‘I’m A Dermatologist With Combination Skin And These Are My Favorite Products’
Dermatologists prescribe products to their patients all day long, but have you ever wondered which ones they personally use? Welcome to Derm Diaries, a new series where dermatologists share their skin woes—and solutions—so you can steal secrets from their skincare routines.
Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a dermatologist based in Long Island, New York (@mariwalladermatology), says the best part of her job is the relationship she builds with her patients. That’s why she *added* a year to her dermatology surgery studies—so that she could “be there” for her patients and really understand their journey.
The extra training also gave her deeper insight into how skin folds and drapes as it ages. “To be able to calm someone's fear and give them advice on how to make their source of anxiety better is really at the heart of why I became a doctor,” she says. “I often joke with my husband, who is a cardiologist, that I'm more popular at parties because no one can actually see what's inside their arteries.”
As a mother of three young boys with her own dermatology practice, Dr. Mariwalla describes her complexion as typical mid-40s “busy mom, girl boss skin.” Translation: It gets dry during winter and oily in the T-zone in the summer. “My time is constantly stretched, so my number one goal is to make my routine predictable, easy and one that I can stick to,” she says.
Keep scrolling for more of Dr. Mariwalla’s combo skin tips and product picks.
She’s no-frills when it comes to face wash.
“I use regular Dove soap in the shower. The bar is balanced and does not over-dry my skin."
"If I feel I am getting very oily, the other staple in my shower is SkinFix Foaming Clay Cleanser. The clay helps to control oil and the feel of it is like a mousse.”
She exfoliates in the shower.
“I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub for my legs in the shower. If you have dry and ashy skin, sometimes you just need it."
"For my face, I love the SkinCeuticals Microexfoliating Scrub. This is definitely gentle enough to use two times a week."
She uses a nourishing shampoo to hydrate her hair and scalp.
“I have classical straight Indian hair and I color my hair. During COVID, I am washing it a lot more and it is getting dry."
"To combat this, I use Oribe Gold Lust Repair shampoo. It has cypress, argan and maracuja oils with a restorative complex which makes my scalp hydrated and my strands glossy. It is a splurge in my routine for sure, but it really keeps my hair from drying out."
"On the weekends, I use dry shampoo and my favorite is the one by Klorane. It has oat milk which is quickly absorbed into hair and is not drying. It does not leave a residue when I spray it on.”
She slathers on moisturizer to keep mask-ne and irritation away.
“After my shower, I follow it up immediately with SkinFix Resurface+ AHA Renewing Body Cream moisturizer. This moisturizer is very thick, and it uses lime pearl from finger limes, which is a really interesting ingredient—it is a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to exfoliate. I use it for the keratosis pilaris on the back of my arms and for my legs in the winter."
"Under my mask, it's really important that I use something very absorbent and that won't make me break out. I usually use a small amount of IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Gel Lotion from October to April. It goes on smooth and does not contribute to acne."
"I also put on a small amount of Aquaphor on my lips, because your lips really get chapped with the mask all day long."
"In the summer, my face moisturizer after I get out of the shower is Vichy Mineral 89. It hydrates and just keeps my skin together…theme of my routine really!”
She opts for a separate SPF.
“Sunscreen is your best bet against aging. But if you have melanin-rich skin, a lot of the mineral based sunscreens can leave a white cast on your face. As a skin cancer surgeon, I am a purist. I don't like moisturizers that try to double as a daily SPF."
"Instead, I really like powder brush sunscreen, which are resistant to changes in temperature. I am a fan of the OG in brush-on sunscreen from ColorScience. I keep one in my car at all times in case I'm caught out in a sunny situation unexpectedly.”
She swears by a nail serum.
“From washing my hands so much, my nails have become striated and tend to break easily. I am obsessed with the ISDIN Nail Strengthener Cuticle Serum Treatment, which uses hyaluronic acid to moisturize nails and cuticles. It’s very easy to just click and paint on once a day. My nails are stronger and grow much faster.”
She believes everyone needs a go-to makeup remover.
“I am obsessed with Pestle & Mortar Erase Balm Cleanser. You massage this over dry skin and towel it off. There is no need for any harsh rubbing, and the skin is left very hydrated and the product smells great."
"It uses a combination of natural oils like grape seed, pumpkin seed, prickly pear seed, meadowfoam seed, and lavender oil. And because it is oil-based, it truly removes all makeup, including waterproof mascara. You can follow with a second cleanse.”
Her second cleanse is usually a face wipe swipe.
“Many face wipes contain a leave behind ingredient that is hydrating. At night, I am usually so tired that I keep a pack of Garnier SkinActive Clean+ Refreshing Makeup Remover Wipes in the bathroom and literally swipe and move on."
"Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes come in a small package great for travel, so I usually carry those with me.”
She’s still getting used to a retinoid.
“Everyone loves a good retinoid, but my skin gets way too dry from them. I always end up in the ‘getting used to it’ peeling phase! But, my answer to the retinoid peel is to use a glycolic acid."
"I am a big fan of SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight. It has a true free acid value of 10, which many products don't disclose. Within days of using it, the skin looks tighter and brighter."
"I follow it with one pump of Neocutis BioGel to stimulate collagen.”
She treats herself to an eye mask at the end of the week.
“I like Patchology FlashPatch Rejunivinating Eye Gels to really calm my tired eyes by the time Friday rolls around."
"I also use Boots No. 7 Protect & Perfect Eye Cream semi-regularly. It's got shea butter to hydrate, vitamin E to strengthen your skin barrier and retinyl palmitate, a gentle alternative to retinol. A very small amount goes a long way.”
You Might Also Like
