By: Sarah Kester
It’s always a big deal whenever a new skincare trend gets a dermatologist's official stamp of approval. It’s not an easy thing to come by, what with the constant influx of beauty products and at-home devices.
The good news is that the following 2019 skincare trends definitely did make the cut.
Personalized Skincare
It was only a few years ago that personalized hair care products burst onto the scene. Now in 2019, the trend has extended to include personalized skincare — something that dermatologists are totally on board with.
“I love personalized skin care products,” says Dr. Vivian Chin, cosmetic physician and founder of Koru Wellness Aesthetics, a boutique medical aesthetics practice in New York City. “I firmly agree that skin changes with time and with the seasons, so the different needs of your skin changes quite often and more than people may expect. Custom skincare products would help to tailor a regimen to benefit your skin most with what it needs, when it needs it.”
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If you’d prefer to see a dermatologist for this, that’s always a good option since crafting personalized skincare routines and treatment plans for patients is part of their job, explains Dr. Sonam Yadav, a cosmetic dermatologist, to Lively. “Individual needs do vary, and the availability of personalized skincare dispensing, or formulation is likely to become a bigger trend.”
Smart Beauty Apps
A few years ago, it all started with high-tech beauty devices that promised to provide spa-worthy skin results right at home. And now in 2019, it has evolved to include smart beauty apps.
These apps upgrade the ways in which you take care of your skin in two main ways: 1. by allowing users to track their skincare routine and/or skincare issues (think a skincare diary) and 2. by giving smart beauty device owners the ability to control their devices right from their cellphones. With apps like that, who needs Candy Crush?
“Technology has played and will continue to play a significant role in the evolution of beauty and dermatology,” says Dr. Yadiv. “We presently use smart devices in clinic and prescribe apps to help patients track their symptoms and take charge of their own health.”
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Full-Body Skincare
Your skincare routine doesn’t just start and end with the face; it requires a lot more attention than that. A full-body intervention, if you will.
“As dermatologists, we treat concerns of the body with the same seriousness as the face — with a special emphasis on necks and hands, since the thin skin in these areas ages faster even than the skin on one's face,” says Dr. Yadav.
If this sounds like you, slathering on moisturizer after a shower or bath is a good place to start. “It helps that most moisturizers, whether they are marketed for the face, the body, or the neck, have a similar recipe,” explains Fayne Frey, MD, FAAD, board certified dermatologist and founder of the educational skincare website, FryFace.com.
She explains that they are water-based and formulated with ingredients called humectants that help the skin draw water into the surface of the skin. “Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are both effective, but hyaluronic acid is more cosmetically elegant and costs more.”
If you battle blemishes, Frey does advise some caution: “Many moisturizers have ingredients in them like isopropyl myristate, which can exacerbate acne and clog pores. There are ingredients that folks with sensitive skin should avoid as well, like formaldehyde-releasing preservatives or fragrance.” Be sure to speak with your doctor or dermatologist before trying a new product that promises to help these skincare issues.
Back to Basics
Just like doctors tell us to take our vitamins, dermatologists have long been telling us to take care of our skin by applying sunscreen. It’s as simple as that.
Other basic skincare 101 trends that dermatologists approve of include sheet masking. “It's perfect because it's easy for the skincare newbie to try out and can be done while doing a lot of other things like watching a movie or reading,” says Dr. Chin.
DIY chemical peels are another, shares Dr. Yadav: “You can make them right at home, whether by using prescription strength professional products or by aggressive use or layering of strong home-care products or a combination of peels with exfoliation.”
Although it can feel tiring sometimes to give into the latest skincare trend — especially when the newest one is right around the corner — in the end, it’s usually worth it.