It’s hard to believe the holidays are already upon us! What a wild year 2020 has been. With all of life’s uncertainties and challenges, self-care is more important than ever, so I have compiled a few gift ideas for the loved ones on your list (and for you!). Happy Holidays to each of you, and thank you for all of your love and support this year. xo, Blair
Gift Guide Categories Include: Wrinkles, Acne, Melasma, Pregnancy/Nursing, Dry Skin, and Oily Skin.
Wrinkles Gift Guide
TONIC: You’ll notice this product on every gift guide because it truly does it all! Got wrinkles? Tonic. Got blackheads? Tonic. Got dull skin? Tonic. It contains collagen stimulating acids which make it an especially good product for fighting fine lines and wrinkles.
VITAMIN C 20% SERUM: Aside from sunscreen, vitamin C is the best wrinkle preventer there is. I love this particular product because it contains L-ascorbic acid which not only slows collagen breakdown, but also stimulates new collagen formation as well. If you’re looking to prevent wrinkles, you must be using a topical vitamin C!
DEJ BOOSTING SERUM: One of the main causes of wrinkles is loss of elastin as we age. We always talk about stimulating collagen, but we need to be stimulating elastin, too! This product is hands down the best “elastin stimulator” on the market. I especially love it for smile lines that my thin-faced ladies often experience!
DEJ FACE CREAM: I’ve been using this product for 5 years, and it’s a forever staple in my routine. While it’s a moisturizer, it’s actually a skin treatment, too! DEJ stands for “dermal-epidermal-juntion” which is where much of our skin damage is located. This face cream targets our DEJ and repairs the damage (think wrinkles!) located there.
RET+: If you want to fight wrinkles, the best way to do that is with a retinoid. If you don’t know what a retinoid is or want to know more about them, check out this blog post where I discuss them in detail.
REVOX LINE RELAXER: Peptides are the future of skincare, and this product is no exception. Revox contains peptides that specifically target fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re not ready for Botox yet but want to diminish your expression lines, you’ll want to add this product into your routine!
Acne Gift Guide
ACNE CLEANSER: Washing your face every morning and evening is so important when it comes to treating and preventing breakouts. I love this cleanser for acne, especially for those who exercise or sweat regularly.
TONIC: You’ll notice this product on every gift guide because it truly does it all! It contains acne fighting ingredients such as salicylic and mandelic acid which make it an especially great product for fighting acne and preventing those stubborn red marks from lingering for months after each blemish.
INTELLISHADE CLEAR: Unfortunately, many people with acne find that sunscreen often breaks them out, so they go without wearing it. Well let me introduce you to the best sunscreen for acne prone skin - it feels lightweight, doesn’t clog pores or make the skin feel oily/greasy, and protects the skin with 50 SPF.
RET+: One of the biggest culprits of acne is clogged pores, which is why retinoids are so important for treating acne. Did you know retinoids such as Retin-A are the number one prescribed treatment for acne? If you struggle with acne and currently aren’t using a retinoid, let this be your next purchase!
C+ CORRECTING COMPLEX: Similar to sunscreen, many acne sufferers have a hard time finding a vitamin C that doesn’t cause them to break out even more. Well look no further because this vitamin C cream is ideal for acne sufferers for a few reasons. For one, it is lightweight and doesn’t clog pores, and two, it is specifically designed to help prevent those pesky red marks (PIH) from lingering after the blemish clears.
Melasma Gift Guide
TONIC: You’ll notice this product on every gift guide because it truly does it all! Got wrinkles? Tonic. Got blackheads? Tonic. Got hyperpigmentation? Tonic. It contains skin lightening and exfoliating acids which make it an especially great product for hyperpigmentation and melasma.
INTELLISHADE: If you’re spending money on products or treatments to improve your hyperpigmentation but not using your sunscreen religiously then you’re wasting your money. My best advice is to find a sunscreen you LOVE so that you actually look forward to applying (and reapplying!) it daily. For me, my hands-down, all-time-favorite sunscreen is Intellishade. It comes in 4 different versions (original, matte, physical, and non-tinted) and is truly a 5-in-1 product (sunscreen, moisturizer, foundation, antioxidant, and peptides) that you’ll love wearing daily.
RET+: If you haven’t picked up on it yet, retinoids do pretty much everything for the skin, including improving hyperpigmentation/melasma. Not only does it reduce current discoloration, but it also helps prevent future discoloration from occurring. If you want to know more about retinoids, check out this blog post where I discuss them in detail.
C+ CORRECTING COMPLEX: A common analogy I give my patients is “sunscreen prevents sunburn the same way antioxidants (vitamin C) prevent hyperpigmentation”. While I love all medical-grade vitamin C products, I love this one in particular for hyperpigmentation. Without going into too much scientific detail, it targets pigment more than other similar vitamin C products. Since I personally struggle with melasma, this is my go-to vitamin C.
Pregnancy & Nursing Gift Guide
BAKUCHIOL: Since retinoids are a no-no during pregnancy, Bakuchiol is a literal life-saver! Bakuchiol is a pregnancy and breastfeeding safe retinol-alternative serum that minimizes fine lines and wrinkles without irritating the skin.
CRÉME DE LA BLAIR: Pregnancy can do many things to the skin, one of the common changes being dry skin. I love the luxurious feel of this moisturizer, but love how hydrating it is for the skin even more!
VITAMIN C 20% SERUM: There are few products better than topical vitamin C for anti-aging. I love this particular product because it contains L-ascorbic acid which not only slows collagen breakdown, but also stimulates new collagen formation as well. If you’re looking to slow the aging process, you must be using a topical vitamin C!
REVOX LINE RELAXER: Sadly, Botox is another no-no during pregnancy, so I put all of my injectable patients on this serum while pregnant. Revox contains different peptides that specifically target dynamic wrinkles such as frown lines and crows feet. Simply apply the serum directly to your wrinkles AM and PM and watch your wrinkles fade!
TONIC: You’ll notice this product on every gift guide because it truly does it all! Got wrinkles? Tonic. Got blackheads? Tonic. Got hyperpigmentation? Tonic. I purposely formulated this product to be safe for my pregnant/nursing ladies so they could enjoy the benefits of it all pregnancy long!
BODIFIRM: While the growing belly is a miracle in and of itself, it’s normal to be concerned about the skin snapping back after baby. If you’re looking for a great cream to firm up your belly after baby, this product is great for prevention while pregnant and treatment after baby. This is my favorite gift to give new moms!
Dry Skin Gift Guide
VITAMIN C 20% SERUM: Let it be known that everyone needs vitamin C in their skincare routine. What I love about this one in particular is that not only is it a potent and highly effective vitamin C serum, but it’s also super hydrating to the skin! Whenever a patient has dry skin, this is always the vitamin C I reach for.
TONIC: It’s hard to find a good skin brightener and exfoliator that won’t dry the skin out, but this stuff is truly magic! It was designed specifically to be tolerated by even my driest skin folks!
ANTIOXIDANT MIST: You know when you look in the mirror halfway through the day and realize your skin is dry as a bone? Your makeup looks chalky and you're skin is flaking? Well that’s where this product comes in clutch. I’m always carrying a bottle with me, whether it be in my purse, car, or work bag. As soon as I notice my skin feeling or looking dry throughout the day, a few spritz of this mist and I’m instantly hydrated!
HYDRATING SERUM: I consider this product my dry skin miracle worker. It is a hyaluronic acid serum that holds its weight in water 1,000 fold - thats a lot of hydration! When my skin is feeling dry, especially during the winter months, this is the first product I reach for. My skin drinks it up like water!
CRÉME DE LA BLAIR: If you've been looking for the perfect heavy duty moisturizer, look no further! I love the luxurious feel of this moisturizer, but love how hydrating it is for the skin even more! It won’t clog your pores or sit on top of your skin like many other heavy moisturizers do - trust me on this one, you’ll love it!
Oily Skin Gift Guide
INTELLISHADE MATTE: Unfortunately, many people with oily skin skimp out on wearing sunscreen daily because they feel it makes them more oily. What I love about this sunscreen is that it’s matte nature does a great job at managing oil making it ideal for my oily skin folks.
C+ CORRECTING COMPLEX: Many oily skin sufferers have a hard time finding a vitamin C product that doesn’t make them more oily. Well look no further because this lightweight vitamin C cream is ideal for oily skin and won’t cause your makeup to slide right off like many others do. Bonus points that it won’t clog your pores or break you out either!
TONIC: You’ll notice this product on every gift guide because it truly does it all! Got wrinkles ? Tonic. Got blackheads? Tonic. Got oily skin? Tonic. This product is packed with oil fighting ingredients that will help your makeup last all day.
PURIFYING CLEANSING GEL: This cleanser was designed specifically for oily skin and will leave your skin feeling squeaky clean. It contains lactic and salicylic acid which are also beneficial in fighting acne and reducing overall oil production.
*One of the most important products for oily skin is a prescription retinoid. There are many over-the-counter retinoids on the market (retinol, Retivance, Differin, etc.) that are wonderful, but with oily skin, you need something stronger. Ask your provider (dermatologist, PCP, or internist) to prescribe you a retinoid next time you’re in for an appointment. These are by prescription only and can not be purchased online. For more detail on retinoids, check out this blog post where I go more in detail.