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The season of sun damage—and the visible signs of skin aging that come with it—is upon us, and Molly Sims has come to the rescue.
Experts in This Article
director of dermatology at Montefiore Advanced Care
With the launch of her new line, YSE Beauty (pronounced wise), the actor and model has taken what she’s learned from the “emotional rollercoaster” she’s been on with her skin and bottled it up into arguably the chicest packaging we’ve seen to date. After dealing with cystic acne in her 20s and 30s that paved the way for discoloration and textural issues (along with some pregnancy-related melasma) in her 40s, Sims tried dozens of products and treatments to even out her skin. Displeased with what was out there, she decided to create something of her own.
“YSE encompasses all the key learnings and experiences that I have gone through with my own personal skin issues—with uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation—that, in turn, made me wiser when it came to skin care as a whole,” says Sims. “The education, the experts I have met, the amount of trial and error I have done through my own research…have led me through this journey.”
Within the line, you’ll find potent (and dermatologist-beloved) brightening and discoloration-fighting ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, and niacinamide. What sets the products apart, though, is that they’re clinically tested, easy to use, and meant for skin at any age.
“Clinically proven skincare doesn’t have to be scary or unapproachable. You can have something that works and be beautiful,” says Sims. “No extra fluff—it’s just purely effective, which is the foundation of our entire brand.”
After trying the entire six-product YSE Beauty line out for myself, I can confirm that the products are not only luxurious and effective, but they are incredibly easy to mix and match for morning and evening application. There’s no second-guessing and very little room for error, and not only have the products become a mainstay in my routine, but they’re also beautiful display pieces in my bathroom.
YSE Beauty, Take It Off Gel-Oil Cleanser — $45.00
The gel-oil cleanser, which looks like shimmery liquid gold, is extremely luxurious and is unlike any oil cleanser I have ever tried.
“Your skin will never feel the same once you’ve tried this cleanser,” says Sims. “Filled with antioxidants and plant-based oils such as meadowfoam seed oil and cloudberry seed oil, these not only work to remove makeup, but they also leave your skin feeling super hydrated and silky post-cleanse. You’ll see the formula transform into a milky texture that feels and smells amazing.”
Kseniya Kobets, MD, director of dermatology at Montefiore Advanced Care, explains the multi-faceted benefits of this type of formula. “An oil cleanser acts like a micellar water cleanser. The oil-loving nature of the oil molecules cleanses the dirt, makeup, and oil off the face and may hydrate the skin at the same time,” she says.
She recommends using it as the first step in a double-cleansing routine and following up with your favorite ceramide-based cleanser to remove any excess oil without stripping the skin of natural hydrators.
YSE Beauty, Your Favorite Ex Exfoliating Pads — $72.00
This product is truly a multi-tasker, containing glycolic acid (a heavy-hitting exfoliant), gluconolactone (which exfoliates, evens discoloration, and removes excess oil, and ectoin (which strengthens the skin barrier and aids in hydration).
“I have been so excited for people to try these pads because they really are your key to brighter skin,” says Sims. “I love how these pre-soaked pads are gentle enough to use every day without leaving you irritated. They retexturize, brighten, and refresh the skin while hydrating. It’s like getting a facial without the downtime.”
The pads are double-sided and come with a little pocket to place your fingers into for easy and smooth application.
YSE Beauty, Morning Cocktail Vitamin C Serum — $85.00
“This serum truly does it all. It doesn’t smell, it doesn’t pill, and it WORKS. We used three forms of stabilized vitamin C, azelaic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and squalene to brighten the skin and improve texture and tone,” says Sims. “It will have you feeling like you just grabbed a time machine in a bottle.”
Morning Cocktail is extremely light, goes on so smoothly, and is the key to having that extra glow… minus the smell and oxidation that comes with some other vitamin C serums.
YSE Beauty, Last Call Retinol Serum — $88.00
Sims calls this, “Your skin-care classic, without the hangover.”
Unlike many retinol serums, which can cause irritation, this one is formulated with an encapsulated form of the ingredient to help you avoid just that. “ With encapsulated retinol, the active increases the stability of the ingredient with its ‘time-released’ behavior so it can be easily absorbed by the skin before doing its work, which helps reduce the risk of irritation,” says Sims.
The formula combines retinol with niacinamide and omega fatty acids, making it a triple-threat for improving skin tone while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. “Combining these ingredients in one serum gives a great combination of anti-aging benefits,” says Dr. Kobets. “Omega fatty acids are important building blocks of skin wells that help skin stay hydrated by preventing trans-epidermal water loss. Niacinamide is a great multitasker; it is a great emollient to moisturize and hydrate the skin. It is effective at lightening the skin by blocking pigment production and is also an antioxidant.”
YSE Beauty, Xtremely Rich Moisturizer — $65.00
Finally: A deep, hydrating moisturizer that won’t pill under makeup. “It’s a luscious, dewy formula packed with ceramides, microalgae, squalane, and licorice root extract that feels weightless on the skin,” says Sims.
In the words of Linda Richman from SNL’s Coffee Talk, “It goes on like buttah.”
YSE Beauty, The Problem Solver Brightening Treatment — $88.00
This “powerhouse” cream is made with tranexemic acid, niacinamide, and licorice root—three of the best-in-class brightening ingredients out there—and is designed to diminish the appearance of stubborn dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
“Tranexamic acid, reduces melanin, or pigment, production in the skin by plasmin inhibition and decreases small vessels in the dermis and activity of melanocytes, [which are] the cells that make pigment,” says Dr. Kobets of the formula’s hero ingredient.
And the best part, says Sims, is that you can “use it daily without the negative side effects on the skin like dryness or irritation.”
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