Skincarma - best skincare blog

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 by Carmine Montalto

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: YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE SUPERFOOD SKIN DRIP SMOOTH + GLOW SERUM - What are superfoods? What are the benefits of superfoods in skincare?

Apr 10

Apr 10 PRODUCT REVIEW: YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE SUPERFOOD SKIN DRIP SMOOTH + GLOW SERUM - What are superfoods? What are the benefits of superfoods in skincare?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, Peptides, AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, antioxidants, Niacinamide, damaged skin barrier

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: THE ORDINARY HYALURONIC ACID 2% + B5 AND CERAMIDES - Is the hyaluronic acid good for sensitive skin? What's the difference between The Ordinary HA serums?

Mar 10

Mar 10 PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY HYALURONIC ACID 2% + B5 AND CERAMIDES - Is the hyaluronic acid good for sensitive skin? What's the difference between The Ordinary HA serums?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, sensitive skin, AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, best moisturizer, dehydrated skin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydration

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: THE INKEY LIST BIO-ACTIVE CERAMIDE REPAIRING AND PLUMPING MOISTURIZER - Should you use ceramides everyday? Which is better ceramide or retinol?

Feb 4

Feb 4 PRODUCT REVIEW: THE INKEY LIST BIO-ACTIVE CERAMIDE REPAIRING AND PLUMPING MOISTURIZER - Should you use ceramides everyday? Which is better ceramide or retinol?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, best face cream, best moisturizer, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, dehydrated skin, dry skin, face cream, face cream for dry skin, wrinkle cream

PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE SKIN PERFECTING 6% MANDELIC ACID + 2% LACTIC ACID LIQUID EXFOLIANT - Is Mandelic Acid good for sensitive skin? Which is better Salicylic Acid or Mandelic Acid?

Jan 16

Jan 16 PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE SKIN PERFECTING 6% MANDELIC ACID + 2% LACTIC ACID LIQUID EXFOLIANT - Is Mandelic Acid good for sensitive skin? Which is better Salicylic Acid or Mandelic Acid?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, best face cream, best moisturizer, AHA treatments, Best exfoliators, brightening, dark spots, Exfoliators, hyperpigmentation, Lactic Acid, sensitive skin, Salicylic Acid, Toners

PRODUCT REVIEW: UNTOXICATED MOISTURE BOOST HYDRATING CREAM - What to do when you have an allergic reaction to skincare? What are ceramides and what do they do?

Jan 15

Jan 15 PRODUCT REVIEW: UNTOXICATED MOISTURE BOOST HYDRATING CREAM - What to do when you have an allergic reaction to skincare? What are ceramides and what do they do?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, best face cream, dry skin, face cream for dry skin, wrinkle cream, best moisturizer, clean skincare, dehydrated skin, face cream, face cream sensitive skin, moisturizer

THE 2023 SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: PAVISE DYNAMIC AGE DEFENSE SPF 30 MINERAL SUNSCREEN - Do any mineral sunscreens not leave a white cast?

Dec 29

Dec 29 THE 2023 SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: PAVISE DYNAMIC AGE DEFENSE SPF 30 MINERAL SUNSCREEN - Do any mineral sunscreens not leave a white cast?

Carmine Montalto

AM ROUTINE, AM Regimen, face cream sensitive skin, sensitive skin, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, antioxidants, best anti-aging, Niacinamide, wrinkle cream

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: PAULA'S CHOICE RESIST BARRIER REPAIR ADVANCED MOISTURIZER - How can you tell your skin barrier is damaged? What do ceramides do? What is Tripeptide-5?

Dec 10

Dec 10 PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE RESIST BARRIER REPAIR ADVANCED MOISTURIZER - How can you tell your skin barrier is damaged? What do ceramides do? What is Tripeptide-5?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging, best anti-aging, PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, anti-aging creams, best anti-aging serum, best face cream, dry skin, face cream for dry skin, wrinkle cream

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: ELTA MD UV CLEAR BROAD-SPECTRUM SPF 46 FACE SUNSCREEN - What is photoaging? Can photoaging be cured? Does sunscreen help photoaging?

Oct 19

Oct 19 PRODUCT REVIEW: ELTA MD UV CLEAR BROAD-SPECTRUM SPF 46 FACE SUNSCREEN - What is photoaging? Can photoaging be cured? Does sunscreen help photoaging?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, anti-aging, anti-aging creams, dark spots, Facial sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen for face, wrinkle cream

PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY SOOTHING & BARRIER SUPPORT SERUM - How do you know if your skin barrier is damaged? How do I repair my skin barrier? What does The Ordinary pink serum do?

Oct 9

Oct 9 PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY SOOTHING & BARRIER SUPPORT SERUM - How do you know if your skin barrier is damaged? How do I repair my skin barrier? What does The Ordinary pink serum do?

Carmine Montalto

AM Regimen, AM ROUTINE, Bakuchiol, best bakuchiol serum, face cream sensitive skin, Niacinamide, PM ROUTINE, PM Regimen, sensitive skin

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: DERMALOGICA LIQUID PEELFOLIANT EXFOLIATOR WITH AHA, BHA AND PHA - What is the best percentage of glycolic acid? Is 10% glycolic acid too strong? What does PHA do for skin?

Sep 10

Sep 10 PRODUCT REVIEW: DERMALOGICA LIQUID PEELFOLIANT EXFOLIATOR WITH AHA, BHA AND PHA - What is the best percentage of glycolic acid? Is 10% glycolic acid too strong? What does PHA do for skin?

Carmine Montalto

PM Regimen, PM ROUTINE, brightening, brightening serums, Exfoliators, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Polyhydroxy Acid, Salicylic Acid