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I went to the dermatologist for the first time in my life three months ago.
Yes, you read that right, the first time . . . in my life. As a 47 year old, that might seem kind of unfathomable. Now that I think about it, it is pretty crazy, especially considering the fact that I know people who’ve made the dermatologist’s office an annual stop for most of their adult lives.
But as someone who’s never really had any issues myself — aside from, you know, the extremely occasional mild sunburn — and has no family history of skin problems to speak of, it’s not been a huge concern or created any kind of urgency to make it a habit. But, as a 47 year old, I thought it was high time to at least check in and see if there did happen to be anything I should worry about.
My appointment went great. I’m extremely low risk. Nothing was concerning. Come back in two years, they said. Fine with me!
Although I haven’t always been super regimented when it comes to my skincare routine, I did finally get more serious about it about seven or eight years ago, I’d say. (Never forget that it’s never too late to start a solid skincare routine.) And even though I feel like I do pretty well in that area, while I had a professional in front of me at the dermatologist’s office, I did ask for some feedback on my current routine. Am I doing enough? Too much? Is there something I should add?
Somewhat surprisingly, I was told that I was pretty much doing it right. And even more surprisingly, the dermatologist mentioned that you don’t really have to do much more than a few things to keep your skin healthy:
- Wash with a gentle cleanser
- Moisturize after washing
- Apply sunscreen daily
Of those three things, daily sunscreen was the one area where I wasn’t being as consistent. Sure, I always put sunscreen on if I’m going to be out in the sun for any length of time, but you’re exposed to the sun all the time irregardless of the season or even if you’re indoors sitting near a window.
When it comes to sun and skin care, there is no one-formula-fits-all.
With any skincare routine, it’s important that you choose the right products. And by “the right products,” I mean products that work for you. Everyone’s skin is different and what works well for someone else might not work for you.
I am always on the hunt for great skincare products and I am always willing to pay for high quality stuff that is truly backed by science and trusted by dermatologists. And that’s how I came to discover EltaMD’s skincare line.
About My Skin
Before getting into EltaMD and the specific products I’ve been using, I do want to take just a quick moment to talk about my skin because as I mentioned above, everyone’s skin is different. In general, there are five different skin types:
- Normal Skin
- Sensitive Skin
- Dry Skin
- Oily Skin
- Combination Skin
While each skin type is pretty self-explanatory, we’ve got a guide linked right above, which takes a little deeper dive into each one, what causes that particular condition, and how best to treat it.
For me, though, I’ve got normal skin. That makes it pretty easy in terms of knowing what to do, which is why I’m sure the dermatologist told me that I really didn’t need to get fancy — wash, moisturize, protect from the sun.
Although my skin is fairly low maintenance, I do have a couple problem spots, which show themselves primarily during the summer. My skin will get very dry between my eyebrows and to the left of my nose. If I don’t tend to those spots, they’ll get quite red and itchy but as long as I’m diligent with giving them a little extra moisturizer both morning and night, it clears up quickly.
About EltaMD
If you do a Google search for EltaMD, you’re likely to find a lot of reviews and chatter about their tinted sunscreens, which could lead you to believe that it’s a skin and sun care brand for women only. (At least that’s what I thought since every single one of those reviews was written by a woman.)
But that’s not the case. EltaMD is a skin and sun care brand for all people and all skin types with products that are designed to feel weightless and proven to protect, and help to renew skin.
They’ve been around for over 30 years and have spent that time developing safe and effective products. During that time, they’ve developed quite a reputation among the dermatologist population and have become not only the number one dermatologist-recommended and trusted professional sunscreen brand, but they’re also the products that dermatologists use personally more than any other professional sunscreen.
Rooted in a powerful healing ointment that that was passed down by farmers for generations in rural Switzerland, that “Swiss secret” made its way to the United States in 1988 by way of EltaMD’s founder, who saw its full healing potential, thereby inspiring him to create the Elta line.
That line soon became the trusted choice in healing at hospitals, burn centers and rehabilitation clinics around the world. From medical use, Elta continued its evolution and with its science-backed formulas, launched EltaMD in 2007, making next-level professional skincare products available to everyone.
EltaMD believes in everyone’s right to live freely under the sun and they support a number of causes, including Destination Healthy Skin and the Skin of Color Society, among others, showing that their commitment to healthy skin goes far beyond the products themselves.
My EltaMD Products
Now let’s take a look at the four EltaMD products I’ve incorporated into my very simple and effective skincare routine. Here’s how I’ll talk about each:
- A brief description
- How to use
- How the product feels
Let’s jump right into it.
Foaming Facial Cleanser
EltaMD’s Foaming Facial Cleanser is a gentle enzyme and amino acid blend that loosens impurities on the skin and in the pores. It has a thick, rich foam that gently cleanses and leaves skin feeling clean and balanced. It is pH-balanced, safe for all skin types, its enzymes help to reduce inflammation and is gentle enough for daily use, both morning and night.
How To Use: Pump a moderate amount of cleanser to damp skin. Massage in gently and evenly to moistened face and neck. Allow 30 seconds for the cleanser to foam. Once the cleanser has foamed, rinse off well with lukewarm water. If cleanser does not foam after 30 seconds, rinse and repeat to ensure thorough cleansing. Gently pat skin dry with a soft towel.
The Feel: If you’ve not used a foaming cleanser before, this is going to to feel a lot different than what you’re used to. It is very light and delicate and leaves my skin feeling extremely clean and not dry at all.
Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer
This is a lightweight, non-greasy, and effortlessly wearable moisturizer that helps repair skin barrier damage, calm redness and improve hydration. In fact, with ingredients like Squalane, Coconut Fruit Extract, and Sodium Hyaluronate (a more potent form of Hyaluronic Acid), it nurtures dehydrated skin, restores, suppleness, and protects against future moisture loss. Additionally, it contains seawater sourced from France, which is rich in minerals that help retain moisture and lessen the impact of pollution. It’s dermatologist-tested, dye-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, and suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
How To Use: Simply apply over face and neck and after serum, if you use one.
The Feel: Like the Foaming Facial Cleanser, the moisturizer is extremely light and I’ll say again that it’s probably a lot different than what you’re used to. It is not thick, like many moisturizers out there and has an almost milky quality and feel to it. You don’t need a lot as it spreads very thinly and evenly, which is something to get used to if you’re in the habit of slathering your face with moisturizer. It absorbs into my skin in a matter of seconds. It is not greasy at all and almost disappears into my skin, leaving it honestly the softest I’ve ever felt.
UV AOX Mist Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
EltaMD’s UV AOX Mist Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 is a sheer-finish 100-percent mineral sunscreen spray that’s enriched with skin-rejuvenating antioxidants, helping to visibly reduce signs of premature aging. It has a transparent Zinc Oxide finish that blends flawlessly into all skin types, a gentle formula for daily use on both your face and body and is water resistant for up to 40 minutes.
How To Use: Apply to skin liberally and evenly, holding the container 4 to 6 inches from the skin. Do not spray the product directly onto the face. Instead, spray onto the hands then rub into to the face.
The Feel: I will say that the first experience applying this to my hands and then face was not what I was expecting. Like the two products I’ve already discussed, this sunscreen is quite light although in terms of color (white) it looks like most other sunscreens I’ve used. Despite that, when I apply it to my face it spreads very easily and evenly and will absorb into my skin within 5-10 seconds. Once absorbed, it’s like I don’t have anything on at all as it leaves no residue and is not greasy at all. Although it absorbs extremely well into my face, I do like to give my hands a rinse after applying.
UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36
EltaMD’s UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 is a creamy, long-lasting sunscreen, providing both UVA and UVB protection, that moisturizes dry, chapped and sun-exposed lips (though I like to use it whenever I’m in the sun, especially if I’m at the pool or on the beach). It is water resistant up to 80 minutes.
How To Use: Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure and then reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, and at least every two hours.
The Feel: While the directions say to apply liberally, I’ve found that I barely need more than a (very) small dab. It’s light, spreads easily, and absorbs in about 5-10 seconds. I don’t even know I put anything on my lips.
The Results
As of the publish date of this article, I’ve been using the EltaMD products above for one month and the results have far exceeded my expectations. It’s always a little nerve-racking to try out new skin care products. Will it work? Will my skin like it? Will I have a reaction? In the past with various other products, the answers to those three questions were no, no, yes.
However, in this instance, I’ve found EltaMD to be a very good fit for me for a three specific reasons.
First and foremost, it works for my skin. Because of the extensive product descriptions and their Find My Regimen chatbot, I was able to select products that would work for my skin type.
Second, these products just feel great. I love how lightweight they all are and particularly how well they absorb into my skin, leaving no appearance (or feel) of greasiness.
And third, it’s super simple. Cleanse, moisturize, protect from the sun. That’s all you really need and EltaMD delivers.
Is EltaMD Worth The Price?
No discussion of a skincare regimen would be complete without a discussion of price. Quality skin care products can be quite expensive. And I should also say that not-as-high-quality and ineffective designer skin care products can be absurdly expensive.
EltaMD products are not in the “absurdly expensive” category, but they are just a touch pricier than some of the more ubiquitous names out there in the industry.
Me? I’m always willing to pay a bit more for something that’s high-quality and, in the case of skin care products, also extremely effective, that works well for my skin, is backed by dermatologists and delivers results. So if you’re like me in that respect, then the answer to the question is a firm yes, EltaMD is worth the price.
The Bottom Line
My experience with EltaMD’s skincare products has been overwhelmingly positive. From the gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser to the lightweight Skin Recovery Moisturizer and the effective UV protection products, this simple routine has significantly improved my skin’s health and appearance. For those seeking a dermatologist-recommended, science-backed skincare regimen that delivers results without unnecessary complexity, EltaMD is definitely worth considering. It’s an investment in your skin that pays off in both the short and long term.
Thanks, as always, for reading.