When Dr. Anthony Youn reached out to introduce me to Youn Beauty, I was curious. I wanted to learn more about the products, but I was even more interested in the philosophy behind the brand.

As a board-certified plastic surgeon and the founder of Youn Beauty, Dr. Youn has spent decades helping people think differently about aging. What stood out to me is that his approach goes well beyond skincare. He believes healthy skin starts with the choices we make every day, including nutrition, lifestyle, and a consistent skincare routine.

We recently caught up to talk about what inspired Youn Beauty, his approach to healthy aging, and the skincare advice he wishes more people knew.

1. You’ve spent years helping people look and feel their best. What made you decide it was finally time to create Youn Beauty?

I saw that there was a gap between medical grade skin care which contains active ingredients to visibly make skin look and feel younger, and natural skin care which contains safer ingredients without unnecessary additives and preservatives. The medical grade skin care often contains excess fragrances and additives that can cause irritation to the skin, whereas the natural products don’t typically contain active ingredients like retinol, kojic acid, and peptides. So I decided to create a product line that contains the best of both worlds.

2. How did your experience working with patients influence the products you wanted to create?

My patients have a high expectation from me, since I’m a surgeon. They want to see results. Therefore, I needed to make sure my skin care line achieved the same thing.

3. After all these years working with patients, what’s one thing you think people get wrong about aging well?

Some people believe that you have to traumatize your skin to make it look younger, that you need aggressive products that create redness and irritation to work. That is completely not true. Using powerful but gentle products which don’t disrupt your skin barrier is a better way to go.

4. I think a lot of people feel overwhelmed by skincare these days. If someone wanted to build a simple routine, where would you tell them to start?

In the morning you just need a few steps: Cleanse, Vitamin C serum, then Sunscreen. In the evening, Cleanse (double cleanse if you wear makeup), then apply an active anti-aging moisturizer like our Retinol Moisturizer.

5. What’s one skincare step people spend too much time or money on, and one they probably don’t pay enough attention to?

One step that is unnecessary for most people is Toning. Sure, go ahead and tone if you like it, but it’s not mandatory for healthy skin. The step we don’t pay enough attention to is properly cleansing. Let the cleanser work on your skin for 30 seconds before washing it off!

6. Many of my readers are trying to balance protecting their skin with being more mindful of the products they use. How do you approach that conversation?

I recommend avoiding products with irritating ingredients, such as strong fragrances. All of my YOUN Beauty products are fragrance-free.

7. How do you think about ingredient safety while still creating effective products?

I work with my manufacturer to make sure we are only using the safest, purest ingredients possible. Sometimes this means you have to occasionally go back to the drawing board, but we’ve had great success so far!

8. If someone told you, “I’d really like to avoid Botox,” where would you encourage them to focus first?

First, use an anti-aging cream like Retinol. If your skin is too sensitive for Retinol, then Bakuchiol is a valid alternative. Nothing works like Botox, but these creams are a good start.

9. There always seems to be a new skincare trend. Is there one you think is actually worth the hype, and one people can probably skip?

One trend worth the hype is skin cycling. This is a simple concept of giving your skin a day or two off after using an active product like retinol or tretinoin. Once again, you don’t have to be overly aggressive with your skin. One trend you can skip is applying beef tallow to your face. It’s comedogenic!

10. Looking ahead, what are you most excited about when it comes to skincare and healthy aging?

I am really excited about what exosomes can bring to skin care. We are just touching the surface, and they are extremely expensive, but the sky’s the limit with them.

One Last Thing…

At She Takes Five, we believe it’s the little things we do consistently that make the biggest difference. What’s one small habit you rarely skip because it helps you feel your best?

Yoga. It’s been transformative for me, especially as a 53-year-old man who operates two days per week!

A big thank you to Dr. Youn for taking the time to share his thoughtful perspective on skincare and healthy aging.