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TWEAKMENTTWEAKMENT & SKINCARE FINDER
CHOOSE AN AREA OF THE FACE OR BODY TO CHECK OUT YOUR SKINCARE AND TWEAKMENT OPTIONS
By Becki Murray 
As use of AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini continue to boom, more and more people are asking the platforms to suggest their best skincare routine. But, is this a nifty time saver or a risk to your face and bank account? We decided to put it to the test.
We asked AI to create personalised skincare routines for different skin concerns and budgets, then assessed those recommendations with the help of dermatologist and founder of the Tweak app, Dr Kat Bennett. From wrinkles to pre-wedding glow, here’s exactly what AI gets right – and where human expertise still wins.
Her main concerns were a little bit of everything! “Hydration, skin texture, skin radiance, keeping pigmentation as even as possible. I always love a vitamin C, an SPF, a strong retinoid, a peptide and a light moisturiser.”
Tip: If you are new to retinal, start at Crystal Retinal 3 or 6. If your skin is highly resilient and used to prescription-strength, step up to Crystal Retinal 10.
“Gemini produced a well-reasoned and focused routine here. I was pleased to see it correctly identify Retinaldehyde (Medik8 Crystal Retinal) over standard retinol, which has evidenced superior efficacy and tolerability. Its suggestion of a graduated escalation of use (start at 3 or 6, progress to 10) reflects what we would recommend for patients too. The SPF choice is perfect: Heliocare 360° Fluid Cream goes beyond UV protection to shield against infrared and visible light, both of which are known drivers of hyperpigmentation. Including both Vit C in the AM and Vit A in the PM is appropriate here to address concerns related to radiance, texture and pigmentation — and the choice of products is very good.”
One note, though: “Gemini didn’t address cleansing in the morning routine. For a patient targeting pigmentation and texture, the state of the skin going into product application matters. I would always recommend starting with a gentle or hydrating cleanser before applying actives.” Try Epionce Milky Lotion Cleanser, £34.
Alice’s overall strategy should be focused on:
“ChatGPT took a broader approach. I appreciate that it included a cleanser (but built in a double cleanse for the evening — the Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil as a first cleanse is the right call for someone wearing SPF and potentially makeup daily, but we don’t know if this is necessary for Alice). The offering of two Vitamin C options is also useful and allows for personalisation based on tolerance and preference.
However, the routine is also slightly more complex than I would like. More products means more variables and more opportunity for interaction. I’m not happy with the jump straight to Crystal Retinal 10 either. For an experienced user like Alice this may be appropriate — but I would always advocate for gradual introduction, even for skin that considers itself “used to” actives.”
(TTG Editor note: Vital Assist’s Cellular Renewal cream contains a retinoid so while a brilliant product for overall skin rejuvenation should not have been recommended as a ‘recovery’ product especially with a high-strength retinoid also in the routine. ChatGPT has probably mistaken it for the nourishing Moisture + Lift that we would suggest instead.)
Overall verdict
“Both tools performed well for Alice. Gemini’s routine is more elegant; ChatGPT’s is more thorough and rightly includes cleansing. I’d combine the best of both — Gemini’s focused AM product layering with ChatGPT’s cleanser emphasis.”
“I have sensitive skin but really want to start focusing on smoothing the fine lines around my eyes and forehead while improving overall skin quality and glow. I’m super aware that many people’s budgets are tight right now, so a routine that doesn’t break the bank would be fantastic.”
Budget Tip: If your skin doesn’t feel overly dry in the mornings, the deep moisture from the Medik8 Hydr8 B5 combined with the fluid texture of this Heliocare SPF is more than enough hydration. You can completely skip a morning moisturiser to save money!
Budget tip: You don’t need a separate, expensive eye cream. Both the Hydr8 B5 serum and the Crystal Retinal (tapped gently around the jaw/orbital bone) provide premium care to the eye zone, ensuring your budget stretches as far as possible for maximum speed and results.
“Google Gemini really impressed me. It understood the brief — sensitive skin, on a budget — and delivered accordingly. Three core products, clear rationale, no unnecessary additions. Critically, Gemini chose the Heliocare 360° Mineral Tolerance Fluid, a 100% physical/mineral SPF specifically formulated for reactive and compromised skin. For sensitive skin prone to eye-area stinging, mineral/physical SPF is always my first recommendation. Chemical UV filters are a known irritant risk in this context, particularly around the orbital area where Becki is targeting fine lines. The Crystal Retinal 1 recommendation for a sensitive beginner is a good choice too and it notes that the combination of Hydr8 B5 and Crystal Retinal applied carefully around the orbital bone cover the eye area negates the need for an eye cream — which is both practically sound and genuinely budget-friendly.”
One note: No cleanser is mentioned. I’d add a gentle, hydrating cleanser. It doesn’t need to be expensive; it needs to be non-stripping and pH-balanced.” Try Neostrata Restore Facial Cleanser, £22.
“While ChatGPT suggested some good products they don’t necessarily always align with a ‘budget friendly approach’. It also recommended a chemical filter-based Heliocare sunscreen. For Becki’s sensitive skin and specific concerns around the eye area, I would advise the mineral option that Gemini correctly identified. This isn’t a minor detail — the wrong SPF can cause enough discomfort that patients stop using it altogether, which undermines everything. Adding Vitamin C as an early inclusion isn’t the best choice either and is potentially premature. With sensitive skin, my rule is one new product at a time — allow two to four weeks for adjustment before introducing the next active. Bringing Vitamin C, retinal, and peptides simultaneously is asking for trouble. Extra caution is also warranted when using Vit C for sensitive skin (including rosacea) or acne-prone skin, as patients may react to many formulations with irritation.”
Overall verdict
“Gemini understood this patient better. The mineral SPF choice is clinically superior, and the simple three-product list takes into consideration both the budget and the skin sensitivity. For Becki, I’d follow Gemini’s product selection and add a gentle cleanser.”
“I am about to get married, so while not trying to stress over my appearance too much, I do want to find some solutions to my dry and irritated skin, which won’t cause any problems for me come the big day. I also have some enlarged pores on my chin and nose that I would love to be less visible in the bridal photographs.”
Top Bridal Skincare Tips: Do not introduce the Paula’s Choice BHA or any other new active product within the final two weeks before the wedding. Use the weeks leading up to that point to refine the pores, and then focus solely on pure hydration and soothing as the big day approaches. Then, if your skin feels particularly dry or sensitive the week of the wedding, pop on a Croma Rejuvenating Face Mask, £44, (infused with hyaluronic acid) for an instant, intense moisture surge that makes makeup glide on like silk.
“Gemini showed good insight in several areas — the barrier-first approach, the Profhilo Haenkenium as a deeply nourishing moisturiser, a good choice of SPF, and the Croma face mask tip the night before the wedding are all thoughtful additions. Georgia may not need a double cleanse (unless indicated as previously discussed) — otherwise we risk over-stripping the skin barrier.”
However, “I have a clinical concern: the recommendation of a 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. This is a new active being introduced to already dry and irritated skin. Salicylic acid (BHA) is effective for pore refinement, but it is not without risk — particularly for a compromised skin barrier. I would not advise introducing an exfoliating acid to an already reactive skin state, and certainly not in the run-up to a major event. Other options such as in-clinic tailored facials would be a better and safer option.”
For a bride-to-be with dry + irritated skin + visible pores (nose/chin), the priority is very specific:
This is very much a “don’t break the skin 6–8 weeks before the wedding” routine.
Skin tip: Enlarged pores on the nose or chin are often worsened by dehydration, irritation and barrier damage. Aggressively treating them now usually makes them look worse short-term, which you don’t want pre-wedding. So in this phase: focus on hydration + barrier repair + SPF. Not acids, scrubs, or strong retinoids.
“This is the comprehensive approach for Georgia, and I agree with the core suggestions. ChatGPT correctly identified that enlarged pores are frequently worsened by dehydration, barrier damage, and inflammation — all of which apply here. The specific warning against acids, scrubs, and strong retinoids in this phase is right. The Alastin HA Immerse Serum for deep hydration is an excellent choice — it supports the skin’s own moisture. This would be sufficient, but if not, the optional Medik8 C-Tetra addition ‘only if redness has settled’ shows a cautious, staged approach.”
A word on pore expectations: “Pores cannot truly be permanently shrunk. What we can achieve is making them appear smaller through consistent hydration (which plumps the surrounding skin), barrier repair (which reduces the inflammation that makes them look more prominent), and, once the skin has fully stabilised post-wedding, a gentle introduction of BHA or retinoid.”
Overall verdict
“ChatGPT is the stronger recommendation for Georgia. The approach is safer, more appropriate to the timeline, and correctly addresses the root cause of the presenting concerns. The priority is simple: calm, hydrate, protect — and arrive at the wedding with skin that is stable and glowing.”
“Reviewing both AI tools across all three patients, what strikes me is that they both contain genuinely good clinical reasoning — but neither applies it with the full perspective a skin specialist or dermatologist would bring. They tend towards comprehensiveness rather than simplicity, and they occasionally miss the patient-specific details — and of course are limited to a description of concerns without actual clinical assessment.
The best routine is always the one the patient will actually follow. That means simple enough to sustain, affordable enough not to cause stress, and gentle enough not to trigger the very problems it’s meant to solve. Start with the basics. Start with the cleanser. Commit to the SPF. Then introduce one active at a time. AI tools are increasingly popular and genuinely helpful as a starting point for skincare guidance. That said, at present, in-person skin assessment remains more accurate, more nuanced, and more personalised than anything a digital tool can offer.”
Need more specific skincare advice for your own concerns? Book a consultation with our new skincare specialist Dr Maha!
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