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Six weeks ago, these women had terrible skin. Can you guess who was the smoker, the over tanner, the acne sufferer and the skin-care neglecter? 

The over tanner

"Noninvasive technology has progressed rapidly in the last 10 years," says Francesca Fusco, MD, a New York City-based cosmetic dermatologist. "Now, if someone comes in with brown spots or fine lines or scars, we can laser away in five minutes what light chemical peels required years to change."

The acne sufferer

The smoker

Fusco opted to treat Alison with two Fraxel Restore laser sessions. She also injected Belotero, a hyaluronic acid filler, into the lines around her lips, as well as the "marionette" grooves on either side of her mouth. Finally, she gave Alison a touch of Botox in her forehead to smooth things out there, too. Post treatment, the smoker's lines around Alison's mouth vanished completely (part of the price: As with any filler, she had mild swelling and bruising for a few days). Between her two laser treatments, she followed a simple at-home routine: a gentle cleanser, a cream to even skin tone, a moisturizer, a night treatment with retinol and an eye cream. 

Six weeks after Alison began treatment, her skin was totally rejuvenated. The lines were gone, and so was the uneven tone. "It's amazing," she says. "I wanted to do something nice for myself on my 50th birthday, and this is a perfect way to launch my new commitment to taking better care of my skin."

The skin-care neglecter

Francesca Fusco | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: More. June, 2013.

Want Compliments? Start Right Here

In 3 minutes: Debloat your belly. 

First, the facts: No skin cream can actually tone your abs, but it can absolutely make the area look better," says New York City dermatologist Francesca Fusco, M.D. Use a firming formula with caffeine (to boost circulation) as well as seaweed extract, a depuffer, to tighten up your belly; let it dry to kick in. We love Clarins Extra-Firming Body Cream. 

Francesca Fusco | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: Glamour. June, 2013.

Could you tweak your looks?

If "Am I the last woman my age to try facial fillers?" I ask. 

"There may be one other, but she's in Wyoming," jokes Patricia Wexler, MD, a Manhattan dermatologist with a clientele for whom maintenance does not refer to cars. The good doctor has offered her services to illustrate the difference an expertly administered injection here and there can make. 

Hey, didn't I see those syringes in Zero Dark Thirty? The shots hurt, even with numbing cream. But a second after each poke, I recover. 

I'd expected the filler to be shot into the obvious crevices, but Restylane is injected at my face's periphery, then massaged into place to create an interior scaffold. The whole shebang, including Botox in my neck and a laser zap to reduce bruising, takes 30 minutes. 

Restylane's effect is immediate, like facial Spanx. The Botox takes a week or so to do its thing. I pass a mirror and… good Lord, I'd know that woman anywhere, although I haven't seen her since 2005. I could get used to this. -Sally Koslow

Patricia Wexler | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: More. June, 2013.

Creams of the Crop

BEST PRACTICES

Shop smart. If you're using enough sunscreen, a single bottle shouldn't last a whole season. "One ounce is the right goal for each application, as well as for each reapplication, so a 12-ounce bottle is 12 servings-and that's not a lot."

Don't dig. "A major reason for burns on the tops of the feet and ankles is that we bury our feet in the sand, and the SPF gets scrubbed away."

Patricia Wexler | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: Allure. May, 2013.

Skin-Care Know-it-alls 

Anti-aging Special

There are dermatologists. And then there are the medical superstars who eat, sleep, breath, and very often create the best anti-aging treatments around. These are their secrets. 

Neck Creams

Patricia Wexler loves doing a good neck lipo on her patients. But even more, she loves giving them advice on how to avoid procedures altogether.

Clear the way. "Extend your daily exfoliant, whether it's with a cleansing brush or a glycolic acid, all the way down to the top of your chest. Sloughing away the dead-skin layer allows active ingredients to absorb faster."

Get the strong stuff. "The skin on the neck and chest is thin, so sun damage is more apparent and harder to repair. Both the neck and chest require stronger formulations to reverse aging. Dedicated neck creams are more concentrated and powerful than most face creams, but some facial formulas with retinol, such as RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum, have been shown to work on the neck and chest, too."

Put peptides to work. "One of my favorite ingredients for treating damage below the jawline is tetrapeptides, like the ones in StriVectin-TL. There's plenty of science to show they help make new collagen and elastic tissue, which is what the neck and chest need to look firmer and younger."

Strengthen skin. "Niacin is a B vitamin that, until recently, we could not get through the skin barrier. Now a new delivery system, in the Nia 24 and StriVectin-TL lines, means it can penetrate the epidermis and strengthen the skin barrier. I've seen it dramatically improve the texture and tone of the neck and décolletage."

Watch your wardrobe. "When you treat skin below the jawline with anti-aging ingredients, consider the fabrics you wear. Anything scratchy, like wool, can cause irritation."

Patricia Wexler | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: Allure. April, 2013.

"The skin's barrier, which is known as the acid mantle, is responsible for keeping in lipids and moisture while blocking germs, pollution, toxins, and bacteria," explains Patricia Wexler, M.D., a New York City dermatologist. "To work its best, the acid mantle should be slightly acidic, at a 5.5 pH balance. When it's too alkaline, skin becomes dry and sensitive; you may even get eczema. You may also experience inflammation, which inhibits the skin's ability to ward off matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs], the enzymes that destroy collagen and cause wrinkles and sagging."

The Sweet Spot: Look for a product with fatty acids like ceramides, niacyl, and liposomes, says Wexler. One that also contains hyaluronic acid (which holds hundreds of times its weight in water) will further slow down evaporation. Oily skin responds well to light, sheer gels or lotions.

Patricia Wexler | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: Women's Health. March, 2013.

INSTANT CHEEKBONES
Are implants the secret to a lifted, younger-looking face? Emily Listfield investigates. 

"When you fill in the cheeks, everything is pulled up," explains New York dermatologist Patricia Wexler. "You diminish the nasolabial folds, decrease the downturn of the mouth, and reduce the hollow of the eye, all without touching any of those areas."

Patricia Wexler | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: Harper's Bazaar. April, 2013.

REVENGE OF THE HANDSOME WOMEN

While confidence and a heady dose of personal style certainly help when it comes to aging, there’s no denying that genetics plays a big role in the Handsome Woman’s midlife victory lap. “The more defined, dominant cheekbone that may be less attractive in youth will stand up better over time,” says New York plastic surgeon Adam Kolker. Dermatologist Patricia Wexler likens it to having better scaffolding, with more architecture for sagging skin to hang on to: “Strong bones, particularly in the cheek and jaw, help maintain the integrity of the face against the effects of gravity." Those with weaker facial structures have less support for the extra, sagging skin that inevitably comes with age, making them more prone to jowls at the jaw or deep folds beside the nose and mouth.

Patricia Wexler | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: More. March, 2013.

Give Your Scalp a "Facial"

Your legs aren't the only body part that turns reptillian this time of year. Winter's low humidity can make dead skin cells dislodge from the scalp. Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo ($24, aveda.com) is sulfate-free and has wintergreen-derived salicylic acid that sloughs away flakes, says Francesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. 

When rinsed off, the skin remains smooth.

Caffeine can help stimulate hair growth, and biotin can help fortify the hair's outer layer when it's combined with conditioners that coat the hair shaft.

A shower filter is worth the investment. Your hair will feel softer, be less frizzy, and look more vibrant.

Francesca Fusco | Cosmetic Dermatologist

Source: Women's Health. December, 2012.