So to help you out, we selected one actionable tip for each skin goal, all backed by science. These certainly aren’t the only ways to tend to your skin in 2023, but they will help you achieve a running start. Let’s get into it. Short answer: probably. “Vitamin C is one of the few active ingredients that can benefit all skin types,” board-certified dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., says about the ingredient. What’s more, a brighter complexion isn’t the only benefit you’ll get when you pick up this daily habit: Using vitamin C topically has been shown to help overall quality and tone by diminishing hyperpigmentation1, decreasing moisture2 loss, helping to reduce skin inflammation1, and fighting against UV-induced photodamage3. Not sure where to look? Here’s our curated list of the best vitamin C serums on the market right now. “Hydrolyzed collagen is pre-digested so it does not go through that first-pass digestion in the GI tract,” board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., previously told mbg. “The collagen fragments can be absorbed as is and circulate throughout the body to exert their effects.” More specifically, studies show that these collagen peptides are able to support skin elasticity and dermal collagen density4. How? Well, hydrolyzed collagen peptides have been shown to help promote the body’s natural production of collagen5 and other molecules that make up the skin, like elastin and fibrillin. However not every collagen supplement comes in a high-quality form. And if you’re going to invest in a product, you should know that it’s going to, well, work—so here’s a list of nine A+ options, all backed by a nutrition Ph.D., if you’re ready to shop. If you’ve never tried retinol before, then a gentle over-the-counter (OTC) option may be your best bet. If you’ve experimented with OTC products and don’t love your results, then a prescription-grade formula might do the trick. Either way, you’ll reap a host of benefits from boosted collagen production7 to acne management8 and more. Want to learn more? Here’s a deep dive into the countless retinol products out there to suit your skin type. However, there is one routine method that’s safe for most skin types and will help you organize all of your acne-focused topicals into your routine: skin cycling. Coined by board-certified dermatologist and mbg Collective member Whitney Bowe, M.D., FAAD, skin cycling helps you organize your treatment products into one weekly schedule. Here’s how it goes: But what exactly is classified as an “active” in this context? We’re talking about chemical exfoliants (think salicylic acid, lactic acid, etc.) and retinol. Feature these ingredients in just one step of your daily routine—not all five (or so). Translation: Skip the exfoliating cleansers and retinol creams if you’re already using a concentrated formula. Instead, cushion these actives with hydrating serums like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or panthenol, and always top it off with a moisturizer. That way, you’ll be able to see results from those actives without stripping your skin barrier or causing irritation.
