Travelers: protect and repair skin with RoC + dermatologist’s advice![classic article]

If you’re a regular reader of beauty, health and fashion mags, you’ve probably seen those annual beauty awards they give in the fall (some mags do it in the spring). RoC invariably is one of the tippy top of brands widely available at mass merchandisers, including CVS. It’s also popular in Europe. I was happy to be hosted to experience it!

Did you know that the RoC skincare brand originated in France in 1957? Pharmacist Jean-Charles Lissarrague used to make his formulas by hand.

These days, we like to have lots of benefits in one cream. Sure, sometimes we have a “spa night” with a bazillion potions. But when on the road, it’s best to have products that give the most bang for the buck or Euro or . . .

RoC MULTI CORREXION 5 in 1 Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 has a thin, serum- like consistency in a pump container perfectly sized for 3-1-1 carry-on travel bags. Here’s what they say about it:

There’s a night cream too. It’s also sized for 3-1-1 carry-on travel bags and is in a tub container. It’s more of a lotion-creme consistency.

An interesting new product is RoC SMOOTH PERFEXION® Instant Line Corrector. It’s an easy to apply primer-consistency product that goes on after moisturizer. You can wear it alone or under makeup. A little dab’ll do ya! It gives a smoother surface look to your skin.

Dermatologist Dr. Chipps answers our questions on anti-aging skincare:

RoC® MULTI 1. What is your recommendation for treating sunburned skin that is also acne-prone? And skin that has visible fine lines and wrinkles?

· For sunburned skin:

First, get out of the sun. There is some new evidence that damage continues to occur even at night after a day of sun exposure. So, when your skin looks burned, go inside. Cool the skin by washing with cool water. Use only a very gentle cleanser (not your acne cleanser!) to remove any sunscreen/saltwater/chlorine residue. Then apply a gentle, cooling moisturizer, typically one that contains aloe. Oral anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen, are also soothing. Forget about tending to your acne, lines, or wrinkles and just baby the skin until the sunburn has diminished.

2. How much of each product should one apply? Is there such thing as over-applying? Product examples to consider for this question include, SMOOTH PERFEXION® Instant Line Corrector, MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 and RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer.

· Really, you cannot over apply sunscreen. Most of us dramatically under apply our sunscreens and don’t get the maximum benefits from the products. Similarly, you can’t go wrong over-applying Retinol, especially OTC.

3. What is the ideal age to start using anti-aging products?

· The first anti-aging product that I introduce to my patients is sunscreen, usually when they are teenagers and fighting acne. Sun protection is the most important step you can take to fight aging, and you cannot start daily sun protection too early. Many topical retinoids that we use to treat acne also have some anti-aging benefits, so I believe that starting these products in the teenage years is often appropriate. Ultraviolet radiation damages the skin in a cumulative fashion. The more UV rays your skin sees over a lifetime, the more aged your skin will appear. That said, it’s never too late to protect from further damage and to work to undo past sun damage.

4. If someone suffers from skin conditions such as adult acne, should they focus on treating the acne versus aging skin? Can you treat them together?

· Yes, you can treat them together. Many adult women have both aging concerns, like fine lines and discoloration, and some acne. If you are one of these women, I recommend seeing a dermatologist to get on a regimen that is best for your skin.