These Serums Actually Work, According To Top Dermatologists
What The Skin Experts Are Giving This Mother’s Day
In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked five prominent dermatologists from across the country to turn their expertise on their mothers, giving them targeted complexion routines. Because nothing says “I love you” quite like a little Botox…
Dendy Engelman, MD is a dermatologic surgeon in New York City. Her mother, Deborah, is 63.
Deborah’s Issues: “My mom grew up in South Carolina and has the sun damage to show for it—lines, spots, and hyperpigmentation. She has some general aging volume loss, too.”
In-Office Rx: “To minimize hyperpigmentation and sun spots on her face and chest, I’d combine Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and the Alexandrite laser. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Voluma are best to offset volume related changes—it can literally take years off in a minutes. And Botox is great to soften frown lines and crow’s feet.”
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At-Home Options: “Elizabeth Arden’s PREVAGE Anti-aging Neck and Décolleté Firm & Repair Cream ($115, elizabetharden.com) is ideal for hyperpigmentation and sun spots. At night, I prescribe Renova (tretinoin 0.02%), which is good in the winter months since it’s an emollient base. For summer, I like Atralin (tretinoin 0.05%). Both reverse signs of sun damage, build collagen, and even skin tone and texture.”
Rachel Nazarian, MD, is a dermatologist in New York City. Her mother, Lili, is 56.
Lili’s Issues: “My mom doesn’t like the crease between her eyebrows, which she thinks makes her look angry, even at rest. She also has sun spots and volume loss, which has created shadowing on her cheeks, making her marionette lines more visible.”
In-Office Rx: “Botox is the perfect solution for that between eyebrow problem. To help with the volume loss, hyaluronic acid fillers, like Perlane, are great. IPL helps with brown spots.”
At-Home Options: “Obviously, I want her to wear sunscreen daily and religiously. I love the tinted La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Tinted Sunscreen ($33.50, laroche-posay.com), or EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 ($32, dermstore.com). Nightly a retinoid like trentinoin 0.025% and CeraVe Cream ($15.99, ulta.com) keeps dryness and irritation down. The splurge item I’d suggest is Nectifirm by Revision ( info at revisionskincare.com) for the neck.”
Vivian Bucay, MD, is a dermatologist in San Antonio. Her mother, Miriam, is 73.
Miriam’s Issues: “My mom is prone to frowning and squints because of her contact lenses. She also has some sagging along the jawline and neck. And she complains of enlarged pores.”
In-Office Rx: “Botox or Dysport would be great for the frown lines and crows feet. I like Ultherapy to lift her lower face. And to minimize pores, I’d do a series of micro-needling treatments.”
At-Home Options: “My mom is on the same regimen I use myself: For day, NuCell Universal Universal Serum (more info on nugene.com), which is loaded with peptides and growth factors derived from fat stem cells and Revision DEJ Eye Cream (more info on revisionskincare.com), to firm and soften lines. At night, we layer the Nucell with SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5% ($75, skinmedica.com), and Senté Dermal Repair Cream ($169.95, sentelabs.com).”
Sabrina Fabi, MD, is a cosmetic dermatologist in San Diego. Her mother, Maria, is 70.
Maria’s Issues: “My mom is most bothered by the skin laxity along her jawline and under her neck, and the bags under her eyes. Three years ago, she lost 30 pounds and the skin hasn’t entirely bounced back. She also has some broken capillaries around her nose.”
In-Office Rx: “Voluma can bring up her jowls and camouflage the bags under her eyes. To address lax neck skin, I like Ultherapy, which stimulates collagen at the muscular. At the same time I’d use IPL to address the sun spots and capillaries around her nose.”
At-Home Options: “An SPF 50 sunblock with zinc and titanium oxide—such as the by MD Solar Science Mineral Cream SPF 50 ($30, sephora.com) or SkinMedica Environmental Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 ($46, skinmedica.com)—will protect her skin from further oxidative stress, DNA damage, and hyperpigmentation.”
Jason Emer, MD, is a general, procedural and cosmetic dermatologist in Beverly Hills. His mother, Susan, is 57.
Susan’s Issues: “My mom used to smoke, and she likes the sun, so she has lots of lines around her eyes and mouth, plus overall sagginess and volume loss.”
In-Office RX: “Fraxel is best for overall wrinkles but for the deepest wrinkles around the mouth, I’d use the Syneron CO2RE laser. Belotero is another great option To give back volume— which is especially key for my mom, who is very thin—I’d try a filler like Radiesse in the cheeks and temples, or Voluma, which is hyaluronic acid based and can be easily reversed.”
At-Home Options: “Vitamin C products like SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic ($162, skinceuticals.com) are essential. For lightening dark spots, I like a good non-hydroquinone cream such as Lytera Skin Brightening Complex ($125, skinmedica.com), which uses licorice extract. At night, anyone over 45 should use a growth factor or peptide cream like SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum ($270, skinmedica.com).
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