Personalized Skincare: How to Build a Routine for Your Skin

Personalized skincare means choosing products and treatments for your own skin type and your main concern, instead of using a bit of everything. Dermatologists start with two products that suit almost everyone, sunscreen and moisturizer, and then add one thing at a time for the concern that bothers you most. In-office treatments come after that, matched to the same concern.

This guide explains how a personalized skincare plan is built, using the advice of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Start with your skin type

The AAD asks a simple question first: is your skin oily, dry, normal, combination or sensitive? It says products formulated for your skin’s needs will help it look and feel its best, and that no one product works for everyone.

When reading labels, the AAD suggests looking for:

Your skin type. For example, a moisturizer made for oily skin, or the words “sensitive skin.”
Hypoallergenic. The product can still cause a reaction, but the risk is lower.
Non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. It does not cause acne.

The basics of any personalized skincare routine

Some steps are the same whatever your skin type. The AAD’s general tips include:

Sunscreen every day. Choose broad-spectrum protection, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistance. The AAD calls sunscreen the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth.
Moisturizer every day. It traps water in the skin and helps minimize fine lines.
Gentle cleansing. Wash on waking, before bed and after sweating. Use a mild cleanser and your fingertips, and do not scrub.
Stop products that sting or burn, unless a dermatologist prescribed them and knows about it.

The AAD says dermatologists agree that sunscreen and moisturizer are the two most effective anti-aging products you can buy.

Choose one concern to treat

This is the step that makes a routine personal. The AAD advises giving sunscreen and moisturizer a few weeks to work, then looking at your skin and picking the one sign that still bothers you, such as wrinkles or dark spots.

It gives two reasons for focusing on one concern. No product can treat all signs of skin aging. And using more than one anti-aging product within a few days or weeks can irritate the skin.

Keep expectations realistic

The AAD is plain about what products can do. Anti-aging skin care products deliver modest results, and “you cannot get the results of a facelift from a cream.”

It also explains a common label. “Clinically proven” means the product was given to consumers to try. It does not mean the product went through clinical trials or was approved by the FDA. And price is not a guide: effective products come in all price ranges.

When in-office treatments fit into a plan

If daily care is in place and a concern remains, a treatment may be the next step. Which one depends on the concern:

Uneven tone, age spots and sun damage. The AAD lists these among the uses of chemical peels.
Acne scars and texture. The AAD says microneedling can make scars and wrinkles less noticeable. See SkinPen microneedling.
Lines caused by facial expressions. See our comparison of Botox, Xeomin and Dysport.
A general refresh. See what a HydraFacial involves.

Our overview of non-invasive skincare treatments compares these options side by side.

What a consultation should cover

A plan can only be personal if the provider knows your history. Before a peel, for example, the AAD says to tell your provider about:

any use of isotretinoin, now or in the past;
all medicines and supplements you take;
cold sores;
whether your skin scars easily;
earlier surgery and cosmetic treatments.

It also suggests asking what results to expect, what the side effects are, whether you have a higher risk of complications and whether there is downtime. A good consultation may end with the advice that a different treatment would suit you better.

If you have a darker skin tone

Skin tone changes which treatments are suitable. The AAD says people with skin of color can safely have a chemical peel but should see someone with expertise in treating darker skin, because pigment problems can otherwise be permanent. Ask how much experience your provider has with skin like yours.

Habits that affect your skin

The AAD’s advice on slowing premature skin aging goes beyond products:

protect your skin from the sun every day, with shade, clothing and sunscreen;
do not tan, outdoors or indoors;
if you smoke, stop;
eat a balanced diet and drink less alcohol;
exercise most days of the week.

It adds that it is never too late to benefit from these changes.

Frequently asked questions

How many products do I need?

The AAD’s starting point is two: sunscreen and moisturizer. Add one product for one concern, and give it time before changing anything.

How do I know my skin type?

The AAD groups skin as oily, dry, normal, combination or sensitive. A provider can assess this at a consultation. Beauté Medical Aesthetics also offers a skin analysis.