How to choose the right skincare products for your skin type

Walk into any beauty aisle and you'll face a wall of promises. Here's the truth our dermatologists share with every patient: most skin needs only three products — a gentle cleanser, a suitable moisturizer, and daily SPF. Everything else is optional, targeted extras.

First, know your type

Wash your face, wait an hour, and observe. Tight and flaky? Dry. Shiny across the T-zone? Combination. Shiny everywhere with frequent breakouts? Oily. Easily red or stinging? Sensitive. This single observation matters more than any quiz.

Build the core trio

• Cleanser: gel or foam for oily skin, cream or milk for dry and sensitive types. If your face feels squeaky, it's too harsh.
• Moisturizer: lightweight gel for oily, richer cream with ceramides for dry. Sensitive skin does best fragrance-free.
• SPF 30+: non-negotiable every morning. Mineral formulas suit sensitive skin; fluid textures suit oily skin.

Add actives one at a time

Only after the trio feels comfortable for two weeks, add one active for your main concern — salicylic acid for blackheads, niacinamide for pores, retinoid for aging. Introduce each slowly, and never start two new products in the same week. If irritation appears, you'll know exactly what caused it.

Bring your current shelf to a free skin analysis and we'll sort the keepers from the culprits together.