I Asked Estheticians Which Products Are Actually Worth It (And What They’re Skipping)

Living in Los Angeles, getting a facial can be a bit like walking into a marketplace: everyone has something to sell, and not everything seems necessary. Over time, I’ve learned that finding a good esthetician is less about the products she uses and more about the perspective she brings. The best ones don’t overwhelm you with a 10-step routine or push trends. They simplify, modify and help you understand what your skin really needs.

This is why I always ask the same question in the middle of my face, because my skin is covered in serums: What is really worth it? Because in a world of endless launches and viral products, estheticians tend to return to the same fundamentals and the same handful of products that are consistently effective.

Ahead, the esthetician-recommended skincare treatments that make a difference – and the thinking behind them.

Why esthetician-recommended skincare is different

There’s no shortage of skincare advice online, but much of it comes down to trends, not results. Estheticians take a different approach. Instead of trying to repair your skin overnight, they focus on maintaining it over time: strengthen your barrierimproving hydration and creating a consistency that actually lasts.

While dermatologists are essential in diagnosing and treating medical problems, estheticians specialize in the daily health and appearance of your skin. Their approach is less focused on quick wins and more on long-term balance. And that’s exactly why their recommendations tend to hold up.

How Estheticians Really Think About Your Skin

I called on beauticians Farah Bazzy And Ildi Pekar to understand how they approach skincare and the products they return to regularly. Their philosophy? Keep it simple and focus on what supports the skin, not what stresses it.

“Always look for something hydrating to rejuvenate your skin,” says Bazzy. “And add vitamin C, it’s a must.”

Both emphasize supporting barriers, gentle renewal, and avoiding unnecessary complexities. Because more products don’t mean better skin, but better choices do.

The ingredients that beauticians always come back to

If you’re not sure where to start, Bazzy and Pekar always recommend focusing on a few foundational ingredients:

• Hyaluronic acid for hydration and plumpness
• Vitamin C for luminosity and antioxidant protection
• Retinol for long-term skin renewal and health

This trio of ingredients is proven, effective and infinitely adaptable depending on your skin’s needs.

What Estheticians Don’t Recommend (Despite the Hype)

You’ve probably heard it before, and the skincare adage still rings true: less is always more. Many habits that estheticians end up correcting come from clients overdoing it. Too many products, too many active ingredients and too many changes to get a quick result.

Here is what our beauticians tend to keep away from their clients:

Over-exfoliating (especially with several active ingredients). Between exfoliating acids, retinol, and physical scrubs, it’s easy to push your skin too far. Estheticians often see clients who think they are improving their texture or breakouts, but are actually compromising their skin barrier. The result? Sensitivity, inflammation and harder-to-heal skin.

Layering too many assets at once. Vitamin C, retinol, AHA, BHA… it’s tempting to use it all, especially when each ingredient promises something different. But estheticians take a more strategic approach, introducing actives slowly and intentionally.

Constantly change products. One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to skin care is that results should be immediate. In reality, it is consistency that creates change. Follow a routine long enough to understand how your skin reacts, rather than jumping from product to product in search of a quick fix.

Trendy routines that ignore your skin’s needs. From viral skin cycle variations to multi-step routines built around what’s popular on TikTok, estheticians are seeing the consequences of following trends without context. What works for someone else’s skin doesn’t always translate to real life.

Products that promise instant transformation. Anything presented as a quick fix tends to raise red flags. Instead, focus on gradual, lasting improvement, helping your skin function better in the long term.

One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to skin care is that results should be immediate. In reality, it is consistency that creates change.

The Best Skincare Routine Recommended by Estheticians

Cleaners

For all skin types

iS clinical cleansing complex

Suitable for all skin types, this cleanser is a favorite among estheticians as it contains both nourishing and gentle resurfacing ingredients to deeply cleanse and replenish your skin. Bazzy recommends it for all skin types to instantly rejuvenate your skin.

$49 at iS Clinical

For sensitive skin

Faith Cosmetics Cleansing in lamellar mode

Pekar describes it as “ultra-gentle yet effective” for its effectiveness providing deep cleansing without ever compromising the skin barrier. Ideal for sensitive skin, this cleansing gel gently removes makeup, sebum and pollutants.

$130 at Faith Cosmetics

Moisturizing serums

For stressed skin

Ildi Pekar tissue repair serum

Pekar serum repairs the skin at the cellular level. As serums go, this one is a deeply hydrating solution that strengthens your skin barrier. Pekar notes that it’s “formulated with a high concentration of hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, plump and restore skin’s resilience.”

$104 at Ildi Pekar

For dry or dehydrated skin

SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Water Moisturizer

This water-based moisturizer hydrates while feeling lightweight. It immediately increases hydration, making it one of Bazzy’s favorites for dry or dehydrated skin.

$78 at SkinMedica

Brightening serums

For hyperpigmentation

ALASTIN Skincare A-LUMINATE Brightening Serum

Using tranexamic acid and niacinamide, this powerful serum is Bazzy’s favorite hyperpigmentation tool, designed to support and amplify the effects of in-office treatments like microneedling and chemical peels.

$198 at Lovely Skin

For fine lines

Dusk & Dawn Retinol Oil Serum Refine & Smooth

For an effective, non-irritating retinol, Pekar recommends this water-soluble retinol which “refines texture, improves tone and promotes skin renewal with minimal irritation.”

$37.85 dusk and dawn

Esthetician Recommended Moisturizers

For oily to normal skin

Farmacy Beauty Honey Radiance Moisturizer

Pekar describes it as “a deeply nourishing formula ideal for normal to dry skin, providing long-lasting hydration and radiance.”

$48 at Farmacy Beauty

For reactive skin

WiQo Nourishing and Moisturizing Cream

Bazzy recommends it for skin experiencing breakouts or recovering from treatments. Its shea butter base is deeply nourishing and hydrating to reduce the appearance of fine lines and prevent water loss.

$106 and WiQo

FPS

A tinted option

Intellishade Original Skincare Review

Bazzy recommends this sunscreen for a tinted option that also protects, hydrates, and brightens skin.

$89 at Revision Skincare

A mineral option

Good Weather Skin One Warm Glow Daily Sun Cream SPF 30

Pekar likes it for how it’s “formulated with 15% zinc oxide, leaving skin hydrated, smooth and naturally glowing.”

$48 at Credo Beauté

The routine you’ll actually keep

At some point, good skincare stops being about what you add and becomes what you trust enough to stick with. The common thread in every beautician’s advice is clear: support your skin, don’t overwhelm it. Choose a few well-formulated products, give them time to work, and let consistency do what trends can’t. Because the goal is not to have perfect skin overnight, but to have healthy, resilient and completely your skin over time.

The position I Asked Estheticians Which Products Are Actually Worth It (And What They’re Skipping) appeared first on Camille Styles.