Do you ever feel like you’re waiting around forever for your skin to get better? No matter how closely you follow the directions on the back of the product, your breakouts don’t let up and your fine lines look exactly the same. It’s happened to us, too, so we decided to get some quick-fix answers. From products we can use at home to professional treatments, these are the top tips of board-certified New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD, for how to get better skin in as little as one week.
At Home
Dr. Peredo advises using an alphahydroxy-acid (AHA) cleanser twice daily to help resurface skin. We recommend Murad’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser ($36), which features jojoba skin-polishing beads to revitalize and retexturize skin. “Try a refining mask to rid skin of impurities,” she adds, recommending Revision Skincare’s Black Mask ($32), which only takes 15-30 minutes to leave skin toxin-free with clean pores.
Dr. Peredo says that a good moisturizer should be at the center of every skin regimen. “Hydrated skin looks fresher, fuller and healthier,” she says. “Even oily skin needs hydration! Just look for an oil-free hydrator if your skin is combination or acne-prone.” For normal skin, we love Lancôme Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30 Cream ($46) that hydrates while also protecting skin from harsh UV rays. If your skin is on the oily side, try Origins Starting Over Moisturizer ($50), which features an oil-free formula that also works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Professional Picks
Dr. Peredo recommends getting a light chemical peel or a DermaSweep treatment, which resurfaces your complexion as it infuses it with good-for-your-skin ingredients for a visible change. If you’re willing to commit to a 4-6 treatment option, Dr. Peredo recommends the Clear + Brilliant laser. “It improves skin after just one treatment to produce fewer lines and wrinkles and a more even skin tone and texture, as well as being beneficial to acne,” she adds. “For best results, more treatments are needed.”
