A great skincare routine doesn’t need to be extensive. You really don’t need a 10+ step skincare routine to take good care of your skin. Sure it seems tempting to keep adding the next best thing to your routine but adding too much to your skincare routine could be bad for the skin.  

That doesn’t mean you have to swear off extensive routines but rather be mindful of the   skincare you use. There’s nothing bad about a 10+ step routine as long as you are not damaging your skin or overloading it with too many actives. 

In the end, you know your skin the best and know what it can and cannot handle. So maybe your multiple step routine works great for you, but if it doesn’t and your skin is going through it, then it could help to go back to basics. 

If you have a lengthy routine and have been going through some skin troubles but are unsure where it’s coming from, it could help to cut down on your routine for a while as your skin recovers. This could also help you figure out which product may not be reacting well with your skin. 

It really just takes a few basics to create a complete skincare routine. 

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step in your routine is pretty intuitive—it starts with a cleanser. This could really be any type of cleanser whether it’s a foaming cleanser or cream cleanser.

Our Pore Cleanser is a 2-in-1 cleanser and face masks with a foaming texture and pore-clarifying benefits. Best for oily and combination skin with clogged pores, our Pore Cleanser contains Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid to help target pores and remove surface debris. 

If you wear makeup this step may include 2 products, an oil or balm cleanser and your regular daily cleanser (usually foam or cream cleanser). The double cleansing method involves starting with an oil or balm cleanser that helps break down makeup and sunscreen. Then, you can use your typical cleanser to get any lingering residue off. 

This is usually more beneficial if you are a regular makeup user. Otherwise sticking to one cleanser works fine for most routines. 

Step 2: Treat 

Here is where some of the freestyling can occur. A treatment in your routine really depends on what your skin concern is. If you deal with acne, then your treatment may be a liquid exfoliant, a retinol, or a blemish patch. 

But, if your routine includes all of these kinds of treatments, then you could opt for a skin cycling routine. It’s typically not recommended to use multiple products with strong actives in the same night or morning routine. 

For example, if you use a liquid exfoliant with 2% Salicylic Acid and Retinol in your routine, using them in the same night could prove to be drying or irritating. So instead you can use the liquid exfoliant one night, then the following night use your Retinol. You’ll want to follow your Retinol night with 2 nights of recovery, which basically means you won’t use either product for those 2 nights and focus on letting your skin relax.  

If you’re looking for a treatment on the gentler side, our Pore Serum has exfoliating benefits without the drying effects of some stronger liquid exfoliants. We combined the hydrating properties of a serum with the exfoliating benefits of an acne treatment so it could be used by most skin types. 

Step 3: Moisturize 

Next up is moisturizer. The type of moisturizer you use is totally dependent on your skin type. So, if you have oily skin, you’d be best suited to a water-based moisturizer that absorbs easily and won’t feel heavy on the skin. Conversely, if you have dry skin then you’ll want a thicker moisturizer that helps seal in moisture.  

Some moisturizers also help with certain types of skincare concerns. You can usually find moisturizers with certain ingredients to help with things like acne, dark spots, or a damaged barrier. 

Our Barrier Support Moisturizer is infused with multiple types of Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid for a nourishing and hydrating boost. The hybrid gel-cream texture also makes it thick enough for dry patches but light enough for oily, acne-prone skin types. 

Step 4: Sunscreen 

A non-negotiable in every AM routine is sunscreen. Daily exposure to the sun without any protections can lead to skin cancer, breakdown of collagen, premature aging of the skin, and discoloration. It’s vital to end your AM skincare routine with sunscreen to keep the skin protected from these effects.

It’s understandable if you are wary of sunscreen for things like the finish on the skin, the texture, or the scent. But, there are tons of new launches out there with way more sophisticated formulas that are white cast-free, have no scent, and don’t feel like your typical beach sunscreen. 

Some sunscreens are even an SPF and moisturizer hybrid, so you can knock out two of your steps with one product. 

Final tips…

While we’ve covered the basics, one last tip we have to share is: be patient! You can always add new products to your routine but you have to take it slow to make sure your skin reacts well with the product. That means adding new products one by one and giving yourself a few days or weeks to make sure the product isn’t triggering any reaction in the skin.