Beverly Hills, CA, dermatologist Zein Obagi, MD, is a world-renowned skin care expert known for his innovative approach to anti-aging skin health. As the creator and medical director for ZO Skin Health, he coined the term the “Science of Skin Health” because of his lifelong quest to explain to others how skin health can help you achieve naturally smooth, strong, firm, even-toned and hydrated skin. Here, he takes a minute to share the essential steps that are important for getting beautiful, glowing skin at any age.
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NewBeauty: What newest product or procedure do you consider to be a game changer?
Dr. Obagi: The best product and the newest one in my line is the ZO Ossential Daily Power Defense in its new formula. It tightens and firms skin while protecting its DNA and increasing its resistance to the sun’s damaging effects. It also helps to protect against future skin damage by improving its strength and tolerance.
NB: What are the essential skin care steps you should follow for a good daily regimen?
Dr. Obagi: We designed the ZO Daily Skincare Program with the proper steps in mind to regulate and activate the skin’s cellular functions and to help in maintaining skin renewal. These are the essential skin care steps to follow in order to get and maintain optimal skin health. First, cleanse your skin in the morning, as well as the evening. Your skin then needs an exfoliating scrub to stimulate circulation and restore a natural glow. The next steps are a deep pore cleansing, followed a product to strengthen skin and increase tolerance (like Ossentials Daily Power Defense), and finally sun protection that contains UVA and UVB blockers and natural melanin.
NB: What are the latest procedures that your well-known celebrity clients are requesting?
Dr. Obagi: Right now everyone is asking for skin-tightening treatments. We do this in-office with the ZO Controlled Depth Peel, which treats various skin conditions like acne, wrinkles, fine lines, skin pigmentation disorders and sun damage.
NB: What should everyone in their 20s do to have better skin in their 30s and 40s?
Dr. Obagi: Adopt a scientific daily skin care routine in order to take the necessary preventive steps to maintain your skin’s cellular activity.
NB: What products or procedures should a woman incorporate into her routine as she transitions from her 30s to her 40s?
Dr. Obagi: Keeping your skin tight and preventing wrinkles is key at this stage. This can be accomplished by getting a ZO Controlled Depth Peel treatment every four to five years or the ZO 3-Step Peel (to exfoliate and stimulate) two to three times a year.
NB: What’s a beauty trend you’ve seen over the course of your career that you wish would go away?
Dr. Obagi: Ignorance. Women should not pay attention to marketing and advertisement to decide which products they should use on their face. Find out what your skin type is and what it needs before you make any decisions about what to use on your skin.
NB: What is the one anti-aging myth you wish everyone would stop believing?
Dr. Obagi: That you need a facelift in order to look younger. A facelift should be the last thing you should consider. Also, the false claims that magical elements (that don’t actually exist) advertised in some skin care products actually work.
NB: What is the secret to healthy, glowing skin?
Dr. Obagi: Keeping your skin’s cells active and maintaining skin renewal by following the steps I mentioned previously.
