'My name is Asha Patel [@ashapateldesigns] and am a jewelry designer and pharmacist based in Atlanta. I'm also a mom and avid yogi in my free time. My jewelry design lets me be flexible and work in the pharmacy world on an as-needed basis—mostly in a hospital setting. I couldn't pick one or the other, but by working in both arenas, I am able to use my creativity and scientific approach, and it naturally carries over into my beauty regimen. I primarily wear my pharmacist's hat when reviewing ingredients, but the yogi in me likes to combine natural products for a synergistic emphasis on anti-aging. I typically fast forward 10 years and focus on products for that category. So, right now I'll forecast ahead and use products for women in their 50s.
Each day, I try to listen to my skin and pick my products for the day accordingly. Currently, I start off with washing my face with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, followed by applying Evan Healy Rose Petal Facial Tonic Hydrosol, Rosehip Treatment Facial Serum, and Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer. Evan Healy is a brand known for a their use of Bulgarian rose petals and a minimum of other ingredients, and it's really wonderful. Drunk Elephant makes good products, too—I'm currently loving their C-Firma Day Serumand Umbra Sheer Physical Defense SPF 30. The C-Firma Firma is a cost effective option for high concentration L-ascorbic acid, which is the active form of vitamin C, and the sunscreen is just a fantastic non-greasy option formulated with algae extract, which I really like for my skin.
Though the brands may change—sometimes I'll use Dr. Hauschka's Rose Day Cream instead of Evan Healy's, for example—I pretty much stick to the same basic routine of cleanser, hydrosol, serum, some sort of lotion or cream, topped with sunscreen. The one thing I've learned over the years is that the application of products is made so much easier by warming it up in the hands and then gently patting in.
My nighttime trifecta is Amore Pacific Time Response Skin Renewal Serum, the Evan Healy Rosehip Treatment Facial Serum again, and StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate For Wrinkles. I pay particular attention to my eyes these days because that's where you age most noticeably. I'll use my Clarisonic Opal Sonic Skin Infusion Systemwith my eye cream to get the most out of my product there. Sometimes I also like to apply a facial mask from Chicet, and once a week, I'll do a treatment using tretinoin, which is generic Retin A, to increase cell turnover. It's good for my skin because it doesn't thin the skin, and after, I top the treated area with Biafine to heal.
I travel a lot for my work, which is great for inspiration. It also means I can pop into an international pharmacies or drugstores and check out their skincare lines. Whenever I'm in Europe I like to stock up on Nuxe products. For my lips, there's nothing as hydrating as Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm. I'll also pick up a bottle of Bioderma Créaline. French products certainly live up to the hype, but overall, my beauty secret is sweet and simple—zinc-based physical sunscreen and adequate sleep.”
—as told to ITG
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