above: CHANEL beauty products you can find in downtown Westport.
During a recent visit from Dr. Amy Wechsler, Advisor to CHANEL Skincare at Westport’s new CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty Boutique, we sat down to discuss the launch of Sublimage L’Extrait de Lotion and a luxe product lineup for long-term results versus trendy tips secured on TikTok.
With the onset of a new season, what should we be thinking about when developing a fall skincare routine?
I think it’s important to remember that the sun’s rays are still strong in CT in the early Fall — I see a lot of sunburns in September and that is because psychologically summer feels over and some people don’t continue to wear sunscreen. So please remember to wear sunscreen daily! At the end of the summer, many of my patients feel that their pores are clogged and/or that their skin appears dull. This is a great time to come in for a microdermabrasion or chemical peel treatment — both remove the dead cells from the skin and allow the surface of the epidermis to regenerate all at once. In addition, a salicylic acid peel will help remove the sticky cells that could be clogging pores. In the fall, it’s great to get back into the routine of using a prescription retinoid like Retin-A (tretinoin) since many people stop using it in the summer.
What are the top essential products for a solid fall skincare lineup.
Sunscreen (this can be CHANEL UV Essentiel), a hydrating serum like CHANEL Hydra Beauty Micro Serum, and a soothing moisturizer like CHANEL La Solution 10 de CHANEL or the new CHANEL Sublimage L’Extrait de Lotion. Of course, a gentle cleanser (CHANEL La Mousse).
Break down a skincare routine by age. What do we need in our 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s…?
I think the 20s and 30s are pretty similar, where prevention is still paramount. Daily sunscreen (this is true at every age) and all products should be non-comedogenic since many people are still very acne prone at these ages. Topical retinoids like tretinoin cannot be used during pregnancy, so that is just something to keep in mind. Gentle cleanser, serum if an extra layer of moisturizer is wanted/needed, moisturizer, sunscreen.
40s is often the group that comes into my office complaining of pimples and wrinkles — they feel too old for their pimples and too young for their wrinkles. I can treat both in the office and with certain prescriptions.
50s – perimenopause/menopause can cause new hormonal acne. If a woman is not on HRT, her skin can get dryer and therefore need heavier moisturizers — good news is this is a perfect time to try something like CHANEL Sublimage La Crème.
60s – same as 50s postmenopausal. Never too late to start sunscreen and topical retinoid.
Are there certain ingredients you are seeing trending that consumers should take note of?
Not really – Vitamin C has made a resurgence from over 20 years ago, but I am not a big fan – it’s oxidized easily when exposed to air. Better antioxidant examples are in CHANEL La Solution 10 de CHANEL (Silver Needle White Tea), the CHANEL Sublimage franchise (Vanilla Planifolia), and the CHANEL Hydra Beauty franchise (Blue Ginger).
What are your top skincare tips for suburban living?
I think it’s important to be protected from both UVA and UVB rays while in a car. Only UVB are blocked by glass, and UVA rays are what I call the “silent wrinklers” because they do not cause an immediate tan or burn, so we don’t know we have been exposed. UVA, like UVB, cause premature skin aging and skin cancer. Every time I get a new car, I have them apply UVA films to the windows. I also think it’s important to apply sunscreen every day, even if it’s raining, the weather can change and one should always be protected. Do not keep sunscreen in the car! If it gets warm, it gets broken down and no longer works. For watching your kids’ sports games, buy chairs that have a sun shield or umbrella because there is usually zero shade on any field!
All Products available at:
CHANEL
Beauty and Fragrance Boutique
58 Main Street, Westport, CT