Harold Lancer

by Jaime Richards

Most skin care lines will have you cleansing first, exfoliating second, and then moisturizing and sunblocking to top things off. But celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, creator of the unique, step-reversing Skin Revival system, says that exfoliating at the beginning might get you better results.

"If you are thinking about the top layer of the skin, with all the pollution and debris, if you just use a cleanser first, the majority of that debris is not removed," he explains. That's why he advises using a polish first to blast the skin's surface. "The polish ingredients are linked directly to prime the skin for the cleansing step. Then there is a epidermis that is ready to soak up the nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals," he adds. And that's when the nourish — aka hydrating — step comes into play. It's a method that goes against the status quo, but next time you're standing over the bathroom sink, give it a try. You might just become a cleansing-second convert.

by Jaime Richards

In the spoofy song, "The 12 Pains of Christmas," the singer explores all sorts of holiday-related issues: hangovers (which we have you covered on), rigging up the lights, and batteries-not-included — just to name a few. But one thing he doesn't mention is the puffy, tired-looking eyes that often come from not just overdoing it with rich foods and a packed schedule, but flying, as well. While the exclusion was probably just an oversight, it turns out puffy eyes don't have to be such a problem, after all. Luckily, it's an easy cure:

• Step one: "I think the best thing is to use cool, cloth compresses," explains celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer. He recommends applying them for about a minute or two and then repeating after about an hour.
• Step two: Then, apply a touch of eye cream with hyaluronic acid in it, and it's as easy as that.

by Jaime Richards

Does it seem like all you've been doing lately is eating and imbibing in boozed-up beverage after boozed up beverage? While spiked egg nog, hot toddies, champagne cocktails, and mulled wine are all fine and dandy, the problem is that in excess they can wreak havoc on your skin.

The issue: "It doesn't matter what you are drinking, all forms of alcohol are dehydrating," says celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer. "It's just a matter of how quickly it dehydrates you, which is usually a matter of how much sugar is in the drink." And if you think that the more expensive the red wine you're enjoying, the lesser the likelihood of it affecting you, think again. "Two-Buck Chuck is equally as dehydrating," Dr. Lancer warns. So to see what you can do to quell the after-effects of getting schnockered, just keep reading.

by POPSUGAR Beauty

Does chocolate cause acne? Can the birth control pill prevent pimples? Will drinking milk and eating dairy products lead to problem skin? Watch our video for the answers to these questions and more from dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer.