The brand: You don't need to spend tons of money for effective products that derms love; Neutrogena is touted as the number one dermatologist-recommend skincare product and you can find it at the drugstore.
What do dermatologists recommend? The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) recommends this routine for any skin type: To cleanse the face, apply a nonabrasive, alcohol-free cleanser using the fingertips, and rinse with lukewarm water. Do this in the morning, at night, and after sweating heavily.
Always apply Retinol products at night, as sunlight can diminish their power. If you're a prescription-strength user, use Retinol as the first layer on your skin after washing your face with a cleansing cream and before applying your anti-aging moisturizer.
Best overall vitamin-C serum
Four of our dermatologists recommend SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, which they (and our editors) hail as the gold-standard vitamin-C serum and is suitable for all skin types.
Find a serum that claims to do just what you need it to. - Secondly, consider your skin type. If you have oily and acne-prone skin, select a face serum with salicylic acid and retinols, as well as rosehip seed oil. For mature and dry skins, try something with hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C.
“I definitely recommend serums for anyone who is concerned about aging. It's a really good way to get extra anti-aging effects, more than your typical moisturizer and sunscreen,” says Dr. Waldman.
The product continues to work after it is applied, hydrating your skin all day in just one use. This system—along with our unique combination of skin-identical ceramides—helps replenish your skin's existing ceramides, relieves dry skin by reducing moisture loss, increases hydration and helps restore the skin barrier.
Dermatologist-Approved Skincare
Not only are our products developed with dermatologists, but CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand1.
Saedi recommends vitamin C serums for people of all ages because virtually everyone is at risk of sun damage, and with vitamin C serums “we are minimizing the amount of sun damage that our skin's getting from sunlight,” she says.
Vitamin C cannot reverse the appearance of wrinkles that develop naturally over time. However, vitamin C serums can help reduce premature aging by protecting the skin from the untimely skin wrinkles that sun exposure can cause. Vitamin C also helps reduce premature wrinkling by stimulating the growth of collagen.
Vitamin C serums are legendary for a reason: They really work. Uneven skin tone, rough texture, fine lines, acne scars, general dullness — you can name just about any common complexion concern and there's a good chance that vitamin C (and the skin-care products it's featured in) is a recommended treatment.
She advises looking for a hydrating serum with any of the big three ingredients, with a primary claim to quench dry and dehydrated skin. However, she notes, “most people can benefit from using a hyaluronic acid serum. A lot of serums on the market are HA-based, or include some form of it.
Wu says the liquid or gel-like texture of a serum can be a poor match for people with chronic skin conditions like eczema or rosacea, which weaken the skin barrier. For these people, serums may penetrate too quickly, causing irritation. Others need the hydration that a rich day or night cream provides.
Good (Skin) Days C's The Day Serum
Vitamin C moisturizers are also becoming more common, Dr. Lamb says, and you'd want to use those at the end of your skin-care routine. And if you're wondering if you can use vitamin C every day, the answer is yes.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Together? Not all powerful skincare ingredients can be mixed, but hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are two that become even stronger when paired with one another. These ingredients can provide both immediate and lasting results when used together in anti-aging formulations.
Some dermatologists recommend applying a vitamin C serum in the morning in order to prevent damage from free radicals that can occur throughout the day. If you do choose to use your serum in the morning, you'll need to follow up with a layer of broad spectrum sunscreen, with an SPF of 30 or higher.