It should come as no surprise that the most common question I get asked is “what’s the most effective skin care on the market?” Fortunately for me, this is a relatively easy question. The most effective skin care is consistent skincare! Whether your routine consists of 3 steps, or 10 steps, it's the consistency of your skincare routine that makes the biggest difference.

At minimum, patients should incorporate at least the skin care basics as they’re the foundation of your routine and will help your more sophisticated products have maximum effectiveness. Listed below are my top five daily “must-do’s” for creating and maintaining a radiant complexion.

1. Double cleanse, especially at night

Double cleansing requires washing your face twice instead of once, and ideally using two different types of cleansers. Regardless of whether you wear cosmetics, double cleansing is hugely important to remove dirt, grime, and xenobiotics that have built up on your skin throughout the day. Cleansing once removes only surface debris while cleansing twice helps remove any build up inside the follicles, resulting in a much more agreeable surface for product penetration. Begin with an oil-cleanser to soften sebum and liquify makeup and follow with a water-based cleanser to remove dirt, sweat, and residual debris. 

2. Learn how to layer

No matter how many layers you’re applying, the order, not necessarily the amount, is the game-changer. A good daily skincare regimen should resemble building a house, with bricks sequentially stacked into the proper order. If the foundation of your regimen includes applying products out of order, then many of those products will be rendered useless. Case in point; if you apply moisturizer before a serum, the active ingredients in the serum won’t properly penetrate the skin due to the occlusive ingredients in moisturizer. 

Use the general guideline of thinnest to thickest when layering products and allow 1-2 minutes between layers when using vitamin C and/or vitamin A. If you need a little extra guidance on layering, here’s the order I think is most effective:

• Cleanser

• Toner

• Serum

• Spot treatment

• Eye cream

• Moisturizer

• SPF

3. Take the time to exfoliate

Taking the time to regularly exfoliate removes surface skin cells that lead to breakouts while also helping to increase cell turnover. Regular exfoliation brightens your complexion while increasing product penetration. How frequently you exfoliate will depend on your skin type and concerns, but generally speaking most patients can use some form of exfoliation daily. You may be surprised to find that some of the skincare products you’re already using have exfoliating properties in them. Exfoliation comes in three different forms; physical, chemical, and enzymatic.

• Mechanical-the removal of dead skin cells through mechanical or physical abrasion to the skin

• Chemical-reduces cellular adhesion by breaking the binding that holds skin cells together causing rapid cell turnover

• Enzymatic-the role of proteolytic enzymes are to break down and digest proteins in the outer layer of skin

Choosing the right daily exfoliating product or products can be a tad tricky. If you deal with dry, sensitive skin then opting for an enzymatic exfoliating cleanser will be a great choice! If your skin is thicker and more prone to breakouts, a combination of chemical and mechanical exfoliation will work wonders. Be cautious with mechanical exfoliation as it's very easy to over exfoliate by using too much force when scrubbing.

4. SPF is non-negotiable, regardless of skin color

UV exposure is responsible for 80-99% of visible skin aging and is the main culprit in causing pigmentary changes and irregularities. Regardless of skin color, damaging UV rays are present all year round, from sunup till sundown, even in milder climates like here in the Bay Area. Vanity aside, skin cancer rates (especially deadly melanoma) are at an all time high and climbing, especially in the younger population. Do your future self a solid and apply sunscreen daily and reapply often. If the idea of reapplying gooey, sticky sunscreen every two hours sounds awful, then get in line! Most people (formerly myself included) only reapply sunscreen when they're at the beach or exposed for long periods of time but the reality is that even the highest SPF product only protects you for 90-120 minutes..max! So by the time you pop out to walk the dog or grab a latte, your coverage is gone. That’s where mineral-based powder SPF comes in. Due to its non-aqueous nature it doesn’t metabolize on the skin at nearly the same rate as traditional sunscreen making the window of protection much longer. In my own regimen, I use a mineral SPF as the last step of my skin care routine and I reapply at least once daily.

5. Use a targeted, multifunctional correcting serum

I’m a HUGE fan of multifunctional correcting serums as they address multiple skin concerns with one, easy application. These highly performing powerhouse products provide antioxidant protection, increase skin hydration, and stimulate new tissue formation while simultaneously increasing barrier function. My current favorite is TNS Advanced+Serum as it incorporates ingredients that fight every level of the skin aging cascade. Due to the powerful nature of multifunctional correcting serums, it's best to wait 2-3 minutes after applying them before layering the next steps of your regimen.

Ready to take your skincare goals to the next level? We offer comprehensive skin consultations both in person and via zoom. Let us help you love the skin you’re in!

Learn more about our skincare services here or contact our San Francisco office and call us at 415.409.6500.