• With the worldwide spread of Coronavirus, try-before-you-buy companies who rely on interaction with customers—from make-up tutorials to perfume testing—are being forced to rethink their business model and make drastic pivots. “Coronavirus will not change the way people choose brands and products but could change the way they shop,” said Odile Roujol, an industry veteran and founder of the FaB Fashion and Beauty Tech community. Read more in BOF. 
   
• Who What Wear Beauty editor, Erin Jahn often features articles around the beauty routine of her 71-year-old mom. Why? Because her skin is incredible. This story about her favorite anti-aging serums is really great, too because it also includes great advice around sugar and how it essentially equals wrinkles!
   
• If you want to learn why sugar is so taxing on our skin, then read this hilarious yet informative article Do You Have Sugar Face? in The Cut. "In a nutshell, sugar breaks down collagen, the springy substance that makes your skin look plump, youthful, and lifted. Also, sugar can weaken the immune system, and a suppressed immune system is bad at fighting off bacteria. Bacteria clogged in pores creates pimples."
   
• She's known for her A-list clientele, but Joanna Vargas is also lauded for her cutting-edge beauty treatments and skincare line. If you're yet to experience one of her facials—this video is from my visit to her L.A. studio—then I highly recommend her Bright Eye Firming Masks. Or you can now buy all of her skincare secrets (including DIY facials) in her latest book, Glow From Within. She explains all the science, ingredients, and treatments, plus helps you to understand what your skin type is so you can buy the products that will work for you. Great resource to have in your skincare arsenal. The more informed we are, the better choices we can make that actually work for our skin and keep it at optimal health. 
   
• Since we are all washing our hands multiple times a day for a minimum of 20 seconds, we should at least enjoy it. Byrdie did a piece on hand soaps and my favorite indulgence is Aesop or Byredo who also makes the dreamiest hand cream in Rose. 
   
• My friends at Gloss Angeles pod have been hitting it out of the park with their episodes lately. I want to pay special attention to the two episodes they did with Dr Samolitis, in particular the one on melanoma and hyperpigmentation. But also the episode with Dr. Jason Emer who spoke at length about threads and other cosmetic treatments women are getting right now—it's jam-packed with info! I highly recommend. 
  
  Beauty Biz BFFs is another great podcast especially if you're an esthetician and are looking for business advice. It's hosted by two licensed estheticians —Kasey Boone and Lorena Ashmore. I actually had a facial with Kasey at her Glow Skincare salon in Taluca Lake, Los Angeles—as evidenced HERE—and she is a wealth of knowledge. She also uses Cosmedix and you know how much I love that brand! 

SKIN SPOTLIGHT 

Shani Darden, Celebrity Esthetician and Founder, Shani Darden Skin Care

2. A treatment product like retinol. Retinol is my favorite ingredient to address multiple concerns. I created my Retinol Reform to have all of the benefits of a prescription retinol without any dryness or irritation. It boosts collagen in the skin, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, reduces pigmentation, and can also help with acne. 

3. Sunscreen is the single most important thing you can do for your skin. All of the fine lines and pigmentation people complain about is from the sun. You have to stay out of the sun and keep your skin protected with sunscreen every single day of the year, even cloudy, or rainy days.

LED light therapy is an amazing treatment as well. It will boost collagen in the skin which helps to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. It also boosts your circulation to give you an amazing glow. I use my Deesse Pro Next Generation LED Mask every single day to get all of the benefits.

On how to reverse sun damage...
It can be extremely difficult to reverse sun damage, but using a vitamin C serum can help. Exposure to the sun can deplete the collagen in your skin, and vitamin C provides antioxidant protection to help offset the effects of that and gently brighten your skin. Retinol can also help.

On the sunscreen she recommends...
Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen is one of my favorites because it’s lightly hydrating yet  doesn’t cause congestion.

On how to get rid of "tech neck"...
Micro-current is an incredible treatment to help tighten sagging skin as well as prevent it. It uses low level electrical current to tone, tighten, and lift the skin. If you use it regularly, it can really help with prevention.

On her top five skincare products...

Daily Cleansing Serum—a gentle cleanser that removes makeup and impurities but never strips the skin. Features Oat Bran Extract to repair the skin’s barrier and Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerin to draw moisture into the skin. 

Retinol Reform—Retinol is hands down my favorite skin care ingredient. I created Retinol Reform to provide all of the benefits of a prescription retinol without any of the drawbacks. It features Lactic Acid to provide immediate brightening benefits and retinol for more long term results.

DR Nigma No 1 Serum—Dr. Nigma’s Serum No 1 is a hyaluronic acid serum that deeply hydrates and plumps up the skin.

iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+—This is one of my favorite vitamin C serums to provide daily antioxidant protection and help reverse signs of uv exposure. It’s a powerful formula yet amazing at calming inflammation too.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads—I prefer chemical exfoliants over physical ones because they’re often more effective and less harsh on the skin. The Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads combine AHAs and BHAs to remove dead skin cells on the surface and clear up any congestion—watch Darden explain the difference between chemical and physical exfoliants HERE.