Dr. Barbara Sturm is a globally acclaimed aesthetics doctor, innovator, and founder of the Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics skincare line. Known for merging advanced science with luxurious simplicity, Dr. Sturm has cultivated a devoted following among celebrities, beauty insiders, and skincare enthusiasts worldwide. She continues to lead the conversation on skincare innovation, promoting education and empowerment in the beauty industry.
I began my medical practice in anti-inflammatory orthopedics and in 2002, I translated some of the scientific anti-inflammatory advances I helped pioneer to treat osteoarthritis, into skin and aesthetics. I was always very interested in aesthetics – it’s a combination of art and science, and a fascinating challenge with immediate and very gratifying outcomes for patients. I started by injecting Hyaluronic Acid and Botox which provided great results, but I kept thinking that it would be a great additional anti-aging booster for the skin if we also started mixing it with the body’s own anti-inflammatory healing factors, like we did in orthopedic medicine. This became the inspiration behind what people know today as the ‘blood facial,’ Vampire facial’ or ‘PRP.’ I invented a bespoke, blood plasma-infused face cream for my patients soon after and then, when they asked me to recommend a full skincare line and I couldn’t find any products I was comfortable enough to recommend, I decided to create my own ingredient science-based, high-performance skincare and that was Molecular Cosmetics was born.
Inflammation is the body’s response to irritation and injury and a primary trigger for acne, premature aging, redness, enlarged pores, and other skin diseases and dysfunction including psoriasis, rosacea, and perioral dermatitis. We are bombarded every day with inflammatory influences, from UVA and UVB rays to stress, tailpipe emissions, HEV rays, smoking, alcohol, and sugar but also harsh products we use on our skin. If we learn what the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory influences are, we can adjust our lifestyle and skincare habits accordingly.
My fundamental advice never changes – protect and boost your skin barrier function, provide your skin with essential nutrition, drench the skin with hydration, and combat inflammation with anti-inflammatory skincare ingredients. Avoid harsh skincare products and treatments; allow your skin to heal and have full skin barrier functions to protect it from stressors outside. It’s important to take a holistic approach to reducing inflammation and achieving wellness, which includes adopting a simple, anti-inflammatory lifestyle. This means getting enough sleep and exercise, reducing inflammatory foods, reducing stress, eliminating smoking, and alcohol, and avoiding unprotected exposure to sun, pollution, and HEV light.
I don’t have a beauty industry background, and my experience wasn’t borne from any of those beauty giants; I am a medical doctor and scientist first and foremost with a focus on anti-inflammatory treatments and that is the key differentiator.
There are two that I see most often; first, when you zig and zag in-between products and brands, self-curating your skincare, which can cause the ingredients to work at cross purposes. Second, using quick fix anti-aging approaches like acid peels and harsh lasers that create inflammation and harm rather than heal your skin. The goal with skincare is to soothe and reduce inflammation, not cause it – skincare should never cause any discomfort.
My goal is to change the way people think about skin and skincare and ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge to make the right decisions about their skin and overall health. I am deeply interested in innovation and closely monitor the innovations in ingredient science and scientific advances, and as a doctor, I am constantly working with leading scientists around the world to develop new ways to improve health and longevity on all levels – not just for the skin, but the body too. I like to stay at the forefront and bring that latest thinking to my patients. My mantra is to put one foot in front of the other, keep moving, and don’t live too much in the past or the future – try and live in the moment.
The Mercer is such an elegant hotel that, like STURM, provides its clients with the utmost in service and a personalized experience that can’t be matched. Created exclusively for The Mercer Hotel, the Dr. Barbara Sturm x The Mercer Hotel Facial marries unique facial massage techniques with some of my most powerful skincare formulations to define facial muscles and leave skin with a healthy-looking STURMGLOW. ™️It also includes some of my favorite wellness therapies for added anti-inflammatory benefits.
When developing a new spa concept, I always consider the specific needs of my patients in each location. To me, New York is like two different cities: with Mercer, it blends into the hectic life of SoHo and I designed the treatment areas around this specific downtown lifestyle. Clients can experience the latest, non-invasive STURM technologies and we also have wellness therapies like the PEMF mat and red light therapy, which you can add-on to any treatment.
My daughter, Charly, lives in SoHo and we love the vibes there – one of my Spa & Boutiques is around the corner from Charly’s flat so we spend a lot of time just going for walks and visiting all the amazing boutiques, restaurants and galleries.
New York has some of the best workout studios. You can’t miss Tracy Anderson, Taryn Toomey, Forma Pilates, and Isaac Boots – when he’s in town.
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