Curating an efficacious skincare routine can feel like an overwhelming task, even as a beauty editor with a wealth of experts on speed dial and access to some of the most rigorously tested skincare products in the business. After all, how do you really know if a product is going to work for you? Of course, the thing about beauty (and skincare in particular) is that it’s such a personal thing—what works for one person’s skin type might not work for another. However, that doesn’t stop me from wanting to know the ins and outs of someone’s personal skincare routine, even if they have an entirely different skin type to mine. So what could be better than getting a deep dive into the genuine skincare routines of top skin experts? While I know what products skin experts approve of, I wanted to go one step further.
Ahead, I asked four skin pros—dermatologists, facialists and doctors—to share their expert skincare routines, morning through to night.
1. Dr Sharon Belmo
Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Sharon Belmo, is a leading UK skincare expert with over 13 years of experience in dermatology and a special interest in skin of colour. She runs her own private clinic, Dr Sharon Belmo Dermatology, on Harley Street.
Dr Sharon Belmo's Morning Skincare Routine
Dr Belmo describes her skin as normal/dry and therefore her morning skincare routine centres around two key areas—hydration and protection.
"I wash my face with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser which is an all-round nice, gentle cleanser. But twice a week I'll wash it with the NeoStrata Resurface Foaming Glycolic Wash, as glycolic acid is a great exfoliator for smoothing and brightening the skin," says Dr Belmo.
"Then I'll apply an antioxidant serum—either the Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30% or the Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum which are both excellent. For moisturiser, I use the Epionce Renewal Facial Lotion, which is very light but very moisturising as it contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid."
"Finally, sunscreen—I chance sunscreens a lot and have so many at home," says Dr Belmo. "At the moment I'm using Eucerin Oil Control Sun Gel-Cream SPF50 and the Colorescience mineral brush-on sunscreen to top-up throughout the day."
Dr Sharon Belmo's Evening Skincare Routine
Dr Belmo keeps things simple for her evening skincare routine, using the same CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser for her PM cleanse most of the time. "However, if I'm wearing make-up then I'll use the Revision Skincare Brightening Facial Wash instead, as it has a nice mix of AHAs and BHAs and is great for smooth, bright skin," Dr Belmo explains. "I'll then moisturise with the Epionce Renewal Facial Cream in the winter as its richer in consistency. In the summer, I use the lotion which I use in my morning skincare routine."
2. Dr Alexis Granite
Dr Alexis Granite is a consultant dermatologist with almost 20 years of clinical experience in both the United States and United Kingdom. She is a leading expert in both dermatology and aesthetics.
Dr Alexis Granite's Morning Skincare Routine
"I have sensitive but also acne-prone skin—even at age 47," explains Dr Granite. "My skin is easily congested by very heavy or rich products so I seek out lightweight serums and moisturisers. However, I also like a bit of extra hydration, so I look for nourishing and moisture-boosting ingredients, too. I also suffer from melasma so am always on the lookout for products for pigmentation, including antioxidants," she says.
Dr Alexis Granite's Evening Skincare Routine
Dr Granite's evening routine is pared-back but efficacious, including a prescritpion tretinoin cream at 0.05% concentration and the same Tatcha serum from her morning routine to restore hydration levels—before boosting hydration with a cult moisturiser from Augustinus Bader.
3. Rhian Truman
Skincare expert and facialist Rhian Truman has over 15 years of experience looking after the skin of editors and celebrities. As one of the most in-demand facialists in the UK, she's worked with leading beauty brands and most recently as the Resident Facialist at Soho Farmhouse.
Rhian Truman's Morning Skincare Routine
Rhian's skin type is dry and sensitive and her routine is therefore focused on improving the strength and health of her skin barrier to minimise sensitivity and boost resilience. "When it comes to specific ingredients, I seek out natural oils, squalane and ceramides—basically anything to build the skin barrier," Rhian explains.
"In the morning I'll cleanse using the Caudalie Vinoclean Cleansing Almond Milk to gently wake up the skin, then I like to use a light Japanese essence rather than a stripping toner. I love the one from Forlle’d Hyalogy as it leaves the skin so comfortable and soothed."
"To moisturise, I'll use either the RéVive Moisturising Renewal Hydrogel for a hydration boost or the Farmacy Honey Drop Moisturiser for nourishment and protection," says Rhian. "For eye cream I like the IRÄYE Eye Revive Cream. I find the lymphatic complex in the product really wakes up the eyes and definitely reduces puffiness and fine lines."
Lastly, like all good skin experts, Rhian doesn't start her day without sun protection and Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen is her SPF of choice.
Rhian Truman's Morning Skincare Routine
Rhian's evening skincare routine provides another chance to inject her skin with moisture, as well as some wellbeing rituals to help her relax and unwind. "I use the Muihood Cleansing Balm along with a muslin cloth to gently desquamate the skin, before following with the same IRÄYE eye cream that I use in the morning."
"My moisture step comes in the form of the Saent Face Oil which I massage into the skin," explains Rhian. "I love the richness from the rosehip and the beautiful scent of neroli that comes through. I like to massage my skin with this product to oxygenate the blood flow before bed. Then I'll use the Susanne Kauffmann Renewing Night Cream for extra nourishment"
"On the nights I need an extra wind down, I use Ross J. Barr’s Sleep Patches and stick them onto my temples," says Rhian. "Then the This Works Pillow Spray for a lavender send-off to sleep."
4. Dr Eirini Merika
Dr Eirini Merika is the Consultant Dermatologist at Montrose London and is the lead consultant for dermatology at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. Dr Merika also founded the Chelsea and Westminster Acne Service which she leads to support the management of people with acne through embracing digital technology and remote monitoring.
Dr Eirini Merika's Morning Skincare Routine
The main focus of Dr Eirini Merika's skincare routine is keeping her oily and blemish-prone skin in check. "I always go for products marketed as anti-blemish, anti-comedogenic and oil-free, and my key ingredients are things like salicylic acid, glycolic acid and a little retinol—it protects from hyperpigmentation, skin ageing and has anti-acne properties."
"I always have to rush in the mornings (I have the school run, exercise, and need to get ready for work) and therefore time is really limited," explains Dr Merika. "I splash cool water onto my skin, dab it dry, then apply a few drops of Skinceuticals C E Ferulic or Vichy Liftactiv Vitamin C Serum."
"SPF is key to protect the skin from sun-induced skin damage, and I always look for products with a high SPF—50 in the summer months and 30 in the winter months) and with 5 star UVA protection," says Dr Merika. "The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ SPF 30 serves a great base for a little foundation and also has sunscreen built in."
Dr Eirini Merika's Evening Skincare Routine
"I never go to bed without removing my make-up—it's a rule! I usually remove it with the Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water as it never causes irritation," explains Dr Merika. "I always follow that with a facial cleansing gel or wash to really lift the dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. I like using La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Cleansing Gel or the CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser. They both have a gentle cleansing action without leaving the skin very dry."
"I finish with a retinol resurfacing serum," says Dr Merika. "I alternate it with either the Bioderma Sebium Kerato+ Gel-Cream or the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum."
