A Simple Skin Care Routine, According to Dermatologists
Skin care advice online often comes as a long list of products. The guidance from dermatology organizations is much shorter. Below we collect it in one place, with a link to each source.
This guide is general information from public sources, not medical advice. Vanity Aisle is a retailer, not a medical provider. Every claim below links to the organization that made it, so you can read the original. Where sources disagree, we show both.
At a glance
| Step | What the sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| When to wash | On waking, before bed, and after sweating | American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) |
| How to cleanse | Warm water and a mild cleanser, fingertips in small circles, rinse well, pat dry with a clean towel, and do not scrub | AAD |
| Order of products | Cleanse, then any treatment, then moisturizer and/or sunscreen, then makeup if you wear it | AAD |
| Sunscreen | Broad-spectrum, water-resistant, SPF 30 or higher (AAD). The FDA recommends broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher. | AAD, FDA |
| Reapplying sunscreen | About every 2 hours, and sooner after swimming or sweating | AAD, FDA |
| Testing a new product | Patch test for 7 to 10 days on the inner arm (AAD). Cleveland Clinic suggests a pea-sized dab for 1 to 2 days for sensitive skin. | AAD, Cleveland Clinic |
Morning and night
Cleveland Clinic gives a sample routine that splits the day in two. In the morning, it suggests a gentle, non-medicated cleanser in lukewarm water, an optional antioxidant serum, and then a separate facial sunscreen of at least SPF 30. It says SPF in a moisturizer or in makeup is not enough on its own. At night, it says to remove makeup first, then cleanse, add an optional toner, and use a moisturizer if your skin feels dry. (Cleveland Clinic: Easy Steps for a Simple Skin Care Routine)
Match products to your skin
The AAD says to choose products by your skin type (oily, dry, normal, combination or sensitive) and by any skin conditions you have, and notes that using too many products can irritate skin, especially several anti-aging products at once. (AAD: 10 skin care secrets, AAD: order of products)
What the sources suggest avoiding
- Alcohol-based toners, which Cleveland Clinic says can dry or irritate skin.
- Fragranced makeup wipes (Cleveland Clinic).
- Starting many new products at once (Cleveland Clinic and the AAD).
- Assuming a product is better because it costs more, is called natural, or is heavily marketed. Cleveland Clinic notes natural products can still cause allergies.
- Smoking, which the AAD lists as speeding up skin aging.
How to patch test
The AAD says to apply a quarter-sized amount of a new product twice a day for about 7 to 10 days, on a spot that will not rub or wash off, such as the inner arm or the bend of the elbow. If there is no redness, itching or swelling, you can start using it. If you react, wash it off gently and stop. The AAD also notes that “unscented” products can still contain fragrance-related ingredients, so choose “fragrance free” if fragrance is your trigger. (AAD: How to test skin care products)
When to see a dermatologist
The AAD recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist if you are concerned about your skin, and about any spot that looks different from others or that changes, itches or bleeds. It also says to see one if a reaction to a product is severe or if you cannot tell what caused it. (AAD, AAD patch test page)
Sources
- AAD: 10 skin care secrets for healthier-looking skin (aad.org)
- AAD: Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order? (aad.org)
- AAD: Practice Safe Sun (aad.org)
- AAD: How to test skin care products (aad.org)
- FDA: Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun (fda.gov)
- Cleveland Clinic: Easy Steps for a Simple Skin Care Routine (clevelandclinic.org)
