Skincarma - best skincare blog

Welcome to Skincarma.

These are the musings of Carmine Montalto, NYC-based writer, skincare junkie and brand guru. The former copywriter at Kiehl’s, Carmine has more than 25 years of experience in beauty. Through the Skincarma Blog, he puts all of his product wisdom to work demystifying the ever-evolving world of skin care.

You can change your skin’s destiny.™

All in anti-aging serums

PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY RETINAL 0.2% EMULSION SERUM - What does retinol do? what is the difference between retinol and retinal? Should I use retinal or retinol?

Apr 21

Apr 21 PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY RETINAL 0.2% EMULSION SERUM - What does retinol do? what is the difference between retinol and retinal? Should I use retinal or retinol?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, dark spots, Retinol, Retinol serum, Retinol treatment, Retinoids, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: FIRST AID BEAUTY 0.3% RETINOL COMPLEX SERUM WITH PEPTIDES - Can retinol be used on sensitive skin? What percentage of retinol is best for sensitive skin?

Mar 25

Mar 25 PRODUCT REVIEW: FIRST AID BEAUTY 0.3% RETINOL COMPLEX SERUM WITH PEPTIDES - Can retinol be used on sensitive skin? What percentage of retinol is best for sensitive skin?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, anti-aging creams, anti-aging, Peptides, Retinol, Retinol cream, Retinol serum, Retinol treatment, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: MURAD VITA-C GLYCOLIC BRIGHTENING SERUM - Can you use vitamin c and glycolic acid together? Is glycolic acid too strong for sensitive skin?

Mar 17

Mar 17 PRODUCT REVIEW: MURAD VITA-C GLYCOLIC BRIGHTENING SERUM - Can you use vitamin c and glycolic acid together? Is glycolic acid too strong for sensitive skin?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, brightening serums, dark spots, Glycolic Acid, hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C

PRODUCT REVIEW: COCOKIND BEGINNER RETINOL GEL 0.1% - What retinol should a beginner use? Is 0.1% retinol too strong for beginners? How often should you use retinol when first starting?

Feb 26

Feb 26 PRODUCT REVIEW: COCOKIND BEGINNER RETINOL GEL 0.1% - What retinol should a beginner use? Is 0.1% retinol too strong for beginners? How often should you use retinol when first starting?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, anti-aging, best anti-aging, best anti-aging serum, Retinol, Retinol serum, Retinol treatment, sensitive skin, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: MURAD CELLULAR HYDRATION REPAIR SERUM - What does skin look like when dehydrated? How to treat dehydrated skin? What is Hexapeptide-9?

Feb 18

Feb 18 PRODUCT REVIEW: MURAD CELLULAR HYDRATION REPAIR SERUM - What does skin look like when dehydrated? How to treat dehydrated skin? What is Hexapeptide-9?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, dehydrated skin, dry skin, anti-aging serums

PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM MULTI-PEPTIDE ADVANCED SERUM - What do peptides do for skin? What can't you mix peptides with? What do copper peptides do?

Dec 26

Dec 26 PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM MULTI-PEPTIDE ADVANCED SERUM - What do peptides do for skin? What can't you mix peptides with? What do copper peptides do?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging, best anti-aging, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, best anti-aging serum, anti-aging serums, face cream for oily skin, oily skin moisturizer, Peptides, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: FIG.1 VITAMIN C 15% TREATMENT - What should not be mixed with vitamin C? Can sensitive skin use vitamin C? What is Ferulic Acid

Nov 26

Nov 26 PRODUCT REVIEW: FIG.1 VITAMIN C 15% TREATMENT - What should not be mixed with vitamin C? Can sensitive skin use vitamin C? What is Ferulic Acid

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging, anti-aging serums, antioxidants, best anti-aging, best anti-aging serum, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, brightening serums, hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C

PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOW RECIPE POMEGRANATE PEPTIDE FIRMING SERUM - What are the benefits of peptides for skin? Are peptides better than retinol? Can peptides and vitamin c be used together?

Nov 7

Nov 7 PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOW RECIPE POMEGRANATE PEPTIDE FIRMING SERUM - What are the benefits of peptides for skin? Are peptides better than retinol? Can peptides and vitamin c be used together?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging, anti-aging serums, antioxidants, best anti-aging, best anti-aging serum, Peptides, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE

PRODUCT REVIEW: BYOMA MOISTURIZING GEL CREAM SPF 30 - How do you know if your skin barrier is damaged? Can sunscreen improve the skin barrier health?

Oct 3

Oct 3 PRODUCT REVIEW: BYOMA MOISTURIZING GEL CREAM SPF 30 - How do you know if your skin barrier is damaged? Can sunscreen improve the skin barrier health?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, anti-aging creams, best sunscreen, clean sunscreen, dehydrated skin, Hyaluronic Acid, sunscreen, sunscreen for face, sunscreen for oily skin

PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE 25% VITAMIN C + GLUTATHIONE CLINICAL SERUM - What percentage of vitamin c is effective? Should I use 10% or 20% vitamin C? Is higher percentage of vitamin C better?

Sep 18

Sep 18 PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE 25% VITAMIN C + GLUTATHIONE CLINICAL SERUM - What percentage of vitamin c is effective? Should I use 10% or 20% vitamin C? Is higher percentage of vitamin C better?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, brightening, brightening serums, AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, antioxidants, best anti-aging serum, brightening creams, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C

PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOW RECIPE WATERMELON GLOW NIACINAMIDE DEW DROPS - What percentage of niacinamide is effective? Can I use niacinamide everyday? Can you use vitamin C with niacinamide?

Sep 3

Sep 3 PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOW RECIPE WATERMELON GLOW NIACINAMIDE DEW DROPS - What percentage of niacinamide is effective? Can I use niacinamide everyday? Can you use vitamin C with niacinamide?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, antioxidants, best anti-aging serum, brightening, brightening serums, dehydrated skin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydration, Niacinamide, oily skin moisturizer

PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM RETINALDEHYDE CREAM SERUM 0.05% - What is retinaldehyde? What is better retinol or retinaldehyde? What does retinaldehyde do for your skin?

Aug 28

Aug 28 PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM RETINALDEHYDE CREAM SERUM 0.05% - What is retinaldehyde? What is better retinol or retinaldehyde? What does retinaldehyde do for your skin?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, anti-aging serums, best acne treatments, best anti-aging, best anti-aging serum, Retinol cream, Retinol serum, Retinol treatment, wrinkle cream, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: LION POSE UNSPOTTED 4X ACID JELLY NIGHT SERUM - How do I get rid of dark spots on my face? What causes hyperpigmentation?

Aug 14

Aug 14 PRODUCT REVIEW: LION POSE UNSPOTTED 4X ACID JELLY NIGHT SERUM - How do I get rid of dark spots on my face? What causes hyperpigmentation?

Carmine Montalto

best anti-aging serum, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, brightening serums, Exfoliators, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, AHA treatments, Azelaic Acid, Best exfoliators, dark spots

PRODUCT REVIEW: CERAVE SKIN RENEWING NIGHTLY EXFOLIATING TREATMENT - Is it okay to exfoliate sensitive skin? What happens if you don't exfoliate?

Aug 4

Aug 4 PRODUCT REVIEW: CERAVE SKIN RENEWING NIGHTLY EXFOLIATING TREATMENT - Is it okay to exfoliate sensitive skin? What happens if you don't exfoliate?

Carmine Montalto

best anti-aging, best anti-aging serum, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging creams, anti-aging serums, brightening serums, brightening creams, Exfoliators, face cream sensitive skin, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, sensitive skin

PRODUCT REVIEW: ACURE BRIGHTENING VITAMIN C & FERULIC ACID SERUM - What is Ferulic Acid? Is Ferulic Acid same as Vitamin C? Is Ferulic Acid necessary with Vitamin C?

Jul 17

Jul 17 PRODUCT REVIEW: ACURE BRIGHTENING VITAMIN C & FERULIC ACID SERUM - What is Ferulic Acid? Is Ferulic Acid same as Vitamin C? Is Ferulic Acid necessary with Vitamin C?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, antioxidants, brightening serums, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, Vitamin C

PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM UV REFLECT ANTIOXIDANT SPF 50 SUNSCREEN - Is SPF 30 or 50 better for daily use? Is SPF 50 really necessary? Does SPF 50 mean reapply every 50 minutes?

Jul 6

Jul 6 PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM UV REFLECT ANTIOXIDANT SPF 50 SUNSCREEN - Is SPF 30 or 50 better for daily use? Is SPF 50 really necessary? Does SPF 50 mean reapply every 50 minutes?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging, best anti-aging, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, best sunscreen, clean sunscreen, dark spots, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: SKIN PROUD SERIOUS SHADE SUNSCREEN SPF 50 - Does SPF 50 last longer than SPF 30? Does SPF over 50 make a difference? Why does my sunscreen pill under makeup?

Jul 2

Jul 2 PRODUCT REVIEW: SKIN PROUD SERIOUS SHADE SUNSCREEN SPF 50 - Does SPF 50 last longer than SPF 30? Does SPF over 50 make a difference? Why does my sunscreen pill under makeup?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging, best anti-aging, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, best sunscreen, clean sunscreen, dark spots, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: CERAVE HYDRATING SHEER SUNSCREEN SPF 30 FOR FACE AND BODY - Does CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen leave a white cast? Does CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen clog pores?

May 15

May 15 PRODUCT REVIEW: CERAVE HYDRATING SHEER SUNSCREEN SPF 30 FOR FACE AND BODY - Does CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen leave a white cast? Does CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen clog pores?

Carmine Montalto

AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, Retinol, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, best anti-aging, best sunscreen, Facial sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen for face, wrinkle cream

PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE TRIPLE ACTIVE TOTAL REPAIR SERUM - Can you mix retinol and niacinamide? What's the difference between retinol and retinoid?

May 7

May 7 PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE TRIPLE ACTIVE TOTAL REPAIR SERUM - Can you mix retinol and niacinamide? What's the difference between retinol and retinoid?

Carmine Montalto

AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, sensitive skin, anti-aging serums, antioxidants, best anti-aging serum, brightening serums, Niacinamide, Retinol, Retinol cream, Retinol serum, Retinol treatment, Wrinkle serum

PRODUCT REVIEW: CERAVE RESURFACING RETINOL SERUM - What Does Retinol Do to Your Skin? Can I Use Retinol Everyday? Should You Moisturize After Retinol?

Apr 10

Apr 10 PRODUCT REVIEW: CERAVE RESURFACING RETINOL SERUM - What Does Retinol Do to Your Skin? Can I Use Retinol Everyday? Should You Moisturize After Retinol?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, best anti-aging, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, Retinol cream, Retinol serum, Retinol treatment, wrinkle cream, Wrinkle serum