Top Aestheticians Share Their Most Valuable Skin-Care Advice Ever

Joanna Czech

“Over the last 40 years of my career, I’ve developed a few Czechisms that withstand the test of time. 1. Don’t do what your girlfriend does—skin care should be personalized. 2. Your face starts at your nipples, so don’t neglect your neck and décolleté. 3. Don’t bring the streets to the sheets—make sure to properly wash your face and body before bed. 4. Be disciplined—consistency is key! 5. Don’t overtreat your skin— simplicity always wins. 6. Most importantly, forget the trends. Skin health is science, and it’s timeless!

That’s exactly why I created products rooted in performance, not hype, like THE CREAM ($210), which nourishes and protects skin daily. Every formula is made to support the skin long-term—with intention, discipline and care.”

Shani Darden

“The number-one skin-care rule I live by is to wear sunscreen every single day, even when it’s cloudy or rainy—no exceptions! There’s truly no point in using powerful actives like retinol if you’re not also protecting your skin from the sun. UV damage is the leading cause of everything we’re trying to treat with skin care: fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, dark spots, loss of elasticity—all of it! So much of it is preventable with daily sunscreen and staying out of the sun as much as possible.

At night, I always recommend Retinol Reform 1% with Encapsulated Retinol ($75). It’s my most potent—yet still gentle—formula yet. It’s clinically proven to improve the look of fine lines, uneven tone and rough texture. It works really well to help repair signs of sun damage and aging, but again, it’s only truly effective if you’re protecting your skin during the day. Skin care is about consistency, but also about balance. Repair at night, protect during the day!”

Nerida Joy

“I’ve had the privilege of working on countless faces of all ages, tones and textures for over four decades, and cleansing properly isn’t just a step; it counts for 50 percent of a successful skin-care regimen. The most essential time to cleanse is at night. Double cleanse thoroughly yet gently, leaving your skin clean, soft, supple and ready to receive the full benefits of your serums and moisturizers. A well-cleansed face is the foundation of beautiful skin.

Creating a cleanser that deeply cleans without stripping or drying the skin’s protective barrier was one of the most challenging, and rewarding formulations of my career. Confidence by Nerida Joy Facial Cleanser ($58) removes impurities thoroughly while preserving the skin’s natural moisture, leaving it soft, supple and perfectly prepped to absorb the treatment products that follow.”

Pietro Simone

“The most powerful skin-care advice I can offer is this: Treat your skin as the intelligent, living organ it is—not a canvas to cover, but a system to support. Skin care is not about chasing trends or masking flaws; it’s about choosing formulations that speak your skin’s language and activate its innate potential. At Pietro Simone, every product is crafted to deliver real, visible results, like the Regenesis Exo Serum ($1,500), which nourishes skin with precise, performance-driven ingredients to restore, regenerate and illuminate from within.”

Candace Marino

“Treat your skin like an investment, while embracing that aging is a privilege. My clients who age most beautifully are the ones who prioritize skin health as part of their overall well-being without going overboard. Care, but don’t obsess. Aim to look like the best version of yourself—not just a younger one. And above all, remember: You can’t hate yourself into feeling beautiful.

One product I’m loving right now is Anfisa ÂN-DEW ($196), which is a multitasking favorite to recommend across the board. It’s mildly resurfacing, antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory; it improves tone, texture and clarity for nearly every skin type; and it helps with inflammatory conditions including acne, rosacea and perioral dermatitis.”

Nayamka Roberts-Smith

“The simplest way to improve your skin is to wash it longer. My rule? Wash your face, with your fingers, for 60 seconds. It’s the ‘60-Second Rule.’ This allows you to cleanse all parts of your face thoughtfully. The warmth and friction of your fingers loosens sebum and improves blood circulation. It’s amazing how many skin concerns clear by spending more time cleansing.

If you cannot follow the 60-Second Rule without your skin getting irritated, your cleanser is too harsh. My favorite water-based cleanser is Allies of Skin Silk Aminos Cleansing Gel ($41).”

Kate Somerville

“The most effective skin care is simple and strategic. Cleanse properly, exfoliate regularly, hydrate deeply, and never skip sunscreen. It’s not about having more steps—it’s about doing the right ones, consistently.

Joanna Vargas

“My grandmother was always my style icon and beauty guru growing up. She had very delicate skin. You never saw her without a hat on. It was her signature look, but it was always to protect her skin from the sun. It’s something I have always carried into adulthood. I have a massive hat collection so that I never walk in the sun without protection!

In addition to sun protection, my best advice for anyone looking to improve their skin-care game would be to add a repairing, epidermal growth factor serum into their nighttime regimen. My own Twilight Night Serum ($195) helps make skin feel more hydrated, repaired and restored, so when you wake up you are facing the day with healthy skin. Nighttime is your body’s time to repair itself, so putting a product on that assists the repair process overnight will go a long way to making you reach your skin-care goals!”

Georgia Louise

“One of my favorite secrets is daily lymphatic drainage massage. Just a few minutes of gentle sweeping motions can depuff, sculpt your contours and bring fresh oxygen to your skin, leaving you with a natural, healthy glow that no highlighter can mimic. Always start by opening your lymph nodes with light, counterclockwise circles on key areas like behind your ears, under your jawline and above your collarbones. This primes your lymphatic pathways so fluid can drain more effectively. I love to warm a few drops of my Sleeping Beauty Oil ($148) between my palms to create slip and infuse the skin with nourishing botanicals.

Using your fingertips or a sculpting tool, follow these simple steps:

Iván Pol

“True beauty begins with self-love. You must recognize the beauty within yourself before it can radiate outward into the world. To truly flourish, both the skin and the spirit must be snatched because beauty is an inside job. It starts the moment you wake up: how you feel, how you move, how you show up. It’s all about energy. When you align your inner and outer care, beauty becomes effortless, magnetic and undeniable.

SS02 Snatching Sauce ($250) is our ultimate skin snatcher—a takeout version of my facial in a bottle. It’s great for an extra dose of tightening, keeping your skin light and tight and functions as a snatching protective barrier to the elements. You look and feel tighter instantly for all-day lift and tone, like shapewear hugging your contours.”

Amy Peterson

“Your skin isn’t a project to fix, but a relationship to nurture. Real, lasting results come from choosing treatments and products that truly support your skin. My best advice is to build a plan rooted in intention, both in the treatment room and at home, and stick with it. Consistency truly is key. When you treat your skin with patience, precision and consistency, that’s when the magic starts and transformation happens. The Preservationist ($249) and The Laser Serum ($219) were designed to work with your skin, not against it. One protects and fortifies, the other refines and renews.”

Tammy Fender

“Remember that radiant skin is not a result of the latest quick-fix trend. Beautifully glowing skin, which glows into your 40s and beyond, is not only the long-term outcome of a lifestyle that includes botanically based skin-care products and holistic facials. It’s also built over time with each small healthy gesture, from an intentional diet and great sleep to stress management and spending time with friends who make you laugh.

Pairing our micro-exfoliating Epi-Peel with nutrient-dense Quintessential Serum ($180) helps build these long-term results, cleansing away potential skin stressors while encouraging the natural renewal process, providing an abundance of active essentials to build skin resilience and amplify luminosity.”