Thank you Fayne for being here and sharing with us  your findings when it comes to the skincare industry. And also, if I can steal your words, reminding every woman that she is already truly awesome the way she is!

What was the inspiration behind your book?

My career as a consumer advocate, and now an author, began decades ago. I’ve been a dermatologist for over thirty years and am the Founder of FryFace.com, an educational skincare website that simplifies skincare selection based on valid science. I don’t work for a skincare manufacturer nor do I sell my own line of products.

One afternoon a bright Ivy League-trained financier came into my office and dumped a bag of skincare products on the examining table. She asked one simple question, “How am I supposed to know what to use on my face every day?”

And it dawned on me, consumers have absolutely no idea what is in a moisturizer or in any other skincare product for that matter. The most important information on any skincare product is the ingredient listing, and even the most educated consumer, does not understand the chemical names on skincare labels.

So, I created FryFace.com. I received Invitations to speak on skincare, to clarify the sensationalism seen in the media and to debunk many of the skincare myths we see on a daily basis. It was after being a keynote speaker at a corporate event where I was dubbed “The Ralph Nader of the Skincare Industry.” I was asked to be a medical expert and contribute to media outlets such as CBS, USA Today, and Reader’s Digest. With encouragement from friends and patients, I decided to put much of this information into a book. The Skincare Hoax: How You’re Being Tricked Into Buying Lotions, Potions & Wrinkle Cream.

Have you received any push back from the beauty care industry? What has been your messaging?

The skincare industry is a fabulous industry. It makes products that are truly good for us, ones we need. Moisturizers, sunscreens, and cleansers to name a few. I recommend products on FryFace.com from nationally and internationally known brands as I believe they have the best resources to make the safest, most effective and most affordable products on the market. They also have a reputation to uphold. The manufacturers of these products have been supportive. 

On a daily basis I receive positive feedback from consumers, mostly women, but men too,  who have been spending $50, $80, $100 up to $500 per ounce on some miracle cream that they say has done very little. They tell me that they feel liberated when they realize they don’t need most of the products touted as necessary. They no longer feel inadequate for not spending all of their time, energy and money trying to fix a trivial skin imperfection. 

The bottom line, the skin is an organ. As an organ the health of skin will parallel the health of the body. It’s not the sexy answer or the quick fix that most people want but it is the answer. Healthy skin comes from a healthy lifestyle: a nutritious diet, adequate sleep and exercise. And there is much science to prove this.  I always add laughter as another element to healthy skin although I don’t have great science to prove it.  And finally, kindness matters, health matters and accomplishments matter and none of these things comes in a tube, a jar or a syringe. 

Tell us more about FryFace.com

FryFace.com is the nation’s first skincare information and product selection service, developed by a board certified dermatologist. 

After more than thirty years of dermatology practice, it became clear to me that the average consumer is bombarded with an overwhelming selection of OTC products without a rational or scientific method of selecting a good product. Influenced by the marketing claims of advertisers, consumers often purchase products they do not need; products that do not fulfill their expectations, and that all too often are very costly.

My mission is to simplify the overwhelming choice of effective, safe and affordable products encountered in the skincare aisles and to remind every woman that she is already truly awesome the way she is.

At FryFace we believe:

You are fabulous.

Although skincare is an absolutely fabulous industry, all too often, the marketing for skincare products sends the message that you are inadequate, you need to look different, you need to look younger, your appearance is flawed. We believe you are perfect the way you are, and so should you.

A simple skincare regimen, one with products that benefit your skin health based on science is best.

Many skincare products have no proven benefit and may even be harmful to your skin. All you need for optimal skin health is a well-formulated moisturizer and sunscreen.

You do not need to spend a lot of money to optimize your skin health and appearance.

There is no correlation between the cost of a skincare product and its effectiveness. Safe, effective and affordable skincare products are available at local pharmacies and drugstores.

What skin products do women over 40+ REALLY need? 

Regardless of age, women, and men too,  need to apply sunscreen 365 days of the year. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher should be applied daily and liberally to all exposed skin and reapplied if swimming, exercising or sweating every 2 hours. 

The skin is an organ. It protects us from the elements in our environment, from bacteria, mold, fungus, allergens and ultraviolet light.  To function optimally, skin should be hydrated. If the skin is dry (and you will know as you will see flakes and/or scales) apply a well-formulated moisturizer twice daily especially after showering.

All other beauty cosmetics, including anti-aging creams, anti-wrinkle creams, age defying creams, eye creams, night creams, neck creams, primers, toners, serums to name a few are optional. They may be fun to apply, and they may feel good, but there is little valid scientific evidence that these products make any permanent beneficial change on the skin. And some, unfortunately, can cause inflammation and irritation.

Tell us 5 myths and 5 truths when it comes to skincare and its industry. 

1. Anti-aging creams do not turn back the hands of time. In my experience and based on objective testing, how well these cosmetics work depends on how well they function as a moisturizer. Science has yet to find a single ingredient or product that can reverse the aging process.
2. There is absolutely no correlation between how much you pay for a cosmetic beauty cream and how well it works.
3. There is no evidence that sleeping on your back prevents or minimizes wrinkle formation Truth is, the average person moves between 4 – 10 times an hour when sleeping so remaining on your back, unless you are tied down, is not a realistic expectation.
4. Although water is essential to our well being, there is no evidence that consuming 8 glasses of water a day improves skin appearance in a healthy person. The body is an amazing thing and when the body needs water a healthy body will feel thirsty. In addition, up to 30% of the daily water requirement can be obtained from eating fruits and vegetables. If you are a healthy person, eat a healthy diet, there is no need to force feed yourself water. 
5. “Natural” ingredients, often meant to imply that these compounds are derived from plants, are not safer than synthetic ingredients. Poison Ivy is 100% natural. The word natural on a skincare product may imply where the ingredients come from but says nothing about the safety of the ingredients. Truth is, many plant derived ingredients are very allergenic, and frequently cause irritation and inflammation, especially in people with eczema or sensitive skin. 

You can find Dr. Fayne Frey here:

FryFace.com

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