Beauty & Style

The Skincare Advice Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Dermatologist Wishes Everyone Knew Earlier

May 23, 2026

There was a time when skincare routines felt relatively simple. A cleanser you could get at the drugstore, moisturizer, SPF, maybe a retinol if you were really ahead of the curve. Now, opening TikTok can feel like being hit with a 14-step routine that feels more overwhelming than it does helpful.

But according to dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali—who is the formulator behind brands like Rhode and Elm Biosciences—more isn’t necessarily better. In fact, some of the biggest skin issues he sees today come from people doing far too much in the name of “good” skincare.

“I think there’s also a problem with too many products,” he explains on Well With Arielle, recalling one patient whose skin dramatically improved after simplifying her routine entirely. “Long story short, within a month or two, her skin was flawless, and I probably saved her thousands of dollars in skincare products.”

Dr. Bhanusali believes skincare should evolve alongside your skin itself. What works in your twenties may not be what your skin needs in your forties, and chasing every trend along the way can sometimes do more harm than good.

From the products he wishes he started using earlier to the treatments he actually thinks are worth the money, here’s how the Rhode dermatologist says your skincare routine should change with age.

In your 20s, focus on prevention

Dr. Bhanusali says this decade should really be about consistency and prevention, not so much piling on every trending product you see online. “In your twenties, it’s all about kind of setting the stage,” he explains.

That means prioritizing SPF, protecting the skin barrier, and starting a retinoid earlier than most people think. “If I can go back in time, I probably would have started a retinoid when I was like 18 years old and never stopped,” he said, calling it “one of the single best things you can do for your skin over the long term.”

He’s also quick to point out that younger skin doesn’t necessarily need aggressive treatments or constant exfoliation. In fact, throughout the episode, Dr. Bhanusali repeatedly stresses that overdoing skincare is one of the biggest mistakes he sees patients make.

And while he does support preventative Botox in some cases, he says the goal should never be to erase every expression line completely. “Dynamic wrinkles are normal, healthy, they’re incredible,” he says. “I love them because it gives you character.”

In your 30s, shift toward maintenance

Your thirties are usually when skin starts needing a little more support. “I start focusing more on the skin barrier,” Dr. Bhanusali explains. “There’s a lot of conditions that occur because your skin barrier is compromised.”

This is also the decade where he begins recommending more maintenance-focused treatments alongside skincare. Lasers, in particular, are something he believes can make a major long-term difference for tone, texture, and sun damage. “I recommend that at least once a year if you’re in your early 30s, maybe twice a year when you hit your mid-30s,” he says of Clear + Brilliant treatments.

At the same time, he says this is often when people start overcomplicating their routines in an attempt to “anti-age” faster—something he strongly pushes against. Consistency matters far more than constantly chasing new products or aggressive treatments.

In your 40s and 50s, focus on what actually works

As skin gets thinner, drier, and more sensitive with age, Dr. Bhanusali says the goal is to support the skin more strategically. “Your skin might be a little bit more sensitive, a little bit more dry,” he explains.

Instead of adding more products, he says this is usually when patients start becoming more intentional about the formulas and treatments they’re investing in. “By the time you’re 40, you kind of like have seen all the marketing like, ‘OK, great, what actually works?’” he says.

That’s also when stronger actives, peptides, retinoids, and science-backed treatments can become more useful—as long as they’re being used correctly. “I think at that point, at least what I’ve seen with my patients, they want things that work,” he says.

The habits that matter at every age

No matter what decade you’re in, Dr. Bhanusali says a few habits consistently make the biggest difference when it comes to skin health and aging well: