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We’ve asked a few of the top New York dermatologists and cosmetologists about daily skin-care essentials (aside from daily sunscreens!), plus, the latest and favorites among cosmetology treatments.
Amy Wechsler, M.D., P.C. / dramywechsler.com / 3 East 69th Street, New York City; 212-396-2500
Product and latest-treatment recommendations: La Solution 10 de Chanel, Botox, Fraxel, CoolSculpting, CoolMini.
“Moisturize! Dry skin appears wrinkly and must maintain the skin's barrier. La Solution 10 de Chanel is a perfect option,
especially for those with sensitive skin. Botox is a great preventative agent as well as a treatment. If someone has the beginnings of a fine line or wrinkle on their forehead or in between their brows, for example, a low dose of Botox will allow the skin to heal, and the line will soon improve and even disappear. CoolSculpting, especially CoolMini, used for submental fat [double chins], greatly improves that area, with very little downtime. Fraxel stimulates collagen production. Having a treatment perhaps once a year will fend off early sun damage.”
(Note: you can find Laura Pietrzak, a leading authority on CoolSculpting, at Dr. Wechsler’s office.)
Patricia Wexler, M.D. / wexlerdermatology.com / 145 East 32nd Street, seventh floor, New York City; 212-684-2626
Product and latest-treatment recommendations: Wexler Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Cream, Ultherapy, ThermiSmooth 250, SculpSure, Cellfina.
“I recommend a great night cream with collagen stimulators like Retin-A, Matrixyl 3000 peptide, MMPI, plus hyaluronic acid or niacinamide for moisture. Also, antioxidants like vitamin C and E. Try Wexler Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Cream—it’s highly effective. The latest treatments for lifting and tightening: Ultherapy for lifting, Thermi250 for smoother texture and contouring. SculpSure is the newest way of melting fat to contour the body from neck to toes that treats with heat, not cold. And Cellfina is a truly long-lasting treatment for cellulite of buttocks and thighs. Restylane Silk and Belotero are the newest fillers for fine lines around the eyes and mouth. But Roloxin Lift is a topical [mask] solution that tightens the skin temporarily. Then, for at-home use, I like Tria Beauty anti-aging home laser, that is based on Fraxel technology, which can be used for surface rejuvenation of wrinkles and pigmentation.”
Gervaise L. Gerstner, M.D. / gerstnermd.com / 730 Park Avenue, New York City; 212-249-2208
Product and latest-treatment recommendations: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift, Juvéderm Voluma, Juvéderm Ultra Plus, CoolSculpting.
“Twenty-percent-glycolic pads are one-stop treatment for texture, fine lines, acne, and brown spots. Botox prevents lines from becoming permanent. Fraxel is a cumulative procedure to turn back the time of previous sun damage and prevent fine lines. Fillers are longer-lasting now, and I prefer Voluma and Juvéderm Plus, for face, and CoolSculpting, for the body. For crow’s-feet, L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Volume Filler Eye Treatment helps by replenishing skin volume around delicate eye areas, as well as around the mouth. For deeper lines, I like SkinMedica HA5, which is a hyaluronic serum that helps skin hold hydration. I also like Eminence Firm Skin Acai Masque three times a week, plus their Bamboo Firming Fluid. It’s a great answer to firmer skin.
Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, M.D. / nyderm.org / *955 Park Avenue, New York City; 212-570-2067 *
Product and latest-treatment recommendations: Lancôme, Botox, Kybella.
“I recommend a multi-anti-ager on a daily basis. Look for a product that combines antioxidants, peptides, DNA repair, brighteners, and barrier repair all in one. Or layer them on. If you start Botox early enough, it prevents the repeated muscular movements from making the active wrinkles into permanent scars or creases in the skin. Kybella has shown outstanding results in reducing fat in the submental area. For deep wrinkles, I recommend Lancôme Visionnaire LR2412 4%-Cx serum and Visionnaire Rich Cream, which effectively target wrinkles as well as refine skin texture and pores. To target crow’s-feet, Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Eye is my go-to, as its hydrating formula lifts and firms the delicate eye area and reduces the appearance of dark circles.
Robert T. Anolik, M.D. / laserskinsurgery.com / 317 East 34th Street, New York City; 212-686-7306
Product and latest-treatment recommendations: SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator, Kybella, PicoSure.
“Once sun damage is present, retinoid is the most effective topical cream for restoring the skin’s appearance. Yes, Botox prevents the formation of permanent creases, and I use Fraxel lasers to remodel and build collagen in the skin. Kybella is the first injectable treatment for the improvement of the appearance of a double chin and PicoSure laser therapy for a nearly no-downtime treatment of acne scars. I recommend sunscreens, Retinoids, and SkinMedica HA5, which promotes hyaluronic-acid development in the skin that helps smooth out overall wrinkles.”
Dr. David A. Colbert, M.D. / colbertmd.com/ 119 Fifth Avenue, fifth floor, New York City
Product and latest-treatment recommendations: Colbert M.D. skin care, Sublative Rejuvenation, Sublime, BTL Vanquish ME.
“I’m quite pleased with three relatively new treatments: Sublative Rejuvenation and the Sublime are two different dynamic infrared treatments that tighten jowls and erase fine lines and shrink large pores. They are both an exponentially vast improvement over short-lived results of microcurrent facials at salons and spas. The third is the aptly named BTL Vanquish ME, which seems like a magic-wand way to make excess fat vanish. As for face products, I believe facial oils are vital to healthy, glowing skin, and a few drops a day make everyone look dewy and fresh. Try the Colbert MD Illumino Face Oil—it’s like 401K for your skin. Both Botox and Fraxel have dual roles as preventative and corrective. We already know that they reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as freshen the skin, but Fraxel can also laser away invisible pre-cancerous skin lesions, and Botox can reduce the formation of wrinkles over time. And glycyrrhetinic acid and vitamin C brighten the skin to minimize dark spots, and I like my Retensify Firming Cream, which targets dark age spots.
