5 Skincare Tips Dermatologists & Estheticians Know (That You Don't)

Whether you take a minimal approach when it comes to a beauty routine, or devour any kind of skincare and makeup advice you can get your hands on, one thing remains universal: We all want to know the very best practices for achieving healthy, radiant skin. For the most part, we've got the basics covered by making sure our daily routine consists of drinking enough water, washing our face before bed, and doing our best to avoid anything toxic that might frustrate our pores.

While innovation is a beautiful thing, it seems these days there's always a new ingredient, technique, or product on the scene with a bevy of skincare tips to go along with it. Seeing as taking care of our skin ranks fairly high on our to-do list, we reached out to several top dermatologists and estheticians to take a deeper look into all the advice and time-tested information they've learned throughout their careers.

 

Tip #1: Avoid the Sun and Wear Sunscreen

“Avoid the sun, and when you can’t avoid it, wear sunscreen and a hat. I swear by Coolibar sun-protective clothing and Colorescience's Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50.” — Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, founder, and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care

“One of my best skincare tips is to use a sunscreen containing anti-inflammatory and barrier-repairing ingredients. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection of at least SPF 30 is best. I recommend Epionce Ultra Shield Lotion SPF 50 every day—even during non-summer months.” — Carl Thornfeldt, MD, founder of Epionce.

 

Tip #2: Get a Full-Body Exam

“You have to get a full-body skin exam by a dermatologist by the time you turn 30. It’s important to have expert eyes take a look at any moles you may have and be able to follow them for changes in the future. Also, the dermatologist can teach you how to do a proper skin check on yourself. This is very important because melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, is almost 100% curable if caught in its earliest stages. If women are armed with information on what to look for, it may save their lives.” — Elizabeth Tanzi, MD

 

Tip #3: Layer Products From Thinnest to Thickest

“We consider treatment steps to be anything between toning and moisturizing. Layering your serums and essences from thinnest to thickest helps the skin to absorb each layer most efficiently! We like the Blithe Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum.” — Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, founders of Glow Recipe

 

Tip #4: Stimulate Blood Flow

“Ginseng applied topically is one of my favorite skincare tips—it works to stimulate blood flow in the capillaries, promoting a healthy, firmed, glowing-from-within visage. Bonus points if you layer a product containing plumping hyaluronic acid with your ginseng!" — Sarah Lee and Christine Chang

We recommend this Ginseng Collagen Boost Mask from 100% Pure.

 

Tip #5: Maximize Your Sheet Mask's Fit

“When applying a sheet mask, maximize adherence by snipping from the side of the nose fold to the eye hole. This will allow you to wiggle the mask just so, getting it closer to the under-eye area and preventing any tenting. If necessary, make a snip below the cheekbone and layer the mask over itself to maximize the fit further. Try it with an aloe vera-based mask like Whamisa’s Organic Hydrogel Mask.” — Sarah Lee and Christine Chang