Consultant Dermatologist Dr Rosemary Coleman joined Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 to discuss skincare. Listen back above.
While some of us have a seven step regime of serums, retinols, moisturisers and oils to follow every evening, others seem to get by with the bare basics - but who is in the right?
According to Dr Coleman, the right products come down to the individual person, however, some rules are golden.
As a dermatologist, Dr Coleman was delighted to hear that some people get by on soap and water and SPF, but acknowledged that those people are rarely in need of a dermatologist, and, generally, soap tends to be "too alkaline" for the skin.
"The big problem I'm seeing is a lot of over-cleansing," she says, noting that younger women and avid social media users are prone to "very elaborate" skincare routines.
While 'double-cleansing' may be popular on TikTok, the dermatologist insists that everyone's routine should be pared right back to the most simple steps.
"We do need to wash off the day at the end of the day," she adds, explaining that we live in a polluted environment, with many of us are wearing make-up and (ideally) SPF.
Although Claire notes that many of us grew up being told to 'cleanse, tone, and moisturise', Dr Coleman insists that "toner is for printers" and no on would need it unless they had excessively oily skin.
Dr Coleman's morning routine:
- Use a wet (preferably cold) muslin cloth to wash away the sleep.
- Put on your sunblock
Dr Coleman's evening routine:
- Use a muslin cloth and a good cleanser that suits your skin type to firmly but gently wash your face (no scrubbing).
Everybody's skin is different and may have different needs depending on any number of factors, but Dr Colemans routine is a good reminder that, sometimes, it's best to keep things simple.
To listen to the full conversation on RTÉ Radio 1, listen back above.
