DEAR VIOLET: Help, please.

QUESTION: I was pretty careful this summer, but all of a sudden I’m noticing uneven skin tone and new dark spots! What can I use to fade them safely?

ANSWER: Oh friend, we hear you. We’re glad you were vigilant with SPF this summer, but more than likely, this is the result of past sun exposure that is just now making its way to the surface. The good news is, we have solutions that work. Start by incorporating U Beauty’s Resurfacing Compound as your serum both day and night. The blend of retinol, gentle acids, and vitamin C does wonders to even tone, and it won’t sensitize or dry your skin. After moisturizing, apply Isdin’s mineral SPF, which both protects and tackles the damage of the past with Nobel Prize-winning (beat that!) light-activated enzymes that target and correct cells that have been altered by UV rays. 

P.S. Just because it’s fall doesn’t mean we can slack off on SPF—remember to reapply.

QUESTION: I have these tiny little bumps all over my face but they aren’t pimples or breakouts. They just sit under the surface and I can’t figure out how to get rid of them. It’s maddening. Can you help?

ANSWER: Bumps like you are describing are usually the result of clogged pores, but if they are hard and white, they could be milia that require removal by a dermatologist. To clear bumps from congestion, though, you need good exfoliation. We are head-over-heels in love with Eighth Day’s Resurfacing Tonic—it’s what most of our staff are using for this exact issue. Apply it after cleansing (start with a couple of times a week and work your way up to everyday) and we promise that, not only will it clear the dead skin responsible for trapping oil and clogging your pores, your skin will be so smooth and glowing you’ll hardly recognize yourself. Twice a week, follow the tonic with BeautyStat’s purifying (yet not drying) medical grade silver-and-clay mask to deeply detoxify and clear while keeping skin strong and supple. It’s a magical combination.

QUESTION: I have super-sensitive skin and almost every product I try turns me beet-red and patchy. What can I use without causing more redness and inflammation? 

ANSWER: We feel your pain, and offer the following tried-and-true recommendations: You can’t go wrong with any Dr. Rogers product—she formulates specifically for irritated skin—and her daily cleanser is no exception. With just eight plant-based ingredients, it gently cleanses and removes makeup without stripping. To instantly calm and hydrate, go for Augustinus Bader’s Ultimate Soothing Cream, a rich, ultra-luxe treatment that fortifies the skin’s protective barrier while visibly improving tone and texture. You’ll see a revitalized, healthy, bouncy complexion in no time.