Exfoliate Once or Twice a Week
Regular exfoliation is key to maintaining glowing skin. "Exfoliating is important because it helps clear up dead skin cells, unclog pores, and even out pigmentation on the skin," says Tiffany Jow Libby, MD, dermatologist in New York City. Libby suggests exfoliating once or twice a week with a chemical exfoliant, like glycolic, salicylic, or lactic acid. You may want to limit exfoliation to just once a week during the winter to avoid irritation. Sobel says alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic and lactic) are best for sensitive, dry, or redness-prone skin types, while beta hydroxy acids (like salicylic acid) are a good option for anyone with acne or oily skin. "They're anti-inflammatory and work to treat blackheads, whiteheads, and stubborn zits," he says.
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Say Hello to Serums
One of the best skin care products to use for brighter, clearer skin? Serum. This skin care essential has a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly into the skin for major benefits. Los Angeles-based dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, likes antioxidant serums, as they can prevent and undo free radical damage caused by UV light and pollution. Her favorite antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin B, ferulic acid, and resveratrol. "Vitamin C also helps fade hyperpigmentation, which will help skin appear brighter and more even-toned over time," Shainhouse says. She is also a fan of hyaluronic acid. "This humectant ingredient can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water," she says. "It pulls moisture from the deeper skin layers and the environment into the top layers of the skin to temporarily hydrate, moisturize, smooth, and plump the texture, so that it reflects light more evenly and provides a dewy glow."
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Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
If your skin is on the oily side or you frequently deal with pimples, you may think you can get away without moisturizing. But if you want brighter, clearer skin, then this should be a go-to step in your skin care routine (twice a day!) regardless of your skin type. "Day or night, you need a moisturizer, Sobel says. Jaliman adds that hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, and squalene are ingredients that are good for all skin types. For oily skin, look for a lightweight moisturizer, suggests Jaliman. For dry skin, a thicker cream can help seal in hydration.
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Get Familiar With Retinoids
Retinoids, a derivative of vitamin A, are the gold standard when it comes to clear skin. "Retinoids are scientifically shown to stimulate collagen growth and normalize skin cell turnover," says Shainhouse. "They also smooth down and thin out the top layer of cells, so they lie flat and smooth. Ultimately, light will reflect better off of this smooth surface, giving you a natural glow." Sobel adds that topical retinoids can also be effective at combatting persistent acne since they exfoliate and curb oil production. Retinoids are strong, so start by applying a topical two nights a week and increasing as your skin can tolerate, recommends Shainhouse.
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Mask It Up
Charcoal is a popular skin care ingredient these days, and for good reason. "Charcoal scrubs and masks work to clean out oil and bacteria," says Sobel. That means it's the perfect pick for anyone with oily, blemish-prone skin. So chill out once or twice a week with a charcoal product to keep oiliness under control.
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