I am getting back to blog writing after a busy couple of months! Early in August, I had the pleasure of speaking in Cartegena, Colombia at the International Master Course on Aging Science on the condition I treat a lot—hyperpigmentation! It was a great opportunity to meet physician colleagues from around the world and teach—as well as learn—new and exciting ways to care for our patients. Then last month I was honored to present in Austin, Texas at a stellar conference for dermatologists. Not only did I learn some wonderful cutting edge tips that I am already incorporating into my practice, but I also enjoyed meeting amazing dermatologists including the famous Dr. Sandra Lee (aka Dr. Pimple Popper), who also presented at the meeting.

Back here at VibrantSkin, we have an exciting new addition to our practice: BeautyCounter. For more than a year I have been exploring what—if any—make-up line we might want to carry in the office or offer online. I have used Jane Iredale for years and still love (and recommend) that brand, but decided to try BeautyCounter as it is also “clean” and non-comedogenic. All of the BeautyCounter products I tried were amazing and so I decided to add this line to the list of products we offer. Our BeautyCounter site link is now up (here) and we will soon have make-up testers in the office for you to try out.

Why is make-up important?

Though not everyone wears it, make-up can be an important contributor to self-image. A recent study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology even showed that make-up can help women to look younger. However, make-up can be as much of a foe as a friend depending on what you use and how you use it. Make-up that is comedogenic (pore-clogging) can cause breakouts—particularly if you are acne-prone, oily, and/or you leave make-up on overnight. Leaving make-up on overnight can also cause a myriad of other issues—don’t do it! In addition to the above, it may:

• Cause skin irritation that can lead to rashes.
• Leave skin lusterless due to all of the product plus dead skin cells left in place (that would be removed by cleansing).
• Contribute to DNA damage and aging by trapping environmental pollutants that cause free radical damage.

Moral of the story? Wash off your make-up!

See blog here for more on face washing routine.

When choosing make-up, my tips are to look for the following:

• Non-comedogenic
• Hypoallergenic/gentle
• Skin protective ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (even better when antioxidants are thrown in too).
• Safe ingredients
  • Though I don’t necessarily agree with all of the ratings on the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, I think it is a nice resource when looking for information on safe products and ingredients.

Besides BeautyCounter, other make-up lines I like are Jane Iredale, Clinique and Colorescience.

Why offer BeautyCounter?

My main reason for adding BeautyCounter was to offer a safe, non-comedogenic, and beauty enhancing make-up line to our patients as I am asked regularly what I recommend. In addition to the above benefits, BeautyCounter is often packaged in recyclable materials, and many products have undetectable levels of gluten and other potential allergens, making BeautyCounter an excellent choice for many. I am not one to wear a lot of make-up—I’m usually a blush and eyeliner kind of gal for day to day wear—but can say that the Flawless in Five is perfect for those who want a set that is quick, clean, and chic. I love it! See below for details. 🙂

We’ll have our testers out soon; I’m excited to see what you think!

Kesha Buster, MD, FAAD (board certified dermatologist)