Big Day Beauty: Skincare Tips from Dr. Jeanine Downie

“Tis the season for special events like weddings, proms, graduation parties and more. Whether you’ve got a big day coming up or you want to look your best all the time The Beauty Wall has the tips for you, courtesy of Dr. Jeanine Downie, a top dermatologist based in Montclair, NJ.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. A good skin care regimen should begin weeks before your big event. Include gentle cleansers, like Neutrogena Ultra-Gentle Cleanser or Aveeno Ultra-Calming Cleanser.  Use sunblock with an spf 30 or more every day rain or shine regardless of your ethnicity.  Dr. Downie also recommends the Aveeno Faces spf 30 and the Neutrogena Dry Touch 55.  Don’t forget to moisturize your body including heels, elbows and knees. Dr. Downie likes Aveeno Eczema Relief for the Body. Drink a lot of water, get enough exercise and plenty of rest.

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT USING A TANNING BED. Tanning beds increase your risk of melanoma by 75% and age your skin significantly. If you must tan get a spray tan (as long as you don’t have asthma) or use a topical self-tanning agent like Neutrogena Micromist.

GET A FACIAL. If you have acne get it one week before your special event.  If you don’t have acne, 3 days before is ideal. The peels available in a dermatologist’s office are stronger than salon/spa facials and can give you more of a glow factor. Dr. Downie likes chemical peels with glycolic or salicylic acid since they help with tone, texture, acne and fine lines.

ADDRESS YOUR BACNE. It’s hard to treat.  Dr. Downie recommends oral antibiotics, topical anti-acne treatments, at home masques, chemical peels and laser treatments.  The quickest way to begin to get rid of it is to use oral antibiotics and salicylic acid peels or modified Jessner’s peels (Vitalize or Rejuvenize peels).  Some bacne can take more than a year to go away, some is chronic and lasts a lifetime.

NEVER SQUEEZE A CYST. Leave it to the pros–to prevent scarring and/or pitting leave it alone and have your dermatologist inject it instead.

(photography courtesy of j.crew)

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