Welcome everybody today to this live episode of Breaking Beauty podcast. I'm Jill Dunn and this is my co-host over here Carlene Higgins. >> Hello everyone. >> And hello to our friends in the live audience today. Thank you for being here. Yes and hello to our listeners at home because this is a live podcast and for anyone new who's joining us we are two long-time magazine beauty editors. That's how we got our start and we are on the air every single week talking about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty and we've been podcasting for 9 years now. Wow. Yeah. And it's an honor to be in New York with all of you and for this special collaboration with Shiseido talks and we're going to be exploring skincare rituals and holistic beauty the Shiseido way which I love and we have two very special guests joining us today. First up I'd like to introduce Dr. Jenny Liu. Hi Dr. Liu. Welcome. Thank you for having me. Such an honor to be here. Very special. So great to see you and Dr. Liu is one of the the most trusted voices in skincare education today. She's a Washington based board certified dermatologist adjunct assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She has nearly 2 million followers on social media. I'm sure many of you follow her and she's built a reputation as a nationally recognized expert in cosmetic dermatology with a special focus on skin of color, cosmetic innovation and evidence-based skincare. Thank you. What a lovely introduction. >> >> Like go off. And also we are thrilled to introduce Lucy Hale talented actress, producer and a candid voice really when it comes to self-care and beauty. Welcome to the podcast Lucy. >> So happy to be here. Hi everyone. >> >> The audience. I'm sure many of you are familiar and are probably fans with Lucy from Pretty Little Liars where she played Aria Montgomery and Lucy also just wrapped Legacy a horror film alongside Jack Whitehall and Angelica Houston. >> Yeah. Plus she has over 24 million followers on Instagram. She's a big deal around here. >> >> So thank you both for being here. It's so great to meet you both. Thank you. And when it comes to skincare rituals we often think about a 10-step routine. I think many of us in the room who report on beauty we've talked about that a lot but really who has the time? That's what I'm saying. In today's conversation we're going to kind of unpack that notion and we're going to lean into the simple. We're going to look at some sometimes overlooked tweaks in our routine and our daily beauty and wellness routines that can make a genuine impact and I love that we're doing it in this very Zen space. It's so nice here everyone and by the way if anyone wants to tag anything today it's at Shiseido. I know I was like is this a sound healing room? It feels like they do some pretty deep meditations in here. >> through the grapevine that there's like special crystals baked into the floor. >> Let's take a nap. Let's do it. Let's get the tarot cards out. No. >> >> Say less. And of course we love a scoop around here at Breaking Beauty podcast. We're always talking products and so we're going to be learning about Shiseido's latest innovation from the Benefiance collection that promises brighter, smoother skin in just two weeks. Plus stay tuned to the end for a fun round of rapid fire. Okay. Yes so let's dive in. I was fortunate enough to visit Japan a few years ago with one of Shiseido's sister skincare companies and that's really when personally I fell in love with J-Beauty, Japanese beauty in general. I love the ritualistic aspect behind it. I also find the formulas to be so lightweight, so elegant and they always have like a hydrating component to it which really goes with my my skin type and I feel like for everybody it's I'm just a huge fan. So Dr. Liu I want to get from you though like how would you define as a professional as a dermatologist what is J-Beauty and I've seen your videos on YouTube where you're going deep on K-Beauty, C-Beauty. So like what makes J-Beauty so unique? Yeah Japanese skincare I think you guys kind of defined it is that ritual aspect right? But to me it's not just like that self-care part of ritual but also time and dedication. J-Beauty I like to describe it as more simplicity, consistency for that long-term skin health right? The fact that your skin quality and skin health is built over like decades not overnight transformation. And also like you said it's really that thoughtful formulation like using science-backed ingredients used through history but really that unique formula that prioritizes the texture, the elegance and also like the tolerability. Again going back to consistency so that way you can use it without getting irritated, without reacting. And that's you know the whole Asian skincare I do love the fact that they are more about prevention. Like we're taking care of your skin long-term versus maybe like the Western philosophy is more like okay I see a problem I need to get that fixed and I want to get that fixed quickly. So it's more that prevention but with Japanese skincare it's more even more simple and more that routine like everything has a purpose. Very intentional. And then yeah like and the difference like in the Koreans as you said it's like 10 steps right? Multiple steps to layer in the hydration which again is going back to healthy skin barrier but I like to think ingredient wise Korean skincare tends to be like chasing the trends or setting the trends the next innovation, the new formulation. And then Chinese skincare I feel like it's still evolving but I do see it whenever I go back to China. It's kind of like a little bit of everything like influences from Japanese and Korean skincare in terms of like the ingredients, the textures but then also like honing in on like some of the Western philosophy like for a while it's still probably trending but like the vitamin C in the morning and the retinoids at night there was like a term in Chinese where it's like C A M A P M that like that that is so it's kind of evolving still but yeah I think for me Japanese skincare a long-winded answer is more just like prevention, minimalism and that routine aspect. Yeah that's huge. Yeah I agree. Also like that time-honored tradition and ingredients like blended with modern innovation. I feel like that's kind of what J-Beauty has unlocked. Absolutely. And Lucy when you hear the term J-Beauty what does it mean to you? It means I need to go to Japan. >> >> I have never been and I'm telling you I feel so called to just that culture in general, the food, the fashion, the >> We can go together. I have not and I know this is a dream country. I need to go with someone who knows the places Everything I echo everything you just said like I am borderline obsessed with anything skincare related. I always have been and that came from just struggling with my skin and like I think for a while as we do and maybe because of my industry it's like chasing this idea of perfection that just doesn't exist because once you reach it you're like oh wait I don't feel the way I thought I was going to feel and I much more love this approach of really honing it down like taking it back a notch like there's a video of me circulating where I did years ago like a 21-step skincare routine. Literally I'm talking out of my like I don't know what I'm talking about but it it it comes from this love of you know self-care and and it really like my and it is a ritual and in that ritual like I I make it about like being really kind to myself. I think and finding products that align with that I think is really important which is why I love Shiseido products and I think and I love them as a brand because it really is about um long-term long-term goal not this like impulsive quick fix that I think some of us can get caught up in. Yeah absolutely. I was very privileged to have actually somebody from Shiseido take me to a Japanese drugstore. It's back in our archives you can find this episode and she showed me everything to buy and of course Shiseido has so many brands in Japan that they don't even sell here. So like I got to try everything. It was amazing. Wow. Dr. Liu what would a typical Japanese skincare routine look like? Maybe you could give us an example cuz we like to get specific right? It's actually not as complicated as cuz I think we immediately think like you know all Asian skincare is like 10 steps like Korean skincare but it's actually more simple with intention. So you probably want to start off with a gentle cleanser and a lot of people do double cleanse with like an oil cleanser followed by like a water cleanser just to remove everything and then you go in with like an essence or in Japan they call it lotion. So it's kind of our version of a liquid toner essentially but it's different because it's more hydrating with actives and you layer on and again it's about not just the products and the formulation but how you apply. You're like patting it in so it gets absorbed. Taking that time, that moment for yourself. And I love this whole line because it's very intentional. Like even as I was learning earlier, the way it's like bottled and the scent of it, aromacology. Like it kind of already starts you on this journey of trying to wind down, calming yourself, taking care of yourself. Anyways, after the you know, the lotion, you do the moisturizer usually or like a serum followed by a moisturizer. And in the morning it is the sunscreen. So really probably just like five steps at most. Um and so a lot more simple, but each product is layered with actives. So you are still getting the benefits without you know, layering on so many things that can irritate. Again, kind of going back to more like that simplicity and minimalism, but still working well so that we can stick to it long-term. Yeah. Let's not forget the Shiseido cotton pads. Yeah. The most luxe. Yeah. I'm glowing and I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. So. >> Yes, Japanese lotion as we talked about that is more like a toner, but really is not. I've written about that before. Most underrated stuff in your skin care routine. >> don't have that. Oh I did try. Um cuz you like my first time trying I'm like how is this water going to make my skin feel hydrated? But it it is. It does. Okay, I'm going to get some. Very calming. It's kind of like a liquid toner, but it has a little bit more plumpness to it. And so when you apply it, it does it's like instant juiciness kind of thing. And nobody does it like the J Beauty people. But it doesn't doesn't leave like residue. No. Does it get like sticky? Okay. That's the beauty of it. Okay, so we've done our research around here and from what I understand in Japan there's a time honored tradition of Kaizen which directly translates to good change. And it's the idea that you can reach your goals in increments. So baby steps during the day result in long-term cumulative results. Like 1% better every day. So Dr. Lou, what would be some examples of some skin care habits that would give you that best improvement over time? Like a little thing. Oh, I I I mean people have said so much like wear your sunscreen every single day. No, but I'm not going to say that. I'm going to say, you know, don't touch your face. I mean I said this earlier. I just touched my face. >> >> I guess I I do feel you know, that number one you're probably rubbing off some of the sunscreen, but you're maybe transferring bacteria and especially if you're a picker, you're I think just not touching your face, giving your skin some time to rest or you're not constantly like kind of attacking your skin barrier. That would be one. I mean I feel like I could go on and on. >> >> Okay, that's that's a good one. I'm a skin picker. You know what? You know, I know I shouldn't say that, but >> All dermatologists I feel like are pickers. That's why we're into dermatology. >> >> Well, then you get in those hotel mirrors that should be illegal. They get too close. Then you have no choice. I was making friends with one of those in my bathroom this morning at the hotel and I go, this should not be so tempting. I got to go. Overhead lighting. >> Yeah. No, why is that not like this? This is nice. >> safe space. Fluorescent overhead lighting. >> Yeah, no. Absolutely. Um and how does this concept of Kaizen, this 1% better every day resonate with you, Lucy? It's It's really it resonates much more now at 36 than it did when I was, you know, 21 and wanting that I want it to be better now. Like it's but I think that is I was chasing the wrong thing. I think what I've always been chasing is like being at home with myself, being at peace with myself. I think like my approach to skin care, my approach to makeup, my approach to beauty like we can put on all the products in the world and all the makeup in the world, but like you have to feel good in your own skin. And so I think this approach of a baby step each day and and and it's it's it's a what do they say? It's a marathon, not a sprint, right? And it and it really is and I think just finding a way to be more gentle with myself and using more gentle products. Like it really is a lifestyle. Yeah. What about like adjacent to that like sleep or social connection? Like other things that make you 1% better every day or like that maybe you have a specific example that you've worked on? Yeah. No, I genuinely think you glow more when you're around people that you love. Like truly. Like there's just something internal that happens. Your aura, if you will. I mean definitely sleep, definitely how you're treating your body, water, all the things. But I think there is something that happens when you are like living your truth and living your joy, chasing joy, being creative. Yeah. You can't put a price on that. Yeah. We recently learned um that social connectedness is actually the biggest predictor of longevity and like all the other things, eating well, exercising. There's like six or seven pillars, but social connectedness makes us live longer and actually it made all kinds of sense to me. Have you guys seen a documentary called Happy? No. Please watch it. It probably came out 20 years ago and it's a documentary I think it's on Netflix or somewhere. You can watch it. But it's a documentary about they travel to different places in the world and they interviewed the people around the world of what makes them feel the most fulfilled and like the definition of happiness everywhere is so different. Like in America it's money, it's success. In Japan it's like hustle, right? It's like people work so hard in Japan and then there's this I think it's a tiny island off of Japan where these people live to be like 115. Okay. And I think they said their secret is sake and sleep, but also community. Community like they when they have kids it's raised in the community and they're always there for each other. So there really is something to like we're meant to have that as humans I think. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. So I love the idea of the ritual, but I also have my personal tagline which is I'm lazy {slash} busy. >> >> You know, just realistically it's hard. We you know, we've got the podcast. I've got another business. I've got two kids. So I think that idea of being present is so important, but really tough to do. You guys living in New York I'm sure you're always thinking about the next thing. So can you tell us what could we do like in the next two weeks cuz we're going to be talking about what you can achieve in two weeks. What could we do that we actually would notice a difference in two weeks? I think one thing that's underrated is moisturizing your skin. Again going back to that skin barrier story, when your skin barrier is healthy, your skin is just going to look better and it's going to do its job way better helping with maybe uneven tone and texture. It's going to be better hydrated. Kind of going back to the core of a J Beauty what I think of is this kind of that foundation routine that you can stick to that can make a big difference in just the quality of your skin without having to do a lot and that's easy to stick with too with a busy lifestyle. Yeah. We get asked this all the time lately why skin is now referred to a skin barrier instead of just skin. And I think like from a practical point of view it's just easier to understand that when your skin barrier is kind of broken, I always think about it the bricks in a wall. It can lead to so much more damage whether it's like rosacea. I had perimenopausal rosacea come up. There's so many things that are linked to skin barrier and as you say just like just moisturize every day. If you can just do that. I mean I like to say like your skin is kind of like leather, you know, like in the sense where you have to take care of your leather, you have to you know, maybe lotion that. Otherwise if it cracks, it's not going to look good. It's not going to function well. Our skin is the same thing. You know, obviously it's meant to hold us together, but it has more to that. There's actually it has its own dedicated immune system in our skin. And there's temperature regulation. So aside from you know, the function of it too, the aesthetics of it, it's meant to kind of keep bad things out and keep good things in like the water. And so even minor cracks, like not like a cut in your skin, but minor cracks like you said in that brick and mortar, things can get in. This is where you can get sensitivity, can get dryness and kind of you know, like the the irritation. And so taking care of our skin at basic level is so important. >> And Lucy, how would you say that your own skin and skin care ritual as a result has changed from your early 20s? So basically when you started Pretty Little Liars till now? >> mean I think beauty was just so different then. I think it was really a more is more approach. Like that was when all the you know, 15 step skin care routines were coming into play and definitely with makeup it was just like the 2016 era. >> Strip lashes. I was like I loved an eyeliner. Like that just super bronzy bronzy look. I think and maybe this just happens with age as well. I booked I started that show when I was 19, 20. And I think when you're that age sometimes you're trying to mask in a way. But now I'm more comfortable in my own skin and there's so much research now that like simple is better. Being consistent is better especially for my skin type. Like I will break out if you look at me the wrong way. You know, like I have to use things that That's like me. Yeah. Yeah. And and even at 36 I'm like does it stop? No. It keeps happening. That's all right. We do what we can. We do what we can. Yeah. We all will. >> >> Um so I think it's just more simple all around. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I think you know, what I I've done some work on camera and just like making peace with your face on camera or like peace with your pores like I think that that can be very Yes. not triggering that's not the right word, but it's a learning curve. >> I'm so glad you brought this up because I think it's so important to remember that skin has texture. I think it's like I I got I get so used to seeing things online where I'm like oh, maybe I'm not supposed to but it's like skin even and healthy skin has texture it has pores. And I think really making peace with that especially when you're in front of a camera. Yeah. I haven't quite gotten there, but you know, you work on it. 1% better every day Lucy. There we go. >> >> Way to bring it back. >> >> I want to ask you I'm almost embarrassed to ask you this because you are so young and I'm 50 by the way proud at 50. Wow. But I want to ask you about aging in Hollywood. You're still a baby. But you have been vocal about aging and expectations and that so maybe you could just share some of your thoughts. Yeah. I mean I think you know, it's I can only I've been in entertainment since I was 15 so I don't know it differently. I'm sure it's the same way in just out in the world in general with women. I think there's just a pressure to keep up with the trends keep up with the on Tik Tok oh I need to buy this thing. I need this machine. I need and I think there is a pressure in Hollywood definitely like aging is sometime and I think it's come a long way, but I think maybe aging is viewed as you have an expiration date, but there's so many women who are having huge comebacks in their career like Demi Moore and all these amazing women and then like you know, look at Meryl Streep and Glenn Close like these beautiful women who have aged so gracefully like it's a gift to age. It is a gift to grow old like and I'm not saying I've made peace with that, but like I think kind of having that mentality will bleed into everything and I you know, I I I care about how my skin looks, but I also know that I want to age as gracefully as possible, but yeah, there there is a pressure, but I think I don't know. It it definitely is there. I'm like being very careful about what I'm saying, but like it definitely is there and but I also think like everyone has their own idea of what beautiful is for them and like I never judge what anyone is doing because if that inherently makes you feel more beautiful and you can show up in the world and feel better like more power to you. It's not up to anyone like I hate when I'm online and I see people judge a public person who they know nothing about about the way they look or because of something they've done. It's like you don't know the story behind that. There's so much more going on and and I think I've learned that people just kind of project anyway, so I think you make a good point though that there's actually role models that like the fact that Meryl Streep is in the biggest movie that's coming out versus like 25 30 years ago you didn't have as many incredible roles for women who were not 20. So now at least there is a path. Right. You know, and I love the Reese Witherspoon model where she just like scoops up her project Nicole Kidman and and just cast talent women in charge Yeah. helps that happen, right? >> I think also and then I'm sorry let you move on is I think it's evolved so much because even two decades a decade ago two decades ago women were still just like okay just be beautiful, but now women are doing so much more like we care about what we have to say that doesn't even have to do with the way that we look like we are full of ideas I think we're being celebrated more for our creativity and ideas and strength more and more each day 1% Exactly. Exactly. And Lucy what about the wellness trends that are blowing up this year in your A-lister group chat because I want to know what are your peers intrigued by what are you intrigued by cuz we know in Hollywood they get to try everything first. Are you a guinea pig So I will try I will try anything. You will? I will. Well, you guys probably know more of the trends than me. I feel like everyone is talking about peptides. Yes. I and and I don't know that much about it, but like I'm intrigued. People are obsessed with like in LA it's just like peptide and it's called a stack. Injectables, right? Yeah. And people are doing what are we doing like people love lasers people love what are the other what are the cool things you guys probably know more than me. Yeah, I mean the IV spa I I just went to one in in Denver I cuz I was I had altitude sickness, but I was like thank goodness these exist. People can just go in for what you need I'll take some B12 I'll take some vitamin C. Yeah. I feel like that's that's a real thing now. The other thing that we're seeing in Toronto and you you guys probably have this here as well, but I feel like the whole social wellness clubs like spas where it's more like people go as a group and you do all kinds of activities >> we are here. Yeah, but there's like places where you can even go at night and there's a DJ and they have like special >> >> like non-alcoholic drinks. Like it's a whole it's more of like a community. Like health community. Yeah, like social wellness. Social wellness. Very cool. All right. And what about you Dr. Lou? What regular wellness activities are you actually doing versus something that might be trendy that you're not as into? Sleep. I think sleep is so important as you get like in my 40s now. I have two little kids. I'm constantly sleep deprived especially with work and travel and I think one night of bad sleep I might will not only reflect in my body but in my skin. You know, your skin gets dry and gets more easily irritated and you know, if you think about it our skin is doing just like the rest of our body doing most of the repair at night, right? And so if you're not sleeping well, I think that definitely can take a toll long-term on just your like skin health. And we know that age is your faster. So I feel like no skin care routine can replace a good night of sleep or just consistent sleep. If you you can put all the wonderful products, but if you're not taking care of yourself comprehensive right like diet exercise and sleep then you're not going to get the best results. I need to ask you about something you said before that our skin has an immune system. Yeah. So what happens if you don't sleep enough? Does that affect your skin immunity? >> Absolutely. So there's actually conditions like you know, psoriasis and eczema we see that it's actually the immune system in our skin acting up. We don't know chicken and the egg is it genetic trigger versus the environment versus the barrier defect that causes, but yeah, we have a like a huge immune system in our skin and when we don't sleep well, there is increase in cortisol and that drives inflammatory cells and that inflammation can increase like you know, redness rosacea flares acne and then you know, your skin is you know, repairing at night and so it's going to reduce its ability to repair so that inflammation can definitely break down your skin barrier and certainly over time that can manifest as like uneven skin texture and skin tone, too. Yeah. Lucy what about Hollywood treatments? We kind of touched on this, but there seems to be a new one popping up every week and I read that you even auditioned for the substance. I did. Yeah. Which of course explores the dark side of you know, chasing the fountain of youth. What are your thoughts on these types of more those interventions let's say and no judgment because I love I love Botox. I think but I think it goes back to like say like I will try Yeah. you know, whatever to each their own. I really think like my version is different from your version and yeah, I mean people there's so many there's so many things out there these days and you know, for me I I'm more I think I lean more like holistic these days like a holistic approach. But I remembered one thing where you were like what are people talking about? Um fascia release and masseter release like and scalp fascia like it does it like lifts your face. And so that to me is really fascinating. Like I had a facial with this woman named Leanne a couple weeks ago and she does I mean she does like microcurrent all the things beautiful products, but she did like fascia release all the way down to my chest and like how she released here affected something here and like she released my scalp and it opened my eyeballs. She opened up my sinuses my eyeballs like literally got bigger. So there are things you can do at home like that that that really help. That makes sense cuz we do Botox to your platysma muscle to help lift. You know, it's kind of tethered down so if you release that I wonder if it helps just overall with your Like I used to do Botox in my jaw because I have TMJ like no other, but it changed the way my my face shape so I stopped doing it. So when you do the masseter release it's so painful, but Have you ever had it I've had it cuz I get TMJ symptoms. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but it really helps. It helps with headaches and and everything. But basically they like go in and Did it just feel like a facial or did it feel like a chiropractic treatment on your face? It felt like an exorcism. Yeah, I want to know. Yeah, like like this is the facial where you you might not fully zone out, but you're you're you're more involved. Yes. That's what I mean I've had lymphatic drainage and I think that's just like the next in addition of that and that's amazing as well, it's just that holistic thing. And then you're like it kind of makes a light bulb go off where you're like, oh yeah, everything is connected. So I can't remember who we interviewed and they were talking about the scalp, the power of the scalp massage and that is a treatment because they're like, first of all, our skin that is part of our face really. It's our It's just up here. And so they're like, if you think about it and you're pulling back here, it's all lifting. Like if you want this lifted, you have to start up here. I was like, didn't really think about that. I guess it doesn't end here. It's >> >> Right? So it's like you almost need to be focusing more up there. And well, yeah, and so many people are doing like brow lifts and stuff and you're like, girl, you got to >> >> Yeah, man. Okay, I think it's time to get into the innovation of the day. So Dr. Liu, I'm excited to talk to you about the latest and greatest from Shiseido, the new Benefiance products that promise brightening and smoothing in just 14 days. It's that's just an incredible claim. So, how many of you are fans of Benefiance? Do you know the eye cream already? It's like iconic. So many people love that. What do you say to people who say maybe I don't need an eye cream? I think especially as you get older in our 30s and 40s, this is a time to think about it because with aging, we get more dry skin and eye dark circles and puffiness. I mean, that is one of the most common concerns I actually get consultation wise in my in my practice. And so you want products that specifically address the eye area because your eye is one of the most delicate on the face. And then with ingredients that help and it's really nice because this eye cream, it targets five different areas. Not all eye creams are tested and can be used on upper eyelid and also helps with the glabella, which is really nice because we all have those like stubborn wrinkles that won't go away. And then your eye and your eye and then puffiness and dark circles. It's got wonderful ingredients like peptides, squalene, ginseng, caffeine all working together to help. So I I do feel eye cream especially as we get older is something that I always recommend to my patients to really help address those just stubborn like dryness that you know, people say like my my concealer is caking. I can't, you know, so that eye cream really helps with that. Who knew? You apply your eye cream here to your elevens. You heard it here first. I mean, this this eye cream is so it's thick. It's thick, but it's it's It's got a nice slip and it doesn't like cause your makeup to like, you know, fall down, which is what I love. But it provides just amount of right amount of hydration and what you need. So yeah, you do it everywhere. >> >> And >> >> and Dr. Liu, what were your first thoughts when the Benefiance range they presented the research to you and said there's results in as few as 14 days. Usually it's like 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 120 days. So 14 days, I'm going, what? So what was your reaction? I would say healthy skepticism because yes, you are right. 14 days, that is a pretty bold claim, right? But then I look at their studies. They have clinicals, which is something I appreciate as a dermatologist and it is long-term and you know, Shiseido has that like 12 week out. But what we're seeing that 14 day is really the impact of the skin care, the ritual from Shiseido Benefiance line and helping with skin hydration and that barrier health is how I think of it because our skin turns over anywhere between 28 to maybe a little bit longer than 30 days as we get older, but that 14 day is actually the top layer of your skin, the stratum corneum turning over. So I think at least for me to make sense of it in the science is that you are improving your top layer, so that skin barrier, right? You're hydrating your skin. And with that, your skin is going to look softer, smoother, better in texture. And then with that better turnover, it's going to look more bright. And so may help with some of that uneven tone. Right. That's what it's really addressing. Okay. And then long-term, the permanent changes comes with more consistent three months. Yeah. Yeah. I was about to say, I feel like I could hear you talk about >> >> with such clarity. I'm like, yes. Okay, so the new products, the Benefiance Dark Spot and Wrinkle Smoothing Serum and also the new Benefiance Brightening and Wrinkle Smoothing Cream. Nailed it. Yes, yes. So they both contain, I will have to look at my notes for this because this is a new ingredient I had not heard of even as a beauty editor of over 20 years. It's called picão preto. So what is this extract and how does it benefit the skin? I love talking about ingredients and science. It's like what I get like super excited. Oh my gosh, okay. So picão preto extract, so this is really cool. It's a basically like you can think of it as like a plant derived retinol. And why I really love kind of the formulation what we're discovering with plant derived is that it's so fascinating. This particular extract actually binds to the receptor a topical retinoid. Like for example, tretinoin, which we think of as like the holy grail. It actually binds to the retina receptors in the skin. That's how like tretinoin works. When you think about like the OG, binds to the receptors and that's how it activates genes and does what it does, helping with collagen, helping with skin turnover. But then the dark side of topical retinoids is that it does also irritate the skin. And we think because there's certain there's a couple different receptors in our skin and so that causes the irritation and then one causes the benefits. And with the picão preto extract, it actually binds to the receptor that offers the benefits, but doesn't bind to the one that causes the irritation. That's my understanding by reading the literature. So what essentially it's doing is giving you the benefits of a topical retinoids, helping with skin turnover, helping long-term with collagen support, but not the irritation. That's good to know cuz sometimes I only think something's working if I like Yeah, feel the burn. But it's not always the best way, is it? Well, that's the thing That is the North American way. Yeah, cuz in Asia, like people complain if they feel stuff like their skin care is causing sensation. That's so funny. At least in China, you know, people will have comment on red note. People say like this burns or this stings. Is this supposed to be this way? >> >> It's true though. I think this is why like again as editors, we're always surveying the market and there's like a built-in sensitivity check or something where it's like if it if it's going to sensitize, it just is not in there, which I think Well, going back to the whole concept like tolerability. That's how I think of Japanese skin care is like well-formulated products that you can use long-term. I just think it's amazing how far we've come with like a plant-based retinol. I always wonder how they go about knowing which plant >> I know. I actually have followed this like ethnobotanist who does all of these amazing videos about like finding these and ingredients and making them work. It's like fascinating. And Lucy, I need to know, how are you using this new Benefiance Serum and Brightening Moisturizer in your routine? >> Yeah, I mean, I love when things are simplified for me. Like when I know the product in the line is trusted, I'm getting everything I need. It really, you know, I have more time to do other things, right? So I love that Like to me, if your skin care is amazing, you don't really need like much more makeup or anything else. So these products really work and what I like about them, sensitive skin, sensitive skin means united. It It doesn't irritate my skin and it's very lightweight. Like I I don't know if I feel like things are too heavy on my skin, I get a little panicky, but Yeah, beautiful ingredients, science backed. Have you guys tried the serum yet? Oh, it's so nice. It's like this milky texture just nailed. It's kind of like a gel milk. So good. So good. Yeah, the packaging, the high design is amazing. Well, you might as well drop your whole skin care routine for us. That's it. No, that No, it really like as far as products, it really is that simple. Like I do you know, I like a little gua sha, I like a little LED light mask. I try to, you know, visit the dermatologist. I think being consistent with facials, just like my skin can get clogged. So just like getting all the stuff out. Do you sheet mask on the plane or not? >> You know what else I do? I do all the things on my I bring in my LED mask sometimes. I bring my my heating pad sometimes. Like I do I do anything you can do, I do. Yeah, like I um compression socks. Anyway, I'm now I'm going down the I respect the travel skin care game and I need to get more into it. I do find that hydrating your skin with a sheet mask, it really does It really does help. I don't do on the plane as much unless it's like international flight, but what I would do is like before an event or like at the night time to like a hotel. I love that. Love it. And our last question for you, Dr. Liu, what are some habits that you would never do that would have a big impact on your skin in just two weeks? I would never I don't think I've ever gone to sleep without washing my face. Yeah, yeah. I think that's really important and cuz that build up will not only cause acne but actually it can serve as like irritant to your skin barrier and if your skin is repairing itself most of us sleep at night then or just when you sleep kind of you you have your own internal circadian rhythm you want to really give it the best opportunity to repair itself. So I think I would never not wash my face. Um I used to give myself a pass if I wasn't having if I wasn't wearing makeup like if I was having a no makeup day I was like well why do I really need to wash my face? But you probably would what would you say about that? Well you need sunscreen, and just throughout the day there's probably part of particulates pollution that we know actually aside from UV that's another trigger for skin aging or inflammaging we call it cuz it affects your skin barrier all of that does impact so All that subway dust. Yeah. Inflammaging? Inflammaging that is like the basically low grade smoldering inflammation that contributes to accelerated aging. Yeah, probably more so in the skin aspect cuz we see a lot of inflammatory diseases. Yeah, well thank you so much for both sharing your excellent skin care insights. We learned a lot. So did I. Now we're going to do a little quick game of rapid fire so let's go. All right. I'm a little nervous. >> >> You'll be fine. Lucy what was the most used beauty essential on set in your Pretty Little Liars days? >> Oh, oh like fake eyelashes. >> >> So many so many lashes. Okay Dr. Lou best skin care advice you've ever received that lives rent free in your head. Uh sunscreen every single day rain or shine prevention. Yeah, prevention is going to be much better than trying to fix it cuz you can never reverse it fully and nor do we want to but yeah prevention. Um Lucy Pretty Little Liars I'm sure it's no surprise to you it's a lot of people's comfort show. >> >> When you see the Tik Tok comments people are like I'm on my third rewatch this year. >> I think it's cuz there's so many episodes and people like to dive in. We need a we need a 22 episode season again. What's your comfort show? Right now Love on the Spectrum. Oh yeah. I'm watching the new season right now it's so sweet. It's so hard it reminds you of all the good in the world. I love it. Have you seen it Love on the Spectrum? It's really beautiful. Yeah, I need to catch up on the most recent season but I have seen it and I love it. >> There's a new guy Logan who's like an angel. He's very good. Fill in the blank. My favorite way to end the day is Do you want to go first? >> >> Oh I know mine. No you go. No, no, no please. Oh favorite way to end the day get getting to bed on time. I don't know if that's that a Okay >> >> sleeping is really a Well my my I have younger kids but going to sleep on time. Okay. Mine was a little similar it was my favorite way to end the day is in bed at like 9:30 with my dogs just like dog time. No like crawling into bed knowing you're going to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep. I know you're a mom so you're like shut up. But um but even 6 to 8 6 to 8 hours of sleep is just the best feeling. Yeah and the dog snuggles are everything. Forget about it. Yeah, everything. Um Lucy the one mantra or affirmation that you swear by to help you feel confident. Maybe you're not having such a great day. What do you say to yourself? >> I always go back to it's very simple but I think a lot of times I can go into like fear mindset so just reminding myself that I'm safe like always even it's just as simple as that just like noticing things around me like anything that helps me get really present reminding that myself that my two feet are on the ground and just being like putting my phone away just anything that brings me back to the present moment I think I can run a little anxious so anything that brings me into the current moment is key for me. Do you have one of those brick things for your phone? Do you know what I'm talking about? >> Does it like Do you guys know what I'm talking about the brick it basically prevents you from opening social media. You set it on a timer. >> I need I I I would be a good candidate for that. I'm interested in it. I'm interested. Chronically online right here right here. Yeah. Um Lucy what's one thing you can share with us about reuniting with Ian Harding from Pretty Little Liars for this upcoming movie 12 Days of Christmas your new holiday rom-com coming out. This Christmas 12 Days 12 Days of Christmas 12 Days Um we so we shot that this last Christmas and I talked to the producers and I was like you know what would be really fun is if we cast Ian as the as the lead opposite me and it was so great. I hadn't worked with him since the show. I hadn't seen him in over 5 years but it definitely like there's such an ease with working with him there always has been. He's truly so kind and so deserving of all of his success and we had a good time. He's exactly the same. >> >> We're like oh we're a bit older but like we're playing more age appropriate uh characters this time around so That's great. Well thank you for sharing I'm that little sneak peek I'm excited to see it. It's fun it's fun it'll come out this Christmas. Yeah. All right. Well thank you so much for you Lucy and for you Dr. Lou for joining us and for all of you as well. Yay! Thank you guys and thank you Thank you for the fun. >>