We Asked A Dermatologist How To Improve Our Skincare In 2018 And Here’s Her Advice

Cut out the laziness and protect your beautiful skin.

BuzzFeed spoke with Dr. Lindsey Bordone, dermatologist at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown, to find out what we should be doing to get and maintain healthy skin in 2018. Here's what she had to say.

1. Wash your makeup brushes every three to four uses.

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"Depends on how frequently you use them, but if you're using them every day I'd say to wash them every three to four uses," Dr. Bordone told BuzzFeed. "If you still use them a lot, but not every day, I'd suggest washing them once a week. Also, make sure you're drying them in an open area."

Here's a handy tool that makes cleaning your brushes quick and easy!

2. Speaking of washing, swap out your towels and washcloths every week.

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"Shower towels should be changed every few days, but at least once a week. Also, make sure your towels are completely dry before reusing. Damp towels invite bacteria."

3. Say "sayonara" to washcloths if you feel it's too harsh for your skin.

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"They can be a little harsh for those who have sensitive skin."

4. Use coconut oil as a gentle way to remove eye makeup.

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"Coconut oil can clog pores, but it's good for removing things like mascara. Just be sure you're still washing your face with cleanser after using it."

5. Cucumbers are actually good for helping diminish puffy eyes.

ABC

"It's not the actual cucumber that's helping, it's the coolness off the cucumber. So you could really use anything that's exerting coolness, like a compress, tea bags, or a spoon."

6. Your skin may or may not benefit from apple cider vinegar.

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"A lot of people have found apple cider vinegar has helped them and improved their skin, but as of right now there are no significant studies to prove what results people have."

7. Visine can help your skin appear less red.

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"Visine, or even nasal spray, reduces the appearance of redness because it's shrinking blood vessels."

8. Toner can help people with oily skin.

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"Toner dries the skin a little bit. So for people who have oily skin, it can help reduce oil. People with normal skin don't really need to use it."

9. And you've heard this before, but it's true: getting a good amount of sleep is beneficial for more than just your skin.

E!

"It varies from person to person, but I'd recommend getting seven or more hours of sleep per night if you can."

10. You need more sunscreen than you think.

TV Land

"It really depends on how much time you spend outdoors. If you're not outside often, the sunscreen in a CC cream or lotion should suffice. But if you're outdoors for a long period of time, you're going to need to reapply. If you're a family of four spending a day at the beach, you should absolutely go through an entire bottle of sunscreen. If you're swimming, reapply every hour."

11. Exfoliate once a week.

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"If exfoliation makes your skin feel good, I'd only recommend doing it once a week. If you have sensitive skin, I'd recommend less than that — because it can cause redness and irritation on some skin types. Your skin will flake off dead cells anyway when you wash your face."

12. Masks probably do less than you think.

Starz

"I think masks help people in the fact that they make your skin feel good. If you enjoy doing it, go ahead! But the benefits will most likely not have a lasting effect."

13. Retinol can help if you're attempting to rid sunspots.

Jaclyn Forbes

"Retinol can help skin turnover cells. It's like over-the-counter chemical peel in a sense that it gets the skin to renew. It can help with sunspots, but in terms of wrinkles it doesn't do that much. Also, be aware: for some people it can be drying."

14. Layer your skincare products by what you MOST want to target.

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"Whatever you want to have the greatest effect, put on first. For for instance, if you want good sun protection, apply your sunscreen first, then your lotion, then your foundation, etc."

15. There really isn't a magic cream that reduces pore size.

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"Pore size is mostly genetic. The one thing that does make a difference is fractional laser or something similar that's a bit aggressive, which must be performed by a dermatologist."

16. Be careful of DIY Pinterest skincare recipes.

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"If the DIY mask calls for something acidic, like lemon, it can cause irritation if left on too long. Many of these DIYs, like combining oatmeal and yogurt, is just something you put on and take off, but it won't really do much to benefit your skin."

17. Serums are typically more oil-based, which can be good for drier skin.

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"Serums are more oil based, so if you find you need additional oil that could be the better option for you."

18. And finally, be careful of too much unprotected sun exposure.

Bravo

"I recommend getting enough sleep, exercising, eating well, and not spending a lot of time in the sun. Overall, if you're healthy, it will be reflected in your skin. However, you can't correct it if you spent too much time in the sun."

19. For more Do Better 2018 content, click here!