By Rachel Sokol

​

In March 2024, Jenn Tran made history as the first Asian American lead of the hit reality series

The Bachelorette after first appearing on Joey Graziadei’s season of The Bachelor. Following her time as the season 21 lead, Jenn traded roses for rhythm on season 33 of Dancing With the Stars, where she placed seventh. Today, the hardworking and peppy Miami-based physician assistant student juggles academics, skin care, and beach vacations—sharing updates along the way via social media. Read on to learn what she's been up to!

​

PHM: You’re almost done with physician assistant school in Miami! 
Did you always want to be a PA?
Jenn Tran: I've always been interested in medicine and helping people. There are people in my family who work in the medical field, so I kind of grew up around it. I majored in molecular biology in college (The University of Wisconsin–Madison) because I wanted to understand what was really going on in my body—the little microscopic molecules you don’t see every day and how they work in your cells. It’s funny how life works, because now it’s come full circle. That background helps me so much in PA school, especially when diagnosing or prescribing. It’s also helped me understand skincare on a molecular level. I know which products are actually doing something for your skin versus what’s just trendy. It’s been interesting to connect my science background with skincare. School has been tough, though. Over the summer I was seeing patients 9 to 5 and then coming home to study for our national exams, which we take every six weeks. They’re high-pressure because you really need to pass them to be eligible for certification at the end of school. Now I’m back in the classroom fine-tuning my skills before returning to clinical rotations in the new year.
 

PHM: I wouldn’t be shocked if you became a dermatology PA after graduating!
JT: That’s definitely the goal! Dermatology is such a broad field. Ideally, I’d love to work in a dermatology clinic—seeing patients, doing biopsies—and also explore the aesthetic side of medicine. They’re two totally different worlds, but I think it’d be so fun to do both. My next elective rotation is in dermatology, and I’m so excited.

​

PHM: Why do you love NAD+ skincare products so much?
JT: It’s such a fascinating ingredient. NAD+ (pronounced N-A-D plus) has really taken off lately…people are even getting it through IV therapy. It plays a big role in your body’s overall energy production and cellular repair, which is why it’s now showing up in skincare. That said, NAD+ itself is a large molecule, so it can’t actually penetrate the skin on its own. Most skincare products use precursors—smaller molecules like niacinamide—that your skin can absorb and then convert into NAD+. 

​

Niacinamide is already super well-researched and beneficial, which is why it’s in so many formulas. Basically, NAD+ helps fuel the mitochondria, the powerhouse of your cells. As we age, our natural NAD+ levels drop due to stress and oxidation, so replenishing those pathways can help the skin regenerate faster and look healthier over time. It’s still being studied, but I definitely think it’s a promising ingredient for the future.

​

PHM: You wore so much makeup under hot lights when filming The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Dancing With the Stars. How did you wash it all off, and which makeup removal products do you still love?
JT: For cleansers, I go back to basics—CeraVe and Cetaphil are great because they’re non-comedogenic and don’t clog pores. Lately I’ve been obsessed with CeraVe’s Air Foam Cleanser. It’s lightweight, foamy, and gets into every pore. For exfoliation, I love Dr. Dennis Gross’ AHA/BHA Peeling Pads. They’re a game-changer for keeping my skin clear, but I only use them three to four times a week. Over-exfoliating can totally wreck your skin barrier, and people don’t talk about that enough. When I was filming, I was exhausted, eating poorly, barely sleeping…and my skin was so dry. I relied on hyaluronic acid to rehydrate, especially the L’Oréal Hyaluronic Acid Serum. I also love the Clarins Double Serum; I’ve used it since high school. And tretinoin is my holy grail. I get the prescription strength, but there are great over-the-counter alternatives with resveratrol. And I was obsessed with Bio-Dance collagen face masks. They saved my skin during filming.

​

PHM: Your skin always looks amazing. I refuse to believe you ever have breakouts.
JT: Oh, I totally do! I had bad acne in high school and still get forehead breakouts. Miami humidity doesn’t help! But it’s under control now because I’ve learned how to care for my skin. I’m obsessed with Peter Thomas Roth’s Vitamin C Ferulic Acid Serum. It’s my favorite product ever. Vitamin C and ferulic acid act like a fire extinguisher for your skin—they neutralize the free radicals from UV exposure and pollution. Sunscreen is essential, but you still need antioxidants like that to protect your skin.

 

PHM: What’s your top skincare advice—besides don’t smoke and wear sunscreen?
JT: If you’re only going to do one routine, do it at night. That’s when your body goes into healing mode, so you want to give your skin everything it needs to repair. In the morning, your skin’s just protecting itself from pollution and UV rays, but at night it’s soaking in all the good stuff. My number-one ingredient is retinoids—retinol or prescription tretinoin. They boost collagen, speed up cell turnover, and help your skin look fresh and bright. So yeah, cleanse, moisturize, and use your retinol before bed. Your skin will thank you.

Follow Jenn Tran on Instagram (@jenntran) and TikTok (@jenntranx) to learn more about her life and beauty routines.

​

All About that NAD+
A board-certified dermatologist weighs in on the skincare benefits of NAD+
Reality TV star (and PA student!) Jenn Tran is a fan of NAD+, a trending ingredient in many beauty products. We asked NYC dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp to break down what makes it so good for your skin—and why everyone’s buzzing about it.
  “NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme involved in cellular metabolism and maintaining normal cellular function,” explains Dr. Camp. “As we get older, levels of NAD+ decline, and it is hypothesized that this contributes to changes related to aging.” NAD+ is included in skincare products because it is thought to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that promote skin cell health and function. Available in oral, topical, and IV formats, NAD+ can be used as a supplement to treat the whole body or as a targeted treatment to address specific skin concerns. “While buzzy, the science behind the use of NAD+ in skincare is still developing. Foods thought to be rich in NAD+ include fruits, vegetables, dairy milk, fish, and whole grains.”