If you’ve noticed dark spots on your skin and you’re looking to get rid of them, you need to be aware that all discoloration is not the same, and that you can actually make some discoloration worse if you treat it with the wrong modality. We talk to renowned dermatologist, Dr. Dennis Gross, about the different causes of the hyperpigmentation – a broad term used to describe skin that has been discolored or darkened due to an array of factors, including sun damage, acne scarring or inflammation and melasma.

Beauty isn’t ONLY Skin Deep.  Happiness and peace are big contributors to beauty as you either radiate vibrant energy – or not. No amount of skin care products can hide fatigue, anxiety and fear. If we want to look our best – we have to feel our best. That means we have to incorporate our entire wellbeing in our self-care and beauty regime. It means looking at our anxiety, healing our traumas, learning how to release things in our life that are draining our energy and putting better boundaries in place (in relation to people, time, energy outputs and drama). We speak to metaphysician and self-development specialist, Dr. Sonia Killik (Mpsy.D) about her 4-point Renew system, the four quadrants of a persons life that need attention on our path to total wellbeing.

We talk to Contours RX founder and CEO, Britain Todd, about Lids By Design, her “push-up bra for the eyelids. These cosmetic strips were developed to temporarily uplift the appearance of eyelids, and are especially helpful for those who experience moderate hooding and desire the temporary look of a casual lift or moderate adjustment for asymmetrical eyes.

If you’ve started to notice changes in your skin or even mood, there’s a chance your hormones are to blame. While there is no specialized field specifically dedicated to ”hormonal dermatology”, Dr. Zenovia has taken a keen interest in the area. We talk to the board-certified dermatologist about everything from how to identify hormonal acne to the relationship between estrogen and collagen. She also felt that there has always been a market white space in products that effectively address internal issues topically, and so she created a line centered around hormonal dermatology. Dr. Zenovia Skincare has two collections, one for anti-aging and one for acne, and launched this month on the dermatologists website and will be available next month on Sephora.

When we think of plastic surgery, there can be immediate connotations, positive or negative, that come to our minds: our favorite celebrities, our guilty-pleasure reality TV shows, or even our friends and families who have had procedures. There tends to be an air of negativity around plastic surgery: assumptions about people’s motivations, and judgments about before and after transformations, can make plastic surgery feel like a taboo topic. We talk to Dr. Chloe Carmichael about how plastic surgery can be a way for someone to increase their self-confidence and empower a person to choose how they want to present themself to the world because they have a clear sense of self, and they know exactly how they want to look.

Not so fun fact: we spend over 1/2 our lives in front of screens and that endless screen time could trigger more than FOMO – it could be be aging you. But one company, Goodhabit, is pioneering the movement in defending your skin against artificial blue light and modern day skin stressors. According to Jeniece Trizzino, the VP of product Development, spending one hour in front of our computers is the same as spending 15 minutes in the sun – UNPROTECTED She says that all of our digital screens (meaning your laptop, TV, tablet, phone) and even our Ring Light (eek!) emit blue light. While UVA and UVB rays impact the first and second layers of skin, blue light actually penetrates at a deeper level and causes oxidative stress, increasing the risk of dullness, discoloration, and fine lines. We get to the bottom of why Blue Light needs to be on your radar, and Jeniece shares her tips for protecting against the damaging rays of blue light when you can’t unplug.

The beauty industry takes in almost 50 billion dollars a year, and that’s in the U.S. alone. With promises of more youthful, firmer and brighter skin, it’s no wonder we flock to buy the latest products and seek out the buzziest new ingredients. But according the Dr. Heather Rogers, you may have been duped – and she’s not afraid to tell you why. We’ll talk about why using multiple products can actual be harmful, and why expensive doesn’t always equal results. She’ll also share the best way to get rid of sunspots, how to lessen the appearance of scars, and the skincare regimen and ingredients to get proven results.

A team of stem-cell scientists may have discovered the molecule to help not only prevent but also reverse inflammation in our cells that leads to aging. Drs. Ben Van Handel PhD and Amir Nobakht MD, MBA met in the stem cell biology labs at USC. Their orthopedic research was focused on reducing “inflammaging” (inflammation + aging) and increasing the functionality of stem cells in our joints, thereby re-growing cartilage. This mission led them to develop HX-1, a molecule that shields stem cells from stressors that fuel the aging process. Once they realized these same technologies could apply to the skin, Heraux was born. We talk to the founders about what HX-1 does to the skin, and why it lives up to the price tag.

When it comes to a whiter smile, there are unlimited options that claim to work – from strips, to trays, to toothpaste.  We talk to Amber’s own dentist, Pamela Hunte, about the various methods for whitening both in-home and in-office, and what realistic results we can except from each.  She’ll also discuss bonding, veneers, and even share an ineffective product that you probably have in your medicine cabinet.