This “Celebrity Dermatologist” Wants to Be Known for More Than Treating Famous Faces

When you were five years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I had to be a doctor. There was no choice. My dad’s a doctor. My sister’s a doctor. I wanted to be a baseball player, but I don’t think I got the athletic genes, so medicine it was.

What was your first job?

My first real job was actually helping my dad in his office. That’s honestly where a lot of my inspiration to be a doctor and to care for people came from. It was, I thought, the greatest privilege on earth.

What quality do you think has served you best in your career so far?

Persistence. I think that you’re going to hit roadblocks no matter what you do in life. And, as cliché as it sounds, it’s not getting knocked down, but getting back up that’s important.

Who was the last person you followed on Instagram?

It was a fellow dermatologist based out of Michigan, where I went to school, Dr. Kurt Ashack. Before that was Kerry Washington, who I had dinner with. Really kind.

What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday?

Perfect Sunday, if there’s no football on? Brunch in New York with good weather and great friends.

What quote do you live by?

“Don’t let anybody tell you what you can or can’t do. Instead, let time show them that your potential is limitless.” That’s from my father.

The thing that almost no one knows about me is…?

I’m actually an introvert. I love quiet nights in, more than busy nights out.

What’s your hope for the beauty industry in 2033?

I think that science will win more than marketing. That science will be deeply rooted in every aspect of everything that we stand for.

What’s the most revolutionary beauty product launch ever?

Sunscreen. And there’s no second choice.

Current beauty obsession:

I’m a bit partial, but I use the Rhode Barrier Restore Cream three times a day.

Favorite non-perfume smell?

The smell of home. Maybe mom’s cooking. Maybe it’s a combination of mom’s cooking and the furniture, every aspect of it. Anything that reminds me of home, I’m happy with.

Your fantasy superpower would be?

Sleeping eight hours a night.