Where hot people go for injectables

Plus my favorites retinoids and sunscreen formulas

Acne initially sparked my interest in skincare, and as a result, I have devoted the majority of my career to sharing my top tips, tricks, and preferred products for managing breakouts.

I’m not going to lie and say that once I hit my thirties, my acne disappeared. As a matter of fact, I experienced one of my worst breakouts to date right before my wedding (I’ll spill how I got rid of it on The Strategist soon). But what I am saying is that acne is no longer my only skin concern.

I know it’s cliche to hear someone wax poetic about aging being a gift—but it is. True hell on earth is being one of those people that is constantly trying to reject getting older and reverse the process. I’m not interested in restructuring my face or removing all wrinkles, but I am looking for a softening of certain things.

So this week, we’re going to be discussing the things I do to revitalize, plump, and firm my skin.

• Retinoids

• In-clinic treatments

• Sunscreens and antioxidants

Oh, so this is where they all go!

One of the greatest gifts of being a beauty writer is that skincare is always my go-to icebreaker. More often than not, my first conversations with anyone—whether they’re friends of friends or straight-up strangers—end up being about what products they use and which specialists they trust. Even the meanest and hottest people I’ve met have quickly divulged their favorite dermatologists and what procedures they do. Maybe it’s just my job, but I like to think it’s also because people can tell I’m nonjudgmental.

All of this is to say, I noticed a pattern. Whenever I asked someone with absurdly good skin about their routine, whether in New York or Los Angeles, the answer was always the same: they see Casey Welk at Contrapposto. One woman told me his PRF (an advanced micro-needling treatment) was the only thing that’s ever helped her dark under eyes. Another told me that seeing anyone else for Botox would be a grave mistake. So needless to say, when I moved to Los Angeles, booking an appointment with him was high up on my to-do list.

First and foremost, his clinic, Contrapposto, is something to behold. Tucked behind a gate on busy La Cienega, it feels like a serene haven hiding in plain sight. It’s the meticulously curated vision of Casey Welk and his husband, Nick Axelrod-Welk—a beauty industry icon in his own right, who co-founded Into The Gloss, Nécessaire, and Homecourt. Contrapposto is bright, inviting, and ridiculously chic, so it made perfect sense when I found out they enlisted some of the same designers behind The Row’s Melrose store.

In our consultation, Casey made clear from the jump that his process is slow and thoughtful. It’s a journey you take together—a marathon, not a sprint. I learned a lot about him in a short amount of time: he hates injectable trends, he loves lasers and micro-needling, and he believes filler should be used judiciously. We chatted for a while, and he helped me determine the best treatment plan for me.