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While we love multitasking skincare, realistically no one product can tackle all of our concerns. It takes a comprehensive regimen: cleansers, moisturizers, targeted treatments, sunscreen, and more. Fortunately, as technology and research evolve, we have ever more effective options to choose from.
But how do you choose? We asked Dr. Tiffany Libby, a dermatologist who is a Mohs micrographic and dermatologic surgeon and an assistant professor of dermatology in Providence, Rhode Island, to help eliminate the guesswork. Below are her customized regimens using SkinMedica® products to address the most common skin concerns: dryness, fine lines, wrinkles and sagging, sensitive or post-procedure skin, acne-prone and oily skin, and uneven texture and tone.
Find your ideal regimen from SkinMedica by dragging your biggest skin concern into the center. Then scroll down for the specifics.
Dry Skin
As we age, our body’s production of sebum—the oily substance that moisturizes the skin—decreases. We also lose natural moisturizing factors (NMFs), ceramides, humectants, and amino acids in the outermost skin layer that keeps moisture locked in, says Dr. Libby. Without them, water escapes via a process called transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Factor in a natural slowdown in cell turnover, and you have dry, flaky skin that can feel tight, rough, and even itchy.
Your hydrating plan:
Get moisture into your skin in every step of your routine, while also supporting the skin’s barrier so it can’t escape easily. “Start with a cleanser that removes impurities without stripping natural oils,” says Dr. Libby. “You don’t want that squeaky-clean, tight feeling—that’s a clear signal that you may have stripped too much from your skin.” Her pick: the Facial Cleanser, a gentle wash with panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and Camellia oleifera leaf extract that cleanses without extracting moisture.
Layer with TNS® Advanced+ Serum, a serum that combines growth factors and peptides to support collagen and elastin levels for healthy-looking skin. Follow with the HA5® Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator, which contains five different forms of hyaluronic acid, a humectant that draws water into skin.
For dull and dehydrated under-eye skin, Dr. Libby likes the Instant Bright Eye Cream. It also contains hyaluronic acid to visibly smooth fine lines, as well as phenylethyl resorcinol, an ingredient that supports melanin balance and reduces the appearance of dark circles.
Lock in all that moisture with Dermal Repair Cream, which includes a hyaluronic-acid derivative and fortifies the skin barrier to reduce moisture loss, and finish with Essential Defense Mineral ShieldTM Broad Spectrum SPF 35, a sheer sunscreen that won’t feel heavy on top of the hydrating products.
Fine Lines, Wrinkles, and Sagging Skin
“As early as our late 20s, skin starts to lose collagen and elastin, so lines created by repetitive movement get etched in—especially around the eyes, where the skin is thinnest,” says Dr. Libby. How fast that happens is influenced by genetics and environmental factors such as UV exposure, but generally these early expression lines become static in our 30s and 40s, she says. Loss of elasticity and collagen also leads to sagging skin, often seen around the jawline (hello, jowls) and the neck, and crepey skin on the body.
Your line-smoothing and firming plan:
The goal here is to support collagen levels and protect against UV damage, which accelerates skin aging, says Dr. Libby. “We can see under the microscope that UV damages collagen and elastin fibers—they look bluish gray.” Speeding up cell turnover (which lags with age too) can also help skin look smooth and more youthful.
Start with the AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, which combines jojoba beads with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids to slough off dead skin. Then apply TNS® Advanced+ Serum, which combines growth factors and peptides to support collagen and elastin levels, targeting even coarse wrinkles and sagging skin. For instant visible skin-plumping, add HA5® Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator. “It has time-release technology, so you’re getting hyaluronic acid throughout the day,” says Dr. Libby.
For the eye area—one of the first places fine lines pop up—try TNS Eye Repair®, which contains a growth factor blend, plus vitamins A, C, and E as well as hyaluronic acid to nourish and visibly plump the delicate skin in this area.
The Neck Correct Cream visibly lifts and firms sagging neck skin with peptides, green microalgae, lemon balm, and shiitake mushroom. But don’t forget the skin below the neck, which is also susceptible to sagging and crinkling. Firm & Tone Lotion for Body contains the green algae and shiitake mushroom to support collagen and elastin, plus hydrating oils and skin-firming caffeine.
Top it all off with Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum SPF 34/PA++++ Sunscreen. This product includes an antioxidant blend that protects against UVA and UVB and new skin damage, but also supports your skin’s ability to repair itself.
Sensitive or Post-Procedure Skin
“With sensitive skin, the barrier function is compromised, making it more prone to irritation, inflammation, and discomfort,” says Dr. Libby. “This condition can lead to an exaggerated response to skin-care products, environmental factors, or cosmetic procedures,” she says. In practice, this can mean redness or flushing, stinging or burning, dryness, flaking, tightness, visible irritation, or breakouts.
Your skin-soothing plan:
First off, avoid potential irritants such as essential oils, fragrances, alcohol-based products, harsh exfoliants, and anti-aging actives such as retinoids. Instead, ply your skin with hydrating ingredients that help restore the skin barrier, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, says Dr. Libby, in fragrance-free and hypoallergenic formulas.
Start with a super-gentle cleanser that won’t strip the skin barrier. Dr. Libby suggests the Facial Cleanser, which contains panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and Camellia oleifera leaf extract to strengthen the skin barrier while washing away impurities. Then apply the TNS Recovery Complex®, which contains a highly concentrated blend of growth factors and over one trillion exosomes in every bottle to visibly improve fine lines, wrinkles, redness, and skin texture. Top it off with the HA5® Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator; its five forms of hyaluronic acid coupled with collagen will help fortify the barrier.
For those looking to speed up post-procedure recovery, look to the Procedure 360 System™ Power Duo. Use the Post-Procedure Repair Complex 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after a procedure, and then use the Restorative Ointment after the procedure. Follow with the TNS® Advanced+ Serum that combines growth factors and peptides to support collagen and elastin levels and skin barrier. And if you’ve got a scar from a recent procedure, the Scar Recovery Gel with Centelline® minimizes the appearance of red or pink remnants after the wound has healed.
Sensitive and post-procedure skin can be especially susceptible to sun damage, so apply Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum SPF 34/PA++++ Sunscreen on exposed skin.
Acne-Prone, Oily Skin
You may have thought you’d left breakouts behind in high school, but it’s not uncommon for women to complain of acne in their 30s and 40s due to hormonal factors, says Dr. Libby: “I see it around the jawline and chin, especially during the menstrual cycle.” You may be dealing with signs of aging too, though, so figuring out what to use on your skin is especially tricky.
Your clear-skin plan:
You want to prevent and treat breakouts and help fade post-acne marks, which can linger long after a pimple heals. Start with the Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser, which contains salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates the skin, as well as plant-based bakuchiol to target discoloration and uneven tone. Follow with the Acne Clarifying Treatment. This encapsulated salicylic acid prevents future breakouts, and niacinamide and more bakuchiol help with visible redness and discoloration from post-acne marks.
To fight the visible signs of aging, add in TNS® Advanced+ Serum. It is formulated with peptides and growth factors to help with visible coarse wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, and uneven tone and texture.
Brighten and hydrate under-eye skin with Instant Bright Eye Cream, which contains phenylethyl resorcinol, an ingredient that supports melanin balance, reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Then protect all your skin with Essential Defense Everyday ClearTM Broad Spectrum SPF 47 Sunscreen For Oily/Combination Skin Types, which provides UVA and UVB protection and is lightweight, so it won’t feel greasy on oily-prone skin.
Uneven Texture & Tone
“Texture changes can start as early as your 20s,” says Dr. Libby. If you touch your face and it feels rough or not smooth, this may be due to a slowdown in skin-cell turnover. Uneven skin tone can also contribute to a lackluster complexion: Dr. Libby says she tends to see pigmentation issues in women in their 30s and 40s, the cumulative effects of sun exposure.
Your even-skin plan:
Exfoliating will get rid of dullness and improve tone and texture, says Dr. Libby. Start with the AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, which has alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids to loosen dead skin from the surface, plus jojoba beads to gently scrub it all away. Dr. Libby also likes Even & Correct Brightening Treatment Pads, with 10 percent glycolic acid to help promote cell renewal.
Next, add a brightening serum: Even & Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment contains tranexamic acid and niacinamide, plus phenylethyl resorcinol and phytic acid to help with skin texture and yield more even, glowing skin over time. Then, target the eye area with Instant Bright Eye Cream. Address stubborn spots with the Even & Correct Dark Spot Cream, which includes retinol to boost exfoliation to fade their appearance faster.
Then prevent new spots from forming with daily sunscreen. Essential Defense Mineral ShieldTM Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Sunscreen has the highest level of UVA protection available.
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