Imagine having a job where you sort through other people's skin dilemmas all day. Now, add in a layer of dealing with the complex concerns around melanated skin; we're talking hyperpigmentation, eczema, and continuously having to convince patients with darker complexions that they do actually need to wear sunscreen regularly. This is the life of a Black dermatologist.
Considering the extensive skin-care knowledge these experts have amassed over their careers, we wondered what they use on their own skin. Surely, they must experience many of the same concerns that they see in their patients. So, we asked several Black board-certified dermatologists to share their morning and evening skin-care routines. They gave us all the details on which products get their skin perfectly clean after a day at the office, which sunscreen they top off their morning routine with before heading out the door, and more.
While their product picks varied, everyone agreed that your skin-care routine should change from morning to night. Your a.m. lineup should focus on protecting your skin from pollution, sun, and any other environmental stressors that are thrown your way throughout the day. At night, when your skin is working its hardest to regenerate itself, they all agree on switching gears to more restorative ingredients; this can mean incorporating a retinoid formula that prompts cell turnover and aids in smoothing the surface or niacinamide, which you can alternate with vitamin C to help brighten as you sleep.
There's some overlap, but these dermatologists have curated routines to meet their individual needs. There are even some extra treatments that each doctor occasionally uses to boost their daily routines. Keep scrolling to see who chooses a more extensive approach to their skin-care regimen, and who prefers a streamlined, less-is-more plan of action.
Rose Ingleton, New York City
Before heading to the bathroom to begin her morning skin-care routine, Rose Ingleton eases into the day in her sunlit Brooklyn brownstone. After a quick meditation, she sips warm water with fresh lemon and ginger—something she considers part of her routine. “What you put into your body greatly impacts your health, and often shows on your skin,” she says, noting that hydration is one of the simplest ways to support a healthy complexion.
When it comes to cleansing, Dr. Ingleton keeps things intentionally minimal: a splash of water. Controversial, sure—but she skips a morning cleanser because “I don't want to remove the wonderful skin care I did the night before,” she says.
From there, she reaches for the Future Bright Dark Spot Vitamin C Serum from her brand, Rose Ingleton MD. “An antioxidant serum followed by an SPF each morning can ward off free radicals and prevent damage from the sun, especially the invisible kind present even on cloudy days,” she says. Her go-to sunscreen is the EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 46 in Deep. In colder months she swaps it for the Supergoop! SPF Moisturizer for an extra layer of hydration against winter dryness.
After a long day at her SoHo practice, Dr. Ingleton treats her skin to a dose of actives and a luxurious moisturizer on her face, neck, and hands. “It's my time dedicated to self-care,” she says.
She uses the Allure Best of Beauty-winning Rose Ingleton MD SuperFruit Gentle Brightening Cleanser to remove dirt and makeup. Her treatment serums look different depending on the night. She rotates between the SkinMedica TNS Recovery Complex Serum and the SkinCeuticals Retinol Cream. She finishes her nightly routine with the Rose Ingleton MD Signature Moisturizer.
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Tiffany Clay, Atlanta
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To kick off her daily routine, Tiffany Clay uses Glytone's Mild Gel Cleanser to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells. "I like this product because it doesn't dry my skin out," she says. The formula uses glycolic acid to smooth and brighten dull complexions.
Once her skin is clean, she applies a layer of SkinMedica's HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator, a hyaluronic acid serum that keeps her skin hydrated by attracting (and then holding onto) moisture from the surrounding environment. "My skin tends to get oily through the day and this gives me the hydration that doesn't make me look too shiny." Next up is Revision Skincare's C+ Correcting Complex 30%, which Clay says is her go-to vitamin C product. "It's an antioxidant that also corrects damage from HEV blue light."
No dermatologist's skin-care regimen is complete without sunscreen, and Clay switches between Senté's Invisible Shield Full Physical and Glytone Hydra Lipid UV Mineral Sunscreen, which are both physical sunscreens. "They don't leave a white cast on my skin, which I love." Throughout the day, Clay uses Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50 to do touch-ups.
At night, Clay likes to do a double cleanse starting with Skinfix's Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser, followed by Revision Skincare's Gentle Cleansing Lotion. She then applies Arazlo, a prescription retinoid, which she says is essential for skin-cell turnover. "For me, my primary use [of a retinoid] is still for acne," she says.
Retinoids can be drying, so Clay tops hers with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer, or, if she needs something lighter, Revision Skincare's DEJ Face Cream. A swipe of Vaseline on her lips finishes off her pre-bed facial routine.
With acne often comes dark spots, so Clay looks to Cyspera to treat her hyperpigmentation. "I typically try to use this hydroquinone-free pigment regulator about three times weekly to treat and prevent hyperpigmentation." For smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, Clay says she gets “injectable wrinkle reducers regularly. I like Dysport.”
Caroline Robinson, Chicago
"I have combination skin, which, for me, means that I am prone to dryness with changes in the seasons, but at the same time, I have a persistent yet lovely mid-face shine that I've learned to embrace," says founder of Tone Dermatology, Caroline Robinson. "I also have acne-prone skin that's prone to hyperpigmentation, so I'm intentional about my sunscreen use and about incorporating brightening, hydrating, and restorative ingredients into my routine."
In the morning, Robinson begins by washing her face with Vanicream's Gentle Facial Cleanser. "I love a cleanser with suds, but I also prefer something gentle enough to use daily, and because of its soap-free formulation, it never leaves my skin feeling stripped," she says. After washing, while her face is still damp, Robinson applies Revision's Hydrating Serum, which is a lightweight, oil-free gel that contains two forms of hyaluronic acid, fruit extracts, antioxidants, and a peptide, which, when combined, hydrates skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines over time.
Robinson then uses an antioxidant formula—in this case, Revision's C+ Correcting Complex—to help repair and even out her skin tone. "This lotion serum has been a part of my routine for years," she says. "I love that it’s formulated with 30 percent pure vitamin C and also contains patent-pending MelaPATH technology, making it one of the most advanced vitamin C products on the market."
The last step in Robinson's routine is to generously apply sunscreen, of course. Currently, she's using Isdin's Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+. "I love that this sunscreen is lightweight, 100 percent mineral, and combines zinc oxide with peptides, antioxidants, and [plankton-derived enzymes called] DNA Repairsomes, which repair and protect the skin," says Robinson.
Robinson commences her nighttime skin ritual with a thorough double cleanse using Avene Eau Thermal's Xeracalm AD Lipid-replenishing Oil Cleanser and Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser. "The oil cleanser is a unique formula that lathers into a foam and helps me to break up makeup, sunscreen, and oil that accumulates throughout the day," says Robinson. [Robinson is a Neutrogena ambassador]
After gently patting her face dry, Robinson applies a thick layer of Revision's DEJ Eye Cream. "I'm very particular about eye creams but this one has been in rotation in my routine for quite some time," she says. "It's clinically proven and is one of the most comprehensive eye creams available today." The formula addresses hyperpigmentation, fine lines, redness, hooding, and bags with multiple actives, including peptides and brightening vitamin C.
Robinson then goes in with her preferred form of vitamin A—a prescription retinoid. "I use a small amount of Aklief (trifarotene) cream 0.005 percent on my face and upper back to control breakouts," she says. "It's a pearlescent, lightweight cream formulated with the retinoid trifarotene, which is actually the first retinoid molecule FDA-approved for the treatment of acne in over 20 years." She also points out that this particular retinoid is effective in the treatment of acne not just on the face but also on the chest, shoulders, and back.
To lock everything in, Robinson applies a healthy layer of First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream. "I always moisturize with something rich after I apply my retinoid," she says. "Lately, I've been loving this cream, which contains a blend of niacinamide, peptides, and collagen to support natural collagen production." The ingredients also prevent existing collagen from deteriorating and increase skin hydration.
As far as extra measures are concerned, Robinson gets Botox every three to four months and does medical-grade chemical peels a few times a year, as well to address discoloration due to sun damage. Additionally, she microneedles with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) once a year, and adds a minute amount of filler in her cheeks for a subtle lift.
Corey L. Hartman, Birmingham, Alabama
Before heading to work, Corey L. Hartman cleanses using SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel, which he says is his absolute favorite way to wash his face. "It contains lipo hydroxy acids (LHA) that are attracted to oily skin for deeper penetration to decongest pores, without causing excessive dryness or irritation," he says. "It also lathers well, produces a clean skin surface, and preps the skin for the rest of my regimen."
Hartman then uses a combination of two targeted treatments: Cyspera's Intensive Pigment Corrector and SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF. "Cyspera is gentle enough to be used even on the eyelids and provides a natural glow that no other pigment-correcting product can achieve," he says. "It's as powerful as hydroquinone without any of the side effects, risks, or stigma." The latter product by SkinCeuticals is Hartman's new go-to antioxidant. "This is the first antioxidant to address oiliness and acne, as well as free-radical formation and photoaging," he says. Hartman explains that the ingredient silymarin prevents oil oxidation that leads to aging, while salicylic acid adds a beta-hydroxy edge to treat blemishes.
Hartman's eye cream of choice is SkinBetter's InterFuse Eye Treatment, and his favorite hydrator right now is Vichy's Mineral 89. "Not only does this serum contain hyaluronic acid, but it also has 15 minerals found in Vichy's proprietary volcanic water, which has been found to correct inflammation and dehydration caused by all of the external factors that we face every day," he says.
Hartman's routine is completed with a healthy dose of Isdin's Eryfotona Actinica SPF. "This is the best sunscreen product that I have used," he says. The lightweight emulsion absorbs well into the skin and has DNA repair enzymes that reverse signs of aging and cellular damage. “I don't leave home without it.”
Once Hartman is home and ready to settle in for the night, he washes his face with EltaMD's Foaming Facial Cleanser. "This gentle cleanser forms a nice, hydrating lather that gets rid of the dirt and debris of the day," he says. "It replenishes my skin and allows it to receive my nighttime regimen for more effective penetration."
After a thorough cleanse, Hartman goes in with Senté's Dermal Repair Cream before applying his retinol of choice: Arazlo. "Dermal Repair contains heparan sulfate analog, which mimics the naturally occurring heparan sulfate in our skin that produces hyaluronic acid, and Arazlo is in a more moisturizing lotion vehicle than its sister, Tazorac, which has been a favorite among hardcore retinoid users since 1997," he says.
Changing up the delivery system helps reduce much of the irritation that is commonly seen with Tazorac cream and gel. Hartman attributes 75 percent of his skin's appearance to tazarotene, which he says he's used consistently since his dermatology residency in 2003. "If I was forced to choose only one product to use daily after SPF, it would be Arazlo all day long," says Hartman.
"Once I turned 40, I realized that I could no longer ignore my neck," says Hartman. “Luckily, SkinCeuticals formulated its Tripeptide-R Neck Repair that incorporates retinol in a formulation that doesn't cause irritation or unnecessary dryness.”
Michelle Henry, New York City
Michelle Henry's skin-care routine is admittedly very luxe—we wouldn't expect anything less from the NYC-based derm. Though she enjoys using prestigious brands like Dior and La Mer, her routine is still informed by an intuitive approach. "I like listening to my skin's needs on a daily basis and adjusting as needed," she says. "Your skin's needs can change based on your microenvironment; however, I do have some mainstay products."
She kicks off her day off by cleansing with the Isdin Isdinceutics Essential Cleansing Oil. “My skin has gotten drier over the years, especially in the winter, so I like using an oil cleanser,” says Dr. Henry, who also notes that this works for her skin because she's not acne prone.
Next, she applies a serum. She's currently loving the Isdin Isdinceutics Melaclear Advanced Pigment-Correcting Serum to address some hyperpigmentation on her skin. “Sometimes, I'll still use the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. That's still a favorite of mine,” she says. For her morning moisturizer, she uses the ultra-luxe La Mer Moisturizing Fresh Cream before slathering on either the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 or the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Face and Body Lotion Sunscreen SPF 60+.
Henry ends her day with another thorough cleanse, this time using a “more robust cleanser." She finds that the Shiseido Complete Cleansing Microfoam gets the job done, removing dirt, SPF and makeup from the day.
As far as routines go, Carlos A. Charles is about as bare-bones as it gets. "My routine looks like this: In the morning, I wash with a gentle cleanser, such as CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, followed by a generous layer of SuperGoop! Mineral Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50, which doubles as both my sun protection and moisturizer," he says. Charles adds that sometimes he'll also use a vitamin C serum to ward off free-radical damage, which helps with his hyperpigmentation. Lately, he's been using IS Clinical Pro Heal Advance.
In the evening, Charles says, he sometimes swaps out CeraVe's original Hydrating Cleanser for its foaming option, as he says it works better at removing the dirt and grime from the day. "Then I moisturize with CeraVe PM Face Moisturizer, and twice a week I'll use a gentle retinoid cream on top to assist with cell turnover and collagen production," he says. When he wants an extra-enriching, more luxurious moisturizer, he reaches for the Humanrace Humidifying Face Cream.
Elyse Love, New York City
Elyse Love's morning skin-care routine is focused on “protecting my skin from environmental damage and supporting a smooth texture and even skin tone,” she says, and it all starts off with the Vintner’s Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser. “It’s a very gentle cleanse, but it leaves my skin feeling refreshed and ready for serums."
Next, she rotates between the Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum (a lactic acid-based formula that gently exfoliates), the SkinBetter Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum (an antioxidant serum that protects the skin from environmental stress), and the Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Spot Brightening Moisturizer with Niacinamide (a lightweight moisturizer that feels velvety on the skin and gives a healthy glow.) [Dr. Love is a Clinique ambassador.]
She wraps up her regimen with the Clinique UV Solutions Mattifying Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50, which she loves for it's inclusion of salicylic acid. "My skin has started to feel oily with the change in seasons so I’ve been loving this sunscreen to help prevent excess oil throughout the day and protect my skin from the sun damage,” says Dr. Love.
While her morning routine mostly focuses on short-term impact, her evening skin-care routine keeps long-term healthy aging at the forefront. “I don’t wear a lot of make-up, so I typically do a single cleanser to keep my routine simple," she says. If needed, Dr. Love does two rounds of the the same cleanser she uses in the morning.
She follows up her cleanse with a prescription retinoid (Arazlo), which is the most potent topical in her routine. “It supports even skin tone and texture, as well as collagen production,” she says.
Then she uses the SkinBetter Mystro Active Balance Serum (an adaptogen serum that helps to keep her skin in balance), Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum (a peptide and retinoid serum that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles), paired with the Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Cream. "This peptide moisturizer pairs with the serum and prescription retinoid to support healthy aging and delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, says Dr. Love.
Dr. Love has been pregnant and breastfeeding for most of the past three years, so her skin-care routine has done most of the heavy lifting. When her health, lifestyle, and schedule allows, she does Ultherapy (a non-invasive procedure that uses micro-focused ultrasound to lift and tighten skin) yearly to prevent lower face sagging.
She gets the VI Peel Precision Plus once or twice a year, "when the seasons change for an instant refresh, improved skin texture, and more even skin tone," she explains. She also gets Botox every four to six months to delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and “give me a lifted appearance to my upper face.” Finally, she enjoys a low downtime laser, like Laser Genesis, or microneedling quarterly to support collagen stimulation and improve mild acne scarring.
Zoë Indigo, Los Angeles
“My skin-care routine is simple, gentle, and protective, especially living in sunny California,” says Zoe Indigo. She starts out by cleansing her face in the morning with her brand's Green Tea Antioxidant Soothing Gentle Cleanser. Around the time of her period or if she's dealing with breakouts, Dr. Indigo switches to the Joesoef Sulfur wash. “It's especially good for acne and rosacea prone skin,” she notes. After cleansing, she hydrates with hyaluronic acid and peptides using the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel.
In the winter, post-treatment, or when dealing with irritation due to hormonal changes, Dr. Indigo uses her brand's Hydrating Cream (a richer moisturizer developed for eczema-prone skin, and perimenopausal skin).
Like many other derms, SPF is non-negotiable for Dr. Indigo so she applies sunscreen everyday and even re-applies every two to three hours. “Mineral sunscreen is key for protecting against hyperpigmentation in a way chemical sunscreens don’t fully address." She uses her brand's Sheer Tinted Mineral Sunscreen which gives her physical sun protection without that dreaded white cast.
“At night, I focus on correction and collagen support. I like to save my actives for nighttime because the sun can be irritating,” says Dr. Indigo. This starts with washing her face with the same cleanser she uses in the morning. Then, she moves onto the heavy stuff: Skin/Tervention by Dr. Zoë Indigo, MD Retinol PM Treatment which helps with cell turnover, acne, and fine lines. She moisturizes with the Senté Dermal Repair cream before calling it a night.
Extras:
“I believe in combining great skincare with in-office treatments for optimal results,” says Dr. Indigo. The derm gets some form of a neuromodulator (like Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) every 8 to 12 weeks to “soften fine lines, lift brows, open the eyes, and improve a gummy smile.” Every four to 12 weeks she gets a microneedling treatment and a laser treatment two to three times a year.
More regularly, she uses microcurrent (like the NuFace) and red light therapy tools. She also indulges in regular facials like the DiamondGlow facial (that uses a real diamond-tip to exfoliate and infuse personalized serum cocktails into the skin), especially before a big event.
Check out these other expert-recommended skin-care products:
- 6 Top Aestheticians Reveal Their Favorite Skin-Care Products
- The Best Skin-Care Products Created by Dermatologists
- The Best Vitamin C Serums, Moisturizers, and More to Brighter Skin
Now watch how Dr. Pimple Popper spends her day:
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