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Ever wish you could peek inside the medicine cabinet of someone who really has their skin care routine dialed in? Same.
That’s why we tapped dermatologists—literal doctors who’ve spent their careers mastering the science of healthy skin—for their all-time favorite products. Here, three professionals over 50 share what they use to keep their skin hydrated and their hair strong and shiny. We’re taking notes!
Shop the dermatologists’ top picks
- The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Brightening Cream
- Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50
- Vintner’s Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser
- Vintner’s Daughter Active Treatment Essence
- SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
- Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen
Dr. Angela Brimhall
Dermatologist Angela Brimhall, MD, who just celebrated her 50th birthday, is the owner of Sage Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Clinic in Draper, Utah. She’s known as The Holistic Derm on TikTok, where she shares her skin care knowledge to over 36,000 followers.
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Her a.m. skin care routine
You might think all dermatologists only use super spendy cleansers and creams, but that’s not what Dr. Brimhall is about. She tends to go for products that are simple, budget-friendly, and effective—especially for the essentials, like cleanser and moisturizer.
She starts her day with Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser, followed by an exfoliating azelaic acid serum, then Cetaphil’s Moisturizing Cream. This trio provides a protective barrier for her skin throughout the day, “which is essential, especially as my skin changes with age,” she says. She tops that off with Colorscience’s Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50.
Dr. Brimhall has noticed less fine lines and wrinkles, fewer brown spots, and less redness from rosacea with this routine. (Azealic acid in particular can be helpful for rosacea, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.) “My skin feels more balanced and resilient,” she says. “I am often mistaken for being in my 30s—I credit my consistent routines!”
Her p.m. skin care routine
Dr. Brimhall follows the same routine at night, with a few additions. She uses a tazarotene 0.1% cream, a prescription retinoid that helps fight wrinkles and improve skin texture, after the azelaic acid and before moisturizing. Then, she swipes on Latisse Eyelash Serum, which you can also get with a prescription.
Dr. Brimhall often gets sebaceous hyperplasia, or overactive oil production that results in tiny yellow bumps on her skin, usually on her forehead and cheeks. With this routine, her skin is smoother, brighter, and more even-toned. “These products are straightforward yet powerful,” she says, and they help her maintain hydration overnight too.
Her hair care routine
If Dr. Brimhall’s long, thick curls are any indication, she knows a thing or two about how to keep your hair healthy. She washes hers two to three times a week, using the Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me.Wash shampoo and Hydrate-Me.Rinse conditioner. Occasionally, she swaps in a ketoconazole shampoo, which treats dandruff.
She also deep conditions once a week with Brazilian Blowout’s Deep Conditioning Masque.
To style, she works Brazilian Blowout’s Daily Smoothing Serum into her hair, followed by Goldie Locks’s Anti-Frizz Smoothing Cream and Goldie Locks’s Signature Serum before air-drying. These products help define her curls, while “adding shine and moisture,” which is key in the dry climate she lives in.
“I avoid all heat treatments and only highlight once a year.” Dr. Brimhall says. “I’ve decided to embrace my natural gray when the time comes, celebrating my distinguished look instead of covering it up.”
Dr. Erika Klemperer
Erika Klemperer, MD, is the founder of Re Studios, a regenerative dermatology clinic that focuses on treatments like microneedling, laser, and red light therapy. With 30 years of clinical experience under her belt, she knows what products and ingredients really make a difference in your skin’s appearance as you age.
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Her p.m. skin care routine
If you’re curious about what skin docs are willing to splurge on, you can get some major insight from Dr. Klemperer’s picks. She starts with Vintner’s Daughter’s Active Renewal Cleanser, a gently foaming cream formula that “provides a double cleanse in a single step, thoroughly removing my sunscreen, makeup, and daily environmental debris without stripping,” she says.
She follows that up with Vintner’s Daughter’s Active Treatment Essence, an eight-in-one botanical mist that hydrates, tones, and brightens. “I love the prebiotics to support my skin microbiome and skin barrier before stepping into my infrared sauna,” she explains.
Before her nightly sweat, she also practices dry brushing on her face and body with Cecily Braden’s Lymphatic Brush. After a quick cold rinse, she applies African Botanics Resurrection Cell Recovery Serum—it contains retinol, resveratrol, and peptides to boost collagen, enhance skin cell turnover, and improve fine lines and dullness.
“I then use a prescription estriol cream to help counterbalance the massive decline of estrogen in my post-menopausal skin, restoring some plumpness and firmness,” Dr. Klemperer says. Lastly, she locks in moisture with Monastery’s Attar Floral Repair Concentrate, a “gorgeous and deeply nourishing” balm.
Dr. Beth Goldstein
Beth Goldstein, MD, a dermatologist based in Raleigh, North Carolina, has 30 years of experience and is a founding partner of Central Dermatology Center. She’s an expert in skin cancer treatment, aesthetic surgeries, and chemical peels.
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Her a.m. skin care routine
Dr. Goldstein targets signs of aging with both an internal and external approach. To reinforce her skin’s elasticity from the inside, she uses Caire Beauty’s Theorem Serum Boost, a “hyper-absorbable formula designed specifically for hormone-changing skin,” she says. It helps encourage collagen formation, “which is the name of the game after 50,” she says, “and helps to lock in moisture.” She notes that this serum is safe to use even on delicate skin, so she applies it on her eyelids, undereyes, and outer eyes as well.
After that, she focuses on how she can protect her skin from environmental stressors. She uses SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, an antioxidant-rich serum that brightens while protecting skin from pollution and free radical damage. Together, these two products act as “skin warriors,” she says.
No matter what her plans are for the day, Dr. Goldstein always puts on sunscreen. She likes Elta MD’s SPF or Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen. “It is critical to reapply during the day, so I keep extras in my car, at my various offices, and in multiple handbags,” she adds (noted).
Her p.m. skin care routine
Dr. Goldstein’s pick for a nighttime face wash is a drugstore classic. She uses CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser, followed by Caire Beauty’s Theorem Serum Boost again and Caire Beauty’s The Grownup Moisturizer, which is packed with lipids to replenish her skin barrier. “The lipid emulsion melts into my skin, and a very small amount works effectively,” she says.
Her hair care routine
For healthier hair, Dr. Goldstein looks for products that are sulfate-free, as they can be drying. She likes Better Not Younger’s shampoo and restorative hair mask: “I find it helps the changing, thinning hair structure,” she says.
Related:
- 17 Night Creams Derms Love for Aging Skin
- The Retinol Serums We Rely on for Smooth, Glowy Skin
- 16 Firming, Strengthening Body Lotions for Mature Skin
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