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Nov 14, 2023 · 1. Best Face Cleanser. SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser. $36 at SkinCeuticals. Read more. 2. Best Value Face Cleanser. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. $20 at Amazon. Read more. 3. Best Day Cream....
Oct 2, 2017 · Think of your skin-care routine as consisting of three main steps: Cleansing — Washing your face. Toning — Balancing the skin. Moisturizing — Hydrating and softening the skin. The goal of any...
- Overview
- How to build a skin care routine in 2024
- Morning skin care routine
- Nighttime skin care routine
- How to shop for skin care products
- Meet our experts
- Why trust NBC Select?
Skin care — and specifically the art of building a skin care routine — can be a form of self-care. But with hundreds of products on the market, figuring out the correct way to layer serums, moisturizers and eye creams can be quite tricky. To help you determine the correct order to apply your products for both morning and night, we spoke to four dermatologists, plus got their recommendations for the best items in each category.
SKIP AHEAD Morning skin care routine | Nighttime skin care routine | How to shop for skin care products
•Best daytime cleanser
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
$13.97
$15.99
When building a skin care routine, the general rule of thumb is to go from lightest to heaviest (in consistency), gradually layering on heavier products, like creams and lotions, as you go. This is because the skin absorbs lightweight products quickly, allowing you to layer on more products easily, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King.
Below, we’re outlining dermatologist-recommended steps to creating an effective skin care routine along with their recommendations for each step. Even though our experts say that piling on extra products or following an extensive, multistep skin care routine does not actually yield more benefits, we got their insight on some optional steps, including how to incorporate devices like an LED mask or gua sha.
For many people, your morning routine will look similar to your nighttime routine. However, certain products, like face sunscreen, are most beneficial in the morning because they set you up for your day by protecting you from environmental factors.
In the morning, experts recommend using a cleanser, followed by a serum, moisturizer and sunscreen — in that order. When it comes to adding toners or eye creams to your morning routine, you can incorporate them if you choose, but they won’t really enhance the efficacy of a basic skin care routine in a major way, according to our experts. We’ll go into more detail on each step and what to know about the best products, below.
The goal of a nighttime skin care routine is to clean your skin from any product or debris that piles up throughout the day and to add hydration that will last you through the night. Nighttime routines also help promote cell turnover (which replaces dead skin cells with healthy ones) and stimulate collagen production (to maintain the structure of your skin by keeping it firm), according to Henry.
At night, experts recommend including cleanser, serum, eye cream and moisturizer, which is very similar to an ideal morning routine, minus the SPF application. You can also add in a toner, acne treatment, face oil, and/or special devices or masks if you’re looking to enhance your routine. However, the more products you add in, the more risk there is for irritation, says Kagha.
When creating a skin care routine, our experts recommend keeping the following in mind:
•Skin type: Begin by taking your skin type into consideration when shopping. If you have dry skin, look for products that will add and lock in moisture to your skin. If you have sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea and eczema, avoid common irritants like fragrances and dyes. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, consider noncomedogenic products that won’t clog your pores or cause unwanted breakouts.
•Skin concern: Your routine steps will likely stay the same no matter what issue you’re trying to resolve, though the products you use in each step will vary. If you’re looking to treat hyperpigmentation or dark spots, look for ingredients with brightening properties like vitamin C. To combat dryness, consider formulas with hyaluronic acid and ceramides. For those wanting to reduce the appearance of fine lines, try products with retinol or retinol alternatives depending on your skin’s sensitivity. If you’re looking to even tone and texture, you might want to choose a product with niacinamide or use a chemical exfoliant.
•Sculpting tools: These devices focus on lifting and toning the skin and underlying muscles. They also help with reducing puffiness and inflammation in the face. When electronic devices that use microcurrents, like a NuFace , you’ll want to make sure your face is clean prior to starting — so it’s best to use them after cleansing, says Henry. Typically, for sculpting tools, like a gua sha device, you’ll need to apply a face oil or serum so you can easily glide the device around your face and avoid pulling on the skin.
•Light therapy: Red light therapy is a form of single-color LED light therapy that’s commonly used to treat fine lines, according to experts. (Blue light therapy is another form of single-color LED light therapy that targets acne by going after the bacteria that cause breakouts, say our experts.) The Solawave 4-in-1 facial wand and Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro are common red light therapy devices you might see on the market. When using these devices, you’ll usually need a dry, clean face — experts recommend using them between your toner and serum steps.
•Cleansing devices: Facial cleansing brushes, like the Foreo Luna 3 , help wash and exfoliate your face — so you’ll typically use them during the cleansing portion of your routine. Although they are safe to use, our experts only recommend using them a few times a week to avoid irritation. Using clean hands and fingers to wash your face is a more gentle approach to exfoliating your face since brushes can cause excessive irritation, says Kagha.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Dr. Michelle Henry is a board-certified dermatologist with the Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan in New York City. Her areas of research include high-risk skin cancer treatments, aesthetic surgery and treating skin of color. She specializes in Mohs micrographic and reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
•Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd is a board-certified dermatologist and is the director of the Skin of Color division for the University of Miami Department of Dermatology. Her areas of expertise include skin of color, cosmetic dermatology, pigmentary disorders and more.
•Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist at her own private practice in New York City. Her areas of expertise include medical and cosmetic dermatology.
•Dr. Karen Kagha is a board-certified dermatologist at Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Her areas of expertise include medical dermatology, skin of color and cosmetic dermatology, including injectables and lasers.
•Dr. Sejal Shah is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York City.
Bianca Alvarez has been covering beauty for a year and has written about various skin care topics, including sunscreens, body washes and eye creams. For this piece, Bianca interviewed four dermatologists about the best order to apply skin care products. She also included their product recommendations for each step.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
- Bianca Alvarez
- Associate Reporter
- AM and PM picks to cleanse, hydrate, protect, and treat your complexion. Best Moisturizer. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Water Cream. Credit: us.charlottetilbury.com.
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On Skincare.com you'll find expert skin care tips and tricks you can trust, to achieve—and maintain—your healthiest, best-looking skin ever.
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