I'm a 47-year-old who has dry skin and wants to treat dark spots. A dermatologist told me to use a gentler cleanser and a moisturizer high in SPF.
- Jana is a 47-year-old with dry skin who wants to treat her dark spots.
- A dermatologist suggested she switch the order of her skincare routine, and add in a moisturizer with stronger SPF.
Jana is a 47-year-old with dry skin who volunteered to have her skincare routine reviewed by a dermatologist.
She told Insider she wants a routine that will help reverse skin damage caused by not wearing SPF and treat signs of aging, like dark spots.
Dr. Sherwin Parikh, a dermatologist at the Tribeca Skin Center in NYC, said Jana needs to choose a more hydrating moisturizer with a higher SPF, switch up the order in which she applies products, and opt for a more gentle cleanser.
Jana needs a gentle cleanser for her mature skin
Jana washes her face with Cetaphil cleanser in the mornings and then uses The Ordinary's hyaluronic acid 2%. After exfoliating, she layers Cetaphil's vitamin C serum on top to hydrate and finishes it off with Clinique "even better" moisturizer 20% SPF.
At night, Jana takes off her makeup with an oil-based remover and splashes water on her face to cleanse. She applies a retin-A product – a type of vitamin A – three days a week after cleansing. Then to hydrate, Jana puts on jojoba oil. Four nights a week, she uses Cosrx AHA/BHA clarifying treatment toner after the oil. To finish, Jana uses Kiehl's midnight recovery concentrate oil.
Parikh said Jana should switch her cleanser to something gentle and more suited for mature skin. If her cleanser leaves her skin feeling dry, rather than soft, she should look for a new one.
"I think CeraVe cleanser is better than Cetaphil wash for mature skin," Parikh said.
Her skincare routine is in the wrong order
Parikh said the order in which Jana applies her skincare products doesn't allow the ingredients to soak in.
He told Insider Jana should apply her toner after cleansing and layer her moisturizer on top. Instead of just using oils to hydrate, she should add a moisturizer like Glossier's Priming Rich moisturizer or Derma-E Regenerative night cream, and then apply her oils.
She should use a stronger moisturizer with a higher-level SPF
Jana needs to protect her skin from the sun to help reverse sun-damage and dark spots. Because she uses retin-A several times a week, her skin is also more sensitive to sun light. Parikh suggests upping her SPF level.
"Clinique moisturizer with SPF 20 should be switched out for a stronger one such as their City Block SPF 50, especially during the summer for better coverage against photo-aging," Parikh said. "That will provide superior protection."