5 steps a dermatologist never skips in her daily routine for healthy, clear skin

• A dermatologist shared the five products that she uses daily, without fail.
• Dr. Suchismita "Tia" Paul never skips sunscreen in the morning and uses retinol every night.

A dermatologist has shared the five products that she uses every day without fail to try to keep her skin as clear as possible.

Dr. Suchismita "Tia" Paul, a dermatologist who works at Newport Beach Dermatology and Plastic Surgery in Orange County, California, told Insider that skincare should be "very personalized."

Paul opts for products that help to minimize dark spots, for example, while Dr. Aamna Adel, a UK-based dermatologist who has dry skin, recently told Insider that she chooses products that re-hydrate the skin.

Paul uses products that are mostly gifted or office samples but that she said work for her skin and she isn't paid to promote.

Here are the five things that Paul prioritizes every day, before tailoring her skincare regimen according to her skin needs and the weather.

A mild cleanser

Paul said that she starts and ends the day by washing her face with a mild cleanser, such as Neostrata PHA Restore Facial Cleanser that contains 4% polyhydroxy acid.

She said PHA exfoliates the face but is "super gentle."

"I try to focus skincare on hydration and keeping that skin barrier intact without using way too many strong products," she said.

Sunscreen with SPF 30 and above

Paul said that she never skips sunscreen in the morning, and always uses a product with sun protection factor 30 and above to prevent sun damage from UV rays, which can make dark spots worse.

She currently uses Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40, because it leaves a "glowing" shine on her skin, or a compact powder with SPF.

Paul said for people of color, like herself, it is helpful to find a sunscreen that doesn't leave a white cast on the skin, like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen.

The product doesn't really matter as long as it's SPF 30 and above, ideally applied it every couple of hours, she said.

Retinoid cream

Paul said that she always uses a topical retinol or retinoid at night to treat dark spots and prevent wrinkles.

Retinol is a weaker form of retinoid, which are products derived from vitamin A. Retinol can be bought over-the-counter, whereas retinoids, which are stronger, require a prescription.

Paul typically uses La Roche Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1%, a retinol.

"It has that fine balance of working really well in terms of efficacy but does not irritate your skin," she said.

Paul, who is in her mid-30s, said that even those without "skin issues," like dark spots, can start using retinol in their mid-to late-20s to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

Moisturizer

Retinol can dry out the skin, so Paul said that her next step is a "good moisturizer," particularly during the winter.

One of her favorite products is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, which is a thick moisturizer that hydrates the skin and repairs the skin barrier.

She applies it in the morning, before she applies sunscreen, and at night after she applies a retinol or retinoid.

Eye cream

Paul said that not every dermatologist will say that eye cream is essential.

However, she applies an eyecream twice a day to try to treat and prevent fine lines.

"I'm in my mid thirties so I like an eye cream that's very hydrating with hyaluronic acid," she said.

She currently uses a product from the dermatology clinic where she works.