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.™

2025 INGREDIENT TRENDS: ECTOIN IS THE NEW HYALURONIC ACID - What is Ectoin? What’s the difference between Ectoin and Hyaluronic Acid?

Dec 1

Dec 1 2025 INGREDIENT TRENDS: ECTOIN IS THE NEW HYALURONIC ACID - What is Ectoin? What’s the difference between Ectoin and Hyaluronic Acid?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, dehydrated skin, Hyaluronic Acid, sensitive skin

Oct 20

Oct 20 SKIN LONGEVITY AND WHY THIS BRAND IS THE PLACE TO START YOUR LONGEVITY JOURNEY - What's the difference between skin longevity and anti-aging?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, dehydrated skin

REMEDY FOR HEALTHY AGING PRODUCT REVIEW - What is the remedy for aging skin? Is encapsulated Retinol less effective?

Sep 14

Sep 14 REMEDY FOR HEALTHY AGING PRODUCT REVIEW - What is the remedy for aging skin? Is encapsulated Retinol less effective?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging creams, Facial sunscreen, best anti-aging, Matrixyl® 3000, wrinkle cream, Retinol treatment, Retinol cream, Retinol, Retinoids, Retinaldehyde, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, Peptides, Niacinamide, brightening creams

BEAUTY OF JOSEON DAILY TINTED FLUID SUNSCREEN SPF 30 PRODUCT REVIEW - Why do dermatologists recommend tinted sunscreen? Is Beauty of Joseon tinted sunscreen good?

Aug 30

Aug 30 BEAUTY OF JOSEON DAILY TINTED FLUID SUNSCREEN SPF 30 PRODUCT REVIEW - Why do dermatologists recommend tinted sunscreen? Is Beauty of Joseon tinted sunscreen good?

Carmine Montalto

AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, best sunscreen, Facial sunscreen, sunscreen for face, best anti-aging, sunscreen for oily skin

ULTRA VIOLETTE FUTURE SCREEN SPF 50 MODERN MINERAL SUNSCREEN PRODUCT REVIEW - What are the benefits of tinted sunscreen over normal sunscreen? What are the disadvantages of tinted sunscreen?

Jul 27

Jul 27 ULTRA VIOLETTE FUTURE SCREEN SPF 50 MODERN MINERAL SUNSCREEN PRODUCT REVIEW - What are the benefits of tinted sunscreen over normal sunscreen? What are the disadvantages of tinted sunscreen?

Carmine Montalto

AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, best sunscreen, Facial sunscreen, sunscreen for face, best anti-aging, sunscreen for oily skin

ELTAMD UV SKIN RECOVERY RED COLOR CORRECTING SUNSCREEN SPF 50 PRODUCT REVIEW - What causes skin redness on the face? How do I fix red skin on my face?

Jun 23

Jun 23 ELTAMD UV SKIN RECOVERY RED COLOR CORRECTING SUNSCREEN SPF 50 PRODUCT REVIEW - What causes skin redness on the face? How do I fix red skin on my face?

Carmine Montalto

AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, best sunscreen, Facial sunscreen, sensitive skin, sunscreen for face, Redness, Rosacea

SKINFIX BARRIER BALANCING WATER CREAM PRODUCT REVIEW - What is a water cream? What's the difference between hydration and moisture? Do you hydrate or moisturize first?

May 14

May 14 SKINFIX BARRIER BALANCING WATER CREAM PRODUCT REVIEW - What is a water cream? What's the difference between hydration and moisture? Do you hydrate or moisturize first?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, dehydrated skin, face cream, Hydration, face cream sensitive skin, best moisturizer, face cream for oily skin

THE ORDINARY GF 15% AGE SUPPORT SERUM PRODUCT REVIEW - What are growth factors? What do growth factors in skincare do? What does The Ordinary GF 15 do?

Apr 6

Apr 6 THE ORDINARY GF 15% AGE SUPPORT SERUM PRODUCT REVIEW - What are growth factors? What do growth factors in skincare do? What does The Ordinary GF 15 do?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, damaged skin barrier, anti-aging, best anti-aging, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, Wrinkle serum, Skin barrier

DEMYSTIFYING EXOSOMES | SKINFIX EXO + ECTOIN INTENSIVE REPAIR BAUME PRODUCT REVIEW - What are exosomes? What do exosomes do for skin? Are exosomes better than retinol?

Mar 16

Mar 16 DEMYSTIFYING EXOSOMES | SKINFIX EXO + ECTOIN INTENSIVE REPAIR BAUME PRODUCT REVIEW - What are exosomes? What do exosomes do for skin? Are exosomes better than retinol?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, best moisturizer, damaged skin barrier, dehydrated skin, face cream, face cream for dry skin, Hydration, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, best anti-aging, dry skin, Retinol cream, wrinkle cream, face cream sensitive skin, Retinoids

PRODUCT REVIEW: LION POSE PEP TALK BIO-PEPTIDE BARRIER CREAM - What are skin lipids? How do lipids affect the skin? Are lipids and ceramides the same?

Feb 17

Feb 17 PRODUCT REVIEW: LION POSE PEP TALK BIO-PEPTIDE BARRIER CREAM - What are skin lipids? How do lipids affect the skin? Are lipids and ceramides the same?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, best face cream, best moisturizer, damaged skin barrier, dehydrated skin, face cream, face cream for dry skin, face cream sensitive skin, Hydration, Lipids

WHAT ARE PEPTIDES? WHY THEY'RE KEY TO YOUR SKIN'S YOUTHFUL BOUNCE - What do peptides do for skin? What causes collagen loss? What not to mix with peptides?

Feb 3

Feb 3 WHAT ARE PEPTIDES? WHY THEY'RE KEY TO YOUR SKIN'S YOUTHFUL BOUNCE - What do peptides do for skin? What causes collagen loss? What not to mix with peptides?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging, best anti-aging, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, anti-aging creams, best moisturizer, dehydrated skin, face cream sensitive skin, Peptides

THE TRUTH ABOUT HYALURONIC ACID AND WHY IT MAY BE DRYING YOUR SKIN OUT - What is Hyaluronic Acid and what does it do? What happens if you use too much Hyaluronic Acid?

Jan 23

Jan 23 THE TRUTH ABOUT HYALURONIC ACID AND WHY IT MAY BE DRYING YOUR SKIN OUT - What is Hyaluronic Acid and what does it do? What happens if you use too much Hyaluronic Acid?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, best moisturizer, dehydrated skin, dry skin, Hyaluronic Acid

THE 2024 SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: LION POSE UNSPOTTED 4X ACID JELLY NIGHT SERUM

Dec 31

Dec 31 THE 2024 SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: LION POSE UNSPOTTED 4X ACID JELLY NIGHT SERUM

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

A PERFECT PM SKINCARE ROUTINE - Product recommendations to help you attain and maintain healthy skin.

Dec 16

Dec 16 A PERFECT PM SKINCARE ROUTINE - Product recommendations to help you attain and maintain healthy skin.

Carmine Montalto

best face cream, best moisturizer, Salicylic Acid, moisturizer, anti-aging creams, anti-aging serums, brightening serums, dark spots, face cream for dry skin, hyperpigmentation, oily skin moisturizer, Peptides, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, Retinol, Retinol serum

A PERFECT AM SKINCARE ROUTINE - Product recommendations to help you attain and maintain healthy skin.

Dec 7

Dec 7 A PERFECT AM SKINCARE ROUTINE - Product recommendations to help you attain and maintain healthy skin.

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, best eye cream, best face cream, best moisturizer, best sunscreen, Best toners, Clogged pores, dark circles, Facial sunscreen, Salicylic Acid, sunscreen for eyes, sunscreen for face, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, moisturizer

PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOW RECIPE BLACKBERRY RETINOL BLEMISH SERUM - Which Retinol should I use as a beginner? How to start using Retinol serum? Does Retinol help with acne?

Nov 13

Nov 13 PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOW RECIPE BLACKBERRY RETINOL BLEMISH SERUM - Which Retinol should I use as a beginner? How to start using Retinol serum? Does Retinol help with acne?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging serums, anti-aging, best anti-aging serum, best anti-aging, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, Retinoids, Retinol, Retinol serum, Retinol treatment, acne prone skin, acne treatments, Retinaldehyde

PRODUCT REVIEW: DRUNK ELEPHANT C-LUMA HYDRABRIGHT VITAMIN C SERUM - What is the most gentle form of Vitamin C? Which Vitamin C is best for sensitive skin? Does Vitamin C cause drying?

Oct 21

Oct 21 PRODUCT REVIEW: DRUNK ELEPHANT C-LUMA HYDRABRIGHT VITAMIN C SERUM - What is the most gentle form of Vitamin C? Which Vitamin C is best for sensitive skin? Does Vitamin C cause drying?

Carmine Montalto

anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, acne treatments, Pores, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, antioxidants, brightening serums, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C

PRODUCT REVIEW: REMEDY FOR PORE SIZE NIGHTLY ALL IN ONE TREATMENT - What does Salicylic Acid do? Can Salicylic Acid reduce pore size? Can I use Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide together?

Oct 2

Oct 2 PRODUCT REVIEW: REMEDY FOR PORE SIZE NIGHTLY ALL IN ONE TREATMENT - What does Salicylic Acid do? Can Salicylic Acid reduce pore size? Can I use Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide together?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging serums, best anti-aging serum, Exfoliators, Niacinamide, Retinol, Retinol serum, acne treatments, Best exfoliators, oily skin, Pores, Clogged pores, Enlarged pores, Salicylic Acid

PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE CLINICAL PRO RETINALDEHYDE DUAL-RETINOID TREATMENT - What is Retinaldehyde? Which is better, Retinol or Retinaldehyde? Is Retinaldehyde good for beginners?

Sep 23

Sep 23 PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE CLINICAL PRO RETINALDEHYDE DUAL-RETINOID TREATMENT - What is Retinaldehyde? Which is better, Retinol or Retinaldehyde? Is Retinaldehyde good for beginners?

Carmine Montalto

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

PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE 5% FACE & BODY EMULSION - Can I use Niacinamide everyday? What does Niacinamide do in body lotion? Can The Ordinary Niacinamide be used on the body?

Aug 31

Aug 31 PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE 5% FACE & BODY EMULSION - Can I use Niacinamide everyday? What does Niacinamide do in body lotion? Can The Ordinary Niacinamide be used on the body?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, brightening, dehydrated skin, Hydration, moisturizer, oily skin moisturizer, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, best face cream, brightening creams, dry skin, face cream for dry skin, face cream for oily skin, hyperpigmentation, Niacinamide