Dr Yasmin Tayeb's Skincare Restock: Six Products for Glowing, Refined Skin

My Skincare Restock: Six Products for Glowing, Refined Skin

There's a certain honesty to watching someone empty their own wash bag. No ten-step ritual, no lofty promises, just the products they actually reach for when they want their skin to look fresh and behave itself. That's the spirit of one of our recent reels, in which I, doctor and founder of Wellface, restock a handful of medical-grade favourites straight from the clinic shelves.

If your two big frustrations are dullness and uneven texture, and you'd quite like your pores to look less obvious while you're at it, this is a genuinely useful shortlist. Everything here earns its place. Some of it does the polishing and brightening. Some of it does the quieter, long-term work of keeping skin firm and protected. And one product on the list was chosen not for me, but for my mum, who has thin, sensitive, rosacea-prone skin after years on high-dose steroids. That detail matters, because it shows how the same shelf can serve very different skin.

Below I've unpacked each product, how it works and why it made the cut, so you can decide what belongs in your own routine.

Why dullness and rough texture go hand in hand

Before the products, a quick word on the problem they're solving. Dull skin and poor texture usually have the same root cause: a sluggish surface. Skin naturally sheds dead cells, but that process slows with age, sun exposure, dehydration and stress. When those cells linger, they scatter light instead of reflecting it, so the skin looks flat and grey rather than luminous. That build-up also sits in and around pores, making them look larger and the surface feel bumpy or coarse.

The fix isn't one hero product. It's a rhythm. You exfoliate to keep the surface clear, you stimulate renewal and collagen underneath, and you protect everything from the UV that undoes the good work. Get that balance right and the "glow" people chase stops being a filter and starts being your actual skin. The products below map neatly onto that logic.

The exfoliators that keep skin smooth

Two of the picks come from ZO Skin Health, and both are about surface renewal done properly rather than aggressively.

ZO Complexion Renewal Pads

These pre-soaked pads are the everyday workhorse. A quick swipe delivers a blend of exfoliating and clarifying acids, typically salicylic and glycolic, that lift away dead cells, loosen the debris sitting in pores and help balance oil. They also contain soothing ingredients to keep things comfortable, which is why they suit skin that's a little congested or prone to breakouts.

Used every other night, as I mention in the reel, they keep the surface clear without stripping it. That "every other night" cadence is deliberate. Daily acid exfoliation can tip some skin into irritation, so spacing it out lets the skin recover and stay resilient. If your complexion looks dull by mid-week or your make-up never quite sits smoothly, this is often the missing step.

ZO Exfoliating Polish

Once a week comes the physical exfoliant. This is the one with the tiny beads, which I describe as a sort of exfoliating mask. It uses ultra-fine magnesium crystals to buff away the dead, flaky layer that acids alone don't fully shift, leaving the skin noticeably softer and more even to the touch. It's the kind of thing you feel immediately, that squeaky, polished finish.

The trick with any scrub is restraint. Once a week is plenty for most people, and there's no need to press hard. Let the beads do the work with light circular movements, then follow with your serums, which will absorb better on freshly polished skin.

A peel you can do at home

When it comes to an instant, event-ready glow, I singled out the iS Clinical Active Peel System as a bit of a revelation. These come as individual foil sachets containing two towelettes. The first is soaked in a blend of exfoliating acids that dissolve surface build-up and brighten. The second neutralises and delivers antioxidants and soothing agents, so the skin is left calm rather than raw.

The appeal is the format. There's no mixing, no timing, no mess, which makes it ideal for travel or for a quick refresh before a night out. In the reel it earned praise for making the skin feel completely clean of dirt and sweat, which is exactly why it travels so well on holiday. It was such a hit that I bought it for family too. Used once or twice a week, it's a lovely way to reset the complexion between professional treatments.

The serums doing the long game

Exfoliation clears the stage. Serums are where you actually invest in how skin ages.

ZO Growth Factor Serum

Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins that signal skin cells to repair, renew and produce collagen and elastin. As we age, that signalling quietens down, and skin gradually loses firmness and bounce. A well-formulated growth factor serum, paired with supporting peptides, helps nudge those processes back into gear, so over time you see better tone, smoother texture and more resilience.

What makes this one so wearable is the texture. It's light, absorbs quickly and sits happily under make-up, which is why it works morning and night. It isn't a product that delivers a dramatic overnight change; it's the sort you use consistently for months and then catch yourself noticing your skin looks fresher and firmer than it used to.

iS Clinical Retinol+

Retinol remains the most evidence-backed ingredient for refining texture and softening fine lines. It speeds up cell turnover, encourages collagen and helps clear the congestion that makes pores look larger. The catch is that stronger formulas can cause dryness and flaking if introduced too fast or at too high a dose.

That's why the version I chose for sensitive, rosacea-prone skin was the lower strength. This range comes in graduated concentrations, so you can start gentle and build tolerance rather than shocking the skin. It's a smart way to get the benefits of a retinoid without the peeling and redness that put so many people off. Start two or three nights a week, always follow with SPF the next morning, and increase slowly as your skin adjusts.

Sun protection is the non-negotiable

Every product above is working to renew and refine the skin, and every one of them makes skin a little more vulnerable to UV in the short term. Without daily sun protection you're not just risking sunburn, you're undoing the antioxidant, retinol and growth factor work you've paid for, and driving the very pigmentation and dullness you're trying to fix.

The iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF is a broad-spectrum sunscreen that layers protection with antioxidants and skin-repairing ingredients, so it defends and treats at the same time. The tinted version, which I describe as having a lovely beige finish, offers a touch more coverage and evens out tone, which many people prefer for daily wear because it doubles as a light base. For sensitive or reactive skin, a mineral-leaning, tinted SPF is often better tolerated than a heavier chemical formula.

If you take one habit from this whole list, make it this one. Sunscreen every morning, reapplied through the day when you're outdoors, is the single most effective anti-ageing step there is.

Don't forget the lashes

The one non-skin pick was the Obagi Nu-Cil Eyelash Enhancing Serum. Applied along the lash line like a liquid liner, peptide-based lash serums condition the lashes and support the appearance of fuller, longer, healthier-looking fringe over several weeks of nightly use. It's a small, satisfying addition to a routine, and a nice reminder that "healthy skin" includes the details around the eyes too.

Common questions about building a skincare routine

In what order should I use these products?

Morning is about protection: cleanse, apply your growth factor serum, then finish with SPF. Evening is about renewal: cleanse, use your exfoliating pads or a weekly polish or peel, then apply retinol on the nights you're not exfoliating. Avoid layering strong acids and retinol on the same night when you're starting out, as that combination can be too much for the skin.

Can I use all of these at once?

Not from day one. Introduce one active at a time and give your skin a week or two to settle before adding the next. Overlapping several exfoliants and a retinol too quickly is the fastest route to irritation. Build slowly and your skin stays comfortable while still getting the benefits.

These are medical-grade products. Do I need advice before using them?

It helps. Medical-grade skincare is more potent than most high-street ranges, which is exactly why it works, but it also means the right strength and combination for your skin matters. A short consultation lets us match products to your skin type and concerns, which is especially important for sensitive, reactive or rosacea-prone skin.

How long before I see results?

Exfoliation and at-home peels give an immediate glow. Retinol and growth factor serums are a longer game: expect to notice smoother texture and more even tone from around six to twelve weeks of consistent use. Sun protection is what keeps all of those gains in place.

Are these suitable for sensitive skin?

Many are, with the right choices. In the reel I specifically chose the gentler iS Clinical range and a lower-strength retinol for delicate, rosacea-prone skin, and a tinted mineral SPF is usually well tolerated. The key is starting low, going slow and getting guidance if you're unsure.

Come and find your own shelf of favourites

The products in that reel work because they're matched to real skin and real routines, not chosen off a wish list. If you'd like help doing the same, I and the skin experts at Wellface can look at your skin properly, talk through your concerns and put together a routine that actually fits your life. We can also pair the right products with in-clinic treatments so the two work together.

Pop in to see me in Cobham, Esher or Wimbledon, or get in touch to arrange a skincare consultation with me. Bring your questions, and if you like, your current products too. I'll happily tell you what's worth keeping and what's just taking up space in your bag.