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10 Skin Habits I'd let You Steal From a Girl With Really Good Skin
Good skin is built on boring, the most boring, habits. Followed consistently. Over years.
As a dermatologist, product-tester, and skincare enthu-cutlet, these are the skincare habits I swear by:
Using a body moisturizer that exfoliates and hydrates at the same time
If you use urea+lactic acid on your body every day, you get:
Less razor bumps, ingrown hair, and body hyperpigmentation. More moisturized, soft, and even-toned body skin.
Moisturex Cream is a beautiful pharmacy option with urea and lactic acid.
Other great options include: Eucerin UreaRepair Plus 10% and Cotaryl Cream.
TBH, I used to rely heavily on body scrubs. Then I became a dermatologist and learned better. Physical scrubs cause a lot of unnecessary friction and irritation. I much prefer a well-formulated chemical exfoliant with a controlled concentration of urea, lactic acid or other AHAs.
Using micellar water, NOT oil cleanser
IMO, unnecessary oil cleansing has been one of the biggest reasons for avoidable pimples since 2020, when double cleansing became viral.
Micellar water does everything I need an oil cleanser to do, minus the breakouts. Removing makeup, sunscreen...a good micellar water gets the job done beautifully.
Why aren't more people talking about it?
Anyway, a big fan of Nivea Micellar Water and Bioderma Sensibio H2O.
Pro tip: Micellar water also doubles up as a dry shampoo. Just dab some on cotton pads and scrub across your roots.
Unlike regular dry shampoos that just soak up existing oil, but end up forming another layer of powder on the scalp, micellar water actually breaks down the oil and cleanses the scalp. Found this hack to be a godsend for my oily, seb.derm prone scalp.
Scalp health
So many of us living in hot and humid weather have an oily scalp or seborrheic dermatitis.
This salicylic acid+ketoconazole shampoo from Salisia KT is my go-to option.
Fun fact: Did you know ketoconazole is also a DHT blocker, so it helps with reducing patterned hair loss.
Washing makeup brushes
Your makeup brushes touch your skin repeatedly. Wash them at least once a week.
All you need is a gentle body wash or mild shampoo and 5 extra minutes in the shower once a week. I clean my brushes while my conditioner is sitting on my hair for 5 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly and let them dry completely before reuse.
A bowl of protein and colourful vegetables EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Your skin, hair and nails are made up EXCLUSIVELY of protein.
So, babes! Start with food before reaching for collagen gummies and a shelf full of “hair, skin and nails” supplements.
Eggs, dairy, tofu, legumes, quinoa, fish or meat, depending on your diet, all contribute to your daily protein intake. Add colored veggies and fruit for fibre and micronutrients. The darker or brighter the food, the more the antioxidants.
Splurge on azelaic acid, save on retinoids
This is one of my favourite skincare rules.
I am happy to spend more on a well-formulated azelaic acid serum because most pharmacy options, to put it simple, SUCK!
My current routine includes Anua 10% azelaic acid on most mornings with vit C under SPF.
At night, I use 20% azelaic acid three nights a week along with 0.025% tretinoin. Both are prescription-strength treatments, so discuss them with your dermatologist.
Keep morning routine boring
My AM routine is Vitamin C + sunscreen.
Recently, I have also started using 10% azelaic acid with Vitamin C on some mornings. You do not need five antioxidant serums before sunscreen.
Be picky with Vitamin C
I do not recommend picking a Vitamin C serum based on the ingredient list alone. Formulation and stability matter.
Sesderma C-VIT Liposomal Serum is my ride or die. Probably 27th bottle, and going strong.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is another well-established option if your budget allows.
Reapply sunscreen when you are actually exposed
I know, I know! The “reapply every three hours” sounds so clichéd! But it works.
Good options for oily skin include Eucerin Oil Control SPF 50+ and Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun.
As a tinted option, Eclipse Solaire Aqua Fusion SPF 50 such a goodie!
Stop buying things because TikTok told you to
You do not need a jade roller, gua sha, ice roller, microcurrent device and seven different “glow” supplements to have good skin.
Spend your money on things with a clear purpose.
A decent cleanser. A moisturiser suited to your skin. A well-formulated morning active like vit C. Retinoid. Sunscreen. And, honestly, decent food.
The boring stuff is worth sticking with.
That's all folks. :)
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