6 Skin Care Mistakes Dermatologists Want You to Stop Making

With so many skin care products out there—and influencers convincing us we need an hour-long morning regime—it’s easy to overdo it or choose products that don’t gel together. “People get all of these recommendations from social media, and they come into the office and there’s 20 things they’re using in the morning or evening,” Mara Weinstein Velez, MD, board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center, tells SELF. Her advice: “Stop overcomplicating your routine.”

When you use a ton of products, there’s a good chance that some steps just aren’t necessary (or might even irritate your skin). If you’re ready to reassess your lineup, experts recommend focusing on quality over quantity, which means finding the best products for your skin type and using them correctly. We asked dermatologists about the most common mistakes they see patients making and how to correct them. Below, we’re diving into how to get the most out of your routine (while being kind to your skin!).

1. You don’t use moisturizer because you have acne.

No matter which skin type you have—oily, dry, or somewhere in between—you need moisturizer, even if you’re acne-prone. “Acne patients think that they can’t use moisturizer because it’s going to make them break out,” Gabriella Vasile, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Réforme Dermatology and Aesthetics in Charleston, South Carolina, tells SELF. “We want them using [moisturizer] because it will contribute to a healthier skin barrier. When they don’t use it, they just get a drier, fractured skin barrier, and that leads to more breakouts.”

What to do instead: If you’re worried about your moisturizer feeling greasy or causing congestion, Dr. Vasile recommends trying a lightweight one like Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost. “It absorbs really easily, so it doesn’t feel thick,” she says. “A lot of my acne patients have oily skin and they want something that’s not going to add more oil or shininess.” Its star ingredient, hyaluronic acid, helps your skin retain moisture so it stays hydrated and plump.

If you’re willing to spend a little more, we recommend trying the SELF 2024 Healthy Beauty Award–winning Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer. “It made my skin look like itself on its very best day, rather than shiny or greasy,” one tester wrote. “It’s the perfect pre-makeup daytime moisturizer, and I was genuinely excited to use it every morning.”

2. You use products that contain natural or synthetic fragrances.

As nice as it can be to slather on a cream that smells fruity or sweet, that appealing scent could also be the reason why your skin is irritated. Added fragrance can cause rashes and exacerbate skin conditions like eczema, especially if you have sensitive skin.

What to do instead: “I’m a big proponent of fragrance-free products on the skin,” Dr. Vasile says. A few of her favorite brands that make fragrance-free skin care are La Roche-Posay, Cerave, and Cetaphil. Shop their cleansers and moisturizers below—several are either Healthy Beauty Award winners or SELF staffer favorites.

Another pro tip: Look for products labeled “fragrance-free,” which means they don’t have any perfumes in them. “Unscented” usually indicates that a product contains some perfumes that are meant to mask the ingredients’s natural smell, rather than add a distinct scent, Gabriela Cobos, MD, a dermatologist and the associate medical director of outpatient dermatology at Tufts Medical Center, tells SELF.

3. You brush your teeth after you wash your face.

If you’ve noticed small red bumps around your mouth—a.k.a. perioral dermatitis—there’s a chance you can blame residue from your toothpaste that sits on your skin after you brush your teeth, Dr. Vasile says.

What to do instead: There’s a super easy fix here. Wash your face after you brush your teeth to make sure you’re rinsing all of that residue off. Any of the cleansers we listed above will gently wash away toothpaste, along with any traces of sunscreen or makeup. To make washing your face even easier, invest in Crosize’s Microfiber Spa Wrist Bands, which will soak up any water that might otherwise drip down your arms, and Whaline’s Spa Facial Headband, which keeps your hair out of the way.

4. You overdo it with retinoids.

Retinoids like retinol are amazing for smoothing wrinkles, minimizing acne, and keeping your skin looking glowy and healthy. But to see those benefits—instead of redness and irritation—take things slow and steady. “With retinoids, a lot of people put on way too much,” Dr. Vasile says. “They’ll go from not using it at all to using it every single day, and they use way too much. You only need a pea-size amount for your whole face.”

What to do instead: A good first retinoid is adapalene 0.1% because it works well with sensitive and acne-prone skin, Dr. Vasile says. Dr. Vasile and Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with specialized fellowship training in cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery at Union Derm, both recommend Differin’s Acne Treatment Gel: “I find that it’s the least irritating of the retinoids and it’s a nice one for people to introduce into their skin care routine,” Dr. Rambhia says. Dr. Vasile also likes La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment, another option you can usually find at the drugstore.

When starting any new retinoid, use a pea-sized amount for your entire face only two or three nights a week at first. If your skin adjusts to it well, you can gradually ramp up to using it nightly. And don’t skip out on your moisturizer after—it’ll be key for avoiding dry, flaky skin.

5. You’re skipping sunscreen on your face.

Remembering to wear sunscreen to the beach is great, but you know when else you should wear it? Every. Single. Day. (Yes, even if it’s cloudy or you’re staying inside all day.)

“I have patients coming in who are interested in doing all these different types of laser [treatments], and then I ask them about their skin care and they’re not using sunscreen,” Dr. Rambhia says. “Adequate sun protection is the most important part of any skin care routine. I tell patients, ‘If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on these lasers and you’re not going to use sunscreen, you’re wasting your money.’”

What to do instead: Along with wearing it every day, you should also make sure you’re applying enough sunscreen. Your face needs about a quarter-sized dollop or two finger lengths’ worth to block UV rays. But it’s way easier to apply SPF every day if you like the one you’re using. Dr. Rambhia recommends trying a tinted mineral (a.k.a. physical) sunscreen, which she says may be less likely to cause irritation, thanks to sensitive skin-friendly ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The added tint minimizes a white cast and can actually make your skin look more even.

One of Dr. Rambhia’s favorite SPFs is Alastin Skincare’s HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen, which she wears as a base for makeup because it offers a little coverage. She also likes Isdin’s Eryfotona Ageless Sunscreen, which blends well into a variety of skin tones, and TiZO3’s Facial Mineral Sunscreen, which has a dimethicone base that smooths the skin and acts as a great makeup primer. I also have to shout out my personal favorite: InnBeauty Project’s Mineral Sun Glow leaves my skin looking glowy and doesn’t feel sticky or greasy at all, even in the summer heat.

Looking for something without a tint? EltaMD’s UV Clear SPF is another great mineral option that’s suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin, Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, tells SELF. I also recommend trying Etude’s Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sun Milk—it has a subtle white cast, though, so it’s for days you’re planning to wear makeup. I love how thin and silky the formula is, and the glowy finish it gives my skin.

6. You’re using your makeup wipes wrong.

Taking off all of your makeup and sunscreen at the end of the day is an essential step. But if you’re using makeup wipes, you still need to give your skin an extra rinse after. “One thing people do is they use the makeup wipe and then leave [that] residue on their skin,” Dr. Weinstein Velez says, adding that people also tend to tug at their skin when using a wipe.

What to do instead: After using a makeup wipe (gently!), follow up with a cleanser. If it’s one of those nights when a thorough scrub just isn’t in the cards, Dr. Weinstein Velez recommends rinsing the wipe out under the faucet and sweeping it around your face again for a deeper clean.

Another fix is to avoid makeup wipes altogether. Dr. Weinstein Velez recommends using La Roche-Posay’s Micellar Cleansing Water on a cotton pad or washcloth instead because it’s less likely to irritate sensitive skin. I can also vouch for Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water, which is great at removing stubborn waterproof makeup.

Cleansing balms or oils have thicker formulas that you can massage into your skin with your hands—no cotton rounds needed. Dr. Weinstein Velez’s favorite is Farmacy’s Makeup Remover Cleansing Balm (she says it melts makeup right off). My go-to makeup remover is DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil, which comes in a bottle with a pump instead of a jar I have to stick my fingers into and doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped at all.

Related:

• 10 Serums Derms Swear By for Aging Skin
• The Best Red Light Therapy Devices for Clearer, Smoother Skin
• 10 Ultra-Hydrating Cleansers Derms Recommend for Mature Skin

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