Developing a skin care regime that works!

 
While beauty trends may come and go, one that’s always chic and sought-after more than ever is a flawless complexion, these days defined by minimal lines, even tone, a hydrated glow, and glass-like texture. 

Acquiring these much-desired traits requires having an effective skin care regime, which includes using products for your skin type that contain quality, active ingredients that target the specific areas of your skin you want to improve. 

As much as we’d all love to have skin that looked as if it never experienced life’s stressors or sunlight, as with anything worth having, achieving great skin takes some effort. For it to work, you’ll need to be consistent and commit to a twice-daily AM and PM routine. You’ll also need to be patient and realistic with your goals, as it takes time for your skin to adjust to new products, especially those containing active ingredients such as retinoids. 

To track your results, you may want to keep a skin journal. Take a no-makeup “before” photo on the day you start your new regime and another every month for three months. By the third month, if your products are working, you should notice an improvement. 

If you’re wondering how the cost of a better complexion will impact your wallet, know that the price varies widely when it comes to skin care products. The abundance of deceiving ads we’re bombarded with leave consumers’ brains more overwhelmed and confused than they need to be, scrambling to decide which brands and how many products are actually necessary. 

The reality is that an effective skin care regime doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming or complicated. You don’t need a dermatologist prescription, expensive medial spa treatments, or time spent in the bathroom dermaplaning. In fact, for most people, a less-is-more approach using the right combination of products usually garners the best results.

You can find many great products at drug and general merchandise stores, such as CVS, Target, and Amazon, priced under $30. Many are dermatologist-recommended favorites and contain the same five-star ingredients as popular high-end brands such as  niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamin C, peptides, and alpha-hydroxy acids. 

These powerful ingredients are backed by science and have been proven to improve the appearance of your skin by slowing down and in some cases even reversing subtle signs of aging and sun damage. If you want your skin care regime to be effective, you’ll want to use products containing these key ingredients in the appropriate dosage. If you’re relatively new to active ingredients in your skin care, start with a simple regime. If your regime has too many steps, you may not be motivated to stick with it, especially if you get tired at night, which is the most crucial time for your skin’s repair and rejuvenation.

So what are the best products? I’m asked this question all the time. The best products are the ones you like using and make your skin look its best without irritation, which is different for everyone. If you feel a pricey serum improves the appearance of your skin, keep using it. The same goes for eight-step skin care routines: If you have the time, finances, and enjoy the twice-daily ritual without skin irritation, as long as the ingredients are safe, you’re likely not harming your skin. 

In general, it’s best to look for tried-and-true products (think CereVe, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena, Cetaphil) that are dermatologist recommended, without a lengthy list of ingredients you’ve never heard of. Start slow—any product, even ones with key ingredients, can be irritating to your particular skin. Additionally, the wrong combination of products containing active ingredients can cause excess dryness, breakouts, and irritation. Be patient, it may take some time to find the right combination that works best for you. Explore different brands, but give each enough of a chance to work before you switch them out too quickly. 

Lastly, know that it’s never too late; even at the age of 58, I still see improvements to my skin that are the direct result of a good skin care regimen. My skin hasn’t stopped aging, but I believe over time the texture has improved and my sunspots have lightened. I hope these simple recommendations for AM and PM routines inspire you to develop your own skin care regime that works! I welcome your questions and comments. 

AM Routine
A mild cleanser
Vitamin C serum
Lightweight moisturizer
Mineral sunscreen, SPF 30

Tip: If your cleanser or moisturizer contains vitamin C, skip the extra step of adding a serum.

PM Routine
Cleansing balm or gentle eye makeup remover (skip if you don’t wear makeup)
Hydrating mild cleanser
Retin-A or product containing retinol
Barrier-repair moisturizer for your skin type

Product Recommendations Priced* $15–$40

Cleansers
Clinique, Take the day off Makeup remover
Banila Co, Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm
Neutragena, Cleansing Balm
LaRoche-Posay, Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Neutrogena, Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

Vitamin C & Niacinamides
Garnier, Micellar Cleansing Water w/Vitamin C
Timeless, Vitamin 20% C Serum
Acure, Brightening Tranexamic Acid Serum
Differin, Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide

Retinols
Retin A or Tretinoin (*requires a prescription)
Neutrogena, Retinol Pro + 5% Power Serum
La Roche-Posay, Retinol B3 Serum

Moisturizers
CeraVe, Moisturizing Cream
Cetaphil, Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion
Cetaphil, Rich Hydrating Cream
Eucerin, Q10 Anti-Wrinkle + Pro-Retinol Night Cream
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

Mineral Sunscreens
Cereve
Elta MD, UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
La Roche-Posay, Tinted Light Fluid Sunscreen

* Prescription prices may be higher