The #ITGTopShelfie interview series focuses on the beauty routines of Into The Gloss’ lovely, accomplished, and loyal community of readers. Submit your own on Instagram—post your Top Shelfie (tag us @intothegloss!) and include the hashtag #ITGTopShelfie for a chance to be featured on ITG.
“Hi, I’m Enrico Frezza (@thefrezza), Frenchie dad, husband, Stevie Nicks mega fan, and founder of Peace Out Skincare. My journey with skincare started because I struggled with ‘pizza face’ acne as a kid and teenager—and all the emotional trauma that others inflict on those with severe acne. It subsided when I went on Accutane, but acne still followed me into my early adult years. I’d breakout monthly, and sometimes they’d be minimal, and other times they’d be really bad. It became my obsession to find a solution to stop these breakouts so that I could face life and myself in the mirror everyday. In 2014 I discovered hydrocolloid bandages in a Los Angeles drugstore, and that changed everything. At the time I was working in cyber security, but I began experimenting on myself with hydrocolloid bandages, salicylic acid, and other ingredients in my at-home lab (also known as the kitchen). In the early stages I was the only test subject, and I accidentally took off layers and layers of my skin before I finally came up with the first Peace Out Acne Dot prototype. That’s how I went from a desk job to living my dream as a skincare brand founder and entrepreneur.
On the day to day, I deal with research and development, strategy, retail, finances, and global expansion… but my favorite part of my job is doing product development and research. I live, breathe, and dream new products. I want everything we put out to be a first to market solution using state-of-the-art technology and ingredients, and I am always thinking about how to make skincare more effective, efficient, and healthier for us and the planet.
I am kind of obsessed with learning about how to live longer and hack more from our existence. One of the most helpful pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten is to get my gut checked. Once I found out what my gut hates and eliminated it from my diet, it made such a huge difference in my skin, and my body and mind in general. I’m also super invested in muscle health, and would like to figure out how to combine all those facets into a personalized functional healing routine. Right now, my approach to skincare is to keep it simple, fun, and easy to use. I’ve really been working on building a blueprint based on my microbiome.
In the morning, I use Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser. I like it because it removes excess oil without disrupting the essential skin barrier. It’s also full of ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, which my skin loves. I follow that with a cocktail of serums: Niod’s Copper Amino Isolate Serum is first, a pro-repair and pro-collagen solution to target signs of aging. Then I use Peace Out’s salicylic Acne Serum, my to-go because it basically combines five different serums I used to use into one step. It helps reduce blemishes and oil production, and also works to instantly smooth out pores. Because I suffer from hyperpigmentation, I also use Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense. It has tranexamic acid, niacinamide, kojic acid and sulfonic acid to treat dark marks and brighten my skin. According to researchers, aloe vera has molecules called sterols that promote collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin. I love the aloe vera gel from Lily Of The Desert in particular, because it’s 99-percent organic, doesn’t cause any irritation, and absorbs quickly without any tackiness. I’ve tried so many moisturizers I’ve lost count, and this AM Moisturizer from EltaMD is just perfect. Then I finish with Koa Invisible SPF 45. I only use mineral sunscreens because chemical sunscreens tend to irritate my skin, and this one also has anti-pollution properties. In case I do break out, I always have my Peace Out Acne Dots and Peace Out Dark Spots with microneedles on hand, which I’ve been known to wear in the daytime.
At night, I switch up my cleanser and use the La Roche-Posay Purifying Foaming Gel. It’s another great, non-drying option for those with oily skin. I use all the same serums I use in the morning, and then I add a few nighttime anti-aging extras. First is Niod’s under eye serum, which has hyaluronic acid and collagen. I also use tretinoin .025-percent cream that I get from my dermatologist to speed up cell turnover, minimize inflammation and stimulate collagen production, which helps improve the appearance of surface wrinkles and fine lines even more. Finally, I use the nighttime version of my morning moisturizer, EltaMD PM, to strengthen my skin’s natural moisture barrier. I might apply a microneedle dark spot patch at night if I didn’t want to wear it during the day, and I can also use our Anti-Wrinkle microneedling patches, which are filled with retinol, vitamin C, and a powerful peptide blend, on any areas I want to specifically target.
I try to not over dry my hair, so I shampoo every other day and use conditioner daily. I like the Acure Daily Workout Watermelon and Blood Orange Shampoo and Conditioner because they are clean and effective for my hair type. I also use the Olaplex Hair Perfector three times a week, and I leave it on overnight for deeper repair. To style my hair, I use Layrite Natural Matte Cream, which I have been using for as long as I can remember. It gives my hair a super natural look but stays on all day. What I really like about it is that it doesn’t make my forehead break out when I’m sweating, which is a huge plus.
My husband is fanatical about collecting vintage—he’s built an amazing arsenal over the past 30 years, and when he grows out of things, they become mine. I’m Milanese, but most of my clothes are classic American: vintage tees (featuring classic cars, rock ‘n roll and country music), vintage Levi jeans, Vans, RRL, Filson, and Carhartt. We currently live between Mill Valley, California, and Tahoe, and being out in nature is my favorite way to relax. I love to hike from our house in Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, kayak the Russian River in Napa, and head up to Tahoe to paddle board and mountain bike. There’s nothing better than spending the day barbecuing, playing corn hole, and floating around a pool. But when it’s hot outside, my mother-in-law gave me a few great tips to cool down. The first is to use an electric neck fan to keep your skin cool—that way, your products stay put and don’t run down your face. And the second is to keep skincare in the fridge. My favorite thing to put in there is Peace Out Puffy Eyes, but if you don’t have anything to cool off with, freeze a spoon!”
—as told to ITG
Photos via the author
