Best skin care in 2023

What should you buy for your skin?

How should you use skincare in the morning?

1. 1Wash gently. Wet your face with warm water, apply a mild cleanser with your fingertips, rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel. Do not scrub.
2. 2Apply an optional antioxidant serum after cleansing. Vitamin C can help reduce dark spots and protect against environmental damage. Use one serum rather than several layered together.
3. 3Apply moisturizer. A cream or lotion helps keep water from escaping from your skin. Apply after washing, while your skin is still damp.
4. 4Finish with sunscreen before going outdoors. Choose broad spectrum protection, SPF 30 or higher and water resistance. Cover your face, neck and ears, including the area under your eyes. Reapply every two hours during extended time outside.

Sunscreen helps slow skin aging and prevent skin cancer. A separate facial sunscreen is a straightforward choice even if your makeup contains SPF. Vitamin C can complement sun protection, but it cannot replace sunscreen.123

What changes at night?

1. 1Remove makeup if you wear it. Micellar water or a makeup removing balm can help remove makeup that your cleanser leaves behind. Choose fragrance free wipes if you use wipes.
2. 2Cleanse gently to remove the day's dirt and grime. Wash after sweating as well. If your skin tends to be dry, washing once daily, preferably in the evening, can be enough.
3. 3Apply an optional nighttime treatment, such as retinol, before moisturizer.
4. 4Finish with moisturizer. If a treatment dries your skin, a moisturizer containing ceramides or hyaluronic acid can help.

Should you add retinol?

Retinol belongs to the retinoid family, compounds derived from vitamin A. Retinoids increase collagen, a protein that helps support skin, and regular use can improve wrinkles, sun spots and texture. Retinol is available without a prescription; a doctor can prescribe a stronger retinoid.4

Start with a pea sized amount over your entire face before bed every third day. Watch for redness, significant peeling or irritation. Increase toward nightly use only as your skin tolerates it. Keep retinoids in the nighttime routine and use sunscreen during the day. Do not add an exfoliating mask containing similar active ingredients on top of an existing retinol or acid routine.45

Which extras are actually optional?

Toner is optional and can dry or irritate skin. Eye cream is not essential either; a moisturizer is often the simpler choice around sensitive eyes. Face oils are mainly worth considering for dry skin because their heavy, sealing effect can contribute to acne. A bathroom shelf does not need a product for every available square inch.1

If you want exfoliation, glycolic acid can help remove dead skin and even out skin tone. Use it a couple of times a week rather than adding scrubs, brushes and several exfoliating products. Avoid mixing vitamin C with chemical exfoliants in the same application, as the combination can affect your skin's pH balance.1

Is a facial mask worth adding?

A mask can add hydration, support the skin barrier and address some signs of aging, depending on its ingredients. It is an optional addition, not a replacement for daily care or treatment for acne or eczema. A mask can supplement your routine, but it has not been promoted to department manager.5

• For dry or sensitive skin, look for hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin or colloidal oatmeal.
• For oily skin, clay can absorb oil, while niacinamide can help reduce shine and acne.
• Avoid fragrance, essential oils, rubbing alcohol and gritty exfoliants such as walnut shells.
• Test a small area first, apply gently with your fingertips and follow the label's wear time and frequency.
• Wash the mask off immediately if you feel itching, burning or stinging. Apply moisturizer after removing it.

How do you avoid making your skin worse?

Introduce new products one at a time. For sensitive skin, test a pea sized dot behind your ear along your jawline and wait a day or two before applying it across your face. Stop a product that causes irritation or an allergic skin rash and make an appointment with a dermatologist. Seek assessment for unusual skin symptoms, or a spot that changes, itches, bleeds or looks different from the others.123