The skincare industry has exploded in recent years, with thousands of new products hitting the market. But with so many conflicting pieces of advice, it’s easy to get lost. We spoke to eight dermatologists to find out their own skincare routines and what mistakes they see most often.
This is what it was like before: for decades, a basic “cleanse, tone, moisturise” routine was seen as the gold standard. But times have changed, and now there’s a vast array of products on offer.
So, should you be putting snail slime or beef tallow on your face? And which products are safe for your teenager to use, if any? The good news is that none of the dermatologists we spoke to use snail slime.
“I wish I’d known my skin was beautiful when I was younger,”
Dr. Angela Tewari
Here’s what the dermatologists told us about their daily skincare routines:
| Dermatologist | Daily Skincare Routine |
|---|---|
| Dr. Angela Tewari | a mild glycolic wash from Tropic, followed by DNA repair serum, Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment, and Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator SPF 25 |
| Dr. Ophelia Veraitch | Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, followed by Hyperpigmentation Day Serum, Skinceuticals Skin Brightening SPF 30, and Dr. Ophelia Acne Night Serum |
| Dr. Tanja Phillips | ZO Skin Health exfoliating cleanser, followed by Complexion Renewal Pads, Firming Serum, Daily Power Defense, and Heliocare 360° Pigment Solution Fluid |
| Dr. Aamna Adel | Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, followed by SkinCeuticals Dual Antioxidant Treatment with vitamin C, Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid cream, and La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 |
| Dr. Joney De Souza | ZO Skin Health exfoliating cleanser, followed by Complexion Renewal Pads, Vitamin C serum, and Retinol Skin Brightener |
| Dr. Sharon Belmo | Dr. Naana Fresh Face Cleanser, followed by Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex and Epionce Renewal Facial Lotion |
| Dr. Rhys Beynon | AlumierMD’s SensiCalm Cleanser, followed by 15% Vitamin C serum, and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF |
And what about bargain beauty buys?
- Dr. Angela Tewari recommends Nivea Q10, Nivea is a great budget sunscreen – it’s much cheaper than anything else on the market without any of the greasiness or chalkiness of cheaper brands.
- Dr. Ophelia Veraitch suggests using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, which is gentle and suitable for her whole family, including a daughter with mild eczema and a son who is beginning to develop mild acne.
- Dr. Tanja Phillips likes CeraVe face washes, which are great – they’re unscented and uncomplicated, and have good clinical trials behind them.
- Dr. Aamna Adel recommends Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, which hydrates her skin.
- Dr. Joney De Souza likes Eucerin moisturisers, which are nicely priced and not too oily.
- Dr. Sharon Belmo suggests CeraVe face washes, which are great for children’s sensitive skin.
- Dr. Rhys Beynon recommends CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, which is a perfect gentle cleanser.
Which beauty trend would the dermatologists never recommend trying? Angela Tewari would never recommend snail slime or collagen supplements – they contain hyaluronic acid but putting snails on your face or using their slime is not her cup of tea.
What skincare do the dermatologists recommend for children?
- Dr. Angela Tewari recommends gentle cleansers and SPF for children, and avoiding glycolic acids, high-dose salicylic acid, and retinoids.
- Dr. Ophelia Veraitch also recommends gentle cleansers and SPF for children, and using Cetaphil in the shower.
- Dr. Tanja Phillips suggests using CeraVe face washes for children and an SPF.
- Dr. Aamna Adel also recommends using gentle cleansers and SPF for children, and using Cetaphil in the shower.
- Dr. Joney De Souza recommends using gentle cleansers and SPF for children, and using Clean & Clear for teenagers.
- Dr. Sharon Belmo suggests using gentle cleansers and SPF for children, and using La Roche-Posay moisturiser for young people with dry skin.
- Dr. Rhys Beynon recommends using gentle cleansers and SPF for children, and using Paula’s Choice for managing teenage breakouts.
What treatment or gadget would the dermatologists blow the bank on?
- Dr. Angela Tewari would recommend the Lightinderm LED device, which is £400.
- Dr. Ophelia Veraitch would recommend the Thermage FLX, a radio frequency device that costs about £2,000 for a full face treatment.
- Dr. Tanja Phillips would recommend CurrentBody’s Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device, which is £1,999.
- Dr. Aamna Adel would recommend a red-light treatment, which costs about £60 a session.
- Dr. Joney De Souza would recommend a red-light treatment, which costs about £60 a session.
- Dr. Sharon Belmo would recommend microneedling, which costs about £100-£300 a session.
- Dr. Rhys Beynon would recommend CurrentBody’s Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device, which is £1,999.
What advice would the dermatologists give their younger self?
- Dr. Angela Tewari would tell herself to appreciate her skin while it’s younger, as she wishes she knew it was beautiful when she was younger.
- Dr. Ophelia Veraitch would advise her younger self not to waste money on luxury brands, and to focus on simple skincare with effective treatments.
- Dr. Tanja Phillips would tell herself to use SPF come rain or shine, as she wishes she had known to protect her skin from the sun earlier.
- Dr. Aamna Adel would tell herself to avoid using homemade sunscreen, as it’s not safe.
- Dr. Joney De Souza would tell herself to wear SPF every day, even on cloudy days, as she realizes the importance of sun protection now.
- Dr. Sharon Belmo would advise her younger self to use sunscreen, as she realizes the importance of sun protection for darker skin tones.
- Dr. Rhys Beynon would tell himself that the best product is the one he likes to wear every day, as he emphasizes the importance of finding a skincare routine that works for each individual.
What product would the dermatologists say they can’t live without?
- Dr. Angela Tewari would recommend DNA Total Repair serum by Neova.
- Dr. Ophelia Veraitch would recommend daily SPF.
- Dr. Tanja Phillips would recommend Heliocare 360° Pigment Solution Fluid.
- Dr. Aamna Adel would recommend Eucerin UreaRepair Original.
- Dr. Joney De Souza would recommend retinol.
- Dr. Sharon Belmo would recommend Epionce Renewal Facial Lotion.
- Dr. Rhys Beynon would recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF.
What mistake do the dermatologists see most often?
- Dr. Angela Tewari sees people going for filler when they really need a booster, and overdoing it with skincare products.
- Dr. Ophelia Veraitch sees people only wearing SPF in the summer, rather than all year round, and following skin influencers on social media instead of seeking proper professional help.
- Dr. Tanja Phillips sees people not washing their face properly, and applying too many products.
- Dr. Aamna Adel sees people using very oily, buttery creams, and not reapplying SPF during the day.
- Dr. Joney De Souza sees people buying expensive skincare products that don’t have any active ingredients in them.
- Dr. Sharon Belmo sees people using too many products, too many steps, and over-exfoliating.
- Dr. Rhys Beynon sees people not following their skin type, not using sunscreen, and using too many products.
What do the dermatologists do that would surprise people?
- Dr. Angela Tewari sometimes doesn’t remove her makeup before bed.
- Dr. Ophelia Veraitch doesn’t reapply her SPF during the day, she’s too lazy!
- Dr. Tanja Phillips wears SPF even if she’s not going to be out in the sun.
- Dr. Aamna Adel wears SPF even if she’s not going to be out in the sun.
- Dr. Joney De Souza doesn’t reapply his SPF during the day.
- Dr. Sharon Belmo wears SPF even if she’s not going to be out in the sun.
- Dr.