Top Dermatologist Shares Her Skincare Don'ts (and Do’s!) (2024)

If you spend any time on the internet, you’re probably always seeing new skincare products touted as the latest and greatest for flawless skin. But, NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss — who boasts almost half a million followers on her Instagram account @shereeneidriss — says some of the most popular skin treatments in the market may actually do more harm than good.

Here, she shares her top three skincare don’ts—and what to do instead.

1. DON'T Use Scrubs!

First off, Dr. Shereene urges everyone to put down their scrubs.

"Scrubs are very abrasive and tend to cause micro tears on your skin that can, over time, cause inflammation," she explains. "[This] can worsen signs of aging and worsen the quality of your skin."

DO Use Exfoliant Cleansers

Instead, she recommends using an exfoliant cleanser like the following products from Tacha and Kate Sommerville.

“Once you're in for the night and you've washed your face off, it helps clear your skin for a fresh base the next morning,” Dr. Shereene adds.

In the morning, she advises using facial sunscreen, such as these from Live Tinted and Starface.

2. DON'T Hydrate with a Water Mist!

Dr. Shereene debunks the popular myth that spraying water on your face in dry environments, such as in an airplane or in the cold winter months, adds moisture to your skin. The truth, she says, is exactly the opposite. "Misting water on your face continuously will make things worse, as your skin will be even drier once the water evaporates," she explains.

DO Use a Face Mist That Contains a Humectant

Instead, to “seal in moisture,” Dr. Shereene recommends using a face mist with a humectant such as glycerin.

“So, you can continue to keep your face hydrated, plump, and less inflamed in the winter months."

To make your own DIY mist, Dr. Shereene says to use equal parts distilled water and rose water with around 2 tablespoons of glycerin.

Here's what Dr. Shereene uses:

3. DON'T Use Pore Strips!

Though many use pore stripes to remove blackheads from their nose, Dr. Shereene says they could actually worsen skin issues.

"The more you pull on your pores and pop out the micro plugs that are in your pores, the more you are spreading them and making them bigger over time," she says.

Additionally, she explains that pore strips “do not treat the underlying cause, which is overproduction of sebum [an oily, waxy substance produced by your body's sebaceous glands],” and are only “getting rid of the most superficial aspect of our skin.”

“It's normal to have buildup on our nose because our body secretes oils, and our skin renews itself every 28 days,” Dr. Shereene adds.

She also says excess oil production can be caused by one not exfoliating their skin.

DO Use Retinol to Fight Blackheads

What you should do, she says, is use retinol "on alternating nights, to regulate your oil production and keep your blackheads at bay."

To do that, Dr. Shereene recommends incorporating retinol into your skincare routine with the following products:

Another way to curb excess oil is exfoliating your face with a mask, like Dr. Shereene’s Flash Mask from her PillowtalkDerm line. She recommends using the mask for around 5-20 minutes, depending on your skin’s sensitivity, and then to wash it off. She also says to use it at night after you’ve taken your makeup or sunscreen off.