Dr. Zein Obagi: 'You need to wake up your skin cells'

Dr. Zein E. Obagi

AKA: The skincare maverick

Home: Beverly Hills, California

Derm distinction: Has practiced dermatology for over 30 years

Breakthrough discovery: The concept of “healthy skin.” This led to Dr. Obagi to pioneer ZO Skin Health, a five-step approach to achieving that healthy skin: cleanse, activate, stimulate, calm and nourish, protect.

Anti-aging philosophy: Instead of expecting topical lotions and creams to provide quick fixes and one-shot wonders, ZO Skin Health products work from the inside out, activating and stimulating your skin’s cells to nourish, repair and maintain themselves.

Favorite ZO Skin Health Products: ZO Skin Health Ossential Growth Factor Serum and Ossential Daily Power Defense

Skincare tips and secrets:

• Eating lots of fresh fruit for breakfast, lean turkey on whole wheat for lunch, and vegetables and fresh seafood for dinner. No simple carbs. The only dessert he allows himself is sorbet.

• Working up a sweat on a treadmill.

• Vigorously massaging his face with his hands; stretching and contracting facial muscles (exaggerated expressions).

Number of days a year that he wears sunscreen: 365

Latest innovations: New Offects cleansers and Oclipse primer sunscreen

Why they’re must-haves: To eradicate dead skin cells that dull and age the complexion while supporting natural collagen synthesis. “Clean is good, but today, clean isn’t good enough!” declares Dr. Obagi.

Celebrity fan base: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jennifer Aniston, Ashley Judd, Lucy Torres-Gomez; Twilight’s Peter Facinelli keeps his skin vampire-flawless with ZO Skin Health TE-Pads Acne Pore Treatment, while his wife Jennie Garth of Beverly Hills 90210 uses Offects Exfoliating Polish to smooth and brighten her skin.

Best Sellers Offects Hydrating Cleanser

Key ingredient: Panthenol

Recommended for: Normal to dry skin

What it does: This dual-action cleanser thoroughly cleanses skin while restoring natural moisture. Hydrating Panthenol penetrates into the deep layers of the skin, converts to vitamin B5, adds essential moisture, and maintains a youthful plumping effect. Improves skin health, clarity and radiance.

Offects Exfoliating Cleanser

Key ingredient: Encapsulated vitamin E

Recommended for: Normal to oily skin

What it does: Vitamin E neutralizes free radicals and nourishes skin cells. Smoothing micro-beads soften and exfoliate dead skin cells for a smoother, clearer complexion.

Oclipse Sunscreen

+ Primer spf 30

Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide

Recommended for: All skin types

What it does: This innovative cosmetic primer and tinted sun protector not only uses the natural sunscreen protection of melanin, but also provides broad-spectrum SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection. Rich antioxidants further aid in the fight against free-radical damage. Silicone-based, it melts into skin for a super-smooth, satin finish.

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ZO Skin Health products are available at Rustan’s Essenses.