Image via Dr. Halaas

It's super rude to corner a plastic surgeon or dermatologist at a cocktail party and grill them for free medical advice, but I'm willing to go beyond the rules of etiquette and ask those questions you've been dying to find out. Dr. Yael Halaas is a top NYC plastic surgeon and gave me the scoop on customized product solutions that are as easy as an insurance copay, and also what she uses on herself to keep that glowing gorgeous complexion.

 

Wendy: Fess up: what are you using right now?

Dr. Halaas: Well, I know all of the good ingredients and I have a pharmacist mix them up for me! I use a little glycolic, a green tea-fortified (meaning non-foaming) cleanser. I like green tea because it's soothing, and the fortified is creamy because I like to rinse with water (instead of cold creams or oils, as in some cultures). The foaming kinds of cleansers are more drying, and since we're heading into the winter months, I want something that is not as drying.

Once a day, I then use a little glycolic toner that has a little salicylic acid in it. The glycolic keeps the skin surface supple and is helpful with a little acne. Adult acne is on the rise, but it might be more stress, environmental pollution. I'm really theorizing, there are hormonal issues, allergens in our food, etc. Glycolic is good for wrinkles, then I also use a light moisturizer that also has a little salicylic in it, Then my sunscreen is inside my foundation. Once a month I get a superficial peel to help with acne control.

 

Wendy: Tell me the scoop on what's most exciting in the derm world?

 

Dr. Halaas: There is so much more variety in fillers, from a facial plastics perspective. Thankfully, we seem to be over the hype with the replacement of surgery with machines like lasers, but I think we're all a little wiser now. I hope that consumers aren't being overhyped now, that lasers are a cure-all. Machines do some things, but we have to put them in their place. Also, I'm working with a company that is working on a laser that can resurface darker skin types, which I'm really excited about.

 

Wendy: If I have $200, what should I spend it on?

 

Dr. Halaas: I would go see a good dermatologist, and get a superficial peel and maybe a couple of prescriptions that would help maintain you. I think your 30s are a good time to start thinking of Botox because it's easier to prevent the line than erase it, but if you want to avoid the injections, there's a lot of great stuff out there. For instance, the glycolic salicylic pads that I make are really inexpensive. My moisturizer/antibiotic/salicylic is covered by insurance because it's made by the pharmacist, but it isn't that complicated. A dermatologist can write you a prescription and then your corner pharmacist can make it for you.

 

Wendy: Beauty behind the pharmacy counter and all for the price of a copay? That's pretty slick!