Skincare Must-Haves for Brides » Premier Dermatology

Great skin all starts with a great skincare regimen that consists of a cleanser, treatment product, moisturizer, and sunscreen. It's important to apply these products in the correct order for best absorption and most benefits from your products.

PRO TIP: The rule of thumb for layering skincare is to apply in order of thinnest to thickest. Always end with sunscreen!

Where do I start?

Premier offers a state-of-the-art skin analysis device, called VISIA, to look deeper into the layers of the dermis. VISIA measures your skin in a variety of ways:

pigmentation
pore size
and porphyrins (evidence of bacteria lodged in pores)
UV spots
sun damage
texture
wrinkles
eyelash length and fullness

Another interesting feature of VISIA is that it allows us to compare your results against people in your peer group. VISIA even determines the age of your skin!

The best part - VISIA is complimentary! It takes about 30 minutes of your time for us to assess your skin and determine which skincare options would be best for your concerns.

Cleansers

Once your skin has been assessed, it's time to find your winning lineup of skincare products. Cleansers are up first! Cleansers are designed to help remove make-up, dirt and excess oil that can cause breakouts. Its best to find one that suits your skin type. Also, know that your skin changes over time, so what you were using in your youth may not be suitable for the skin you have today.

Exfoliating cleansers are great, but be mindful of over exfoliating your skin. Ideally, you want to exfoliate your face 2-3 times a week if your skin can tolerate it.

FAVORITES

EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser

A gentle enzyme and amino acid blend that helps to wash away impurities. It foams up when placed on wet skin, so you can see it working! It's safe enough to use daily and great for all skin types.

SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

An exfoliating cleanser that uses alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids with a fine grit to scrub away dead skin cells and improve texture and tone of the skin. Alpha hydroxy acid is made of water-soluble acids from sugary fruits. Beta hydroxy acid is oil-soluble and works well at going deeper into skin layers to break up dead skin cells. Together, they help to brighten and reveal more youthful skin. (Who doesn't want that?)

Treatment Products

The treatment product category can get out of hand really quickly! There are so many serums, lotions, and potions that promise to correct every skin concern you have ever had, but the truth is that skincare is a journey. It is going to change and adjust over time. Once your skin is analyzed, we will know where your trouble areas may be. At that time, we will choose a product that will not only address those concerns but also improve them. This is where I believe using medical grade products is best because they will give you the results you are looking for.

Two treatment products that I have seen make dramatic improvements in patient’s skin appearance and overall health are TNS Advanced+ Serum and LUMIVIVE System. These treatment products are game changers as stand-alone products, but when used together in one skincare regimen, they pack a powerful brightening, anti-aging punch.

FAVORITES

SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum

A two-chamber serum that contains a skin rejuvenating formula for improving coarse wrinkles, fine lines, skin tone, and texture. Patients see results in as little as two weeks with AM and PM use.

The first chamber contains TNS-MR which is and advanced growth factor formula that acts on multiple levels to deliver age-defying results. (Growth factors are naturally occurring substances that stimulate cell reproduction.)

The second chamber contains Renessensce Advanced which is specifically designed to support the results of the growth factor blend. It contains some natural elements such as French flax seed which supports repair functions, marine extract which supports the skin’s renewal process, and green microalgae which supports collagen levels. This serum is best used morning and night right after cleansing the skin.

SkinMedica LUMIVIVE System

LUMIVIVE is two-step system: one serum for day and one serum for night. LUMIVIVE Day Damage Defense engages the dermal bio-barrier specifically formulated for blue light and pollution protection. LUMIVIVE Night Revitalize Repair Complex helps the skin rapidly recover overnight to give you a gorgeous glow in the morning. Both AM and PM products pair beautifully with your normal SPF and retinol.

Retinols

Don't forget about my good friend Retinol! If you want to enhance your skin's texture, tone, and resiliency, this is the product for you! Retinol is a compound made from vitamin A that neutralizes free radicals, boosts collagen, and encourages cellular turnover. It creates a smoothing effect for fine lines and wrinkles while shrinking pores. The vitamin A inside the retinol can help speed up healing, reduce breakouts, and give the skin a healthy glow. It is recommended to only use retinol at night because it can make you more sensitive to the sun. It should be applied after TNS Advanced+ Serum and LUMIVIVE night.

Note: This product is not safe for pregnant and breastfeeding patients.

FAVORITES

SkinMedica Retinol Complex

These are my go-to retinols! There are 3 strengths available, but all types are formulated with encapsulated vitamin A...which makes this brand of retinol very tolerable!

Revision DEJ Night Face Cream

This formulation of retinol is our most gentle! I recommend it to anyone who has sensitive skin or has not been consistent with retinol in the past.

SkinCeuticals Custom DOSE

Custom DOSE is just that...CUSTOM! We compound a formula that's designed specifically for your skin. We can even include varying strengths of retinol.

PRO TIP: Retinol can be mixed with a moisturizer for a 2-in-1 skincare step. Retinol should be used gradually! Work your way up to using it nightly since it is such a potent product. Retinol is available in different strengths. If you are new to using it, I would start with the lowest dose until your skin adjusts.

Moisturizers

Now for everyone’s favorite product: Moisturizers. Moisturizers are in the feel-good category. After cleansing and applying your treatment product, now is the time to seal in the hydration. Unlike lotions that have a high-water content, moisturizers are emollient based and are designed to bring vitamins and minerals into the skin, not just to the surface.

When choosing a moisturizer, you need to consider your skin type. Even if you have oily skin, you should still use a moisturizer. It sounds wild, but using a good quality oil-free moisturizer on oily skin will help control your natural sebum production.

FAVORITES

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore

Triple Lipid is a fabulous anti-aging cream that contains lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids that help to nourish the skin and to correct the signs of aging. This moisturizer improves the look of skin’s fullness, texture, and pore size. Triple Lipid is ideal for aging, normal-to-dry skin types and designed to be used twice daily. The scent is also divine! Tt has a fresh spa-like approach that makes it feel ultra-luxurious when you are applying it.

SkinMedica Ultra Sheer

Ultra Sheer is a lightweight, oil-free, and fragrance-free moisturizer that provides hydration and helps to improve the overall appearance of skin. It is composed of hyaluronic acids and vitamins C and E to help hydrate oil-prone, sensitive skin. I love it because it feels silky on the skin and does not leave my skin feeling greasy at the end of the day. This is best suited for oily or combination skin types to use twice daily after a treatment product.

Sunscreens

The last and most important product in your skincare lineup must be a sunscreen. Sunscreen does so many important things for your skin that it should be an everyday product you use whether it's sunny outside or not! Sunscreen helps protect your skin from UV rays, lowers your risk of getting skin cancer, prevents premature signs of aging, and can help maintain an even skin tone. Sunscreen is one of the best ant-aging products on the market. Find one that fits your skin type that is at least 30 SPF. And use it. Everyday. I am not joking.

FAVORITES

EltaMD UV Sheer

UV Sheer has a lighter-than-air texture which hydrates, goes on smoothly, and absorbs quickly. I love it because it does not leave my face shiny or greasy. Since it contains Vitamin C, it also helps even out skin tone. UV sheer is water resistant and sweat resistant up to 80 minutes. It's great for all skin types and should be applied after your moisturizer.

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense

Physical Fusion is a 100% mineral filter sunscreen fluid that contains translucent color spheres to help even out skin tone. It goes on very sheer but gives just enough color to tint the skin and give it a radiant glow. To use, shake then apply (you will hear a tiny sphere inside mixing the liquid before application). It is water resistant up to 40 minutes and is great for all skin types - especially sun damaged skin.

To recap, when applying your skincare, go from thinnest to thickest in application after cleansing.

Cleanser → Treatment Product → Moisturizer → Sunscreen (AM) / Retinol (PM)

The best regimen for you is one that is designed for your skin type and skin concerns. Remember, your skin can change and products that you have used for years (or even a few months) may need to be adjusted to new ones depending upon what your skin needs. Premier is here to help you through this process, and we have several medical grade options for you to choose from at all price points. Take care of the skin you are in!