Do You Really Need That Beauty Product?

Keep or Toss?

As if trying to figure out dry/oily/aging/ temperamental skin isn’t already hard enough, there are (technically speaking) a gazillion products out there all touting to be the savior of whatever issues you’re dealing with. Even if you just have good ol’ combination skin, it can be confusing to know what you really need to incorporate in your daily routine, and what’s just excess.

So we spoke with Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a New York dermatologist and Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research at Mt. Sinai Medical Center to help answer the question: Do you really need it?

Eye Cream

Not necessarily, Dr. Zeichner says. “Young women in their 20s can skip the eye cream and focus on wrinkle prevention with sunscreen,” he says. “In your 30s and older, you can start using an eye cream that suits your needs. If you have puffy under-eyes, choose a cream with caffeine and a roller application to eliminate extra fluid. If you have aging, thin, or wrinkly skin, try an eye cream that helps stimulate collagen – one that contains retinol or peptides.”

Try: Olay Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex ($34.99, olay.com); RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream ($19.99, target.com)
.

Serum

Depends on your skin. Think of serums as extra booster shots for your individual issues.

For mature skin, Dr. Zeichner recommends using a peptide or growth factor serum with your night cream. If you have dry or sensitive skin, use a hyaluronic acid serum for extra soothing. And for every day use, regardless of your skin type, pair an antioxidant serum with your sunscreen for maximum sun protection.

Try: Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Corrective Serum ($80-$110, nordstrom.com); Dr. Jart+ V7 Renewal Serum ($54, sephora.com).

Toner

No. “Unless your skin is extremely oily, skip the toner” advises Dr. Zeichner. “Toners can be drying, even the alcohol free ones.”

Photo: © Botanica / Getty Images

Primer

If you have oily skin. “Primers are great for people with oily skin because they help absorb oil and reduce a shiny appearance.” says Dr. Zeichner. “However, with the popularity of BB creams, many of them contain priming ingredients so a separate primer is not always necessary.”

Try: La-Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer with Sunscreen ($39.50, laroche-posay.com); Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm ($38, stilacosmetics.com).

Moisturizer

Most people do. “If you have very young, healthy skin, you may not necessarily need a moisturizer all year around, however mostly everyone could benefit from using one.” says Dr Zeichner. What type you use or the frequency of application can be seasonal and depends on how much help your skin needs.

Try: Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturizer ($100, tataharperskincare.com; Sephora Collection Instant Moisturizer ($20, sephora.com).

Sunscreen

A thousand times yes. “The only product I universally recommend to all my patients is a sunscreen. Whether your skin is dark or light, everyone is affected by exposure to UV light.” Says Dr. Zeichner. And we all know the dangers of UV radiation — among them premature aging, discoloration, and increased risk for skin cancer. Now that’s one thing nobody needs.

Try: SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30 ($38, skinceuticals.com; Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40 ($21, sephora.com).