There’s something gratifying about watching Dr. Sandra Lee slice, scrape, squish and squeeze her patients’ troubled skin on the TLC reality hit “Dr. Pimple Popper.” The dermatologist says she feels the same way — but for different reasons. “Being able to help people throughout this series is what I find most gratifying,” she explains. “I’m so lucky to be part of changing people’s lives in such a wonderful way.”
For season nine, she’s already assisted a woman with a painful rash, a grandfather with a “plum-sized nose,” a man with 400 tumors across his entire body and a woman who had a piece of pencil lead stuck in her hand for 45 years. In the Aug. 23 finale (airing at 9 p.m. EST on TLC), she examines a shy man with a port-wine birthmark spread across one side of his face. “It’s one of the most extensive I’ve ever seen — purple, bumpy and disfiguring,” she says. “Once I met him, I knew we had to do all we could do to help.”
Her unique as-seen-on-TV cases aside, Dr. Lee says that many skin issues are a result of using too many products. “The most common mistake people make when it comes to skin care is doing the most with their routine and adding unnecessary steps [because] the skin may not react well to it,” she says. That’s why less is more: “Stick to the essentials of a cleanser, treatment, moisturizer and SPF.”
And, she stresses, remember to apply that sunscreen year-round!
Ahead, Dr. Lee shares her skin care essentials with CNN Underscored.
“Double cleansing is necessary during the summer to make sure you get rid of all the sweat and grime,” she says. She advises starting any routine with a gentle cleansing water that will remove everything down to stubborn waterproof mascara. Micellar cleansing water does the trick, she adds, because it “gently lifts away makeup, dirt and oil.”
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During the summer months, Dr. Lee recommends adding hyaluronic acid to your skin care routine. “It can help repair any sun damage by hydrating and plumping the skin,” she says. This serum, which comes from her own skin care line, also contains squalene, a saturated oil that increases hydration and locks in moisture.
When it comes to the longevity of your makeup, “eye shadow tends to be one of the first things to go,” Dr. Lee says. An eye shadow primer, she says, will fix the issue. She singles out this one, which is enhanced with shea butter and a nondrying formula. “It will keep your eyes looking vibrant and crease-free for over 24 hours,” she says.
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It’s worth repeating: Wear SPF! Every day! But especially during the warmer months. “It’s essential in the summer to protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays,” she says. She likes this lightweight zinc oxide-infused tinted sunscreen because it’s “great for acne-prone and sensitive skin.” It also doesn’t leave skin with that unsightly white cast.
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Dr. Lee uses this soft-focus, semi-matte contouring wand and sponge applicator to achieve a natural sculpted look. “It’s great for applying on the go,” she says. “And it’s easy to blend and feels lightweight on the skin.”
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Too much fun in the sun this summer? Dr. Lee notes that applying a dark-spot treatment — such as this highly concentrated gel — helps combat signs of sun damage. Thanks to exfoliating and antioxidant ingredients like kojic acid, salicylic acid, squalene and niacinamide, “it will visibly improve the appearance of dark marks.”
Dr. Lee gets her zzz’s on this hypoallergenic silk pillowcase because “it does wonders for your hair, skin and overall health while you sleep.” Each one is handmade and crafted from high-quality, 22-Momme 100% pure mulberry silk.
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