Skincare

Dermatologist-grade skincare you can trust, chosen by pharmacists rather than influencers. CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, Vichy, Elave and Aveeno, for every skin type and every budget, with honest advice on what actually works. See all brands A to Z.

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How to build a skincare routine that works

Most people need four things: a cleanser, a moisturiser, a sunscreen and, if there is a specific problem, one treatment product. Everything else is optional. Here is how to pick each one.

1. Cleanser

Dry or sensitive skin suits a cream or milky cleanser that does not foam much, such as CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser. Oily or combination skin can take a gentle foaming gel, such as CeraVe Foaming Cleanser or Effaclar gel. If your skin feels tight after washing, the cleanser is too strong.

2. Moisturiser

Look for ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid rather than fragrance. CeraVe Moisturising Lotion and Cream are the workhorses for most skin. For very dry, eczema-prone skin, step up to Aveeno Dermexa, Bioderma Atoderm or Lipikar from La Roche-Posay. Oily skin still needs moisture, just a lighter gel-cream such as Effaclar Mat or Bioderma Sebium.

3. Sunscreen, every day

Irish skin burns on cloudy days too, and daily SPF is the single most effective anti-ageing step there is. A facial SPF 30 to 50 you enjoy wearing beats a stronger one you leave in the drawer. Our sun protection range has textures for every skin type, including tinted and mineral options for sensitive skin.

4. One treatment, if you need it

  • Spots and blackheads: benzoyl peroxide (Acnecide), salicylic acid cleansers, or the Effaclar range.
  • Fine lines and dullness: a retinol serum at night, started two nights a week, and vitamin C in the morning.
  • Redness and rosacea-prone skin: Toleriane Rosaliac or Cetaphil redness-prone products, and avoid anything scented.
  • Dark marks and uneven tone: La Roche-Posay Mela B3 serum, always with daily SPF.
  • Dry, itchy or eczema-prone skin: a fragrance-free emollient twice a day, plus a short course of hydrocortisone for flares.
Pharmacist tip: introduce one new product at a time and give it four weeks. If you change three things at once and your skin reacts, you will not know which one caused it.

Korean skincare and the newer brands

We stock a small selection of Korean products such as Beauty of Joseon and COSRX because they are well formulated and gentle, not because they are trending. They slot into the same four-step routine; a glow serum replaces your treatment step, a sun stick replaces your SPF.

What we would not spend money on

Expensive eye creams that are just moisturiser in a small jar, cleansing brushes for sensitive skin, and anything promising to shrink pores permanently. Spend the money on a good SPF instead.

Need a second opinion?

Send us a photo on WhatsApp and tell us what you are using. Our pharmacists see every kind of skin problem at the counter and will tell you honestly whether you need a product, a change of routine, or a GP.

Common questions about skincare

Which skincare brands suit sensitive skin?

La Roche-Posay Toleriane, Avène and CeraVe are the three ranges we recommend most for sensitive and reactive skin. All are fragrance-free, and Avène's thermal spring water base is especially calming. Elave, made in Ireland, is another excellent fragrance-free option.

What is the difference between CeraVe and La Roche-Posay?

Both are owned by L'Oréal and both are dermatologist-led. CeraVe is built around ceramides and suits dry, normal and eczema-prone skin at a lower price. La Roche-Posay has more targeted ranges, for example Effaclar for acne, Toleriane for sensitivity and Anthelios for sun, and is the one to choose when you have a specific problem.

Do I need a serum?

Not unless you have a specific goal. Serums deliver a concentrated active, such as vitamin C for dullness, retinol for fine lines or hyaluronic acid for hydration. If your skin is fine, cleanser, moisturiser and SPF are enough.

How do I treat adult acne?

Start with a gentle cleanser, a non-comedogenic moisturiser and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel on alternate nights, building up to nightly. Give it eight weeks. If it is painful, scarring or not improving, see your GP, as prescription options work very well.

Is pharmacy skincare better than supermarket skincare?

Not always, but the ranges we stock are chosen for their formulations and for how well they suit real skin problems. Pharmacy brands tend to be fragrance-free, dermatologist-tested and backed by clinical data, which matters most if your skin is sensitive, dry or acne-prone.

Written and reviewed by the pharmacist team at Laois Pharmacy, Portlaoise. General information only, not a substitute for advice about your own health. Ask us in store or on WhatsApp.