Today we’re overwhelmed with images and videos of people promoting a parade of products and how tos – promising perfect and glowy skin across social media. It’s hard to not be overwhelmed by all this information and to know how many and which products to use. In our opinion it’s always best to go the real experts – the dermatologists. They study and understand skin, ingredients, and how your body and skin work together. So I listen to them to find out the true basics of a good skin care routine beyond all the marketing and social clutter.
First and Foremost It’s About the Sunscreen
National Public Radio (NPR) recently interviewed a number of dermatologists. I thought this quote was very enlightening:
“Across the board, every skin specialist we spoke to emphasized sun protection as the most important consideration for healthy skin. "A lot of people are curious about what sunscreens are right for them. Truly, the answer is whichever one makes you want to apply it every day,"
That’s why I always say sun protection is the most important part of any healthy routine. And the product in your skin care routine that gives you sun protection is sunscreen! It’s a must wear every day.
And what sunscreen is right for you – it’s the one you’ll wear daily. Of course we’re big fans of and love our mineral sunscreens 
.
Everyone needs sun protection and/or sunblock – no matter your gender, ethnicity, or age. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Caroline Robinson who specializes in ethnic skin care and preventative skin care:
"That's a huge issue in communities of color just because of all the misconceptions about, you know, sunscreen use and whether we need it or not and are we at risk of skin cancer. And so I feel like a lot of my job is educating my friends, but also my patients about that. Yes, we are at risk. And yes, we do need sunscreen."
Sunscreen is fundamental to any good skin care routine.
Cleanse & Treat
Cleansing and treating should be the other two basics of your skin routine. Accoring to the NPR article and the experts they interviewed you really don’t need more than these three steps – cleansing, treating, and protecting.
I’ve already talked about protecting, so for these other two steps you’ll want a cleanser to wash your face then a treatment for your skin. There are a lot of things you could put under treatments – retnoids, antioxidants, humectants (hyaluronic acid), and on and on. The key thing to remember is you don’t need to use all of these at once. Stick to the actives that are relevant to you. For example, decide what you want to treat, find out which actives treat that condition, and stick to those actives for a while.
These actives don’t have to be active ingredients by FDA standard but can include antioxidants, retinoids, hyaluronic acid, etc. Just talk to your dermatologist and research them ahead of time.
Combine Ingredients
One way to save time in a skin routine is to find combo products or 2-in-1 products. For example a sunscreen moisturizer combination or a cleanser that can also treat acne.
These 2-in-1 products are just as good as if you bought two products separately and might save you on cost.
Stick with It
Many dermatologists say you should use a product for at least three months to determine if it works for you. There’s some trial and error to skin care but you have to give it enough time in the trial part.
I know it can be exciting to change products out frequently especially when we’re being inundated with them on social media but you really have to give a product its fair chance.
Less Is More
So that’s why in skin care less is often more as you really only need three parts – protecting, cleansing, and treating.
Most people don’t need a 10 step routine or to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars. Additionally you can buy products that offer dual purpose to cut down on the process, time, and even money.
With these tips you’ll be on your way to great skin without all the fuss and marketing. For even more simple skin care tips check out our Skin Care blog series.
