Ask any dermatologist and they’ll all tell you the number-one thing you need to do for your face is to apply sunscreen daily. “The bare minimum for future-proofing your skin is the consistent use of a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30,” says Annie Chiu, M.D., a dermatologist in Redondo Beach, California. And even if you have an office job, you need to reapply.
Of course, the nighttime element of your skin-care routine is just as important as the morning one. Retinol “does a great job of building up collagen in the dermis,” says Robert Anolik, M.D., a dermatologist in New York. “It also prevents excess pigmentation formation in the epidermis.” If retinol is too irritating for you, try bakuchiol, which is perfect for sensitive complexions.