I’m a Celeb Esthetician—This Is the Key Skincare Step Almost Everyone Fumbles

The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go ’round.

Finding the right skincare for you can be a process and a journey. When the stars finally align and you do discover your holy grail products, you never want to let them go. That’s what celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau’s products did for me. As someone who struggled with dehydration, barrier damage, and acne simultaneously, I thought I would never find a routine that worked well for me and didn’t dry me out. One day, on a whim when I was writing, I discovered Rouleau’s Rapid Response Detox Cleanser ($43), and never looked back. It’s one of the few great cleansers that works well for acne-prone skin without harsh exfoliants or drying out your skin.

After that, I proceeded to try a handful of other products from Rouleau’s line and now they’re each nonnegotiable items in my skincare routine. This is a testament to the thought and care Rouleau bestows upon her formulas—nothing goes unthought of. In fact, I’ve learned so many great skincare tips from her at this point that if she told me wearing a trash bag for an entire day would transform my skin, I’d 100% believe her. I’m embellishing a bit here for dramatic effect, but seriously, if you follow Rouleau’s advice, you will see amazing results. One of the biggest myths she wants to bust? That you don’t have to cleanse your skin in the morning. “I hear a lot of people say this, but washing your face in the morning is just as important as it is at night,” she says. “The products you use at night can leave traces on the skin, which will make it harder for the products you apply in the morning to soak in fully if not washed off. Your skin also secretes oil overnight, so if you don’t cleanse in the morning, all that sebum is sitting on the skin, creating a barrier and ultimately a dirtier slate!”