What Dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades Buys at the Drugstore
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Here at the Strategist, we love hearing about everyday stuff that actually works. That line of thinking extends to thedrugstorebeauty products in ourmedicine cabinets,shower caddies, andmakeup bags. In our series “Beauty Aisle,” we talk to folks in the beauty industry — aestheticians, hairstylists, makeup artists, dermatologists, and the like — about the go-to affordable products they keep stocked. For this installment, writerArielle Avilachatted with dermatologist andMacrene ActivesfounderDr. Macrene Alexiadesabout the drugstore products she loves.
A gentler post-summer retinol …
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Now that we’re transitioning into fall, we have to be cognizant of the sun damage we incurred from cumulative sun exposure over the summer. That includes skin dehydration, sun spots, and pigmentation. L’Oréal is one of those drugstore brands that cover the gamut, but this one in particular is good for addressing sun spots and depigmentation while still providing some SPF. It contains pro-retinol. Retinoids are great for doing some gentle exfoliation and some reduction in pigmentation and evening of the skin tone. It also has hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, which, again, provides gentle exfoliation, and a little bit of brightening. It also has tripeptides for supporting collagen production.
… And a medical gradelike retinol
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Revitalift has a lower percentage of retinol and addresses photodamage, sun damage, and photoaging. This is more of an intense retinol product that gives you more of an intense resurfacing effect. If you’re developing fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and poor texture, then go for the Redermic. It’s definitely much more intense, almost like a medical-grade product that’s over the counter. Use it at night. It is sun-sensitizing, so that’s why I recommend it for fall.
A barrier-repairing moisturizer
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The other major thing that happens from the summer is a breakdown of the skin barrier and dehydration. Part of it is due to sun exposure, and part of it is from chlorine, salty water, UV, and the heat. We want to rebuild the skin barrier, which requires a different set of actives. Look for fatty acids, phospholipids, and ceramides. CeraVe is a great over-the-counter example of ceramides that will replenish and reset the skin barrier, which helps with the microbiome as well. This actually secures your skin barrier so that you can have better hydration, too. I recommend putting it on immediately after your shower so it locks in the hydration, and then the ceramides seal your skin barrier back up.
A sunscreen that meets her standards
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I’m very much a sunscreen snob, having done this for 27 years. I really like the Neutrogena SPF compared with other brands. They do great, rigorous testing, and it stands the clinical tests. They have very high SPF numbers, which I appreciate. This is SPF 70, really easy to apply, very smooth, easy to apply on big surface areas. I recommend it for everyday use.
Her hydration boost that doesn’t clog pores
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There are two things that drop in the fall: temperature and humidity. You’re getting less water moisture in the skin from the ambient air, so it tends to be more desiccant. To combat that, we need to be more aggressive about applying humectants. Humectants are ingredients that draw in water molecules, and that’s what hyaluronic acid is. It’s brilliant because it’s not gonna clog your skin. Also, during this transitional period, you can’t just dive into something like petrolatum. It’s going to break you out. Hyaluronic acid serum is a real stealth way to get that extra moisture. If you do this plus the CeraVe, you’re covered.
Her trick to clearing whiteheads and blackheads
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You know what else happens post-summer? People get the subterraneans. They get whiteheads and blackheads because of tanning. It thickens the skin, and then all that sunscreen also clogs the pores. This is really good for that particular problem. It used to be a prescription, and it’s usually for treating acne. Now you can pick it up at the drugstore. It’s a great trick. Just a pea-size amount at bedtime, and it will not peel the skin.
Shampoos she keeps on rotation
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I don’t like using hair serums. Some have class-action lawsuits, and I don’t mess around with that. My favorite drugstore way to address hair loss: Make sure to take your vitamins (Centrumis good) and use a couple of shampoos. Your hair gets really used to one formula, so it’s good to rotate them. I like Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength since it’s got selenium sulfide. It’s great for people who have dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, which can cause hair loss to accelerate. Nizoral shampoo has ketoconazole for androgenetic alopecia. It’s an anti-androgen type of shampoo that really does work. Last, I like Avalon Organics biotin shampoo. It’s very effective for strengthening your strands.
More expert drugstore picks
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“It’s reliable, and it gives me just enough definition without looking overly done for daytime.”
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“It’s a gentle formulation that’s good even for people with sensitive skin.”
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“When the twists come out, they stay. When I use it, I feel like my hair has a softness to it.”
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“I look awake and a little prettier in two minutes.”
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“What it does is it flashes back at the camera. It has this glass, almost a latexlike finish.”
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“The best thing about it is it doesn’t feather. It doesn’t smudge.”
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
