Dr. Gregory Bays Brown, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Dr. Gregory Bays Brown, the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon behind RéVive, shares the history of the brand, the science behind their products and his favourite products and regimens. Discover more in this exclusive Q&A.
While being a successful plastic and reconstructive surgeon, what sparked your interest in the skincare field?
My mother was always devoted to skincare and I saw it in my house from a young age. When I started doing plastic surgery, I noticed that not all aesthetic end points could be achieved with surgery alone. Patients would complain to me about their skin being dull and not looking rested. I realized that skincare was so important to achieve optimal results. There are many things you can address with surgery, but surgery can’t bring back the glow of youthful skin. Skincare can help to revitalize the skin and return that dewy glow.
What makes RéVive products different than other luxury brands in the market?
RéVive really did come from medicine – it truly happened because of medical treatments I used to heal burn wounds. By applying Epidermal Growth Factor (“EGF”) the wound was able to heal more effectively. I then applied that theory to skincare and aging skin. I think that is one of the things that really sets us apart.
How did you come up with the name RéVive?
I am a Francophile! It took me many months to come up with the name. You know, the word RéVive is not a real French word, but it says what it does - it revives the skin - so we “Francophiled” it to become RéVive.
What do you think is the #1 mistake people make in their skincare routine?
I think there are several. First of all, the most important thing to combat aging is using a sunscreen every day. And then I think a lot of people, especially well-informed people, overdo and exhaust their skin with too many products or too many aggressive products. So, I think less is more, everything in moderation is very important and not always adhered to.
Why is a nighttime skincare routine important?
Our circadian rhythm relates to our body’s fluctuation with sleep/wake patterns. It is connected to respective hormonal and physiologic cycles that support the bodies repair and renewal while we sleep. This makes night-time skincare very important as this is the time our bodies naturally renew and rejuvenate making your skincare work more effectively.
What are your 3 favourite products for a night routine?
RéVive Moisturizing Renewal Cream and RéVive Intensité Les Yeux Eye Cream are two of my top picks, but often forgotten is our whole body! If you think about it, only 5% of our skin is our face but 95% is the rest of our body; it’s our largest organ. To be really healthy we have to have our whole body in tip-top shape. I believe that the future of skincare is going to be grounded in protection and prevention and RéVive Defensif is another favourite product that can be used with any cream. As global warming and climate deterioration increase, we will see the effects on skin aging and skin sensitivities. Therefore, products like Defensif are, I believe, the wave of the future!
What product in the RéVive line do you think is underrated/a secret weapon?
We have several underrated products at RéVive that we probably don't discuss often enough – one of them being RéVive Le Polish. This product is a prime example of where "size does matter" as the aluminum oxide crystals are fashioned to just the right size for efficient exfoliation. If particles are too big, they can cause too much trauma to the skin, and if they're too small they don't efficiently exfoliate... In Le Polish the size is just right.
If you were to recommend ONE RéVive product, which one would that be?
I always tell everybody that if they were to buy just one product it would have to be our first product which is RéVive Moisturizing Renewal Cream Nightly Retexturizer. You really do see a difference within 48 to 72 hours and the result is that wonderful dewy glow of youth.
