Happy Holidays from RoC Skincare; a fantastic giveaway!!!

As a Roc Skincare Ambassador, I was delighted to receive an opportunity for one of my lucky readers to win a RoC gift basket filled with 12 amazing anti-aging products and a $200 Visa Gift Card! (details to follow.)

Happy Holidays indeed!

In addition, I had the chance to share some terrific skincare tips from Dr. Erin Gilbert, an NYC based board-certified dermatologist who consults with RoC. 

We asked Dr. Gilbert if she could provide some tips for how to handle some common skincare concerns, particularly as we work our way through the Holidays and the long winter ahead.  

Dr. Erin Gilbert

Dr. Gilbert weighs  in:

1. Puffy Eyes: 

“The best tool to combat puffy, under eye bags as well as rough texture is a Clarisonic brush! If you sleep on one side the lymph fluid will accumulate under that eye by morning. Or, if you consume a high salt diet at night (think Chinese takeout), you may experience puffiness under both eyes. I suggest gently massaging the skin under the eyes with a sensitive Clarisonic brush head for 60 seconds per side. The vibrations increase the flow of lymph to and from the congested area and reduce the size of the bags.”

2. Acne:
“Acne flares are often worsened by sugar and stress. While we can’t always eliminate stress from our day, we do have the power to control how much sugar we are consuming. There are obvious sources of sugar, like deserts, but there are also hidden sources of sugar that we may not be thinking of. Skim milk has been strongly linked to acne flares in dietary studies, so you are better off choosing whole milk or unsweetened almond or soy milk when you have the option. Also don’t be fooled by food that is ‘gluten free.’ Although it may sound healthy, it often contains more sugar than the traditional versions.”

3. Skin irritations – What can we do to keep our skin calm?
“Keeping your skin well moisturized during the winter is the first step to avoiding irritation and rashes that can spiral out of control. I suggest using a gentle body wash in the bath or shower, then applying a simple fragrance-free moisturizer all over the body daily. If you develop irritation, apply 1% hydrocortisone cream or calendula cream to the area for a week or so. You don’t want to use hydrocortisone for longer than a week on the face, so if your rash persists you should see a dermatologist.”

4. How to achieve skin that glows:

“Once you have taken care of your diet and hydration, you can consider adding additional steps to your beauty routine to get a holiday glow. If you have normal skin, consider adding a glycolic or salicylic acid toner to your regimen twice a week. This will gently remove dead skin cells and boost your skin’s radiance. Also consider adding a serum to your regimen. I like RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum. It will increase your skin’s hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you are using it with a retinol at night, try to alternate days in the beginning to avoid over drying your skin.”

On to the good stuff!  How can you enter to win this generous giveaway courtesy of RoC skincare?

Retinol: An Interview with Dr. Erin Gilbert

Dr. Erin Gilbert

Dr. Erin Gilbert is a specialist in skin cancer prevention & treatment, cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. She is New York based and serves as Assistant Professor of Dermatology  Suny Downstate, Director of Resident Education in Cosmetic Dermatology.  Dr. Gilbert is also the Chief of Dermatology at Woodhull Medical Center. She has appeared on the Dr. Oz show and also works closely with the team at RoC skincare.

As one of their Brand Ambassador's, I  was thrilled when they asked me if there was anything I would like the opportunity to interview Dr. Gilbert about. The topic that immediately came to mind was how best to manage Retinol during the summer months. (After Googling her gorgeous picture, I will admit that I think I would do anything she advised.)

Here are her informative answers to making healthy choices for your summer and year round skincare routine:

DD:  We now know that Retinols are one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients, but they can make us photosensitive. What do you recommend for a day cream with SPF year round?

Dr. Gilbert: Some retinol-containing moisturizers actually contain sunscreens, like RoC's Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30. I also like Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 , La Roche Posay Anthelios ultra light suncreen fluid SPF 60 and Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50. They protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays.

DD:  Even those of us who avoid the sun can't help but have increased exposure in the summer months. Do you recommend using less Retinol, skipping days or using higher SPF?

Dr. Gilbert:  There are several ways to approach retinol use in the summer. One is to alternate days. I often tell my patients to use their retinol three days a week if they are finding that they are getting too much redness and photosensitivity. This is just as effective as using a retinol daily. Another method is to use what is called "short contact therapy." This is a tried and true method for people with sensitive skin. You apply a pearl sized amount of your retinol to the face avoiding the eyes, then rinse it off after 15-20 minutes and apply your moisturizer or sunscreen. This provides the benefit of the cellular effects without the irritation and photosensitivity. The most important thing when using a retinol is consistency. If you stop using your retinol all together you will see that your skin texture returns to baseline and my patients often experience breakouts as well, particularly during the muggy summer months.