The truth: Gold says these ingredients are for everyone. Or at least, everyone who wants help with acne, wrinkles, pore size, skin care prevention, or skin tone (so, as we said, everyone).

Gold adds that retinol has been around for close to 50 years and has a ton of research to prove its safeness. So rather than jumping from fad ingredient to fad ingredient, he recommends sticking with tried and true retinol to fix almost any skin issue.

There are a few things wrong with this rule. First, Graf says that "oil-free" isn't even a regulated term. Essentially, a brand could slap it on almost any product, so it's no guarantee that you won't get zits.

Second reason to ignore this label: Even the oiliest skin needs moisture, says Bayati. Skipping oil can lead to skin that's chronically dry, which is when skin starts to produce more oil.

Finally, Spunt and O'Connor say all skin actually needs oil -- as long as it's the right type. "We've been told to avoid oils, but there are some, like argan and coconut oil, that are skin compatible, absorb well, and even work [to prevent] acne," they say. "[These oils] have antibacterial properties and can help balance the skin." So while it may seem strange to slather on some lavender or argan oil over your broken-out skin, it may just do the trick.

If you suffer from acne, your routine probably involves using a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid spot treatment on any blemishes that pop up. But there's good reason to re-think that advice.

Spunt and O'Connor point out that these ingredients are harsh, irritating, and drying for almost everyone. So while they may kill bacteria and eventually get rid of your zit, they can also leave you with red, flaky skin that's practically impossible to cover with concealer. A better solution? "Try gentler products like willow bark and clay to calm inflammation and draw out impurities," Spunt says. "Gentler products can still fight pimples, and do so without drying your skin and making it look worse during the process."

Eye cream seems like such a no-brainer part of your skin care regimen, right? But in most cases, you can skip it, says Gold.

"If the eye cream actually has specific ingredients that you need for your eyes, [like retinol or growth factors] then go ahead and use it," he says. "But in general you can just use your face creams on your eye area. Some eye creams are basically the same products anyway in different packaging." So there's really no need to spend more money; instead just dab some of your moisturizer and face serums around your eye area as well.

Spunt and O'Connor are big advocates of using natural products, but they point out that Mother Nature can still do some major damage to your skin. For example, tea tree oil, used sparingly, can be a great way to fight zits. But if you apply too much, your skin can end up as red and flaky as it would have been after a repeated dousing of benzoyl peroxide.

The lesson: Whether a product is "organic" or completely cooked up in a lab, follow the instructions carefully and remember, more is rarely better when it comes to skin care.