The ChatGPT Prompt That Gave Me The Best Skin of My Life
Today’s post is a little bit different! But I absolutely refuse to gatekeep this information. I actually used ChatGPT to help me with my skin issues and it worked better than I ever could have imagined! And I am going to show you how you can do the same!
But first, a little backstory…
Nothing makes you spiral faster than suddenly realizing your “anti-aging” skincare routine is actually making your skin look worse. But when my clueless ass was trying to get ahead of wrinkles by using retinol, things did not go as planned.
I did a little research, and understood it could irritate my skin. But I figured what’s a little irritation for improved, younger looking skin ya know? So I bought 1% retinol serum and slathered it on for a few days in a row and woke up one morning to the most horrifying skin of my life! It was red, dry, flaky, and tight. And worst of all, not only were my existing wrinkles WORSE, but I also had NEW WRINKLES in places I never did before.
I did what most of us do: I panicked. I scrolled Reddit. I Googled endlessly. And I started to worry I’d done permanent damage. Some people on Reddit swore retinol ruined their skin for life. I genuinely started to wonder if I was doomed.
This random Redditor was reaffirming my fear that my skin was doomed AND sharing some terrible advice to continue using the retinol and further damaging the skin barrier.
But then I had a random, brilliant idea: I asked ChatGPT for help.
And I’m not exaggerating when I say it turned everything around.
The AI Skincare Advice That Actually Worked
When I explained my situation, ChatGPT calmly told me exactly what to do:
Stop using retinol immediately
Focus on restoring my skin barrier (I honestly didn’t know anything about this until ChatGPT told me about it)
Hydrate, moisturize, and use SPF like crazy
Use specific ingredients to soothe and rebuild (like ceramides, peptides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid)
Reintroduce retinol slowly once my barrier was healed
It also gave me product recommendations, explained when to use each step, and told me how to prevent this from ever happening again. It gave me a laid out plan on how to restore the barrier and then safely reintroduce retinol back into my skin care routine.
Long story short: I followed the plan, and within a few months, my skin not only bounced back, but it looked better than it had in years!
💬 The Prompt That Changed My Skin
Want ChatGPT to build you a customized skincare routine too? Whether you're overwhelmed by products, dealing with breakouts, confused about anti-aging ingredients, or just want glowy, happy skin, this prompt can help!
Copy, paste, and fill in the blanks:
“Act as a dermatologist and skincare expert. Create a complete morning and evening skincare routine for me based on the following information:
Age: [insert your age]
Skin type: [oily, dry, combination, normal, or unsure]
Skin concerns: [acne, redness, hyperpigmentation, aging, dullness, etc.]
Skincare goals: [glowier skin, fewer breakouts, smoother texture, etc.]
Budget per product: [e.g. under $25 or flexible]
Preferred product types: [clean beauty, drugstore, Korean skincare, etc.]
Any allergies/sensitivities: [fragrance, essential oils, etc.]
Experience level: [beginner or experienced skincare user]
Optional: Products I currently use and like: [list if applicable]
Please include affordable product recommendations and explain how and when to use each item.”
🧴 Want a Quick Example?
Here’s what it might look like filled in:
“Act as a dermatologist and skincare expert. Create a complete morning and evening skincare routine for me based on the following information:
Age: 36
Skin type: Combination
Skin concerns: I overused retinol and now my skin is dry, irritated, and looks older
Skincare goals: Restore my skin barrier, reduce irritation, and reintroduce anti-aging products safely
Budget per product: Under $30
Preferred product types: Drugstore and fragrance-free
Any allergies/sensitivities: Sensitive to essential oils
Experience level: Beginner
Optional: I currently use CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and like it
Please include affordable product recommendations and explain how and when to use each item.”
💡 Pro Tip:
You can keep using ChatGPT as your own skincare coach. Try asking things like:
“Can you explain what damaged skin barrier symptoms look like?”
“What’s the best way to treat hormonal breakouts on my chin?”
“Is it okay to mix niacinamide and vitamin C?”
“How do I layer skincare in the right order?”
🌟 Final Thoughts
I know it sounds dramatic, but ChatGPT saved my skin—and honestly, my sanity. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure, or like your skin is getting worse no matter what you do, try the prompt above. It’s like having a calm, non-judgmental skin expert on call 24/7.
Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.