When you’re sick of Google beauty fails, that usually means it’s time to call in the professionals. We have tried it all – and we were definitely ready for some expert advice.

Dr. Kassir with Melissa Gorga of The Real Housewives of New Jersey

We reached out to New York City’s Godfather of Aesthetics, Dr. Ramtin Kassir, to get the scoop on serious skincare. Some of his clients such as Melissa Gorga of the Real Housewives of New Jersey and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of the Jersey Shore swear by his tips and beauty secrets – and now you can try them too. Here are the Kassir secrets to looking youthful and refreshed:

Dr. Kassir starts by explaining how the skin on your face isn’t the only area that can give away your age. Your neck, hands, decolletage, and eyes are telltale signs of aging, therefore having the correct products for those areas is crucial. Makeup can only hide so much; if you don’t have healthy skin as a base, contouring won’t make much of a difference.

Every Medical Professional will start by telling you the bascis:

Stay Hydrated: Water is the best thing for skin.

Follow A Healthy Diet: What you eat shows in your complexion. If you’re looking to clear up your skin, stay away from greasy foods.

Get Sleep:  Lack of sleep is the can really take its toll on your skin. Beauty rest is real! Aim to get your full 8 hours in per night. 

Now to dig a little deeper…

Dr. Kassir reveals one mistake many of us are making that we never even realized! We don’t pay attention to our skin.

It’s not uncommon to get so caught up in our daily routine that we forget to change it up when needed. Skin changes with the seasons. The type of treatments and products we apply in the dog days of summer are entirely different than what our skin is craving in the winter.

A lightweight moisturizer may suffice during the warmer months but when the cold sets in, a more intense product is needed. Drinking water and using an adequate cream for your skin is the key to avoiding the cracking, dryness, and redness that is correlated with those chilly months. If your skin is already damaged, Dr. Kassir suggests a chemical peel or laser treatment for skin correcting. These options are ideal for winter months because exposure to the sun is typically much less during this time.

 Don’t Forget! Use broad-spectrum, physical sunscreen which contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, K- Defense Emollient Sunscreen, SPF 30; or K-Defense Oil-Free Sunscreen, SPF 30, for oily skin types.

So now that we’ve covered what to do, it’s time to touch on what not to do.

Here are Dr. Kassir’s Skin Care DONT’S:

1. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE. The oils and dirt from your hands are the number culprit when it comes to breakouts. Stop popping pimples, picking at scabs and scars from acne, and sitting with your hands on resting on your face. So often we do this without even realizing it, but it can have a terrible effect on your skin.
2. DO NOT USE SOAP. Sounds odd right? Soap for your body should never be applied to your face. It dries the natural, healthy oils right out of your pores that your skin will not replace.
3. DO NOT OVER EXFOLIATE.  Exfoliating more than once a week can prove to be detrimental to your skin. The harshness will cause the skin’s surface to lose its natural glow and oils, giving you the opposite of the results you seek.
4. DO NOT MIX IT UP.  We’re all eager to try new products when they’re released on the market, but trying too many or frequent switching is a leading cause of breakouts and skin irritation. This is one of those cases where less is more.
5. DO NOT FORGET YOUR SUNSCREEN. You’ve heard it a million times, and you’ll hear it a million more. Why? Because it’s that important!!! Whether it’s in your makeup or just sunblock, there should be SPF on your skin every day to prevent cancer, premature aging, and damage.

Stay on top of your skin health! You shouldn’t wait until you notice something negative to get checked. Contact Dr. Kassir’s office to get more information and schedule your appointment for a skin evaluation by a highly-trained specialist!

Email  [email protected] or call 212-288-3000