15 Skincare Tips to Achieve Clearer Skin, According to Experts

Hydrate After Cleansing

Texas-based aesthetician Renée Rouleau says that one of the biggest skincare mistakes people make is waiting too long after washing to apply moisturizer. Whether it’s face or body lotion, “you have just a short window after cleansing to put on a hydrating product before moisture starts to evaporate,” says Rouleau. “If you let your skin dry completely, the water on your skin plus any moisture in your skin will start to get pulled into the air.”

Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, recommends accelerating in the shower, too. “Long showers strip your natural oils. That’s why some people have a chronic itchy spot on their back.”

Consider Your Water

“Soft water doesn’t remove soap well, so it can leave a residue on your skin,” says Susan H. Weinkle, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of South Florida. If your water is soft, use face and body cleansers sparingly (no more than a nickel- or quarter-size amount, respectively).

Hard water, on the other hand, doesn’t allow washes to lather easily, prompting you to use even more cleanser, which can cause dryness. A shower filter, which can remove contaminants and minerals, should help mitigate this problem. Gentle, non-soap formulas, which aren’t meant to lather, can minimize this, says Carolyn Jacob, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago, Illinois. To check the water quality in your area, log on to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.

Keep Stress in Check

Stress takes a toll on nearly every part of your body, including your skin. That’s because stress increases the body’s production of hormones such as cortisol, which can make skin oilier and decrease its ability to fight off acne-causing bacteria, says Lisa Donofrio, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine.

To keep that frazzled feeling under control, regularly practice stress-management techniques like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation. This “can help conditions such as acne, psoriasis, rosacea, and seborrhea,” Donofrio says.

Exercise Early and Often

“One of the main functions of the skin is to regulate heat, so when you’re working out, the blood vessels in the skin dilate to bring warm blood to the surface, allowing heat to be transferred out of the body and into the air. This gives you a glowy flush,” says Marmur, who begins every day with 30 minutes of running, cycling, or basketball.

Boosting blood flow also ensures that your skin is getting the oxygen and the nutrients that it needs to be healthy. “Skin is your body’s last priority. Blood goes first to the brain and core organs, so getting blood filled with nutrients pumping all the way to your skin first thing in the morning means it starts the day healthy, too,” says Marmur.

Reassess Your Skincare Routine

Don’t go on autopilot with your skincare, says Marmur, who eschews a set routine in favor of amassing a mindful collection of products, then customizing day by day. “If my skin looks good and feels comfortable,” Marmur says, “I use a lighter night cream. In October, when the barometer drops and my skin becomes drier, I choose a richer formula.”

Similarly, several women mentioned their devotion to masks, which help them treat temporary conditions like sensitivity and dryness. “I use an exfoliating clay mask followed by a hydrating mask when I’m having my morning coffee,” says Jessica Alba, the founder of Honest Beauty.

Pamela Baxter, the founder of Bonafide Beauty Lab, alternates Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask (fresh.com) to hydrate, with Sapelo Anti-Aging Enzyme Mask (sapeloskincare.com), to exfoliate up to three times a week. Silk pillowcases can also help to keep the skin hydrated overnight because the material is less porous and doesn’t draw water from the skin.

Watch Your Sun Exposure Indoors

Yes, you read it right: UV rays (in particular, UVA rays) can penetrate the windows in your home and office and cause wrinkling and brown spots. The same goes for car windows: There may be higher rates of skin cancers on the left side of the face and upper body than on the right since that side is more exposed when you’re driving.

Cancers aside, “many people have more wrinkles and sun damage on the left side of their faces, too,” notes Donofrio. Make protection a no-brainer by always wearing a moisturizer with SPF.

Try a New Tool

Picture a mini paint roller studded with tiny metal needles and you have yourself a derma roller. The popular tool pricks holes in the skin’s top layer (pain is minimal), with the aim of creating minuscule pathways for lotions and serums to burrow deeper into the epidermis and so be more effective, says Mashell Tabe, an Albuquerque-based aesthetician, who uses a derma roller almost every night.

Our favorite is ORA Gold Deluxe Microneedle Dermal Roller (dermstore.com). Tabe also swears by in-office microneedling (which ranges from $250 to $1,000), a more intense procedure that involves a motorized needling device that goes deeper into the skin, causing tiny wounds and stimulating collagen production.

Treat Your Skin From the Inside

“To keep my skin clear and firm, I eat the building blocks of collagen—such as copper, found in nuts and seeds; and lysine, found in legumes and lean meats,” says Marmur, who adds that foods with zinc and magnesium also help combat acne. Although there are not piles of scientific studies proving that a healthy diet equals better skin, says Marmur, “I’ve seen overwhelming anecdotal evidence in my practice and in my own skin.” Whitney Bowe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, agrees; a glow-boosting trick that Bowe uses when her skin looks sallow is to raise her beta-carotene intake by adding carrots or sweet potatoes to a smoothie.

Finally, and you’ve heard it before: Most experts interviewed said that drinking water is a must. Josie Maran, a model and the founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics, tricks herself into guzzling more with a bit of flavor doctoring. “I make fruit-, vegetable-, and herb- infused waters,” Maran says. “My favorite is spiking water with chopped strawberries and basil.”

And what to avoid? Dairy. Scientists don’t understand exactly why milk products can lead to acne, but some surmise that the natural hormones present in dairy may be to blame, says Leslie Baumann, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami Beach, Florida, who notes that even organic milk can cause breakouts. Cottage cheese, instant breakfast drinks, and sherbet are also linked to acne. While cutting back on dairy won’t solve a pimple problem single-handedly, it may make a difference for those who suffer severe breakouts, say experts. (If you go this route, be sure you’re getting enough calcium from other food sources, such as leafy greens, or consider taking a supplement.)

Exfoliate More

“As we age, skin cells turn over at a slower rate than they did in our 20s,” says Bowe. The result: Without help from scrubs, peels, or even a clean washcloth, dead skin cells can build up on your face and body, clogging pores, preventing products from penetrating, and making your complexion look dull. Bowe uses Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant (drbrandtskincare.com) twice a week on her face and hands.

Baxter has devised an exfoliating plan for her rosacea-prone skin: “I cleanse every night with the gentle Foreo Luna cleansing brush (foreo.com), and every two days, I use Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder (sephora.com), which does not irritate.”

Supermodel Christie Brinkley has been exfoliating for more than 40 years. “There weren’t face scrubs when I was a teenager, so I used a foot scrub on all of my skin starting at 19,” says Brinkley. Brinkley has long since switched to a gentler scrub made for the face, and they believe this is the secret to getting circulation going and diminishing puffiness in the morning. Sloughing below the neck is also key, says Palm Beach, Florida–based aesthetician Tammy Fender, who dry-brushes before showering.

Pay Attention to Your Cleanser

It may sound counterintuitive, but if you have dry skin, your choice of face wash may be even more important than your moisturizer. “A nonsoap cleanser is ideal because it helps replace the moisture barrier in the skin,” Donofrio says.

Your cleanser is important because it can help or exacerbate skin conditions like dry patches, eczema, and psoriasis—or it can make oily skin even more oily. Choosing the right cleanser can help prevent conditions from coming on or getting worse.

Choose Water-Based Hair Products

Some conditioners, as well as pomades, volumizers, and styling creams, contain oils or waxes that can clog pores and create acne, especially on the forehead, the back, and the hairline. Even if you’re careful to avoid getting them on your skin, they can run down your face and body as you shower and when you sweat or be transferred by your pillowcase while you sleep.

Instead, look for water-based formulas and avoid those containing mineral oil, beeswax, or microcrystalline wax. Or consider SEEN Haircare products, a line of shampoos, conditioners, and styling aids created to help minimize breakouts.

Check Your Medicine Cabinet

Some oral contraceptives, antibiotics, fertility drugs, and antiseizure medications can bring on breakouts, says Jerome Litt, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Beachwood, Ohio. Antihistamines, diuretics, and some antidepressants can cause dry skin. And certain antibiotics, diuretics, and diabetes treatments can make you vulnerable to sun damage.

“If you find your skin is reacting more while you’re taking a particular drug, talk to your physician,” says Litt. “He or she may be able to either lower the dosage or switch you to a different medication.”

Get a Good Night’s Rest

“The skin repairs itself at night, so the more sleep you get, the more time your complexion has to rejuvenate,” says Bowe. And the benefits are not just long-term. In many cases, you can see results the next morning. “The more sleep I get, the less makeup I need, because my skin looks naturally refreshed,” says Alba.

And the opposite is also true. “Under-eye puffiness can be caused by a spike in cortisol levels,” says Bowe. “Beauty sleep is no joke—you truly need seven to eight hours. When you don’t get enough sleep, your cortisol levels increase, and when that happens, that boosts the rate of collagen breakdown, causing under-eye bags to appear.”

FYI: “Yawning and squinting can break down collagen and elastin around the eyes, too,” says Bowe.

Check the Humidity in Your House

Humidity can majorly impact your skin. If the air in your house is especially dry, for example, it can dry out your skin. If you’re someone who already has dry, cracking skin, this can exacerbate your condition and leave your skin with more dry patches. Your skin might look flakier and scalier.

If your house is too humid, on the other hand, it can worsen oily skin. Humidity makes you excrete excess sebum (oil) to maintain balance. But this can cause clogged pores, which can lead to breakouts and acne—especially for those with already acne-prone skin. High humidity levels can also create a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause the skin to break out, too. Using an at-home humidifier or de-humidifier can help you keep a healthy level of humidity in the house.

Wash Your Bed Sheets

It might not be the first thing you think of, but your bed sheets—and your pillowcases, in particular—can be the culprit behind breakouts. Your bed sheets need to be regularly washed because when you sleep, you sweat, drool, and breathe bacteria onto the sheets. They also tend to collect makeup, dead skin cells, and dust, which can build up over time and cause bacteria buildup on your skin. This can all lead to breakouts.

Washing your sheets and regularly changing them can help you keep toxins and bacteria at bay and maintain a healthy glow. You should wash your pillowcases at least once a week, for example. Duvet covers should be washed about once a week, as well, if you don’t use a top sheet (you can toss them in the laundry just once a month otherwise). And inserts and blankets can last about three months. Of course, if they start to smell or you spill something on them, be sure to wash them sooner.