As a doctor—I admit, I love a good system. I like to organize, label, and understand things brick by brick. My approach to formulas is similar to the same philosophy that guides my work at Brooklyn Face & Eye—where we create treatment plans through the lens of Surface, Shape, and Structure. I think of skin like a house, where each layer of the internal structure must be solid to support the whole—

Epidermis: The Roof

This is the layer we fixate on the most. It’s the roof—the outer shell that everyone sees. But no matter how pristine it looks, it won’t hold up if what’s beneath it is compromised.

* Home to the stratum corneum, a matrix of dead skin cells and lipids that forms the barrier 

* Where cell turnover happens and where most actives (like AHAs and retinoids) do their work

* Contains melanocytes, responsible for pigment production and tone 

When the epidermis is healthy, it reflects clarity and balance. When compromised, you’ll see uneven texture, dullness, or dehydration.

Key ingredients: AHAs, BHA, PHAs, niacinamide, Vitamin C, arbutin, azelaic acid, kojic acid, botanical brighteners, microbiome-balancing ferments

Formulation focus: Gentle resurfacing, radiance, and barrier preservation

Dermis: The Supports

The dermis is the support system of collagen, elastin, and fibroblasts—responsible for firmness, elasticity, and repair. When strong, the skin feels full, lifted, and resilient; when damaged, the epidermis is destabilized and skin shows fine lines and sagging.

* Where fine lines form and structural aging begins

* Highly responsive to inflammation and UV damage

* Requires consistent nourishment to maintain shape and resilience

Key ingredients: Retinoids, growth factors, peptides, Vitamin C, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom, ceramides, squalane, triglycerides, barrier-repair botanicals

Formulation focus: Deep hydration, lipid replenishment, collagen stimulation, and barrier support

Hypodermis: The Foundation

This is what keeps your house standing—the base that anchors the rest of the layers. You can’t reach the hypodermis with skincare—but you can support what it holds up. Fat and connective tissue create the cushion and shape we associate with youth. If this erodes, everything above it follows.

* Provides structural integrity and insulation

* Loss of volume here = skin collapse and visible aging

* Needs protection from internal and external stressors to preserve strength

Why it all matters

Skincare works best when it honors the system—layer by layer. A refined epidermis needs support from below. And collagen-boosting efforts only succeed if the barrier above is intact enough to tolerate them. 

A glowing roof isn’t sustainable without strong supports and a sound foundation. And collagen support means nothing if your barrier can’t tolerate it.

If skin is a living structure, this routine is its architectural support plan. Minimalist in steps, maximalist in function. Think of it as the blueprint, the beams, and the bedrock—all in three synergistic formulas:

True Calm Rosehip Gel Cleanser gently resets the surface while calming irritation and supporting barrier strength with prebiotics and panthenol.

Double Feature Retinol + AHA Overnight Facial brightens, smooths, and hydrates—while strengthening skin over time with time-release retinoids and antioxidants.

The Total Package Fortifying Peptide Cream cushions the skin with moisture, reinforces the barrier, and helps improve firmness and tone with targeted peptides and enzymes.

Because when you treat skin like the complex, interconnected structure it is—you get results that don’t just show up. They hold up.