Serum

Serum is kind of like moisturizer. “It delivers a concentrated amount of active ingredients,” says Dr. Fusco. Serums are packed with anti-oxidants and vitamins, and are absorbed into all three layers of the skin. A moisturizer, on the other hand, sits atop the skin like a protective barrier, and nourishes the outermost layer. “Serums leave out airtight moisturizing ingredients such as petrolatum or mineral oil, making them the lightest form of hydration,” Dr. Satur says. If applied with a moisturizer, use the serum first, so that it can absorb into the skin.

Try this: Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster ($48, Buy It Here): “It fortifies your skin against ultraviolet damage,” says Dr. Satur. “Vitamin C stimulates collagen production to repair fine lines and wrinkles, and inhibit melanin formation.”

Toner

Toners help balance the skin’s oil levels and can help treat your oily skin. Both doctors agree that toners are less necessary these days, since skincare as a whole is better at regulating oil production. But if you have especially oily skin, you’re a prime candidate for a toner. “Depending on the ingredients, toners may simply refresh skin or provide an astringent factor to dry out excessive oils,” Dr. Fusco says. “Some toners are packed with anti-oxidants so that they simultaneously deliver benefits like decreasing puffiness, neutralizing free radicals, and minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores.”

Try this: Thayers Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera ($8, Buy It Here) or anything else without alcohol, says Dr. Satur. This will avoid overly drying out the skin, which would then give you the opposite problem from the one you sought to correct.

Masks

Masks are like super cleansers because they soak up all the excess oils and impurities embedded in your skin. They should be used once a week after cleansing, unless otherwise directed on the packaging. Because they come as muds, clays, creams, and sheets, the intensity and frequency can vary from one to the next.

Try this: Ursa Major Three-Minute Flash Mask ($44, Buy It Here). “I recommend this to patients for a quick exfoliation,” Dr. Fusco says. “It contains alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, which dissolve dead skin and unclog pores without irritation. It leaves the skin looking brighter and will enhance the absorption of any moisturizer.”

Night Cream

While moisturizers hydrate and protect the skin during the day, a night cream is packed with even more nutrients and capitalizes on the body’s overnight regenerative cycle. Since your cells regenerate while you rest, the healing and anti-aging benefits are magnified. “A night cream tends to be too heavy to wear during the day, although it is perfectly fine to do so,” Dr. Satur says. (And particularly in the winter months.) Dr. Fusco adds that night creams are especially good for people who have dry skin, eczema, or are using acne medications that dry out the skin.

Try this: Lab Series Night Recovery Lotion ($40, Buy It Here). “My patients who use it wake up with nourished, moisturized skin that is not sticky,” Dr. Fusco says. Less expertly engineered night creams on the other hand can leave a tacky residue.