Creating an Effective Skincare Routine: Quick Tips for 5 Minutes to 1 Hour
If you’re active on social media, you've probably come across those elaborate multistep skin-care routine videos shared by celebrities and wellness influencers. Conversely, some influencers favor a more minimalist approach, using only a few select products. This raises the question: How many products — and how much time — should you actually spend on your daily skin-care routine?
One thing’s certain: Whether you have five minutes or an hour, a smart skincare routine can boost skin health. Here, three board-certified dermatologists — Nazanin Saedi, MD, department co-chair of the Laser and Aesthetics Surgery Center at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting in Pennsylvania; Kathleen C. Suozzi, MD, director of aesthetic dermatology at Yale Medicine and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut; and Debra Jaliman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City — offer their recommendations for how to effectively use your skincare time.
The general agreement is that you don’t need to spend a lot of time to cover the essentials in your skincare routine, but certain more time-intensive treatments can elevate your regimen to the next level.
5-Minute Skincare Routine: Cleanser, SPF, Vitamin C, and Retinoid Essentials
Dr. Saedi asserts that with the correct products, you can properly care for your skin in just five minutes.
For your morning routine, use this trio:
- A gentle cleanser
- A vitamin C serum
- A broad-spectrum sunscreen
In the evening, opt for this set:
- Once more, a gentle cleanser
- A retinoid
- A moisturizer
Morning
“I suggest incorporating the use of vitamin C on your face after your morning wash, followed by sunscreen,” advises Saedi. Studies indicate that topical vitamin C serves as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals from UV exposure, and possesses anti-inflammatory properties that safeguard the skin from elements that lead to early aging signs.
Vitamin C alone isn't particularly stable, so seek out products that blend vitamin E and ferulic acid with ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C) or those featuring stable forms of vitamin C.
Stable variants of vitamin C include ascorbyl-6-palmitate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and MAP.
When it comes to sunscreen, Saedi prefers tinted options because they avoid leaving a white residue and blend seamlessly into the skin.
“Skin-care routines do not need to be complex,” says Dr. Suozzi, noting that most of the regimens she recommends to her patients take less than five minutes to complete. Similar to Saedi, she advises starting the morning with a gentle, soap-free cleanser, patting the skin dry, and applying a vitamin C serum to help protect against oxidative damage.
Suozzi also emphasizes the importance of sun protection by recommending a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Night
At the end of the day, Saedi suggests washing your face, patting it dry, and then applying a retinoid. "At night," Suozzi says, "use the same gentle cleansing wash." To remove makeup, she recommends squirting micellar water, a liquid solution of purified water and cleansing oil molecules called micelles, on a cotton pad and wiping it across your face before cleansing. Follow your cleanser with a retinol-based product, like a serum or a cream, and finally a moisturizer.
Retinoids are vitamin A–based products that can help reduce acne, improve uneven skin tone, lighten pigmentation, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. You can also get a prescription-strength retinoid from your dermatologist. It can be tempting to mix your products and apply them all at once to save time. But unless the products are specifically formulated for that purpose, Saedi warns against it. Though some companies have formulated products that can be mixed together and be effective, you have to be cautious doing this with other brands because you don’t know how the ingredients will interact. “You don’t know whether one will inactivate another or if it will lead to a reaction,” she says. You can't be sure if one will deactivate the other or if it will cause a reaction.
If You Have 10 Minutes: Incorporate an Eye Cream and a Peptide Serum
If you have some additional time, Saedi recommends incorporating these products An eye cream (apply in the morning under SPF and at night over moisturizer)
A skin-care product with peptides (use in the morning after vitamin C and before sunscreen, and in the evening after a retinoid)
Vaseline on the lips (apply at night)
Peptides, composed of amino acids, form the proteins in the skin. According to Saedi, they are a valuable inclusion as they stimulate collagen production.
"These benefits both individuals who use Botox and those who do not," she explains.
If You Have 20 Minutes: Try a Chemical Peel
If you can manage it, dedicating extra time to your skin care routine one to three times a week can be transformative.
An at-home treatment that Suozzi highly recommends incorporating is a gentle chemical peel. She favors options like a glycolic peel, a combination alpha and beta hydroxy acid (AHA and BHA) peel, or a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) peel. The best choice for you will depend on your skin type and objectives. AHAs have been proven to diminish fine lines and wrinkles and to enhance skin texture.
Combining AHA (like glycolic acid) and BHA (such as salicylic acid) is commonly used to treat acne, as each addresses different issues: AHA exfoliates, while BHA unclogs pores. PHA, however, provides gentle exfoliation. Since these molecules don't penetrate the skin as deeply as AHAs and BHAs, PHAs are particularly beneficial for sensitive skin.
If You Have an Hour: Pamper Yourself with a Home Facial Mask
All three dermatologists concur that dedicating more than 20 minutes to skin care doesn't yield significant benefits. However, if you have some extra time, it can be a delightful luxury.
Suozzi recommends indulging in a "spa-like treatment" such as a hydrating facial mask. "Single-use sheet masks are excellent for this," she notes. "While hydrating masks aren't essential for ongoing skin health, they can give your skin a temporary dewy glow that's perfect before a big event."
Saedi advises keeping them on for 20 minutes. Sheet masks meant for hydration often contain ingredients such as ceramides or hyaluronic acid, which are intended to attract moisture to the skin, resulting in a glowing, plumping effect.