One of my favorite parts of running San Francisco Plastic Surgery is getting to be “in the know” about currently available skin care products that our patients, and our own team, are genuinely obsessed with and swear by. Every product we carry is medical-grade (meaning they contain the highest concentration of active ingredients and are only available at Physicians’ offices) and clinically tested, and that does NOT mean it has to break the bank.

We truly practice what we preach – and that means we try all our products on ourselves and use many of them daily! I asked some of our Dream Team members at our Front Office and around the practice, to share the products they personally use and love. Here is what they told me:

Niloo’s Picks: Phloretin CF Serum and HQ Brightening Pads

“I love Phloretin CF serum. I have used it for almost 20 years, and for someone with a constantly changing T-zone, acne-prone skin, and menopausal skin, it really helps control oil, slow the progression of brown spots, and calm breakouts.”

“The other product I love is the HQ brightening pads. They have helped even out my skin tone, calm my acne, and lighten my melasma. I noticed a difference within a month, and one box lasts about two months!”

— Niloo, Front Office Coordinator

Autumn’s Pick: Tretinoin 0.025%

“I am a huge proponent of tretinoin, especially the 0.025% we carry. Many Dermatology offices start their tretinoin offerings at 0.05%, which leads many patients to feel frustrated and give up due to redness, flaking, and irritation. The 0.025% strength is a great starting point that eases patients into tretinoin without as many of those side effects. It is also a good option for younger patients (like me) without a history of acne, since not every patient needs an aggressive retinoid.”

— Autumn, Non-Surgical Front Office Coordinator

I also have trouble tolerating strong Retin-A (the name brand of tretinoin) – that’s way I gravitate to gentler products such as SkinBetter’s Alpha Ret cream that I apply at night.

Mary’s Pick: Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+

“I am of Asian descent and my skin is very sensitive. My favorite skin care is my medical-grade SkinRx private label sunblock. I use it religiously – see my nearly empty tube and my replacement! It has a tint that works even on darker skin like mine, is gentle on my reactive skin, goes on smoothly and evenly, and is very moisturizing thanks to the antioxidants inside. It has SPF 50+. I keep one in my backpack for rides and one at the office. Love it!”

— Mary, Patient Coordinator

Dr. Horton’s Pick

“My go-to products from our own office skin care offerings include SkinCeuticals LHA cleanser for my naturally oily skin – yes, still oily even in menopause! LHA is gentle enough to use twice daily, even over my eyelids to remove eye makeup, and has a refreshing tingling sensation. I religiously apply Phloretin CF antioxidant gel next in the morning (followed by my sun protection and makeup), SkinBetter AlphaRET cream after cleansing at night, and Latisse before bed to help keep my eyelashes to length as I age. Once I find products that work, are easy to apply, low maintenance to use and don’t cause irritation, I stick with them – I’m a loyal medical-grade skin care user”.

Find Your Own Favorite

Every person on our team has different skin, different concerns, and a different routine, and that is exactly the point. The best skin care regimen is not one-size-fits-all, it is the one built for you.

If you are not sure where to start, Emily Sespaniak, NP and Danielle Bautista, MSN, ANP would love to help. They can look at your skin, talk through your goals, and put together a plan that actually fits your life, not just what is trending.