Who are you really going to trust for your skincare routine — a random influencer? Or a doctor who makes people look younger for a living?
Fortunately, Dr. Dendy Engelman, a dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, doesn’t gatekeep her anti-aging must-haves.
Speaking to The Post, the 47-year-old broke down both her morning and evening skincare routines, including her “holy trinity” in the AM and a “gold standard in anti-aging” at night.
First thing: Morning skincare routine
“Right now, my morning skincare is all about protection and prep,” she said.
Her favorite products are from Image Skincare. First, she starts by washing her face with their Vital C hydrating facial cleanser, $40, “to fuel my skin with essential daily vitamins and antioxidants.”
“I love this specific cleanser because it deeply but gently infuses the skin with vitamins A, C and E to boost radiance as it cleanses,” she said.
Next up is what she calls her “holy trinity.” First is Vital C hydrating anti-aging serum with vitamin C, $91, “to give my skin extra plump and brightening it needs to improve the appearance of lines”.
Then she adds VOL.U.LIFT, $134, for deflation, wrinkles, dehydration and dense skin, a product that was designed especially for people who use Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications — though you don’t have to be on a weight loss drug to use it.
Finally, she finishes with sunscreen — specifically, Image’s Daily Prevention advanced smartblend mineral moisturizer with SPF 75, $72.
“I make sure to choose a color-correcting daily moisturizer/sunscreen hybrid that gives a little glow, protects against UV and environmental damage, and wears beautifully under makeup,” she explained.
Winding down: Nighttime skincare routine
“Evenings are where I really lean into skincare as a ritual,” Dr. Engelman said. “The first step is always removing the day makeup, SPF and city air.”
Her go-to products are The MAX facial cleanser, $41; AGELESS+ retinol pure liquid retinol 0.1%, $94, for wrinkles, pores and pigmentation; and more VOL.U. LIFT.
Retinol, in particular, is a must — and “one of the biggest blind spots” she sees in her patients. Only about a quarter of American women and 1 in 10 men use it, according to one recent report.
“It’s one of the most well-studied ingredients we have in dermatology, and yet people are still hesitant, either because they’ve had one bad experience or because they’re worried about irritation,” Engelman said.
“The truth is, there are so many elegant, buffered formulations now that make retinol incredibly accessible, even for sensitive skin,” she added.
“It’s a cornerstone for increasing cell turnover, smoothing texture, improving pigmentation and stimulating collagen. It really is the gold standard in anti-aging.”
What about tools?
While she has access to tall the top treatments at her office, Dr. Engelman does some work at home, too.
“Devices have become a really interesting extension of my skincare practice at home. I don’t use all of them every day, but I do rotate in a few that I genuinely find beneficial, especially when I have time to slow down and be a little more intentional,” she said.
At the moment, she’s loving Luminess’ Conture Kinetic Toning Device, $49, which uses low-frequency vibrations and gentle suction to stimulate the skin and encourage product absorption.
“I use it around 20 minutes a day once a week, when I’m in the car,” she said.
“I apply it all over my face, focusing around my eyes and smile lines. It has a multitude of benefits, with over 250,000 hours of research behind it, and it helps my serums penetrate deeper into the layers of my skin.”
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