8 Dermatologists Reveal What Made The Biggest Difference In Their Skin After 40

Clear + Brilliant

“Clear + Brilliant has allowed me bit to wear only a bit makeup every day to the office or even to the gym where I would always had to cover up my blemishes. 

I had decreased my breakouts and made my skin plump and right again! I LOVE it. It’s the #nofilter no-makeup procedure! No downtime, but a couple of hours of redness and that’s that!” 

—Miami dermatologist Dr. Janice Lima Maribona

Image courtesy of Dr. Lima Maribona

Sculptra Aesthetic

“After I turned 40, I realized how important lift and proportion are. Sculptra is a filler that is extremely natural, but provides several benefits. It stimulates collagen growth, which creates a lift and improves the texture of your skin by minimizing wrinkles. It softly adds a contoured shape that enhances your natural features and helps you to regain your youthful appearance.”

—Delray Beach, FL, dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby

Image courtesy of Dr. Allenby

Sunscreen & Fillers

“As a second generation derm, I had a head start on great skin—sun protection was a way of life in my family much even in the 1970s. I’ll be 53 in January, and I have spotless skin on the face and body without ever having used a retinoid, laser or peel. My primary sign of aging has been volume loss, and it happened seemingly overnight after I underwent chemotherapy-induced menopause at 43 years old. My already long, thin face and prominent jaw became hollow and angular. I’d always had tear troughs, but they worsened and I looked tired. Filler was the key to my personal Benjamin Button effect. Starting with Sculptra for volume and then hyaluronic acid fillers, including Juvéderm Voluma, Restylane products and Belotero, I looked like me again! In fact, people regularly comment that I look even prettier now than I did in my 30s.”

—Nanuet, NY, dermatologist Heidi A. Waldorf, MD

Image courtesy of Dr. Waldorf

SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum & PicoSure Laser

“One of my favorite products I use every day is TNS Essential Serum by SkinMedica. I also make sure to have a PicoSure Focus treatment at least every six months. TNS Essential Serum has growth factors and seven antioxidants that improve the overall appearance of my skin tone and texture, and PicoSure Focus treatments help to stimulate the fibroblasts in the skin, which helps to maintain collagen production and keep a youthful appearance.” 

—Fresno, CA, dermatologist Kathleen Behr, MD

Image courtesy of Dr. Behr

ActiveFX & DeepFX Laser

“The procedure that made the biggest different was definitely the full-face laser resurfacing I had after 40. There’s some evidence that completely removing the skin allows the fresh stem cells to repopulate and keep the skin youthful.”

—Santa Monica, CA, dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD

Image courtesy of Dr. Shamban

Ultherapy & Neuromodulators

“The biggest difference for me has been combining Ultherapy with neuromodulators and skin care to help stimulate collagen and lift, tighten and rebalance muscles to maintain and enhance symmetry and keep myself looking my best as I work my way up through my 50s!”

—New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD

Image courtesy of Dr. Day

BBL Photofacial & PicoSure 

“A BBL Photofacial combined with the PicoSure laser to my face is the joint procedure that has really made the biggest difference for my skin after 40. The Pico helps the deeper pigment and the BBL helps the more superficial pigment, and the two complement each other. When I do the two together, my skin really glows.”

—New York dermatologist Jody Levine, MD

Image courtesy of Dr. Levine

Ultherapy

“Ultherapy is a noninvasive treatment for lifting and tightening the skin, and uses microfocused ultrasound to stimulate collagen deep within the skin with little or no downtime. The result? Tighter, lifted skin! Once I was in my 40s, I noticed I was appearing more tired on my face and around my eyes. I knew I wasn’t ready for a traditional facelift, nor did I want that type of downtime, so I chose Ultherapy as my treatment for a subtle yet more lifted appearance. My skin is smoother and tighter, and I loved the results so much on my face, I also had Ultherapy done my stomach, off-label, (after three kids!). And boy, did it do wonders! Ultherapy has helped me to look my best for my age without appearing overdone.”  

—Greenwich, CT dermatologist Kim Nichols, MD

Image courtesy of Dr. Nichols