My Complete Derm-Approved Skincare Routine for Healthy, Glowing Skin

Posted on: September 1st, 2026 by Our Team

If there’s one question I get asked more than any other, it’s, “What’s your skincare routine?” Patients want to know exactly what I use, what products I recommend, and whether medical-grade skincare is really worth it. The truth is, you don’t need a 15-step routine or a cabinet full of expensive products to have healthy skin. What matters most is using the right ingredients consistently and applying them in the right order.

As a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, I focus on products that are backed by science—not trends. Every recommendation in this routine is something I either use myself, recommend to my patients, or trust because of the research behind the ingredients. Whether your goal is preventing premature aging, treating acne, improving skin texture, or simply maintaining healthy skin, the foundation is always the same: cleanse gently, protect your skin barrier, wear sunscreen every day, and use proven active ingredients like antioxidants and retinoids.

I also know that skincare can get expensive, which is why I’ve included both medical-grade and drugstore options throughout this routine. There are certain products where investing in higher-quality formulations can make a noticeable difference, but there are also affordable products that perform incredibly well. Great skin isn’t about spending the most money—it’s about choosing products that work for your skin and sticking with them consistently.

Think of this as the exact routine I would build for someone walking into my office who wants healthier, brighter, more youthful-looking skin. Whether you’re just starting a skincare routine or looking to simplify the one you already have, these are the products and steps I recommend most often.

So here it is: my full derm-approved skincare & beauty routine, the exact one keeping me feeling hot at 39.

I’m giving you a medical-grade and a drugstore option for everything, because good skin shouldn’t depend on your budget.

AM

• Double Cleanse — micellar water + gentle cleanser
  • Bioderma Micellar Water + CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
• Antioxidant serum
  • Medical-grade: SkinCeutical’s C E Ferulic
  • Drugstore: The Ordinary Vitamin C
• Moisturizer with ceramides
  • Drugstore: La Roche Posay Lipikar Eczema Cream
  • Medical-grade: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore
• SPF 35+
  • Drugstore: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Sunscreen
  • Medical-grade: Revision Intellishade TruPhysical SPF 45 Sunscreen

Shop Now

PM

• Double cleanse — balm/oil first, then gentle cleanse
  • Bioderma Micellar Water + Elemis
• Retinols
  • Medical-grade: Revision Skincare® Retinol Complete
  • Drugstore: RoC, Retinol Correxion®, Deep Wrinkle Moisturizer,
• Barrier-repair moisturizer
  • Drugstore: La Roche Posay Lipikar Eczema Cream
  • Medical-grade: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore

Shop Now

1x a week

• Exfoliate
  • Medical-grade: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
  • Drugstore: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant
• Hypochlorous — SOS only, not daily
  • Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
  • Prequel Universal Skin Solution
• Hydroquinone check-in — always medical-grade/Rx
  • VI Derm Beauty Skin Lightening Complex 4% Hydroquinone

Shop Now

In-office (monthly-ish)

• Microneedling + exosomes
  • The treatment upgrade, no drugstore equivalent exists!
• PRF over PRP for under-eyes
  • Same, in-office only

The biggest thing that separates good skin from great skin isn’t more product, it’s doing fewer things, consistently, in the right order, and knowing when it’s time to bring in a professional.