Despite using a gentle cleanser that doesn't cause dryness, it still eliminates some of the natural oils that keep our skin smooth and hydrated. To replenish these oils and incorporate additional beneficial elements, we apply a moisturizer.

A high-quality moisturizer not only nourishes the skin but also enhances its protective barrier. This is vital for addressing and preventing issues such as dryness, as well as less visible concerns like acne, fine lines, and post-acne marks. If you intend to use potentially irritating actives in the future, it is particularly important to have one or more effective moisturizers on hand.

Exposure to the sun can have both positive and negative effects on our skin. While some exposure improves health, it can also lead to skin cancer, sunburns, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation.

With numerous sunscreens now available, not all of which are thick, greasy, or white, there are many options to safeguard oneself. In addition, certain actives, such as retinoids, AHAs, and benzoyl peroxide, can make the skin more sensitive to the sun. As a result, if you intend to use these substances in the future, incorporating a high-quality sunscreen into your regimen is crucial.

The most effective way to fully cleanse your face after wearing makeup, SPF, or anything else that’s non-water soluble is to double cleanse. The first step in a double cleanse is a dedicated step to breakup and remove makeup, SPF, dirt, oil, grime, etc. This is done using a cream or oil-based cleanser. You may be worried about applying oil to your skin, especially if you’ve struggled with acne, but this is used simply to breakup waterproof topicals and then is fully cleansed away with a rinse and the second step.

The second step in an effective double cleanse is a water-based or foaming cleanser step. This helps remove anything left behind from the first step and creates a nice clean slate for the rest of your skincare routine. A gentle foaming cleanser formulated for the face will clear away anything left on the skin without stripping or drying.

Buffering helps protect sensitive areas on the face from exposure to tretinoin. Tretinoin can be too intense around areas like the eyes and nostrils. Buffering is simply applying an occlusive cream to these areas that decreases or prevents tretinoin absorption. It’s also a great opportunity to hydrate and nourish these areas.

Tretinoin is the gold standard ingredient for anti-aging and anti-acne purposes. Available only through prescription, it’s a heavy-hitter topical that increases the rate of skin cell turnover. The result is clearer, brighter skin when incorporated into a comprehensive routine. Get a tretinoin prescription delivered to your home: