Don’t always have the time or energy to complete every step of your skincare routine? You’re not alone. Sometimes, even dermatologists can’t find the time. “Being a guy, I’m pretty much a minimalist,” says Dr. George Martin, a board certified dermatologist who has been practicing clinical dermatology in Hawaii for over 20 years, “I really don’t have time with a busy schedule to do a 7-step treatment program of cleansing, toning, moisturizing, balancing, clarifying, et cetera.”
Dr. Martin treats a category of patients he refers to as minimalists: patients who want to do as little possible. “I give them a three step care program. It’s also the regimen that I follow.”
Check out Dr. Martin’s 3-Step Minimalist Routine:
1. In the morning, use a really gentle cleanser to remove any surface oils or debris.
2. In the morning, apply a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher.
3. At nighttime, cleanse and use tretinoin as part of your anti-photoaging regimen.
On the importance of sunscreen + tretinoin: “My personal favorite scientifically -proven treatment for aging is really two things,” says Dr. Martin, “Number one is sunscreen, to prevent aging. Number two is tretinoin to reverse signs of aging. You really need both. It’s a hand-in-glove fit: tretinoin can reverse signs of aging, sunscreen can prevent further damage. If you use something such as tretinoin to reverse signs of aging but you continue to go out in the sun, additional sun damage will initiate the aging of the skin. You need both.”
Dr. Martin is founder and chairman of the internationally recognized dermatology meeting, “Maui Derm: Advances in Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology” and a contributing editor to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.