Dr Anne Chapas is a strong believer in evidence-based medicine. She’s always delving into the latest scientific research, so she can deliver the best results for her patients.
Her specialties? Laser treatments mixed with cosmetic procedures. She has a knack for using these devices to tighten and shape skin without giving away you’ve had work done. She’s so good at it, ELLE Magazine dubbed her as one of 13 “beauty geniuses”!
Dr Chapas is also the Founder and Medical Director of Union Square Laser Dermatology in Manhattan, a state-of-the-art clinic that delivers personalised care from leading dermatologists. You’ll get your treatments done by a doctor, not a nurse or aesthetician here.
Like that it’s not enough, she also has her own skincare line. La Suite Skincare is all about bringing you actives that work in luxurious textures and packagings.
In this interview, Dr Chapas shares how she takes care of her skin. Find out her fave products, lifestyle habits for glowing skin, and more:
1. When Did You Become Interested In Skincare?Â
I’ve had a long interest in chemistry and immunology and spent much of my undergraduate and medical school investigating cellular and molecular reactions. In dermatology residency, I began to appreciate how topical skin care ingredients drive reactions to produce biological affects on the skin.
2. What’s Your Skincare Routine Like?Â
My skincare routine is all about preventing sun damage during the day and repairing and restoring the skin at night.
During the day I consistently use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, La Suite Skincare Vitamin C Serum, La
Suite Physical SPF 50, SkinMedica TNS Ceramide, Neocutis Lumiere Bio-Restorative Eye Cream.
At night, I use Alastin Renewal Retinol, Defenage Serum and Alastin Restorative Neck Complex.
3. If You Could Only Use Three Skincare Products For The Rest Of Your Life, What Would They Be?Â
Antioxidant-rich sunscreen, moisturizer and retinol!
4. What Are Your Fave Skincare Brands And Why?Â
In 2018, my practice Union Square Laser Dermatology opened the doors to La Suite Skincare, our medical facials and aesthetics division. Our experience with thousands of patients showed us that there was a
gap in the market for skincare that was both clinically effective AND luxurious. As a result, we launched our own line.
I recommend the La Suite Sheer SPF 50, a gorgeous, light-weight, antioxidant-rich sunscreen with protection against UVA and UVB rays. The La Suite Brightening Pads are another favorite. They are prescription-grade and require a licensed nurse to mix the hydroquinone formula, so they’re a far more effective formula than a patient can find online or at Sephora.
I also enjoy the Alastin, SkinMedica and Defenage lines – they are highly researched brands that I personally use and trust in recommending to my patients.
5. What Are Your Top 3 Skincare Tips To Take Care Of Your Skin?
Wear sunscreen even when it’s cloudy.  Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the blazing sun or if the weather is grey — thinking you can’t suffer sun damage on a cloudy day is a totally false sense of security. Coat yourself with SPF before heading outdoors, and make sure your friends do too. Call me the sunscreen police, but I’m always ready to pull sunscreen out of my bag at a moment’s notice and say, ‘Here’s the bottle’ — no excuses! I nag because I care. The sun is the number one contributor to aging. With sunscreen, you are not only helping prevent cancer, but you’re also slowing down your wrinkles and age spots.
Use skin care with quality ingredients. Consumers really need to do their research and read skin care labels to find products with effective quality ingredients. Most moisturizers, cleansers and sunscreens have pretty inexpensive ingredients and are effective at various price points. Anti-oxidants and anti-aging products with proven, effective ingredients are worth investing in, but consumers need to do their research or ask their board certified dermatologist for a recommendation.
Don’t forget your neck and chest! You might maintain your face routine perfectly, but the decollate can be a giveaway of age. Extending your sunscreen down, and using a neck and chest cream is ultra-important to firm the area, reduce the appearance of dreaded neck lines and repair hyper-pigmentation. My favorite is Alastin Restorative Neck Complex .
6. What Skincare Treatments Do You Regularly Have Done?Â
I maintain my botox every 4 months. I’ve had noninvasive radio-frequency tightening treatments and dermal fillers regularly over the last few years to address concerns like eye bags and sagging skin. I also really love laser resurfacing, which removes damaged skin cells and replaces them with new ones. There are all strengths of resurfacing lasers and I have lighter treatments performed monthly and stronger ones a least annually.
7. What Lifestyle Habits Do You Have That Keep Your Skin In Top Shape?Â
Eat a healthy and balanced diet, get regular exercise, avoid stress, and stay out of the direct sun.
8. What’s In Your Makeup Bag?Â
I’ve been really fortunate to work with some great make-up artists who have introduced my to great brands like Make Up Forever and Charlotte Tilbury. I buy a new L’oreal Voluminous Mascara every month because it’s important not have any bacterial contamination near the eyes.
Thank you, Dr Chapas!
You can learn more about Dr Chapas’ work here. You can also keep up with her on Instagram.
