Spring is upon us. Along with the on-and-off weather, jean jackets and a continued focus on wellness, 2024 has been all about treating yourself—whether it’s getting a facial or the latest massage.
If you just want to try something new, here are some skincare trends popping up this year, according to board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Barry Weintraub. The New York skincare expert shares his thoughts on the latest facials, massages, and non-surgical procedures.
To start, we might know the HydraFacial for the face (or body), which is in growing demand. This non-invasive skin treatment cleanses, exfoliates, extracts, and hydrates the skin, helping moisturize the skin, just in time for summer. It helps deep clean your skin and boosts hydration.
“HydraFacials are effective because they vacuum up the impurities of the skin,” said Dr. Weintraub. “We then infuse the skin with essential nourishment, which is needed just in time for summer.”
He customizes each treatment with serums that help restore your skin, and they can be combined with an Oxygen facial (where a wand adds pressurized oxygen to the skin) to restore damaged facial tissues. “I recommend that if you want to firm your face, you might want to try radiofrequency micro-needling, too,” he said. “It may help improve your skin texture and tone.”
Another growing trend this year is known as the “Lymph DM,” also known as lymphatic-drainage massage. As we segue from our heavy winter diet to lighter summer fare, the body tends to retain puffiness. This massage is unlike your traditional deep tissue massage. It helps target certain areas of your body, so you feel less bloated. This type of massage helps promote the movement of lymphatic fluid and get rid of excess swelling. In the end, the goal is to make your body look leaner.
“The lymphatic-drainage massage usually helps my postoperative patients to get rid of any excessive swelling, but as of late, many non-surgical patients are asking for it to help remove bloating for a very toned look,” he said.
Natural beauty is achieved through upkeep, over the years, according to Dr. Weintraub. “I would advise spending time using sunscreen, having small amounts of injectables over the years and possibly some laser treatments,” he said. “If you’re considering having a facelift, you will look better if you practice upkeep before and you’ll get much better results.”
Upkeep means something different to everyone, but the focus is on taking care of your skin, as well as diet, sleep, and exercise. It’s the small steps that lead to impactful results over time. “To me, the best kind of upkeep can mean anything from Botox and small amounts of filler to radiofrequency microneedling to minor surgical improvements like eye surgery,” he said.
When it comes to skincare, Dr. Weintraub has his own line of skincare, called BeautyWorks NYC. For spring and summer, his go-to recommendation is his Physician’s Grade Sun Protection sunscreen, a broad-spectrum 50+ SPF sunscreen with vitamin E and natural squalane, a natural moisturizer. “It’s a medical-grade sunscreen made with zinc and iron oxide that protects from the sun, as well as blue light exposure from digital devices,” he said.
His recommended skincare routine goes beyond sunscreen. Dr. Weintraub offers a simple daily skincare routine for both men and women. He suggests starting out the day with a Vitamin C cleanser, one which should have antioxidant properties. “This should be used first thing in the morning and at night, before bed,” he says.
He then recommends using a hyaluronic-gel serum that contains vitamins B3 and B5, both of which hydrate the skin. “It can be blended with makeup for even more effectiveness,” says Dr. Weintraub. Beyond moisturizing skin, he recommends using his Glow Pads once a week, too. “They’re like a mini chemical peel of glycolic and lactic acid, and can be used on the face and the body to exfoliate and brighten without retinol, which makes the skin sensitive to the sun,” he said.
And to keep sunscreen handy, too. “Generally speaking, my medical-grade skincare line is a customized combination of hyaluronic acids, retinols, peptides, antioxidants, ferulic acid, vitamin E and C and plant growth factors,” he said. “The vitamins come in higher quantities than what is available over the counter, too.”
Follow Barry Weintraub on Instagram @drbarryweintraub