Smooth Skin: How To Get It With 11 Tips From Dermatologists 

Naturally smooth skin is one of those things we take for granted when we have it: Washing our face at night or slathering on a tonic is just so effortless—perhaps even thoughtless. When your skin is soft, you tend not to think about it as much; there is simply less to preen about. Then, when you feel a bump, fold, or scar, many people's immediate reaction is: OK, how do I smooth this out again? 

And listen, consistently having smooth skin takes patience, consistency, and—if we're being honest—a pinch of luck. Smooth skin may feel effortless—but it hardly ever actually is. Not to mention, there are a plethora of reasons your skin feels less than taut. Texture issues can arise from acne (in the form of pimples and pustules—or later as scars), rosacea (a common misdiagnosed symptom is small, whitehead like bumps), eczema (those notorious dry, flaky patches), enlarged pores (which can create rougher, orange-peel-like skin), and fine lines (which create etches and folds). And what will work for acne may not work for something like eczema. Oh, we must also mention that many people have a blend of a few skin conditions or concerns—so finding the right routine takes some smart cocktailing. All of this is to say: Achieving smooth skin involves, well, a bit of nuance.

Let's get back to basics: Exfoliation is the process of removing excess dead skin cells at the top layer of the skin, either manually (via physical scrubs) or chemically (via acids and enzymes). And the thing is, the epidermis actually uses dead cells as a layer of protection (read: we want those skin cells there!). The problem arises, however, when they accumulate too much and skin appears dull and said cells clog pores or lead to an overall uneven appearance. 

And on the flip side, additional problems arise when you remove too much of that layer, as that will inhibit skin-barrier function. That's why finding an appropriate balance for your skin is key! "The most important tip is that 'less is more.' You want to exfoliate just enough to increase cell turnover and reveal fresh new skin," Ife Rodney, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Eternal Dermatology, previously told us about exfoliating too much. "But be sure to not scratch or damage your skin by overusing these devices or products." Let us remind you: Damaged skin appears uneven as well. 

She notes that the breakdown usually goes as follows: Those with oily skin can tolerate about three times a week, those with combination or "normal" skin can likely stand two, and those with sensitive or dry skin should only do once—if that. 

It's not just acids that can help smooth skin—there are a plethora of ingredients that can help plump skin, ease fine lines, and remedy dry, rough patches. This will be particularly helpful if your texture concerns stem from maturing skin or inflammatory skin conditions, like rosacea and eczema. 

To start, you want to look for fatty acids, which act as the building blocks for the cells—they can help build up a strong skin barrier, resulting in a smoothed-out appearance. You can also opt for things like ceramides, which are naturally occurring lipids in the skin; these can help mend damage in the lipid barrier (which can be the result of eczema). Or you can try the popular squalane. This lipid is also naturally found in your skin's sebum and is something of a multitasker: Research shows some advantages for the skin as an emollient and antioxidant and for hydration1. 

Retinol is a class of ingredients that are technically a vitamin A derivative. It has become a dermatologist favorite for many reasons: It can help treat moderate to severe acne, it builds collagen, and it increases turnover. (All very important when achieving smooth skin.) For example, the retinol molecule "is able to penetrate the skin's surface and activate a variety of cells in the skin," explains board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm, M.D., MBA. "In the second layer of the skin, retinol penetrates cells called fibroblasts—the major collagen builders of our skin." 

Retinols are not for everyone—some will simply find them too irritating to use—but there are plenty of modern variations and strengths out there, so most people will likely be able to find one that works with their skin type. If you find yourself in need of a stronger version, you can visit your derm for a prescription (like Retin-A), or you can find an OTC version buffered with hydrating actives. 

Hydrated skin is happy skin. It is so important that famed esthetician Alicia Yoon, founder of Peach & Lily, calls it "the key to life for our skin."

By keeping skin moisturized, you're accomplishing a few things. The first is that you're keeping your dermis full of water, which keeps you looking youthful, plump, and vibrant. From there, hydration helps support skin-barrier function. When your skin-barrier function is compromised, or just generally weak, a whole host of problems arise, most of which can lead to texture changes in the skin. And as a result of all this moisturizing, you can actually help prevent premature fine lines. 

The problem is inflammation comes from a lot of sources. Internally, it comes from stress, eating a less than ideal diet, and health issues. Externally it comes from physical irritation, UV exposure, pollution, and an unbalanced skin microbiome. There are certainly plenty of lifestyle adjustments to make to deal with inflammation (which we'll explore soon), but topically you can look for biome-friendly ingredients (like pre-, pro- and postbiotics) and antioxidants.

The importance of sleep cannot be stressed enough. We could really go through the plethora of reasons it's good for our bodies, but we'll stick to skin here. Your skin, being a living organ, is constantly going through a regeneration cycle. This happens most prominently when you sleep. It does so because the skin sees a surge in HGH (human growth hormone) in the nighttime sleep cycle. The release of HGH helps rebuild body tissues4 and spurs increased cell production to replace cells that were damaged throughout the day. When you don't sleep, or don't sleep enough, you are losing precious hours in which your body would go through this process. 

What we eat affects us in both positive and negative ways. Let's get the bad stuff out first: Eating a diet high in inflammatory foods—like processed meat, dairy, sugar—puts a lot of strain on our bodies. It does so by changing our gut flora, which can cause your lining to become damaged and literally "leak." This is when you get chronic inflammation, which may show up in your skin. So that's what you don't want to do.  

And if all else fails? Enlist the experts. Dermatologists and estheticians can provide prescription-strength treatments (when needed), as well as high-tech, highly effective treatments and facials you may not be able to master at home. And depending how thorough they are in your consultation, they can also help you get the root of your texture issues—as we can so often misdiagnose ourselves, leading to improper treatments or products.