In a recent podcast, I interviewed Jennifer Hollander, Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, skincare expert and cosmetic injector at Dr. Ben Talei’s Beverly Hills Center, about all things skin and aesthetics. We discussed skincare ingredients everyone should be using; REAL tips for prevention and healthy aging (besides SPF!); Botox, fillers and threads; how to treat specific concerns such as laxity, jowls, skin crepiness, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, dark circles, sagging brows and more; the different lasers available and what they each treat, and so much more. From brows to boobs, we cover it all! So, if you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, here’s are some top takeaways.

First off, I asked Jen what ingredients everyone should be using in their skincare regimen. She said that universally, everyone should be using a Retin-A because it’s the gold standard for anti-aging. She also highly recommends washing your face twice a day, wearing sunscreen, and adding vitamin C and hyaluronic acid into your routine – all of which are preventative things you can do for anti-aging. Contrary to popular belief – and if you follow me on IG then you know I don’t personally use it – moisturizer is not an essential skincare product. If your skin is used to a daily moisturizer, then it could stop producing its own oil which makes your skin dependent on a moisturizer. Furthermore, if you aren’t using a chemical exfoliator like a Retin-A, AHA or BHA and are putting moisturizer on top of dead skin cells, then your skin is going to look more dull and isn’t healthy for your skin. Serums, on the other hand, have a ton of moisturizing properties – look for ingredients such as stem cells, hyaluronic acid, peptides, growth factors, polyphenols, vitamin E and vitamin A.

If you’re wondering what the difference is between Retin-A and retinol, then you probably aren’t alone! Retinol is basically a watered down version of Retin-A and isn’t as strong. Most people can’t tolerate using Retin-A more than three times per week, and it also takes the skin some time to adjust to using it regularly. So why is it such a great anti-aging ingredient? Well, Retin-A is a form of vitamin A that helps the skin renew itself. It’s often used for treating acne, but it also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helps with skin discoloration, and makes the skin feel smoother – sign me up! If you’re ready to introduce a Retin-A into your skincare routine, then listen up! Start small (use a pea size amount once per week) to work up your tolerance, otherwise you could experience some side effects like dryness, redness and itchiness. Jen also recommends applying in this order: hyaluronic serum, Retin-A, and then a growth factor serum. Applying in this order will help reduce the risk of side effects.

Jen and I also talk about Botox, fillers, threads, as well as skin concerns such as dark circles, acne scarring, sagging, and so much more. Listen to the full podcast episode here for more skincare tips and what to do from the brows to the boobs!