Dr. Elyse Love, a board-certified dermatologist at New York City’s GlamDerm, wears many hats in her busy life. In addition to her full-time practice, she serves as a dermatologist adviser for Bluemercury, is the co-host of the popular BeautyCurious podcast, and balances it all as a wife and new mother. This demanding schedule has made her an expert in not only treating skin but also in the art of taking care of herself. For Dr. Love, self-care is a practical, well-researched, and intentional practice that is crucial for balancing her professional ambitions with her personal well-being. Here, she shares her go-to essentials, from a hydrating body lotion to a powerful red lip, and offers her most surprising piece of advice for finding peace in the chaos of life.
A Life of Many Hats
Dr. Elyse Love’s professional life is as dynamic and multifaceted as her personal one. At GlamDerm, a cosmetic, medical, and surgical skin care center, she applies her board-certified knowledge to help clients achieve their skin goals. But her expertise extends far beyond her practice. She is the dermatologist adviser for Bluemercury, where she provides valuable feedback on the retailer’s in-house brands and services. She also brings her knowledge to a wider audience as one half of the BeautyCurious podcast team, where she and celebrity esthetician Ian Michael Crumm break down beauty trends and demystify common myths.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. Love is a dedicated fitness enthusiast. She has run the New York City Marathon twice and regularly carves out time for streaming workouts. Her go-to online classes are from B the Method by Lia Bartha, a form of Pilates she finds incredibly calming. Despite the demands of her work and family life, she believes that physical exercise is a non-negotiable part of her routine. For her, it’s not just about staying fit; it’s a vital part of her mental and emotional well-being.
The Secret to Healthy, Hydrated Skin
As a dermatologist, Dr. Elyse Love understands that skincare extends beyond the face. She believes that the shower experience is often overlooked as a key step in achieving and maintaining smooth, hydrated skin. She loves using Aēsop’s Geranium Leaf Body Exfoliator in the warmer months for its uplifting aroma and ability to leave her skin feeling incredibly smooth. However, for her, the most important step in her body care routine happens immediately after she exits the shower: moisturizing. She rotates between moisturizers but currently loves Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion for its deep hydration and quick, easy application. She also enjoys the luxurious feel of Nécessaire’s Body Cream.
Dr. Love’s expertise also helps her combat the daily stresses of modern life, like “Zoom fatigue.” She recommends a multitasking product like the Mother Science Retinol Synergist, which she says acts as an all-in-one solution for early signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and collagen stimulation. She is also passionate about hand care, especially since she developed hand eczema during her pregnancy. She solved the problem by switching to the nourishing Dove’s Deep Moisture hand soap and hand sanitizer, and she keeps a lightweight moisturizer like CeraVe’s Therapeutic Hand Cream next to it for constant hydration.
The Art of a Low-Maintenance Look
Dr. Love’s approach to makeup is a professional yet low-maintenance one. She is a fan of the no-makeup makeup look, which she says allows her to have some fun while still letting her skin breathe. She starts with a very clean, natural base that shows off her healthy skin, and then adds a pop of color with a red or plum lip. For her base, she loves the skin-friendly finish of Dior’s Forever Skin Glow and the Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint. She also loves the ease of using a multi-purpose product like the Ilia Multi-Stick for a hint of color on her cheeks and lips.
For that bold pop of color, she reaches for the YSL Beauty’s Couture Velvet Cream Matte Liquid Lipstick. She says this look is a go-to for her because it’s so low-maintenance and doesn’t feel like she is “suffocating” her skin with heavy products. On a typical no-makeup day, she’ll still take a moment to groom her brows, using a product like Lévans Cult Brow Mega Hold Brow Gel to keep them looking polished.
Mindful Movement and Mental Wellness
For Dr. Love, a busy schedule is no excuse to skip a workout. She trains with her personal trainer, Daryl Gregory, up to three times a week and, on her own, she is a huge fan of B the Method by Lia Bartha. She calls it an “incredible workout” that works without doing damage to your body, a testament to her professional expertise. This dedication to consistent movement helps her manage stress and stay physically strong, a key part of her overall wellness.
She also makes sure to nourish her mind. She finds peace in reading and is currently reading How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks. For her, reading is a great way to wind down and learn. For a dose of fun and inspiration, she loves to listen to music, and lately, she has had Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter on repeat. These moments of mindful movement and mental stimulation are essential for her to stay balanced and present.
The Ultimate Self-Care Hack
As a new mother, Dr. Elyse Love has a new perspective on self-care, and her most powerful piece of advice is a surprising one. She admits that being a mom is a “truly fantastic experience,” but it is also “nonstop.” For a while, she would keep her son with her all the time when she wasn’t at the office. However, a friend convinced her to take him to day care for a half day, and it changed her life. Her advice to other parents is to take their children to child care for a few hours, even if it’s just once in a while.
Dr. Love explains that having a few hours to herself to watch TV, respond to emails, or even just clean has been incredibly restorative. It’s a moment to take care of her own needs, both big and small, without any interruptions. This simple act has become her ultimate self-care hack, proving that sometimes, the most restorative form of self-care is simply having a moment to yourself.
