#DermsHolyGrail: Dr. Laurel Geraghty’s Skincare Regimen

AM Regimen:

1. Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser or Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser
2. Extras (antioxidants, medicines, etc.): SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Acid
3. Sunscreen: Sheiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector, Elta MD UV Clear, or La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid; ColoreScience Sunforgettable with SPF

PM Regimen:

1. Makeup remover: Micellar water cleanser, like the one by Bioderma
2. Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser or Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser
3. Toner: none
4. Serum: none
5. Extras (antioxidants, medicines, etc.): Tretinoin cream (prescription)
6. Moisturizer or Night Cream: Cetaphil body cream

I am a Norwegian American with fair skin (what dermatologists call Fitzpatrick Type II), but I can actually develop a pretty good tan – not that I’ve tried for over 15 years! I stopped when I finally wised up and took it to heart that a tan is nothing but a manifestation of skin damage.

I have combination skin. I took Accutane when I was 19 to clear my breakouts, and I’m still prone to the occasional blemish, yet I also tend to have dry, sensitive skin. So I need to baby it and coax it through any product, treatment, or procedure that may be drying or irritating.

As a former beauty editor at Glamour and Allure, and now as a dermatologist, I can be pretty promiscuous with skincare products – I dabble in new ones all of the time! But I always come back to a few tried-and-true favorites backed by science.

In the morning, I splash clean with plain water, or use a mild cleanser, such as La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser or Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser. Then I apply SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Acid to prevent free radical damage that can accumulate during the day, followed by one of my favorite sunscreens (Sheiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector, Elta MD UV Clear, or La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid). I For my face, I apply light makeup (sheer foundation and powder) and I’m off. Midday, if I’m going out to lunch, I often dust on ColoreScience Sunforgettable with SPF, or slip on a hat, since unfortunately sunscreen only lasts about 2 hours, at best, and I’m not willing to rack up sun damage right when high-intensity UVB rays are strongest.

Every morning right after a shower, I smear my arms and legs in Cetaphil Body Cream, which helps me combat dryness.

Before bed, I remove makeup with one of the mild cleansers I use in the morning, or (if I’m tired and just want to swipe clean and crash) a micellar water cleanser, like the one by Bioderma – no need for any actual water! Then I apply a pea size amount of my prescription tretinoin cream for skin rejuvenation, followed by Cetaphil Body Cream to my face and any other dry areas. And I sleep. Simple, basic, but effective – I don’t believe that 20-step skincare routines are necessary for healthy, radiant skin.

I exfoliate at least once a week with a product containing glycolic acid (like Paula’s Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA), or a more simple face scrub to remove dead skin and make my skin glowier.

When my skin is cranky or irritated, or after procedures, I love the soothing, calming effect of Aquaphor ointment (heavy but a great skin protectant for a deep overnight quench) or Avene Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream.

[line]

To learn more about Dr. Laurel, follow along on her Instagram @doctorlaurelG!