical products, you want to treat your whole face, not just like individual pimples. Of course, if you have like a big annoying pimple, there's a time and a place for patches like these and spot treatment, but you really want to treat your whole face with topical treatments whether it's a retinol, salicylic acid product, adapalene, and prevent the pimples from coming out in the first place. But these are cute, I would say there's probably better options."

"I'm a really big fan of the oral supplement Sun Powder which has Helioare and then [...] glutathione. Glutathione is one of your body's master antioxidants. It works by shifting pigment production towards a lighter type of melanin. [...] Some studies show that skin brightening effects, especially in oral or sublingual forms, can be helpful. You want to look for liposomal delivery systems for better absorption. Sun Powder has glutathione with polypodonium leucotomos."

"If you want something really good at targeted areas, like getting into the nooks and crannies, especially around the eyes, I'd look at the Solawave. It's a little different, I don't really think of it as a replacement for a traditional dual prong microcurrent device at all. Instead, I like it for smaller treatment areas, especially around the eyes. It's also incredibly portable and travel friendly, so it just makes a nice addition to your routine rather than your primary microcurrent device. I don't know if I'd consider this to be a favorite or go to, it's just something to consider for those nooks and crannies, specifically around the eyes."