I believe in balance. I love what I do. And I absolutely inject myself—Botox, fillers, all of it. But I do it because it makes me feel fresh, not frozen. Because I know how to use just enough to lift a jawline, soften a frown, or add whisper-light contour to cheekbones. I’m not chasing youth. I’m chasing health—and harmony.
I get Botox across my forehead maybe once or twice a year, just enough to relax the deep line I earned back in med school. For jawline definition, I use a small amount of filler. And for my cheeks, I add just enough volume to keep them softly lifted. The point isn’t to change my face—it’s to keep it from collapsing.
The only in-office treatment I can’t do myself? Ultherapy. It’s a high-intensity ultrasound treatment that tightens the skin, and let me tell you—it hurts like hell. I do it every two to three years, and yes, I take an oral painkiller and clench my fists through it. But the results are worth it: my skin stays firm, especially around my jaw and neck.
For redness and rosacea, I use vascular lasers a few times a year, especially around my nose and cheeks where capillaries can burst from stress or weather changes. And to address past sun damage—hello, dark spots—I turn to IPL or Fraxel once a year. Those light-based treatments help break down pigment and even out tone. If I’ve learned anything as a dermatologist, it’s this: maintenance matters.
Where to find these treatments? Most major U.S. cities have board-certified dermatology clinics that offer Ultherapy, IPL, and laser resurfacing. I always recommend checking credentials via the American Academy of Dermatology website, or calling your insurance to confirm your provider.
Cleansing: The Ritual That Grounds Me
No matter how late I get home, I never go to bed without washing my face. It’s not about being strict—it’s about feeling clean, collected, and ready to reset.
On nights when I need something gentle, I rotate between two drugstore staples: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. They’re unscented, creamy, and never leave my skin feeling stripped. I always keep backups stocked from Target or CVS.
But when I want to indulge, I reach for Natura Bissé’s Diamond White Rich Luxury Cleanser. It’s velvety, rich, and leaves a subtle glow that feels like cashmere against my cheeks. I pick it up from Violet Grey or Bluemercury when I want to treat myself.
For gentle exfoliation, I’m obsessed with Peter Thomas Roth’s 20% Glycolic Solutions Cleanser. I use it once a week, especially after a long day under makeup. It gives me that tight, squeaky-fresh feeling—but without the sting. It’s easy to find at Sephora or Ulta.
The Night Shift: Serums That Do the Heavy Lifting
At night, my skin is on a mission—to repair, to restore, to turn back the clock just a little. My go-to lineup always starts with a Vitamin C serum. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is my ride-or-die. It smells like hot dogs (yes, I said it), but the glow is unbeatable. I use it even now, while pregnant.
When I want something more budget-friendly, L’Oréal Revitalift Vitamin C Serum does a surprisingly good job. It’s lightweight, layers beautifully under moisturizer, and never pills under makeup. You can pick it up at Walgreens, Amazon, or Rite Aid.
For pigmentation, especially now with all the hormonal shifts of pregnancy, I swear by SkinMedica’s Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum. It contains tranexamic acid, which breaks down pigment gently and steadily. I layer that right after Vitamin C and let it absorb fully.
Because I can’t use retinol right now, I turn to DefenAge 8-in-1 BioSerum, which contains peptides and a retinol alternative. I follow that with Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré—an iconic French pharmacy cream that never lets me down.
If I’m feeling extra dry, I’ll seal everything in with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, or even Weleda Skin Food, which melts into my skin like warm butter. These are thick, old-school, and perfect for cold nights or dry climates.
The Morning Routine: Clean, Calm, and Protected
Mornings are simpler. I’m usually juggling emails, my clinic schedule, and a very energetic toddler, so I need a routine that feels intuitive and fast. I start with a splash of cold water—just enough to wake me up and rinse off any excess product from the night before.
Then I go straight into L’Oréal Revitalift Vitamin C Serum. I love it as a lightweight primer before makeup, and it gives me a brightness I rely on to feel human before coffee. I’ll layer on Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, which works beautifully under makeup and helps lock in the glow without any greasiness.
And then—it’s all about SPF.
I only use physical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens take 30 minutes to activate, and frankly, I don’t have that kind of time. Plus, I have rosacea. Anything with zinc or titanium feels gentler, and they don’t make my eyes sting or weep mid-consult.
On office days, I reach for SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50. It’s light, sheer, and adds a barely-there tint. For days when I’m more exposed, I use Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield. It has the best mineral coverage and wears beautifully under makeup. EltaMD UV Clear is another one I keep on rotation—it’s cult for a reason. You can find all three on Dermstore, LovelySkin, or directly from brand sites.
I always carry the Colorescience SPF Brush in my purse. It’s genius. It mattifies and re-ups your sun protection without ruining foundation or blush. I swipe it across my cheeks and forehead in the back of Ubers, at the grocery store, between patients—it’s truly the unsung hero of busy women with skin goals.
Eyes: Small Area, Serious Strategy
I take eye care seriously. The skin under the eyes is thin, delicate, and prone to everything—puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, and loss of volume. I rotate between a few products that each serve a different purpose.
Every morning, I reach for Neocutis Lumière Eye Cream. It contains caffeine and growth factors, which help depuff and stimulate collagen. I keep it in the fridge so it feels extra soothing under tired lids.
When I want brightness and a touch of makeup-meets-skincare, I use Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème. It gives a subtle sheen that acts like a soft-focus filter. Nia 24 Eye Repair Complex is another staple—it gives the under-eye area that luminous, candlelit glow that always makes me feel just a little more alive.
None of these are gimmicky. They’re elegant, clinical, and rooted in dermatologic science. I always suggest shopping through Skinstore, Dermstore, or Bluemercury for authenticity and frequent promotions.
Makeup That Moves With Me
I don’t wear a full face of makeup every day. But I do like to look like myself—just a more rested, radiant version.
My eyebrows? They’re microbladed. But I still fill them in with Kevyn Aucoin Precision Brow Pencil, which gives hair-like strokes and blends seamlessly. I tap NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer over hyperpigmentation or any hormonal breakout scars. It’s creamy, never cakey, and melts into skin like second skin.
Instead of full foundation, I opt for Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, especially in the warmer months. It gives coverage without weight, and the finish is skin-like but better. If I need extra help covering dark spots, I’ll blend in a dot of Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick over specific areas.
For blush, I’ve been loving Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff—just a whisper of pink on the apples of my cheeks makes me feel alive again. On days when I want more radiance, I swipe on Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick. It doesn’t shimmer. It glows. It’s like a fresh drink of water for your skin, and I adore that it doesn’t compete with texture or pores.
If I’m heading to dinner or an event, I’ll use Stila Kitten Highlighter on the high points of my cheeks and on my eyelids. I pair it with YSL Couture Eyeliner in matte black to draw the tiniest cat eye, and then pile on Benefit Roller Lash Mascara for lashes that look curled without any tool.
Sometimes, I dust Hoola Light Bronzer across my lids just for dimension. It’s warm, flattering, and never orange.
All of these are easy to find at Sephora, Nordstrom, or Net-a-Porter—sites that make reordering a dream.
The Rest of Me: Body and Hair Rituals That Feel Like Pause Buttons
Even if I weren’t pregnant, I’d still use Mustela Hydra Bébé Body Lotion. It’s quick-drying, subtle, and reminds me of baby skin. I also love Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm—especially when my arms or legs feel tight from dry weather. It’s French pharmacy magic at its best.
When I want to indulge, I’ll book a foot massage at Four Seasons on East 58th Street. It’s not a hotel—it’s better. The care, the silence, the deep pressure—it’s the one place in the city where I completely melt.
Hair care, on the other hand, is low-maintenance. I get highlights at Marie Robinson Salon, always with Laurie Daniels, and I let her decide what I need. I use whatever she sends me home with—usually a purple shampoo to tone brassiness and Kérastase Elixir Ultime Oil on the ends when my hair feels dry.
Recently, a model friend gave me Revlon Leave-In Conditioning Cream Spray, and I’m not above saying: it changed my hair. Soft, smooth, never weighed down. You can get it at Ulta or Target, and it smells clean and nostalgic in the best way.
Scent: The Invisible Armor
My signature scent is Diptyque Eau des Sens. It smells like a laundry line in spring—orange blossoms, slightly bitter neroli, and the unmistakable smell of clean. Not sterile, not soapy. Clean in a “she just stepped out of a Mediterranean villa” kind of way.
I wear it every single day, and almost every patient who walks by me comments on it. “You smell fresh,” they say. And I smile, resisting the urge to tell them: it’s the only thing that doesn’t shift with pregnancy hormones, stress, or city grime. It’s my little constant.
You can find it online at Diptyque’s U.S. site, or in person at Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
The Philosophy That Guides It All
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years as a dermatologist, a mother, and a woman watching herself change on both sides of the mirror—it’s this: beauty isn’t built in a bottle. It’s cultivated in your rituals. In the way you care for yourself after a long day. In the products that feel like extensions of your personality, not masks.
I don’t do 10-step routines. I don’t buy into overexfoliation or overnight miracles. I believe in slow, steady, science-backed care. I believe in loving the face you have while making small choices that help it reflect your energy, not your exhaustion.
My skin won’t be the same at 50 as it is now—and that’s okay. What matters is that I continue to feel like myself when I look in the mirror. Fresh, clear-eyed, and comfortable in my skin.
Everything I use, everything I recommend, is in service of that feeling. If I can help my patients—and you—find that clarity, then I’ve done something good.
Because beauty isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
And that’s something no laser, no filler, no serum can ever manufacture.
Where to Shop My Favorites in the U.S.:
- Sephora (sephora.com) – for skincare, makeup, and dermatologist-backed brands
- Dermstore (dermstore.com) – for clinical formulas and sun protection
- Violet Grey (violetgrey.com) – for luxury, curated picks
- Bluemercury (bluemercury.com) – for a mix of science and indulgence
- Ulta (ulta.com) – for haircare, drugstore gems, and in-between favorites
- Target, CVS, Walgreens – for affordable skincare staples
- Amazon (amazon.com) – just make sure you’re buying directly from the brand or verified sellers
