Key points:

• Why knowing your skin type is the first step in tailoring your skincare routine, even as your skin matures.
• Esthetician-approved anti-aging ingredients and why you should cycle serums and ampoules as targeted treatments.
• Why some luxury skincare products are worth the investment, and why combining premium brands is more effective.

I only use and sell skincare products worth the hype. Like you, I continually test new products and devices. Before I test a new formulation, I read the label and review the brand’s scientific findings. Below is what I suggest as a Master Esthetician with over 25 years of experience tailoring skincare routines.

1. KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE AND WHAT IT NEEDS NOW

This tip sounds simple, but it can be easy to forget as your skin matures and fluctuating hormones prompt extreme moisture loss. Without the right product transitions, perimenopause and menopause leave all skin types parched, dull, uneven, thin, and lax. Here’s my comprehensive guide to selecting  moisturizers for each skin type, including aging and hormonal skin.

2. IGNORE MYTHS AND TRENDS

A skincare myth I hear all the time is that dry skin needs a heavy moisturizer. This isn’t true. Dry skin needs layers of hydration capped off with water-based moisture. I suggest  skin flooding with ultra-hydrating serums and ampoules to restore the lipid layer. Prioritize ingredients with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to seal and hold in hydration.

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that binds water molecules to the skin. In addition to restoring moisture, it plumps out the skin, decreasing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. I suggest applying  4D Quench as your first serum. Let 4D Quench dry, then layer one of  Dr. Esthé’s ampoules on top. Ampoules are super serums and anti-aging treatments, and they’re worth every penny. Choose your ampoule based on your skin’s current needs.

DO YOU NEED A THICKER MOISTURIZER IN THE WINTER?

Maybe. I often suggest a thick occlusive moisturizer layered over a hydrating serum in cold and dry climates. Occlusive formulations act as a secondary skin barrier that helps block extreme weather. However, I suggest lighter creams year-round for many of my clients, especially those with adult acne, and for all clients in the summer to minimize oil, sweat, clogged pores, and  skin pilling.

3. READ LABELS NOT MARKETING

Creative marketing campaigns, impassioned influencers, and magazine articles make products sound enticing, but enticing doesn’t always equal efficacy. Many of the products influencers and magazines suggest work, but they may not work for you. I don’t even have to ask to know that you have a graveyard of products that didn’t deliver. So, you must read the label, not just the packaging, product descriptions, and paid ads. The first 3 ingredients are the ones you want to prioritize, as they represent at least 90% of the formulation.

In addition to outlining the benefits of the products I use and sell, I share client  Before and After photos of my star products. I also provide condition-specific blogs and detailed  YouTube videos to help you determine what’s right for your skin in each season of the year and season of life.

4. BUY PRO-GRADE AND ESTHETICIAN-APPROVED PRODUCTS

All skincare brands market themselves as effective, but pro-grade products are scientifically proven to deliver results. As a Master Esthetician, my career relies on my ability to identify formulations that work. If I haven’t researched and tested a product, I don’t use it or sell it. You can trust that when used as directed and as part of a tailored skincare routine, the products I sell work!

Beyond science and actives, you must identify which luxury skincare brands you can trust. Many formulations are infused with high-performing actives, but they lack an effective delivery system. For example, a product could be infused with PLLA, but the formulation can’t penetrate deep enough to rebuild the skin’s collagen matrix. Or the product is formulated with stem cells or exosomes, but they’re chopped up and mixed in, so you’re applying an inactive ingredient.

MY PREFERRED ACTIVES FOR AGING AND DAMAGED SKIN

The high-performing actives and skincare brands below are worth the hype. Your dermatologist might suggest that injecting these actives is the only way to reap their benefits, but this simply isn’t true!

PLLA

Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) is a biostimulator and the active ingredient in dissolvable sutures, stents, and surgical mesh. Korean skin care brand  House of PLLA spent 8 years perfecting its Poly-L-Lactic Acid technology. It absorbs into the skin and implants around the hair follicle, prompting the body to create a steady stream of collagen. This creates a lifting, firming, and smoothing matrix underneath your skin. It’s the only PLLA-infused product I’ve found that works!

EXOSOMES/STEM CELLS

Often referred to as stem cells, exosomes are naturally occurring molecules that contain peptides, lipids, copper peptides, stem cells—and everything else cells need to repair. The  NeoGenesis skincare line is so effective at restoring the skin that it’s prescribed to heal and repair radiation burns and other wounds. NeoGenesis harvests its stem cells from ethically sourced adult skin cells in an FDA-approved tissue bank. It’s the only topical exosomes I’ve found that works!

PEPTIDES

Infusing premium peptides in skincare is worth the hype. Peptides are tiny protein molecules that prevent and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and treat acne, eczema, dermatitis, and other skin conditions. The peptide-infused products I use absorb into deep skin layers, enabling you to enjoy injection-free peptide therapy. It’s why my tailored skincare routines pair peptides with high-performing actives.

5. TREAT WITH SERUMS TO TARGET ACTIVE CONCERNS

I know you understand that serums nourish, and moisturizers hydrate and protect—but also look to serums as reparative treatments. Many of my clients use the same antioxidant-rich serum year-round. Even if it works well for you, I suggest cycling your serum monthly or quarterly to target active skin conditions.

Cycle the serums below, using one in the morning and one in the evening, or as-needed, depending on your skin concerns and what else you’re layering.

SKINCARE PRODUCTS WORTH THE HYPE

Eye Treatments:

• NeoGenesis Eye Serum for anti-aging, fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and skin elasticity.
• House of PLLA Promoter Repair Eye & Lip Cream to hydrate and thicken thin and crepey skin.
•  Hevatox 24K Gold Eye Cream injection-free Botox to smooth, depuff, brighten, and detox.

Face and Neck:

• NeoGenesis Recovery for mature, dry, wrinkled, or sun-damaged skin.
• Triple C+ Gold or Brighten the Day for dark spots, uneven, and blotchy skin.
• CaviPLLA Multi-Serum to lift, firm, and smooth wrinkles, crepey skin, and sagging skin.
• Sleep On It for pore refining and oily and acne-prone skin.
• 4D Quench to soothe and calm irritation and restore your moisture barrier.
• Super serum ampoule from Dr. Esthé for targeted treatments. 

6. COMBINE SKINCARE BRANDS

A common mistake I see clients make when upgrading to premium skincare is hoping that 1 skincare brand will do it all. I completely understand that your makeup counter or dermatologist will suggest the brand they sell. Or that when you find a single product that works, you’re tempted to go all-in and purchase the full collection. But even I mix and match brands on clients and in my day-to-day skincare routine.

Investing in a combination of luxury skincare products introduces a wider range of actives to your routine. I also cycle actives strategically. Cycling actives keeps your skin guessing, addressing restoration from multiple areas of anti-aging. I cycle some actives, such as AHA and BHA exfoliators weekly, and reparative treatments monthly or quarterly. However, you must be mindful of skincare ingredient overload and how to properly layer actives. For example, you don’t want to layer chemical exfoliators, or apply Vitamin C over or under Retinol. This  blog explores how to layer actives for maximum efficacy.

7. ASK A MASTER ESTHETICIAN—ASK ME!

Now that you know what skincare products are worth the cost, you may be wondering how to resolve other skin conditions. If you have additional questions, you can join the CBE Rewards club. As a member, you’ll receive exclusive skincare tips for your local climate, lifestyle, skin type, and skin conditions. Plus, CBE Cashback rewards and exclusive deals. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How is luxury skincare different?

Luxury skincare products typically use premium ingredients at high concentrations, and they invest more time formulating their products and conducting scientific research. However, with some high-end makeup and skincare brands, you’re paying for the designer’s name.

How is Korean skincare different?

Korean skincare brands create gentle, natural, and innovative formulations. They invest in scientific research and prioritize hydration, skin barrier health, and preventative anti-aging.

Why does my dermatologist suggest different products than my esthetician?

The premium products dermatologists suggest are the products with which they have a brand or pharmaceutical partnership. Their products may work, but they’re often harsh and may not be what your skin needs. With no disrespect to dermatologists, your esthetician knows your skin and what it needs.