10 years ago we couldn’t have imagined how much the skincare industry has grown. From the many unique and diverse products, to the evolution of acne and skin portrayal in the media, the skincare industry has come a long way. Although skincare has been around for centuries, it sure isn’t talked about as much as it is today.

Sarah Miller has been a skincare expert and enthusiast for many years, and worked with renowned skincare brand Dermalogica for 10 years. Her expertise and knowledge about acne in particular, drew us to speak to her and get some of our top asked questions answered!

Sarah is sweet, professional, and an incredibly inspiring individual whose journey in the skincare industry is worth diving into. Read our interview with her below where we get to know her better and discuss all things acne, skincare, and Dermalogica.

Interview With Sarah Miller

  1. Who is Sarah Miller?

I am a born and raised Floridian. I love to fish and kayak with my husband but also can’t resist a good book or movie. I love all things Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Marvel, etc., and definitely do not act like a 32-year-old. Haha! Any excuse to wear a costume I am all in and I’ll bring my elf ears! I have a cat named Minnie and a dog named Wynnie and I also love to sing karaoke. My family calls me the “cruise director” because I am always planning the family vacations and activities months in advance. Currently, I create classes and educational pieces for some of our national accounts with Dermalogica and still get to teach occasionally and work with clients. I also get to work with Clear Start from time to time which I love. Prior to this position, I was a full-time instructor teaching in our Fort Lauderdale Dermalogica Learning Loft and I also had my own skincare business working with clients on the weekends. I have my cosmetology license and skincare license and love my job! @dermalogicaSarah on IG 😉

  1. What made you first interested in skincare and which department of skincare are you most interested in?

Acne and extractions!

I started getting acne in middle school at about the age of 13 and was made fun of pretty bad. Mean words like “pizza face” or “freckle face pimple girl” were regular words I would hear in school. I would wear tons of makeup to cover it up and cut my hair to cover it. I would try all kinds of things to get rid of my acne including terrible things like scrubbing it away and straight rubbing alcohol (ahhh the horror please never do this!!) and all the prescriptions dermatologists prescribed to try. My mom was always so supportive and helped me with my skin so much since she had been using products from a young age and would buy me different things to try. I became obsessed with picking at my acne and it mostly made it worse but made me want to learn more about why it was happening and the correct way to treat it. I will never forget my English teacher in high school who always said I should be an esthetician because I was always doing makeup in her class or had a mirror out messing with my skin! I was very lucky to have supportive friends and family and was involved in so many hobbies and school activities that I didn’t let the acne define me. I just wanted to conquer it! Now I focus on helping others manage and control their acne and I LOVE extractions and just giving a full acne skin treatment to clients.  

  1. What do you love most about working with Dermalogica?

I love the products, of course! But more importantly, I love the people and genuine friendships I have formed over the last 10+ years. I have met so many incredible professional skin therapists, clients, students, and consumers over the years, and truly love going to work every day! It’s incredible to work for a company where we all love skin and I get to be creative and authentically me. The founder of our company Jane Wurwand, is so inspiring and I knew 14 years ago after taking a class at the International Dermal Institute and hearing her speak, I wanted to work with Dermalogica and Clear Start. I made a vision board and Clear Start was on it so it’s been so incredible to work with Clear Start around the world now!

  1. What would you say is the most important part of a skincare routine? 

Cleansing! When I started doing the “Dermalogica double cleanse“, my skin changed for the better. The texture improved, I get less blackheads and my skin feels smoother. I use Precleanse and Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash daily. It removes all of my makeup and I don’t feel tight or stripped after or oily and greasy. Just fresh and healthy skin! 

  1. As a skincare pro, what would you say is a common misconception about skincare?
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I think it can seem overwhelming for some people with all the different products on the market and “steps” they think they have to do. You can have a great skincare routine and keep it simple. No reason to overwhelm yourself with 8-10 steps a day if you don’t have the time or your skin doesn’t need it. Another misconception is that skincare is a “miracle cure” and that’s just not the case. There is no such thing as a product that solves all your skin care concerns immediately. It is truly a commitment to your skin health and combined with professional treatments, you will get great results in time.

  1. Many say that for acne-prone skin, we should avoid using facial oils. How true is this statement? Does it only apply if you have oily skin?

It all depends on the type of oil. There are oils that can clog the pores for some people and make their breakouts worse and then there are oils that are fantastic for the skin for nourishing and repairing the barrier. I used to avoid oil at all costs because I am super oily and have huge pores. But when I started using a cleansing oil (Precleanse!) to remove my makeup it was a game changer! Oil attracts oil so by using the Precleanse consistently, my skin started feeling more balanced and less blackheads would come. I mostly stick to lighter weight formulas due to my oily skin for my leave-on products (I love the Micro -Pore Mist toner and Cooling Aqua Jelly moisturizer) but some oils have been great! Jojoba oil is one my skin loves. We use it in our Retinol Clearing Oil product from Dermalogica.

  1. The common skincare advice when it comes to acne is not to poke or pinch them. However, many skin specialists during facials would actually poke them to clear them out. Can we really not do it or is there a certain method necessary when popping pimples?

I can’t lie – I have been self-extracting my acne since I was 13 and I will never stop! Haha. Yes, it is true that I often discourage my clients from picking but that’s because most people pick and pop incorrectly and end up with scars or spread their acne, making it much worse. Think about those people popping in public with unwashed hands or popping when makeup is on at the end of the day when sitting in front of the TV. Yuck! It’s so important to prep the skin prior to extractions, use good hygiene throughout, have a good technique, know when to stop, and of course, use post-products to heal and calm inflammation. I like to coach my acne sufferers on the proper way to extract. Set a timer, 7-10 minutes max! Cleanse your hands and skin thoroughly. At Dermalogica and Clear Start, we use a rolling extraction technique. You want to wrap your fingers with tissue and lift the skin up on either side of the impaction and gently roll your fingers on either side. Do not squeeze or use tools to open the skin or draw blood! I also like to be clear that you want to avoid picking at inflamed acne as this can lead to scarring. It’s best to spot treat those with a salicylic acid or niacinamide spot treatment or use a pimple sticker or cold compress to reduce the swelling!

  1. What would you say is your go-to or favorite Clear Start skincare product? What makes them unique?

It’s hard to choose one! I love Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash because it’s a cleanser but also has salicylic acid .5% so you get gentle exfoliation too making it two benefits in one. It’s easy to use. I keep mine in my shower and also use it for body acne breakouts. You can even clean makeup brushes with it! Breakout Clearing Booster is tied for first place. This kills breakout causing bacteria in 15 seconds. I love that I can simply spot treat a breakout or I can mix a few drops into my moisturizer for all over acne control. I also appreciate the bottle itself. Not only does Clear Start love the environment and use recycled plastic but we also have very thoughtfully designed packaging. I hate wasting product and the Breakout Clearing Booster has a little button on the bottom that you gently press to release the product so you can get just the right amount out and not end up wasting. It also keeps it hygienic. Never touch the applicator tip on your face or hand, just allow the product to drop onto your finger and then apply to the skin. Yes I know it looks pretty on Instagram to touch the product to your face but it’s not a good idea in the long run for keeping things hygienic!

  1. What do you think sets Clear Start apart from other skincare brands?

Clear Start is inclusive, authentic, and real. I love that I can be myself. My quirky personality, my blackheads, and my large pores are all accepted in the Clear Start family! I love the models we use in our Clear Start campaigns. They are real people with acne! It’s really nice to see unretouched, unfiltered: real people! We also have created an incredible movement over the years with Clear Start to change the stigmas surrounding acne. Acne is normal! It’s not ugly and you should not be ashamed and feel that you need to cover your acne up.

  1. What is your opinion on exaggerated skincare routines, such as 9-step or 12-step skincare routines? Is it really necessary to be using that many products?

My opinion is if someone wants to do a 12 step skin care routine that is perfectly fine, but it’s not realistic for everyone on a daily basis and not necessary for everyone. Maybe you have that person that really needs a self care day and they want to take a bubble bath and really give their skin a full treatment where they use 10+ products. I like to do that about once or twice a month or when I am getting a professional skin treatment. I expect 10 to 12 products to be used throughout the treatment by the professional. I also have clients concerned with aging and hyperpigmentation that enjoy layering and using an extensive skincare routine and that’s what works for them. For me on a daily basis about 5 products is all I use. Not only for time purposes but I have found that sweet spot of what my skin needs personally. 🙂 many of my teen clients and acne clients also use about 4-5 products and it’s been the Perfect amount to get results and be realistic to maintain – cleanse, exfoliate, tone, treat, protect.

  1. What is the best or most fascinating skincare finding that you have discovered in your career?
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Learning about ingredients and learning what YOUR skin responds best to and loves! Skincare is not a one size fits all approach. It’s so important to pay attention to how your skin responds when introducing a new product. Skin care shouldn’t hurt or make your skin super red and uncomfortable. If your skin feels healthy and is glowing and hydrated after using a product that is key! Annddd of course all of the science behind acne! The whole pathogenesis and contributing factors surround acne. The bacteria involved and the structure of our sebaceous follicles, that is fascinating to me!