#WCW: Dermatologist and Author Whitney Bowe, Creator of #TheBoweGlow

Dr. Whitney Bowe has a lot of secrets, including how to get the glowiest, most radiant skin of your dreams, how to relieve your anxiety and how to look and feel your absolute best overall. On top of being a leading, board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Whitney Bowe is also the author of the new book The Beauty of Dirty Skin.

In her book, Dr. Bowe spells out exactly what you need to do to become the best, healthiest version of yourself. We had a chance to talk to the derm about her new book, the best moment in her career thus far and what beauty means to her. Check out her answers, ahead:

What inspired you to become a dermatologist?

While I was in medical school, I felt drawn to a specialized dermatology clinic called the acne clinic. At the clinic, I met patients with severe acne, scarring, and even disfiguring manifestations of this condition. Even as their physical scars were helped through treatment, the emotional scars from dealing with and living with this condition often seemed to stick around. But slowly, and with some encouragement, as the treatments truly started to work, I watched a transformation. A newfound confidence, as their personalities began to come out and shine through. I loved to be a part of that transition, that transformation — and I wanted to empower others through my work. I wanted to pursue this field that could change lives in such a tangible and meaningful way — with knowledge about the physical and kindness about the emotional.

Tell us about your new book!

Your skin is a window into your overall health and wellness. Put simply, your skin reflects your health. The “integrative” or comprehensive approach to healthy skin, which I share in The Beauty of Dirty Skin, really applies to people of all ages because the gut-brain-skin connection which I discuss is at play in every single one of us. I don’t just look at your skin condition and prescribe a medication to address it. Instead, I look at your skin within the context of your entire body’s overall health.  

I don’t use the hashtag #ThatBoweGlow for nothing — I stand behind my glow! And I want to help people, on any budget, to achieve their own healthy, glowing skin because it impacts confidence, self-esteem, and so many other areas of your life! Healthy skin is so much more than skin deep.

What moment in your career are you most proud of, thus far?

Publishing The Beauty of Dirty Skin because it reflects 10 years of my life’s work in a field I could not be more passionate about.

What is the one most important piece of skincare advice you want makeup.com readers to know?

I always tell my patients that healthy skin is so much more than skin deep. As I explain in The Beauty of Dirty Skin, nurturing your skin is as much of an inside job as it is an outside job. Your diet and lifestyle play a major role in the radiance and health of your skin — something many people do not realize.

Aside from your wallet and phone, what do you keep in your purse at all times?

A floppy sun hat and my Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush On Sunscreen. I use this mineral based, brush-on sunscreen throughout the day, right over my makeup.

What does beauty mean to you?

To me, beauty means glowing from the inside out and the outside in. Radiant skin that glows with health is only part of the equation. Confidence and kindness are equally beautiful, if not more so in my eyes, and these are values I instill in my daughter.

What do you do for fun?

I love to visit the beach with my family! I have a six year-old daughter, Maclane, who loves to swim with me in the ocean and pool. It’s the best feeling to relax and restore and feel really connected with the people you love in such a tranquil space.

What are some of your favorite makeup products of all time?

My favorite foundation is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I share my favorite products on my Dr. Whitney’s Picks page, because I’m asked about them so frequently, and I wanted to make the info easy to find and share.

What advice would you give to your younger self, if you could?

Stop drinking diet drinks!! I was a fake sugar addict! I can completely admit this now, but seriously, I used to drink diet iced tea and soda all the time. Through my work, I learned how bad these artificial sweeteners really are for my health, and I cut them out of my diet altogether.

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Hero Image Courtesy Dr. Whitney Bowe