My skin and I have had some rough times. Thankfully, after many years, we’re on good terms with my evidence-based skin care routine. This is going to be a straight-forward post rather than a deep dive into all things skin care.
There’s so much marketing out there for skin products. And then you add TikTok on top of it, and it starts to feel overwhelming. How do you know what actually works? In Family Medicine, we learn a lot about skin care, especially for concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, and aging skin. There are a few simple things that have been shown to help with many common concerns for most people.
My skin care routine is effective, inexpensive, and easy to maintain. If you’re interested in changing your current routine, I’d recommend asking your primary care provider. Family physicians see skin concerns on a daily basis and can help with specific issues.
Without further ado, here’s my routine:
First, I don’t touch my face.
At least I don’t touch it more than I have to.
I became aware of how much I touch my face when I was on rotation in the hospital at the start of COVID. I kept finding my hand coming towards my mask.
Touching your face introduces more dirt, oil, and pathogens like viruses and bacteria. Not worth it.
I also don’t pick at my face. Picking can lead to infection and scarring, which I definitely want to avoid.
Next, I cleanse with a gentle cleanser.
Gentle usually means that the cleanser doesn’t have fragrances or ingredients that can irritate the skin. I wash my face twice a day with Spectro Jel. Cerave and Cetaphil also have good gentle cleansers.
I don’t wear makeup anymore, but when I did, I made sure to remove it before going to bed as part of my routine.
At night, I use a retinol.
I like using Cerave’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum because it combines retinol with moisturizing ingredients, so I don’t have to use a separate moisturizer at night. It helps to keep my skin care routine easy-peasy.
Retinol might be the best skin care ingredient. It’s excellent for acne and anti-aging. However, it’s not without its risks. It can irritate the skin, and there are people who shouldn’t use it (like people who are pregnant or breastfeeding), so it’s best to talk with your primary care provider before starting a product with retinol.
In the morning, I use a sunscreen.
I’m loving Cerave Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30. I reapply it after a few hours on days when I’m outside a lot.
Sunscreen is the best anti-aging ingredient you can use for your skin. It reduces the amount of UV rays that can damage the DNA in your cells. Damaged DNA does not make for healthy skin.
Plus, retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, so using sunscreen daily is a must for me.
I recommend trying different sunscreens until you find one you like and will use every day. Then carry it with you so you can reapply when needed.
In total, my cleanser and two double-duty moisturizers come in at less than $100. They’re effective for protecting my skin, for anti-aging, and for acne (among other things!) It took me months and years of trying different products to find what I like, and I’m happy with the ones I use now.
An important note: it will take weeks to months after starting any skin care routine to start noticing a difference. If you speak with your family doctor and decide to start a retinol product, it can take 4-6 months for it to reduce acne and the look of fine lines. Hang in there!
What’s your current skin care routine?
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