The pursuit of the best skincare routine is, in truth, a lifelong affair—one that evolves as expected (or unexpectedly) as the seasons themselves. Once you think you’ve curated the ultimate lineup—an edit of cleansers, serums, and creams so dialed in it would impress your facialist—your skin embarks on a plot twist. Dryness? A sudden itch! Sensitivity? Out of nowhere. And as summer approaches in all its sun-drenched glory, even the most balanced complexions may find themselves dabbling in duality. Cue the onset of combination skin concerns—a glowing forehead, a parched chin, and a bewildered sense of which products are best suited to deal with your skin’s dueling personalities.
It’s a narrative all too familiar, even among the most seasoned beauty insiders. Ask any esthetician, editor, or dermatologist, and they’ll confirm—no radiance is achieved without its fair share of trial and error. Think of it as a beauty rite of passage, from the over-exfoliation phase to the flirtation with too many actives and the inevitable surrender to simplicity. There seems to be an endless amount of skin-care advice out there too–tips sourced from TikTok to your peers to your local Sephora makeup artist. But how do you know what to trust?
A Look at Dermatologists’s Favorite Skin Care Products
As we look to answer that question ourselves, we thought to take a peek into the routines of our favorite dermatologists. They are, after all, the ultimate experts in the space who can provide medical guidance on achieving your best skin yet. And although it may seem obvious, they have the typical skin concerns like acne, sensitivity, eczema, hyperpigmentation, and more, just like us.
So, we asked seven top dermatologists to share their actual skin-care regimens from morning to night. Generally speaking, a proper routine might consist of a gentle yet effective cleanse, a specialized treatment based on their skin type, and a quenching moisturizer—supplemented by perhaps a carefully-chosen face mask or high-tech beauty gadget. All these details and more below: read on to shop dermatologist-recommended skin care and discover some helpful insights to inform your routine.
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Best Skin-Care Routine for Normal Skin
Courtesy of Dr. Dendy Engelman
Dr. Dendy Engelman
Skin Type: “Overall, I have what is referred to as ‘normal’ skin,” Engelman notes. “Occasionally, I experience some mild oiliness in my T-zone, but I’m not particularly sensitive, nor do I tend to be blemish-prone.”
Morning
Step One: “In the mornings, I keep it simple with micellar water,” says Engelman, who typically reaches for LoveCraft beauty’s formula. “This helps to gently remove the products I’ve used the night prior.” Of the many dermatologist-approved formulas, there’s so many great micellar waters on the market—start, and end, the day with favorites from CosRX and Bioderma.
Step Two: Next up is eye cream. “My go-to is the Valmont L’Elixir Des Glaciers Vos Yeux Swiss Poly-Active Cream, a really rich eye cream packed with hyaluronic acid to minimize dehydration lines and increase radiance and brightness,” she explains. When she’s applying makeup, on the other hand, she reaches for SkinMedica’s cooling eye patches because they “catch the fallout from eyeshadow application and smooths the intraorbital skin.”
Step Three: Then comes vitamin C serum. “I use SkinBetter Science’s Alto Defense Serum, which contains a rich blend of antioxidants for protection against free radical damage caused by environmental assailants like UVA/UVB and pollution,” she says. The serum also promises to reduce the look of redness and uneven skin tone.
Step Four: “Next, I layer on my moisturizer,” she details. “I love the Isdin Hyaluronic Concentrate, which is a water-gel serum that contains hyaluronic acids, BioMarine extract, skin-firming peptides, and lentil extract. It’s so hydrating and soothing.”
Step Five: Engelman is sure not to forget lip care in her regimen—reaching for Sara Happ’s balm even over lipstick. “It helps keep my lips hydrated while giving a fresh, glossy appearance,” she says.
Step Six: “Like any good dermatologist, sunscreen is a huge part of my skin-care routine,” Engelman explains. “One of my favorites is the Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart SPF 50, which is a lightly tinted mineral sunscreen with antioxidants to protect the skin against both the sun and environmental pollutants. In my bag, I keep the Isdin Mineral Brush Daily Protection Powder for re-application throughout the day. I love this because it helps absorb excess oil and can be applied over makeup.”
More to Know: “Before a big event or filming anything, I always apply Isdin Instant Flash to my face, neck, and chest. It makes my skin look amazing and makeup goes on beautifully on top,” she says. Otherwise, Elle Macpherson’s WelleCo supplement is a must each morning. “It’s designed to support 11 systems of the body, including skin, hair, and nails.”
Night
Step One: “Because I wear makeup most days, I’m a big fan of the double cleanse, and I love the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm to lift any makeup, dirt, or grime from the day,” explains Engelman. “This balm uses papaya extract, sunflower, and ginger root oils to remove impurities and nourish the skin and feels really luxurious on the skin. To finish the double cleanse, I follow with my favorite Epionce Lytic Gel, which has willow bark extract, which is naturally anti-inflammatory and a [has] specific complex that helps optimize skin’s pH levels.”
Step Two: Post cleanse, she moves onto toner disclosing her appreciation of Biologique Recherche’s cult favorite Lotion P50 Original 1970, which she applies every other day. “It contains niacinamide, AHAs, and PHAs for a thorough and gentle exfoliation,” she says. “It also helps to maintain the proper pH of the skin’s acid mantle (pH – 5.5).” When she isn’t using P50, Humphrey’s Clarifying Cleansing Pads do the trick. “We use Humphrey’s toners at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue to prep patient’s skin prior to treatments, so I was excited that they’ve created these easy-to-use pads, which are also great for when I’m traveling.”
Step Three: At night, she opts for SiO’s Eye and Smile Patches. “These are easy to use and help me look younger and well rested (even though neither of those is accurate),” she says. Made from medical-grade silicone, the patches are designed to plump, lift, and smooth the look of wrinkles overnight.
Step Four: “You probably already know how much dermatologists love retinol; this ingredient helps to increase cell turnover, build collagen, improve discoloration, treat wrinkles, hydrate skin and even reduce acne!” says Engelman, who is a years-long fan and a consulting dermatologist for Elizabeth Arden—the brand that crafts her retinol of choice. “[The Retinol Ceramide Capsules] are perfectly dosed in anhydrous, preservative-free, single-use, biodegradable capsules. They contain ceramides to help mitigate any potential dryness.” Alternatively, when she is not using retinol, she’ll reach for the M-61 PowerGlow Peel, “which is a one-minute treatment that combines glycolic and salicylic acid, [to] help exfoliate and improve skin texture.”
Step Five: Lastly, Engelman locks in moisture with a night cream. Skinbetter Science’s Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment is just the ticket for its gel-like consistency and featured three types of hyaluronic acid. “The time-release HA helps keep my skin feeling hydrated all night long and I wake up with softer, smoother skin in the morning.”
Step Six: “I’ll often finish with the Lanolips Superbalm, especially right now in the winter when it’s extra dry, to keep my lips moisturized overnight,” she says of the lanolin-rich multipurpose hydrator.
Step Seven: “On wash nights, I like to use the NatureLab Tokyo Scalp Scrub, which doubles as a scalp scrub and a lathering shampoo,” she details. “It gently exfoliates with sugar crystals (instead of the traditional salt crystals), so it’s very gentle and color safe.”
More to Know: High-tech beauty tools are part of Engelman’s at-home regimen, too, pointing out three devices as her top picks. There is Medicube Age-R Booster-H, a glow-boosting tool she uses for five minutes each night. She’s also a fan of the Lyma Laser, which she describes as “a powerful at-home device that addresses anti-aging, wrinkles, skin elasticity, skin texture, and skin tone.” (Each morning, Engelman also takes Lyma’s daily supplement that’s engineered to improve one’s sleep, complexion, mood, and stress levels through ingredients like ashwahgandha root extract, plant-based vitamin D, and soluble keratin.) Conversely, if she’s low on time, she might put on HigherDose’s silicone LED face mask, which combines red and near-infrared light to rejuvenate skin and quell inflammation in one 10-minute treatment.
Best Skin-Care Routine for Rosacea-Prone Skin
Dr. Dhaval G Bhanusali
Skin Type: “I have normal skin but I do have a mild rosacea and so [I’m] a bit more sensitive to things than most,” Bhanusali tells Vogue.
Morning
Step One: “I start off with a mild cleanser,” Bhanusali begins. “I use the Pineapple Refresh from Rhode ([which provides a] very gentle exfoliation that my skin can handle well) two to three times per a week. I alternate that with either the Neutrogena Hdroboost Fragrance Free Cleanser or Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser.” He’s also started using the Skin Medicinals Gentle Foaming Cleanser. “It is very hydrating and really helpful for those with sensitive skin (glycerin heavy and without any irritating ingredients).”
Step Two: Now onto moisture, “I either use the Rhode Barrier Restore Cream or [its] Glazing Milk depending on how much hydration I need (and time of year).” For example, Bhanusali, the dermatologist on Hailey Bieber's Rhode advisory board, might opt for the Barrier Restore Cream for more intense moisture via its rich blend of shea butter, squalane, peptides, and niacinamide. Glazing Milk, on the other hand, delivers more weightless hydration—while ceramides and beta-glucan led the formula, its a sort of toner texture.
Step Three: Antioxidant protection is next. He’s currently using a not-yet-launched serum that he’s formulated. “Most Vitamin Cs irritate my skin and so I tend to avoid [them].”
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