HOW TO APPLY SKINCARE LIKE A DERM
Your medicine cabinet is likely filled to the brim with lotions and potions, but between serums, moisturizers, prescription-based treatments and various other products, you may be wondering what to apply first (and second, and third). How you layer your skincare can impact the effectiveness of active ingredients (and reduce potential side effects and reactions), which is why the order in which you apply them is so important.
What comes first?
According to Dermatologist Dr. Michael Kaminer of SkinCare Physicians in Boston, Massachusetts, “The general rule is lightest to thickest, so serums first followed by light lotions and creams.†But why? “It has to do with absorptio
SPRING CLEANING FROM HEAD TO TOE
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With warmer days ahead, we’re excited to shed those extra winter layers—and this includes our wardrobes as well as our skin. “The beginning of spring is great news for our skin, as the increase in temperatures and humidity is beneficial for moisture levels as well as overall healthy appearance,†says board-certified Miami dermatologist Dr. Ileana Perez-Quintairos. Now’s the time to put a fresh face forward, and there are myriad ways to both improve cold-induced dullness and dryness from head to toe while revealing the healthy, radiant skin you crave for spring, summer and well beyond.
It’s all about exfoliation
Low humidity, cold weather and exposu
THOSE LITTLE RED BUMPS HAVE MET THEIR MATCH
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If you have patches of raised or red bumps on the backs of the upper arms and outer thighs that feels rough to the touch, it’s likely keratosis pilaris (KP). With an appearance that resembles chicken skin, KP is caused by the build-up of a skin protein called keratin that blocks the opening of the hair follicle. This harmless skin condition is more of a cosmetic annoyance than anything serious, but there are a variety of ways to clear KP and restore soft, smooth, touchable skin.
Glycolix Glyco-Urea 15-15 Cream ($48)
The first line of defense against keratosis pilaris is an intensely moisturizing exfoliating lotion or cream, and this potent product is up for the task. Formulated wi
AN AHA MOMENT
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Alpha-hydroxy acids, also known as AHAs, may be older than you are (at least if you’re under the age of 30)—but these exfoliators are key for youthful-looking skin. AHAs help reveal and maintain radiant skin, boost hydration and enhance firmness when used in your daily skincare regimen or in a chemical peel at your dermatologist’s office—without the side effects of more aggressive treatments.
As with many skincare ingredients, acid-based exfoliation can get a little confusing, so it’s important to know the basics. AHAs can be synthetic or naturally derived from fruit, sugar cane, milk and a variety of other sources, however they all work by loosening the
