Think you look better with a suntan? Worried you don’t have a 12-step routine? Dermatologists cut through the noise to reveal the products they swear by – and those they’d run a mile from.
By Joe Stone
Sat 19 Apr 2025 07.00
Read full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/apr/19/what-skincare-experts-do-to-their-skin
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Looking after your skin used to seem so simple: for decades, a basic “cleanse, tone, moisturise” routine was seen as the gold standard. But the skincare industry has recently exploded with thousands of new products, while skincare influencers have been racking up millions of views with often bewildering (and conflicting) advice.
So, should you be putting snail slime or beef tallow on your face, like that video you saw on TikTok? And which products are safe for your teenager to use, if any? We spoke to eight dermatologists to find out their own skincare routines – and which mistakes they see most often. Spoiler: none of them use snail slime.
‘I wish I’d known my skin was beautiful when I was younger’
Dr Angela Tewari, consultant dermatologist at King’s College hospital, London, and founder of the Dermatology Studios
What’s your daily skincare routine?
At the moment I’m using a mild glycolic wash from Tropic, which contains jojoba oil, because I’m prone to dry skin. I then use a DNA repair serum by Neova, which has a number of encapsulated enzymes that fight off residual sun damage, followed by Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment by SkinCeuticals, which enhances radiance. This is followed by Clinique’s Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator SPF 25.
What’s your bargain beauty buy?
Nivea body lotion Q10. It contains nourishing almond oil and I feel I’m rejuvenating my body.
Which beauty trend would you never recommend trying, and why?
Snail mucin – it contains hyaluronic acid, but putting snails on your face or using their slime is not my cup of tea. There are cheaper ways of getting moisture into the skin with a more generic hyaluronic acid.
What skincare do you recommend for children – and what should they stay away from?
They should be avoiding glycolic acids, high-dose salicylic acid and retinoids – anything that would increase the turnover of their skin cells. Until our early 20s, our skin turnover is excellent, so we do not need to accelerate this at a younger age.
What treatment/gadget would you blow the bank on?
I’ve found the Lightinderm LED device very helpful. You insert capsules of DNA repair enzymes into it and these are activated by the wavelengths it produces. This enables repair of any sun-induced changes and pigmentation, and it lifts skin. The device costs £400.
What skincare advice would you give your younger self?
I wish I’d known that, actually, my skin is beautiful, but it’s very hard to realise that at the time – we always think we look a lot worse than we do.
What’s the product you can’t live without?
DNA Total Repair serum by Neova. It goes on the skin after washing and improves radiance while reducing fine lines and helping with pigmentation.
What’s the most common mistake you see?
People going for filler when they really need a booster – polynucleotide injections are anti-inflammatory and promote collagen – and good skincare.
What do you do that would surprise people?
Sometimes if I’m very tired, after putting my three children to bed, I don’t take my makeup off before going to sleep. Ideally, you should remove those layers of dirt and pollution at night, as we know they contribute to oxidative stress and skin damage.