Skin Secret: Avoid all skin care products with acids. This includes alpha hydroxy acids (or AHAs, such as glycolic, citric, and lactic) and retinoic acids (like OTC and prescription retinols), both of which are very prevalent in OTC products.
Why: “You think you’re exfoliating or brightening your skin, but you’re really creating a low-grade burn, which makes your skin more sensitive to the sun,” Radu says. That, in turn, creates premature brown spots and discoloration. “It may take me time to show my clients that acids are bad, but I always do,” she says.
Skin-scription: While
skincare professsionals suggest the use of retinol in moderation, Radu tells her clients to use serums and creams with ingredients like collagen, elastin, keratin, and sodium hyaluronate, which all nourish the skin and in turn provide a similar glowy effect.