The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go ’round.
New York City is home to some of the most renowned skincare experts, including prestigious dermatologists, skilled aestheticians, and world-class injectors. One of the most sought-after is Lara Devgan, MD, MPH, FACS. She’s a board-certified plastic surgeon and the founder of her eponymous skincare line (among many other titles), but before becoming a celeb-loved doctor and opening a clinic on the Upper East Side, Devgan was unsure of her life path. She found herself enthralled by the beauty world, captivated by art, and interested in medicine—but above all, she had a desire to help people. She realized that all of these passions coalesced in the field of plastic surgery.
Devgan’s philosophy is “Beauty is in the details,” which represents the millimeter-level precision that a career in plastic surgery requires. She says it also serves as a reminder that beauty is a diverse, nuanced, and deeply personal concept. “By paying attention to the details, I can help individuals achieve their unique vision of beauty,” she says.
Gomez chose to release a line of bodycare as an opportunity to showcase how important self-care is. “When you’re taking care of your body, mind, and soul, it’s all one,” Gomez said. “When you do take time to enjoy yourself and to find your little pockets and moments of peace, that’s something you should always be proud of.”
Find Comfort features four brand-new products: a body lotion, an aromatherapy pen, a fragrance mist, and a hand cream. Each product is packaged in purposefully made mauve vessels. (For instance, the hand cream container also doubles as a hand massager for pressure points.) “I find that this color was comforting to me personally,” Gomez said. “I wanted to do a reflection of Rare Beauty but give it its own original story.” Keep reading for a breakdown of each product.
This installment of Deep Reviews, like all others, took weeks to complete. Not only do we take our time to research the best products on the market, but we put our top contenders through rigorous testing, which is conducted by our very own editors.
Here’s the 411. We started by looking at other publications—Allure, Byrdie, Glamour, and many others. We created a master list of all the lip balms that were recommended. From there, we compared and color-coordinated the lists, looking at how often each lip balm was mentioned as well as its overall ratings and reviews on major beauty retailer sites.
After all of this, we had our list narrowed down to a mere 10 lip balms. All that was left was to do our own testing, and we did. Each editor received the lip balms and was asked to test, rate, and review them. Once we had everyone’s responses, we assembled them into a document and ranked each lip balm according to the feedback. By the end, we had crowned the best one.
Glycolic acid is an essential skincare ingredient. It’s one of the best things you can do to reveal your most glowing, radiant skin. The powerhouse ingredient works to “gently exfoliate dead skin cells, de-clog pores, and speed up the skin’s natural renewal process,” according to Mila Moursi, celebrity aesthetician.
Glycolic acid is a form of alpha hydroxy acid made from sugar cane. Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, work to build collagen and shed dead skin cells, unlike their counterpart, BHAs, which go deeper into pores to help decrease oil production. Glycolic acid is the smallest AHA, so it’s well-absorbed by the skin and used most widely in skincare products—in fact, you probably already have a glycolic acid serum to help polish your face.
Dear diary, today is the fourth day of this logging contract, I have 10 days to go until my first break, my skin is wind burned, the arthritis in my hands means I can barely hold a coffee cup and I think I’m starting to have paranoid delusions. The fae call to me.
It’s really important to book in for a consultation prior to having a laser hair removal treatment at your chosen clinic to find out if the treatment is both safe for you to have and for you. At the Brighton Laser Clinics branch, I had an in-depth consultation with Smith, who assessed my medical records as well as my hair color and skin type. Thankfully, I was suitable for treatment. In fact, I was the ideal candidate, as my hair is so dark and I have fair skin. Smith explained that it’s important for your hair to have pigment in order for the laser to treat it. The contrast of dark hair and light skin means that the laser also easily finds the follicles that we want to target. If you have fair hair, however, this treatment is not suitable for you. “The laser cannot do white, grey or blonde hair and some kinds of auburn hair that have a transparent look to them. The same goes for vellus hair (or peach fuzz) on the face. The hair must have pigmentation in order for the laser to work,” explains Smith.
So what about different skin tones? Laser Clinics use a device called Candela Gentlelase Pro, which means all skin tones on the Fitzpatrick scale can be treated, from very deep skin to very fair skin tones. In other clinics, you may find that the devices they use cannot treat certain skin tones. At Laser Clinics, your treatment suitability is down to the pigment in your hair follicles rather than your skin tone.
During the consultation, it’s also important to raise your medical history and any medications you are currently taking and discuss whether you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Laser hair removal is not recommended during pregnancy, and fluctuating hormones can also affect hair growth, which may affect the results of your laser hair removal treatment. However, if you become pregnant midway through your treatment, Laser Clinics will freeze your treatment plan so you can resume treatment when you’re ready to come back.
As for medication, it’s important to flag anything that you’re taking as well as any changes to your medical history. Some medications can cause light sensitivity or hormonal fluctuations, which can affect your treatment or suitability to be treated (more on that ahead).
One of the main reasons so many of us tend to steer clear of retinol is that while the popular ingredient may be a holy grail when it comes to reversing signs of aging, not all skin responds well to such a powerful vitamin. Caudalie’s newest serum was made with everyone in mind. It’s formulated with resveratrol as a high-performing retinol alternative. “The patented combination of resveratrol, micro hyaluronic acid, and new vegan collagen 1 works synergistically to deliver the best results,” Kwitman tells us. Resveratrol and retinol may work in a similar way, but to an in vitro test on ingredients association, one is much more versatile than the other.
But what is resveratrol? According to Kwitman, it’s harnessed from the grapevine stalk and works to increase activity in the anti-aging cells. Made from 98% natural origin ingredients, the Resveratrol-Lift Instant Firming Serum also happens to be vegan, recyclable, and gentle, which makes it an effective alternative for retinol. “The serum is clinically proven to be three times more effective than retinol to firm and lift,” she says. “This is critical because by the time you reach 40 years old, you have lost nearly 50% of your collagen and 40% of your hyaluronic acid.” In other words, the older you get, the more changes you’ll notice to the skin. Using Caudalie’s patented resveratrol formula can help pump the breaks.
While eczema can technically crop up at any time, it (unfortunately) thrives in winter. Since eczema is a form of severely dry skin, it’s often exacerbated by cold weather and dry air, meaning winter makes the skin issue that much worse, but there are plenty of factors that might cause a flare-up.
“We don’t know the exact cause of eczema,” says Azadeh Shirazi, board-certified dermatologist. “We do know that people develop eczema as a result of genes and environmental factors. People with eczema often report other sensitivity conditions such as asthma and hay fever. There are multiple inherent factors involved, including skin-barrier disruption, imbalance of the skin’s microbiome, and immune dysregulation. Environmental factors such as cold or dry weather; contact with sensitizers such as fragrance, dyes, or preservatives; and stress all play a huge role. Research has found having an imbalance of microbiome in the gut can increase inflammation in the body and exacerbate eczema.”
If you want to try to stop eczema before it starts (or becomes a bigger issue), I asked Shirazi for her best prevention tactics. Keep reading for the tips.
It seems like there’s a new beauty industry buzzword every three days, right? But psychodermatology, the melding of the fields of dermatology and psychology, has been around for a while, with more and more people searching for it, commenting on it, and making content about it. It’s officially a thing… but really, what is psychodermatology?
In its simplest definition, “Psychodermatology simply refers to the mind-skin connection,” says Dr. Josie Howard, a board-certified psychiatrist, psychodermatology specialist, and Proactiv Scientific Advisory Board Member based in both San Francisco and Austin. This mind-skin connection has seen a boon since the start of the pandemic, when self-care and wellness was certainly top of mind. But what exactly does it entail, how do you find a provider, and is it just another area to feel like we’re falling short in? Here, all the answers to psychodermatology.
What Is Psychodermatology?
As mentioned, it’s a mind-skin connection. “In its most reductive form, psychodermatology is a micro-discipline that focuses on the interface between diseases of the skin and mind,” says Dr. Evan Rieder, a board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist based in New York who has been writing and working in this medical intersection since the late 2000s. “Psychodermatology can be divided into four main clinical categories: skin conditions that are exacerbated by our emotional state; emotional disturbances that develop in response to skin conditions; primary psychological disorders without real skin disease; and cutaneous sensory disorders which may or may not be associated with psychiatric issues,” explains Dr. Jessie Cheung, a board-certified, Chicago-based dermatologist specializing in aesthetics, hormones and sexual health, and regenerative medicine.
Psychodermatology is, at least in the current zeitgeist and with its current naming, new. But the concept has been around for quite some time, dating back to Hippocrates. But our current lives—the stress of it all—has put more of a focus on the practice of psychodermatology. “The stress of the pandemic and the self-care movement have put a spotlight on psychodermatology, with the understanding that stress hormones negatively affect our skin by causing acne flares, hair loss, decreased microcirculation, and collagen breakdown,” says Dr. Cheung.
“There is certainly a cultural push towards wellness, optimizing mental health, and using self-care and skincare as vehicles to get to total body and mind optimization,” agrees Dr. Rieder, who notes that Gen Z in particular has had a hand in this holistic understanding of beauty and health. “A lot of this is coming from a place of lost control: an international pandemic, global conflicts, political and environmental instability, economic uncertainty, and more have led us to look for areas in which we can gain some semblance of control. Skin health and psychology are areas where we have the potential and desire to self-actualize.”
The Benefits, Considerations, & Limitations of Psychodermatology
“I think sometimes people misconstrue psychodermatology as a burden, something else to put on the self-care list—like meditating your way to clear skin,” says Dr. Howard. “Psychodermatology in its best form is really about living the fullest life possible in the skin you’re in.” Focusing on the idea of the mind-body connection is one way to understand your own skin cycles and struggles, and find the right approach for you. (Though sometimes, this mind-body connection needs more addressing by one practitioner than another. For example, if your stress relief takes on the picking of one’s skin, this may be cause for you to talk to a mental health practitioner, not just a dermatologist, notes Dr. Cheung. “These obsessive behaviors can lead to a vicious cycle.”)
In fact, Dr. Rieder notes that while psychodermatology is a burgeoning field, it’s a broad one, and many patients will perhaps find more solutions in talking to both mental health professionals and a dermatologist about skin conditions that are exacerbated by stress or vice versa. “Most people discussing psychodermatology mean well but have a cursory knowledge about the science and clinical presentation of these conditions,” he says. “There is a tendency to equate all skincare as psychodermatological. In some ways that is nice (if you treat your skin, you will feel better), but in others it’s quite simplistic to the point of being meaningless. There are a range of conditions that might be considered psychodermatological. This includes acne, the quintessential skin, psychology, and aesthetic condition, to conditions like body dysmorphic disorder and trichotillomania, which often require the expert care of a mental health professional.”
Image: Adobe. Design: Sasha Purdy / StyleCaster
Should You See a Psychodermatology Specialist?
To find a “psychodermatologist” is a much harder thing to do than to understand the premise. “To clarify, this field is composed of dermatologists with mental health expertise and psychologists and psychiatrists with dermatology knowledge,” says Dr. Howard. She notes that there are three people in the country who are both board-certified in both psychiatry and dermatology. (Dr. Rieder, to note, is one of them.) “It’s important to find a provider who feels like a good fit for your needs—whom you can trust and feel comfortable discussing things that may be uncomfortable or embarrassing—like feelings of self-consciousness about skin outbreaks or the mental health impact of dealing with a skin condition. Oftentimes, this means finding a team of providers with complimentary knowledge and skills who can work together in a coordinated way.”
“In some ways, most dermatologists who practice in the medical or aesthetic sphere incorporate elements of psychodermatologic practice into their workday. For many it’s very minimal,” says Dr. Reider. “However, others might unknowingly do things that are more in line with mental health professionals, like supportive psychotherapy (talk therapy) with people who they think are vulnerable or give prescription medications that act on the nervous system instead of the skin.”
Reider adds, “When a dermatologist feels that they are out of their comfort zone or can no longer help, they will refer to a trusted colleague in the mental health sphere. Unfortunately, the practice of dermatology is based on high volume, short length patient interactions; most dermatologists do not have the bandwidth to take the time to do the lengthy evaluations that might be required for some complex disease processes.”
How to Implement the Idea of Psychodermatology Into Your Life
All three psychodermatology experts note the increased understanding of the connection between your mind and your skin. “Any skin condition that can be worsened by stress, or any skin condition that causes stress can be considered psychodermatological. The key for me is attempting to minimize stress in all forms. While we can do that on a cursory level in the skin through various topicals (and sometimes systemic medications), at home stress modulation can be a vital component of a comprehensive program,” says Dr. Rieder. “There is no exact prescription, and everyone will respond to a different set of stress modulating techniques. However, keeping your circadian rhythms regular (i.e. going to sleep and getting up at the same time), exercising, and doing some kind of mindfulness activity (e.g. meditation, muscle relaxation, even deep breathing) on a regular basis can have profound effects on your daily functioning and your wellbeing.”
“Basically, your skin reflects your internal health and your state of mind, and having healthy skin can boost your mood,” says Dr. Cheung. “I recommend working on your stress by doing whatever works for you—yoga, meditation, CBD, or Netflix. Start with your dermatologist if you’re having problems with your skin, and they can direct you to a psychiatrist or psychodermatology clinic if needed.”
All in all, know that you’re not alone in dealing with these issues, and having to figure out a routine that works best for you. “It is normal to experience impacts of skin issues that affect overall wellbeing and that this is something important to discuss with their provider—your feelings are valid and important,” says Dr. Howard.
If you were to scroll through my group chat with my NYC friends, you’d see us chatting away about our favorite workouts, new healthy restaurants, and our recent purchases—but nothing piques my interest quite like the latest beauty trends. There are a few, in particular, that we cannot seem to shut up about. We’ve seen them everywhere—not only on our social media feeds but also at boutique workout classes, in cafes, and on the streets of SoHo. The big takeaway? The quiet luxury aesthetic has expanded to the beauty routines of NYC It girls. Think glowing skin, slicked-back hair, no-makeup makeup, and fresh, minimalist nails. Here are seven clean, simple, and luxe beauty trends that my NYC friends and I love.
Absolutely – in fact, many dermatologists would recommend it. Regularly using vitamin C products can help brighten and improve your skin texture while also dealing with those pesky acne scars. They leaves your skin feeling firmer and looking glowy, while also reducing the appearance of dark circles and keeping your complexion protected from pollution. Just make sure you select the best formulation for your skin type (more on that below).
As for where the vitamin C serums fit into your existing skincare regime? You’ll want to apply it after cleansing to clean and dry skin, in the morning and at night (or just in the morning, depending on the form of vitamin C and potency you choose). Follow your vitamin C serum with your favourite moisturiser and face sunscreen or SPF during the day, and a night cream in the evening. This will seal the serum and hydrate your complexion further.
Who should not use vitamin C serum?
There are a few skin types which might wish to steer clear. Case in point: those with rosacea. Using a vitamin C serum may cause unwanted irritation and breakouts, so use with caution and try to opt for a fragrance-free option if your skin is on the more sensitive side.
Which vitamin C serum is the best?
In theory, virtually anyone can add a vitamin C serum to their routine, though there are a few things to consider when it comes to shopping for them.
Vitamin C is available in a number of concentrations, from 5% through to 30%, and it depends on your skin type as to the potency you should go for. Generally speaking, we’d recommend products that contain between 10-15% potency as being the most universal.
Vitamin C is highly effective in its pure form, but it’s notoriously unstable due to the fact that it can reduce in effectiveness with exposure to oxygen, light, water and high pH. This makes it hard to formulate. With that in mind, while it is a hero ingredient, its properties are difficult to stabilise — so if you can, opt for something a little more expensive and something housed in a darker bottle (they’ll block light so it doesn’t oxidize and keep your product working well for longer).
Consider your skin type, too. If you have oily skin, look for “ascorbic acid” on the label. If you have dry skin, look for vitamin C serums which also include moisturising ingredients like (everyone’s favourite) hyaluronic acid. If you have acne-prone skin, salicylic acid is tough on blemishes. Make a beeline for the La Roche Posay Pure Vitamin C Serum.
Scroll down for our full edit of the very best vitamin C serums to brighten your skin…
For more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter@deniseprimbetand Instagram@deniseprimbet. And for more from our Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram@sophiecockettx.
Like I said above, it took me a while to even get into pimple patches at all. Most nights, I like to just dab on a spot treatment if I need it, but this new high-tech version of a pimple patch piqued my interest. This patch has a self-timer that automatically shuts off after six minutes, so it’s easy to incorporate into your daytime or nighttime skincare routine.
I added it to my nighttime routine for a few days just to see if it would help with a particularly angry zit on my jawline. It took a few days, but it did shrink significantly. I love that this is easy to use and rechargeable. It can also help with a cluster of smaller pimples if you have problem areas. While it is nice for that, I think I prefer a whole mask to a patch just because I feel like my entire face is getting more of a treatment rather than one little area. This is great to have handy for any stubborn zits that are healing slower than you would like, and it can be used in conjunction with other acne therapies like a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment.
It is a little bit pricey for a pimple patch, so keep that in mind. I can say that it definitely worked for me and would be worth the investment if you struggle with hormonal breakouts or just want something fast that’s going to work.
Stacey Tull, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist. She says, “Retinols are vitamin A derivatives that help promote healthy skin turnover but can often be irritating, especially in the dry winter months. Retinol alternatives also help to stimulate healthy skin production but do so more gently.”
In other words, yes, retinol alternatives are effective, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily have to swap your go-to retinol serum out for one. Like all things skincare related, it depends on your unique skin type and goals. If you’re dealing with sensitive skin, though, retinol alternatives are generally your best bet. “Everyone’s skin is different, so for many people, retinol alternatives may be as good as or better than the real thing,” Tull says. “For some, retinol may be fine most of the year, but they may need to use a gentler formulation in the winter. Anyone with dry or sensitive skin will likely prefer a retinol alternative.” They’re also recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding and, as such, can’t use retinol.
The consistency of use is something else to consider when deciding between retinol and retinol alternatives. “While retinols are inactivated by the sun and should only be applied at night, better results are achieved with twice-daily dosing of retinol alternatives,” Tull says.
This set is the ultimate two-in-one. “Extract” mode is for unclogging pores and removing blackheads. According to Dermaflash founder Dara Levy, “When we launched Dermapore+, we increased the ultrasonic speed to 35K Hz, which is the highest speed on the market. This allows the device to glide over your skin smoothly and loosen up dirt, oil, and blackheads for easy removal. The stainless-steel spatula is positively charged, and the gunk in your pores is negatively charged, so when you glide the spatula over your skin, it attracts dirt, oil, and debris and draws it out like a magnet. Think opposites attract.”
“Infuse” mode can be used to get the absolute best results from your serums, moisturizers, and masks. “The ultrasonic vibrations and ionic technology help push the product deeper into the skin and enhance penetration. I love using ‘infuse’ mode with our Active Cocooning Serum and a sheet mask—you get an amazing glow,” Levy says. And I can’t forget about the pore mist, which is mandatory before using the device. It’s the perfect decongesting and soothing mist to prep your skin ahead of an extraction.
Application tips from Levy:
“Make sure your face is thoroughly wet with Prep Mist before you use your Dermapore+. This is the key to getting the best results from your device!”
“When you glide the Dermapore+ spatula over wet skin, the ultrasonic vibrations create a ‘water force’ that gently pushes out all the dirt, oil, and debris that’s trapped in your pores. This is what allows you to extract gunk without any picking, poking, or skin damage.”
“The angle and pressure you use are important, too. Start by using one hand to gently hold your skin taut, and then glide the spatula over your skin with the tip angled down at 45°. Use gentle but firm pressure. This is the moment when you’ll see all the gunk from your pores build up on the spatula. It’s gross but so satisfying!”
So what’s all the hype about? Apart from the fun packaging and affordable price points, the ethos behind Byoma is something I can get behind. Founder Marc Elrick started developing Byoma back in 2020, and it has since been a huge hit. “During the initial COVID lockdown, people were playing chemist in their bathrooms, experimenting with super-strength actives—with less than desirable results,” he says. “I chose to immerse myself in the skin science, and through extensive research, realized better skin stems from a boosted skin barrier. That’s how Byoma was born.”
As such, the products all centre around repairing, reinforcing and shielding the skin’s delicate barrier (they are also pH-balanced), which can become compromised when using too many products or ingredients. Pick up any Byoma product and you’ll find the ingredients listed out in an easy-to-read format, and the brand actually tells you what the ingredient is and its purpose in the formulation.
Convinced? Scroll ahead for our review of the best Byoma skincare products and what to try for your skin type.
While the incredibly catchy “slugging” term has only been in the beauty sphere for a little while thanks to the K-beauty community and various skincare subreddits, the concept of using Vaseline to seal in moisture in the skin isn’t anything new. After all, Vaseline is an old-school product that can be found in almost any memaw’s medicine cabinet. It has a variety of uses, from healing burns and scrapes to treating diaper rash, preventing chafing, and moisturizing dry skin. Marilyn Monroe swore by Vaseline in order to keep her skin soft and glowy. She reportedly applied it every morning before going into a three-hour bath.
“It was recently given a name and made popular by the Korean skincare world. However, growing up with two Black grandmothers, I was ‘slugging’ far before it was popular,” explains Tiffany Clay, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Atlanta. “I remember my grandmother teaching me when I was very young to apply ointment to my body after I bathed to keep me moisturized all day.”
Are you ready to find out the dos and don’ts of slugging and whether it’s something you should try or avoid? Keep scrolling for the dos and don’ts, according to experts.
It’s no surprise that I live on #BeautyTok. It’s how I stay updated on all the seasonal and food-inspired makeup trends, discover low-key life-changing skincare, and find tons of bodycare for my “everything showers.” While I love watching videos that recommend expensive, high-end products, I’m a sucker for a good drugstore buy. With that in mind, I decided to curate a list of all the viral drugstore products I’ve been introduced to on TikTok that you can easily shop below. The best part? Everything is under $17.
Winter usually spells trouble for my skin in the form of dry patches, blotchiness, and eczema flare-ups. But this year, I’m committed to keeping my complexion dewy, luminous, and clear by relying on derm-formulated products. Being at the forefront of skin health, dermatologists know what works. And since we write tons of content on skincare at Who What Wear, we’ve had access to multiplederms in both NYC and L.A. To share their wisdom, I compiled a list of the top products from stories we’ve done over the last year. I’ve included serums that bring your glow back, moisturizers that expertly lock in hydration, and even some makeup to fake a sun-kissed glow. Keep scrolling to see all the derm-approved products you need for your winter skincare routine.
Whatever you call them—overnight masks or sleeping masks—I’ve never really liked them. I realize this might be a surprising statement, considering I’m a beauty editor and I’m here to gush about one, so let me explain. I have dehydrated, redness-prone skin. Even though I sound like someone who could use an overnight mask, I never found one that worked for me. In the past, most of the overnight masks I tried were too heavy or fragranced for my sensitive skin. After using them, I would only see more redness, more irritation, and (surprise!) clogged pores in my T-zone. It’s like they were doing the opposite of what an overnight mask should do.
I had all but given up on them completely until I saw one that was trending on TikTok. The reviews were so convincing that I decided to give it a shot. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but I’m going to anyway: I love it. After one use, I woke up with calm, glowing skin. Keep scrolling to see the overnight mask that has become a staple in my skincare routine.
Beyond our knack for scoping out deals and validating trends once they pick up speed, beauty editors possess the unique ability to find the best gifts for our loved ones. In other words, the holiday season is our Super Bowl, with Thanksgiving serving as our half-time to pull together our shopping lists. Everyone knows that the holiday season has a tendency to be as hectic as they are joyful, so I naturally gravitate towards gifts that transport them to their happy place from the comfort of their bath or shower.
To help take some of the pressure off your online or in-person shopping trips, Who What Wear’s beauty editors have banded together to bring you an edit of this year’s ultimate bath and shower gifts from luxurious body oils to circulation-inducing dry brushes. After all, we never doubt the magic that can be found in a bottle of bubble bath at the end of a long day. Check out our 10 top picks below.
