Doctor’s Orders

Five skincare habits of super- busy dermatologists

We’ve all done it—gone to bed with make-up still on, or settled for simply cleansing when our skin was crying out for a deep exfoliation. When we’re busy, our skin can pay the price.

Dermatologists understand. Their hectic schedules often leave little time for proper skincare. But there are

some skincare steps, they say, that they would never skip, no matter how busy they are.

Here are five skincare habits of super-busy dermatologists. These are the things they make time for regardless of their schedules—and that they believe you should work into your skincare routine.

Wash

Even the busiest dermatologists wash their faces twice a day. “If the dirt and dead skin cells are not removed, how can your expensive serum seep into your skin and take effect?” asks Jasmine Ruth Yuvarani, aesthetic physician at Nexus Clinic. She washes

her face twice each day—once in the morning and once in the evening—to prevent over-stripping of her skin’s natural oils.

Susan Massick, a dermatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, also washes her face twice daily. “Even after a long day, it’s important to remove makeup and cleanse the skin of any dirt and grime from the day,” Massick says. To save time when she’s super busy, Massick will cleanse her face—using a gentle cleanser like Cerave—while she is in the shower.

Moisturise

Moisturiser is important for dry and oily skin. Yuvarani says she applies moisturiser each day to keep her skin dewy and to fight its natural dryness. And “you don’t have to buy an expensive moisturiser to have the maximum effect,” she says. It’s simply important to apply any.

Apply SPF

Massick says the most important step she takes each day is applying sunscreen—but it’s also an important step for anyone whose skin tans easily. Those who tan easily “can experience worse discoloration of the skin related to sun exposure,” which can lead to facial pigmentation such as freckles or melasma, she explains. She applies sunscreen after her daily moisturiser, then tops it with a mineral sunscreen powder for extra protection. But “sun protection doesn’t have to be limited to sunscreen use,” she says. “Protective clothing, hats, and umbrellas can be helpful too.”

Exfoliate

As we age, cell regeneration slows down, according to Jenelle Kim, dermatologist at JBK Wellness Labs, which is why she makes time to exfoliate a few times each week. “When old skin cells do not shed evenly or consistently, patches of dullness appear on our skin, and skin begins to look rough and dry,” she says. Regular exfoliation can help to achieve healthy, glowing skin.

Try Retinol

Retinol can act as an aid in fighting acne, dyspigmentation, wrinkles, and other signs of ageing. It’s a powerhouse ingredient that Rina Allawh of Montgomery Dermatology won’t skip. “Because I typically have dry, sensitive skin, I mix a peasized amount of a nighttime retinol cream with a pea-sized amount of a nighttime facial moisturiser and apply it to my entire face,” she says. “I reap the benefits of the retinol while minimising skin irritation, burning, peeling and dryness because of its use.”

“You don’t have to buy the most expensive moisturiser to have the maximum effect—it’s simply important to apply any” — Yuvarani