The Skincare Ritual That Brought This Ballet Mom's Confidence Back

Finding an easy-to-follow, effective skincare routine gave one, dance-loving KaramMD mom a sense of control over how her skin was aging.

Name: Ami Goradia

Age: 49

Hometown: Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Time on Trifecta: 1 Year

Day Job: Mom of two, former hematopathologist

Almost every morning starts the same way for Ami Goradia: A mocha coffee, ballet class and, without fail, her skincare routine, which for the last year has been KaramMD’s three-step system, The Trifecta. “I love things that become rituals,” says Ami, a mother of two who lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a beach community in San Diego County.

“I go to ballet nearly every day. Everyday we follow the same progression at the barre. So I love the idea of doing the same thing with my skincare. Also when I'm tired at the end of the day, I can't do 12 steps,” adds Ami.

Four years ago, after undergoing treatment for breast cancer, Ami was put on medication that accelerates some aspects of menopause. Ami started noticing changes in her skin, like “fine lines, wrinkles and dullness” that left her feeling “distressed.” “My breast cancer story is not as complicated and fraught as many people have had to deal with, but it was a real disappointment to have to accept taking a medication that was speeding up the aging process. I mean, who wants to speed that up?" she says.

But it wasn’t until Ami appeared in a ballet and saw how the stage makeup sat on her skin instead of blending into it that she decided to book an appointment at the Carmel Valley Aesthetic Center, the non-surgical arm of Dr. Karam’s practice in San Diego, California. Ami started receiving quarterly microneedling sessions to tackle her textural and pigmentation issues, and after watching Dr. Karam’s YouTube videos, decided to give the Trifecta a try.

“Before that point, I was kind of grasping and collecting people’s favorite products. It was mostly one offs and not a complete program. And so, I loved how when I started the Trifecta, I felt like I had covered my bases. Mentally, it was a huge relief,” says Ami, a former hematopathologist (a physician who diagnoses diseases of the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes).

Ami says she religiously uses the Trifecta — Rinse, a gentle Amino Acid and Glycolic Acid cleanser; Quench, a Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid serum; and Illuminate, an anti-aging treatment with Encapsulated Retinol, Peptides and Niacinamide three times a day. She uses the trio in the morning, again after ballet practice, and before bed. She also applies a small amount of Enrich, KaramMD’s plant-oil-based barrier balm, after using the Trifecta.

Ami says it took her about three months to notice changes in her skin, which she describes as “glowing and vibrant.” More recently, she added Polish, an Enzymatic Exfoliator made with Bamboo and Coconut powders as well as Azelaic Acid, to her regimen twice a week. “When I started using [Polish] with more consistency I really felt like it made my skin feel a lot softer and brighter.”

Now, thanks to her KaramMD regimen, Ami says her makeup goes on smoother and “people notice the difference.” But the best part? “I have such a sense of renewed confidence.”

In Her Words:

My KaramMD Tip

Use a little bit of Enrich under your sunblock to make your skin glow. I use a pea size amount of Enrich after Illuminate and before using sunblock. It's the mixture of the Enrich plus the sunblock that gives this kind of nice glowy effect.

Healthy Habits

I love practicing hot yoga, going on hikes near our home, and being outside. I get a lot of joy and positivity from being active. I love ballet and it's something I need on a frequent basis. It's meditative for me.

Guilty Pleasure

The most delicious baklava from Para Cafe, a cafe that recently opened near my home.

Eating Style

I don't follow any particular diet. I'm Indian and so being vegetarian is more a philosophical thing versus being about a healthy diet. Indian food can be not that healthy. The key is that it should be delicious. Mostly I eat what tastes good. I generally have a mocha coffee in the morning and then I will have a snack late in the day and then lately I'll have a light dinner on the early side.

Travel Destination

I loved our trip to Villefranche sur Mer near Nice in the south of France. Even the sunlight seemed dreamy there. But my favorite city is London because it is so beautifully maintained and there are endless things to do there!

Book Club Recommendation

I really enjoyed a murder mystery called Death in the Air by Ram Murali, my oncologist’s brother. It was a real page turner and I enjoyed the references to things and places from here in North County San Diego.

Last Words

With my history of hormone positive breast cancer, HRT is not an option for me. But with KaramMD’s Trifecta I got a feeling of some agency and a way I could counteract the aging effects of my medication. KaramMD brought me relief.

Header image credit: Jazley Faith

KaramMD Trifecta

$330.00

20% OFF WITH SUBSCRIPTION

Meet the KaramMD Trifecta

Three essential products.
One complete routine.

The KaramMD Trifecta takes the guesswork out of skincare by combining clinically inspired formulations into one powerful, seamless system.

Each product works synergistically with the next — targeting hydration, brightening, and anti-aging for visible, lasting results.

Simple, effective, designed for all skin types.

Amir Karam MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Founder / Creator of KaramMD Skin

Dr. Amir Karam is a world-renowned facial plastic surgeon specializing in facial and skin rejuvenation. With over two decades of experience, he has helped countless patients achieve a naturally youthful, refreshed appearance. As an innovative surgeon, researcher, textbook author, and speaker, he is a leading authority in his field. Beyond performing surgical procedures that restore a youthful facial shape, he emphasizes the importance of skin quality, ensuring a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation. As the founder of KaramMD Skin, he is dedicated to making advanced skincare simple, effective, and accessible—helping you look as young as you feel.

3 comments

Sara Vora

Beautiful skin and wonderful mom❤️❤️
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KaramMD Skin replied:
Hi Sara—Thanks for your comment! It truly means a lot to us that you took the time to share such a sweet message. Your support and positivity genuinely make our community feel even more uplifting. We’re so happy to have you here with us. 💞

April 20, 2026 at 2:18 pm

Joanne boyle

I’m confused , I thought illuminate was to take the place of tretinoin. I stopped using tretinoin when I started the trifecta. Should I continue using tretinoin too?
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KaramMD Skin replied:
Hi Joanne—Thanks for your comment! The Trifecta is designed to be a complete skincare system, so adding additional retinol is not necessary to see results. Some people do choose to use tretinoin, but it’s entirely optional. If you’re happy with how your skin is responding to the Trifecta alone, you can absolutely continue without adding anything else. Just keep in mind that adding extra retinoids can increase the risk of irritation, so it’s best to be cautious and listen to your skin. 💛

April 19, 2026 at 2:34 pm

Linda Piro

That was a great story. I have been on trifecta for a little over 2 months and I love how my skin feels. I have added Tretinoin to the routine. After listening to a you tube video and Dr. Karam mentioned using a retina after rinse before quench. For me the the Tretinoin goes on smoother after illuminate. Will you still get the most benefit using in that order. Looking forward to my next 3 months. My goal is to eventually get to meet Dr. Karam for a consult. His vertical restores are amazing!!

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KaramMD Skin replied:
Hi Linda—Thanks for your comment! Yes, Illuminate is a great step to use before Tretinoin for many people, especially if it helps it go on more smoothly. The key is consistency and making sure your skin is tolerating the routine well overall. We love hearing about your progress, and we’d be honored to have you in for a consult with Dr. Karam whenever the time is right. 💛

April 19, 2026 at 11:16 am