Below are the top ten beauty tips I regularly share with my patients. When it comes to skin care, I approach the whole person. Therefore, you’ll find the recommendations below to be all encompassing. Healthy skin really does begin on the inside out.

1. Wear sunscreen everyday – for regular daily wear, a moisturizer with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.  I typically recommend an SPF 30 or greater.  Some of my favorites are Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46, Neocutis Journee Bio-restorative Day Cream SPF 30, and First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Face Cream SPF 30.  The latter two are great multi-taskers since they contain antioxidants and other antiaging ingredients.

2. Always remove your makeup before going to bed.

3. Use gentle cleansers, such as Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, and do not rub vigorously when washing.  To cleanse the skin more thoroughly, add a Clarisonic cleansing brush, which can even improve skin texture and tone. Avoid harsh products.

4. Gently exfoliate once a week.

5. Add products containing antioxidants for antiaging benefits, such as SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic and a prescription or over-the-counter retinoic acid (RoC and Neutrogena both have great retinol creams).

6. Use a hyaluronic acid product for increased hydration.  One of my favorites is Neocutis’ HYALIS Refining Serum.

7. If your skin tends to be sensitive, look for products with soothing ingredientssuch as Aveeno’s Ultra-Calming line (contains feverfew) and Eucerin Redness Relief line (contains Licochalcone a licorice-root extract), as well as skin barrier-repairing ingredients, such as niacinamide, found in CeraVe Facial Moisturing Lotion (AM and PM).

8. Don’t forget to protect that delicate skin around your eyes

  • use an eye cream with an SPF daily, such as La Roche-Posay Hydraphase UV  Eye SPF 29 and Clarins Sunscreen for Eyes Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30
  • wear sunglasses
  • use a hydrating eye cream at night (you can use an eye cream tailored for your specific need e.g. antiaging, dark circles, etc).  Some of my favorites are Neocutis Lumiere Bio-restorative Eye Cream with PSP, La Prairie Cellular Radiance Eye Cream, Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream, RoC Retinol Correxion Sensitive Eye Cream

9. Make sure to get plenty of rest.

10. Eat a well-balanced diet, limit alcohol consumption and quit smoking.

About Dr Sjal K. Shah, M.D., Cosmetic Dermatologist NYC

Sejal K. Shah, M.D. is a board certified dermatologist in private practice in Manhattan. She practices all aspects of dermatology with an expertise in cosmetic dermatology and lasers, hair loss and ethnic skin. Dr. Shah utilizes the latest treatments and technologies to enhance her patients’ natural beauty.