Universally soft, even-toned skin is an impossible goal best achieved through Facetune. Or is it? When it comes to skin texture, nobody’s perfect — and that’s ok. Flawless skin doesn’t actually exist, but through strategic and consistent product use, you can come pretty close. 

First, it’s important to understand what skin texture actually means. “Texture refers to topography of the skin, essentially — how smooth and even the skin is,” says Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology in New York City. In many dermatologists’ office, your face’s texture can be scientifically measured. Dr. Levin is among many doctors who use an in-office complexion-analysis tool called VISIA, which measures pore size, lines, and brown spots among other skin aspects. 

Even without an official reading, however, most people have a sense of how their skin looks and feels. That tiny divot left over from last year’s cystic acne breakout? Texture. Tight, flaky skin on your cheeks? Texture. Large pores, lines, scars, dryness, milia (those little white bumps around your eyes), and growths are the most common issues — and pretty much all of those can be addressed with a well-considered skin care regimen of sunscreen during the day, retinol at night, and plenty of antioxidants. 

“First and foremost, [use] daily sunscreen with good sun protective behaviors to avoid wrinkles, volume loss, brown spots, and uneven skin texture from forming in the first place,” Dr. Levin says. “The second best anti-aging product is a retinoid, which is a vitamin A derivative that is known to increase skin cell turnover and promote collagen formation and remodeling.”

Retinoids are available only through dermatologists, and while they produce impressive results, some people experience side effects such as flaking and peeling during the process. That’s why many people prefer over-the-counter products with retinol, a gentler vitamin A derivative that produces similar results over time without the irritation. “Typically, it takes six to 12 weeks to see results,” Dr. Levin says of retinol. 

Our latest launch, the Avocado Melt Retinol Sleeping Mask, is the perfect choice for anyone with texture issues thanks to our special encapsulated retinol and PHA. The vegan retinol is “wrapped” in skin-nourishing ingredients like avocado and matcha, allowing it to slowly release the re-texturizing retinol, giving you all day smoothing without the sensitivity usually associated with vitamin A derivatives. PHA is a gentler exfoliating option than AHAs because it helps gently resurface, minimizing dark spots and reviving radiance, no dryness or redness required. Our Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask also contains encapsulated retinol that’s been specifically formulated for the eye area to minimize fine lines and help get rid of pesky milia.

While retinol does the heavy lifting, remember, it’s only one part of a texture-improvement regimen. You’ll also need sunscreen (to protect all of those vulnerable new skin cells) and antioxidants. “I encourage all my patients to either look for a sunscreen with antioxidants or apply an antioxidant serum before application of sunscreen,” Dr. Levin says. This is important, she notes, because broad-spectrum sunscreen alone does not protect against all free radicals, the molecules that contribute to skin cell damage and aging. Vitamin C is a great option as its been clinically shown to boost that protection power, creating a full-spectrum shield against both types of sun damage.

No single ingredient can fully transform your skin texture overnight, but if you’re consistent with this three-pronged approach, your skin will develop a smoother, more even texture — at which point, you can finally free up some room on your phone by deleting Facetune.