Celebrity Esthetician Sofie Pavitt Just Launched a Highly-Anticipated Skincare Line
Hot on the trail of the Oscars, you may still be reeling from the endless celebs who hit the red carpet with picture-perfect beauty looks. Their glam teams are responsible for their trendy hair and makeup looks, but their go-to estheticians are often forgotten for their work providing facials for red carpet-ready skin. One major facialist that stars like Lorde, Zendaya, and Paloma Elsesser have on speed dial is Sofie Pavitt, who found herself in the skincare world after working in the fashion industry for 15 years. She’s since built a reputation as the acne whisperer for celebs, editors, and cool-girls across New York City, and her signature facial always has a months-long waitlist.
Pavitt is based in NYC, but you won’t have to book a ticket to the Big Apple to get a true Sofie Pavitt-glow—on March 14, the esthetician launches her namesake studio-grade skincare line, Sofie Pavitt Face, kicking off with the Mandelic Acid Serum.
The Inspiration
If you’re ever looking to see which skin concerns are trending, estheticians are arguably the best people to turn to since they’re dealing with skin hands-on every day. Much like many other estheticians-turned-skincare founders, Pavitt reveals that her inspiration for launching a leave-on exfoliator came from her countless clients looking for a solution to their worn-down skin.
“After treating so many clients at my studio with stressed, stripped skin, I wanted to formulate an exfoliator that could be easily incorporated into daily skincare routines, gently removing dead cell build up without irritation while also hydrating and soothing,” says Pavitt. The entire line is designed for those with various skin concerns and aims to eliminate excess in skincare routines and on the market. Sofie Pavitt Face’s first product is centered around mandelic acid, one of Pavitt’s favorite AHAs for exfoliation.
The Product
Seeing as Pavitt’s speciality is acne-prone skin, it makes perfect sense that her inaugural product would be an exfoliator. Pavitt is a big proponent of exfoliating every day, which is why she turned to mandelic acid to be the star of the show—it has a much larger molecule size than other AHAs, making it gentle enough to use multiple times a week, even for sensitive skin. In addition to whisking away dullness, mandelic acid also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which help keep skin clear.
That being said, Pavitt wanted the serum to speak to multiple skin types, which is why it also contains hyaluronic acid to boost moisture in the skin and panthenol (or vitamin B5), which can help the skin retain moisture as well as calm the surface. Though you might want to slather this on all day to get a glowing complexion that becomes smoother over time, the brand suggests using this product once daily after cleansing and toning (or 3-4 times a week for dry/sensitive skin) and following it with a moisturizer and sunscreen.
The Review
“I just finished up a second round of Accutane and that pretty much knocked out my cystic acne, but I’ve still been left with some clogged pores (presumably from the heavier moisturizers I’ve been using to offset Accutane dryness) and generally blah winter skin. I used and loved a mandelic acid serum years ago, but haven’t been able to find the ingredient in popular products in recent years. So when I heard one of my favorite estheticians was releasing a serum I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
“I’ve been playing with this serum for a few weeks and I’m pretty impressed with the results. It’s lightweight and non-sticky, with a more watery texture than a thick gel. I’ve been using it at night and haven’t noticed any irritation in the slightest, even on sensitized skin. I’ve already seen less clogs, a lightening of my (many) acne scars, and an overall boost in glow.” —Bella Cacciatore, news editor
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.