While most of early 2017 has been spent layering on moisturizers and shrouding wind-chapped faces with cashmere scarves, it’s officially time to put your best face forward. Spring-cleaning starts now, with the help of hardworking treatments designed to reveal a glowing complexion, just in time for the season ahead. Here, New York City dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., shares four ways to get your best skin yet.
Try a Radio-Frequency Treatment
“It feels like a hot-stone massage,” Bowe says of ThermiSmooth Face, which she labels “the perfect post-winter” cure for thawing out from the cold. Bowe pairs the in-office device, which delivers radio-frequency energy to “firm and tighten,” with moisturizing coconut oil—moving back and forth in sweeping motions under the eye area. “It has been shown that when the skin is heated and held to 42 to 45 degrees Celsius, the collagen beneath is naturally stimulated,” she adds, meaning it also reduces fine lines and wrinkles. The resulting fresh-faced, wide-awake glow makes it the equivalent of “a big drink of water for your skin.”Trust Your Pores to a Professional
To clear out congestion beneath the skin, a little more than a light exfoliation may be required. Bowe’s favorite deep-clean comes by way of TheraClear: a photo-pneumatic device that physically pulls out any dirt from the pores and shines a broad-spectrum light onto the skin to kill bacteria. “It works as a really efficient vacuum cleaner,” she explains. “The combination of the blue and red light calms any inflammation that may have occurred with the cold.” Plus, it’s great for acne- or rosacea-prone patients looking to get results in 10 minute treatments. Bowe suggests getting the treatment once a month leading up to summer for a happy and breakout-free face.
