10-STEP SKINCARE ROUTINES ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND

You know the routine. Cleanser. Toner. Essence. Serum. Another serum. Eye cream. Moisturizer. Face oil. SPF. And apparently we’re slugging now too. We love skincare. But when did washing your face become a 10-step commitment? There’s something deeply satisfying about a bathroom shelf full of beautiful little bottles. We get it. We’ve bought them too. But more products doesn’t automatically mean better skin.

YOUR SKIN DOESN’T CARE ABOUT YOUR SHELFIE

The beauty industry has become very good at convincing us that every new skin concern requires another product.

Dry? Add something.
Dull? Add something.
Fine lines? Definitely add something.
A pore existing on your face? Emergency.

Before you know it, you’re layering five active ingredients and wondering why your skin suddenly hates you. Sometimes the answer isn't another serum, sometimes the answer is simply doing less.

THE BASICS ARE STILL... THE BASICS

A good cleanser. Moisturizer. SPF. Then add the products that actually make sense for your skin, your concerns and your routine. That might be retinoids. Vitamin C. An exfoliant. A hydrating serum. Great. But you don't get extra points for owning all of them. Skincare isn't Pokémon. You don't have to collect them all.

AND WHILE WE'RE HERE...

Your skin doesn't stop at your jawline. Don't forget your neck and décolleté.

But also; sleep matters. What you eat matters. Hydration matters. Movement matters. Genetics matter. Ageing definitely matters. No cream, supplement, facial or ridiculously expensive serum gets to claim sole responsibility for good skin. Which is perhaps less exciting than discovering a miracle product on TikTok, but considerably more realistic.

THE BADDIE TAKE

Keep the skincare. Keep the ridiculously nice serum you absolutely did not need but genuinely love using. Just maybe stop treating a bathroom cabinet with 27 products as evidence that you're taking better care of yourself.

Sometimes less really is more. Annoying, we know.