Dermatologists share their no. 1 tip to get healthier, glowing skin

If you want to start the new year with healthier, glowing skin, there’s one major change dermatologists want you to make to your skin care routine.

When TODAY.com polled six dermatologists for their top skin-care tip to take into 2025, they all said the same thing: Leave the DIY social media trends behind.

“Leave behind TikTok DIY skincare trends, like making your own sunscreen at home or putting all sorts of stuff on your face,” Dr. Joyce Park, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Refinery Clinic, tells TODAY.com. Ingredients like baking soda, lemon juice and beef tallow have been recommended on social media, she says, but don’t have the proper evidence behind them.

Additionally, some DIY trends, like homemade sunscreen or chemical peels, can be genuinely harmful to your skin. And they may end up doing the exact opposite of what you’re hoping for, the experts warn.

Avoid social media DIY skin-care trends

“Ditch the DIY,” Dr. Shasa Hu, associate professor in the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com. “No more DIY sunscreen, hair bleaching or at-home microneedling,” she says.

These activities “often do more harm than good,” Hu says, adding that they can trigger allergic reactions and skin infections or lead to lasting skin pigmentation, scarring or increased sensitivity to the sun.

Sunscreen is definitely not something you should be DIY-ing, Dr. Shari Lipner, associate professor of clinical dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.

“Some TikTok influencers are advocating for making sunscreen at home that also has anti-aging ingredients,” she says. “The harm in doing that is that these sunscreens are not regulated and may result in sunburn, skin aging and increased risk of skin cancer, and may also irritate your skin.”

Lipner also cautions against creating a chemical peel at home. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in July that some at-home chemical peels “may have high concentrations of harmful ingredients that could scar your skin,” Lipner says. For best results, consult with a board-certified dermatologist instead, she adds.

You should also avoid social media’s new favorite “natural” moisturizer: beef tallow, Dr. Fatima Fahs, a board-certified dermatologist based in Michigan and founder of Dermy Doc Box, tells TODAY.com.

“Put down the beef tallow and pick up the well-formulated, science-backed moisturizer instead,” she says. “Beef tallow can be highly occlusive and actually pore clogging, so oily and acne-prone skin types should steer clear,” Fahs says.

Plus, anything made at home rather than formulated and tested for impurities or contamination in a lab “is a recipe for disaster, including the possibility of bacteria and even mold,” Fahs says.

Those looking for deep hydration should instead opt for a product containing well-researched ingredients, such as glycerin and ceramides. “Just because something is ‘natural,’ doesn’t make it good for your skin,” she adds.

Instead, try a simple, consistent, science-backed skin-care routineMost social media skin care trends, like hyped-up ingredients and at-home devices, “will not stand the test of time,” agrees Dr. Evan Rieder, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. That’s why he steers clear of trends and instead “leans into the basics,” Rieder tells TODAY.com.

In fact, all the dermatologists TODAY.com spoke to encourage folks to start with a tried-and-true simple routine that you can commit to every day.

“In 2025, I hope people will realize that less is more with skin care routines,” Dr. Nada Elbuluk, associate professor of clinical dermatology and founding director of the Skin of Color & Pigmentary Disorders Program at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com.

Common products like toners aren’t really necessary, for instance, she says, and social media recommendations shouldn’t always be followed.

“Go back to the basics,” Hu explains. “The foundation of skin care is cleanse, moisturize and protect. And sunscreen is non-negotiable.” Once you have a routine that gives you those basics, then you can add one new step at time to make sure it works with your skin type, she adds.

When you’re ready to add additional steps, Rieder and Lipner both suggest opting for evidence-based antioxidants (such as vitamin C) and retinoids to help manage acne and signs of aging.

Finally, Hu says she also hopes people will “step up on self-love” and embrace their skin’s natural fluctuations in 2025. “We are not supposed to have perfect, poreless or glassy skin all the time,” she says, adding that younger people are especially vulnerable to the effects of unrealistic beauty standards set on social media.

But even adults are constantly encouraged to “change our routine because we have been influenced by products with claims to achieve skin perfection,” Hu continues. “Instead, I would love to see people focusing on skin that feels good (and) healthy rather than looking ‘perfect.'”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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