Is It Time to Ditch the 10-Step Routine?
Is your skincare routine soothing or hurting your skin? Contrary to what you might think, you don't need to follow a 10-step routine to have clear, glowing skin—it's better to stick to the basics instead. If you're constantly breaking out or your skin feels irritated no matter what products you introduce into the mix, the problem might not lie with the products themselves, but your regimen. Here are 10 signs you might be overcomplicating your skincare routine, and 10 ways to simplify it down.
1. You're Using Multiple Serums
While it's sometimes okay to use more than one serum or two similar products together, it's best that you know what each of them is doing and if you're able to use them together on your face. If you're blindly combining multiple serums, toners, ampoules, and essences, you may inadvertently ruin your skin barrier.
2. You Have No Idea What's Working or What's Not
Another sign that you're likely overcomplicating your skincare routine is when you're no longer sure whether your products are working or not. Maybe you've experienced no change in how your skin looks, or maybe you've still encountered your usual breakouts, despite purchasing products that claim to help.
3. You Don't Know What's in Half of Your Products
When was the last time you actually took a thorough look through the ingredient lists of your products? Probably never, right? Unless you know you're allergic or sensitive to certain formulas, you likely apply new products on your face without thinking twice, meaning they may or may not cause you to break out.
4. You're Layering Multiple Actives
If you're using actives such as AHA, BHA, vitamin C, retinol, or others, it's important that you know which ones you can or cannot mix. If you're layering them on your face without doing research first, you may end up damaging your skin barrier.
5. You're Still Breaking Out
Another sign that you might be overcomplicating your skincare routine is if you're still breaking out, despite purchasing items that were meant to target those concerns. This is why it's crucial to understand what ingredients are in your products and whether or not they contain anything your skin can't tolerate.
6. Your Skin Feels Irritated or Sensitive
Even if you're not breaking out, if your skin still feels sensitive or irritated despite applying products that are meant to soothe the barrier, that might also mean you're using the wrong products or using too many. Always make sure to patch test before trying new products.
7. You Swap Out Products Every Few Weeks
If you constantly change the products in your routine, you're not giving it enough time to do its magic. You may also accidentally introduce new ingredients that don't work well with other products, which might end up causing irritation.
8. You Have a Counter Full of Unfinished Products
Because you swap out products in your routine regularly or constantly add new ones to the mix, you likely have a counter full of unfinished products. You may then be tempted to reintroduce them into your routine without first patch testing and checking to see whether they can be layered with other products, which may then end up irritating your skin barrier.
9. Your Skin Looks Worse Than It Started
Does your skin look even worse than what you started with? That's a clear sign you're either using the wrong products or using too many. If you often overcomplicate your routine, you might end up damaging your moisture barrier over and over again.
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10. Your Skincare Has Far Too Many Steps
You might have heard of the 10-step Korean skincare routine, but for some, that may be too much for their skin to handle. Overloading products on your face can have adverse effects, so it's best to visit a dermatologist to better understand what your skin needs.
If you think that you've been overcomplicating your routine, here are 10 ways to help you simplify it down.
1. When in Doubt, Stick with the Basics
When you're just starting out or cooling down from a major breakout, it's best to stick with the basics. Use a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen, and keep to this simple routine for a few months before introducing anything new.
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2. Understand Which Actives Can & Can't Be Layered
As mentioned previously, it's important to know whether you have any active ingredients in your routine, and whether or not they can be layered together. Always remember to do your research and to follow the directions given by the brand, or else you might damage your skin.
3. Give Your Products Time to Work
Instead of swapping products out every few weeks or constantly introducing new ones into your routine, stick with the basics and give them time to work. Sometimes, a product may cause irritation as you continue using it, or you may experience an initial purge before your skin clears. By giving your routine time to do its magic, you'll have a better idea what shows real results and what doesn't.
4. Avoid Buying Trending Products
Just because everyone's raving about a product on social media doesn't mean that same product will work for you. Instead of buying into the hype, stick to what you know works best for your skin. And remember: if your routine already gets the job done, don't try to fix or change it.
5. Patch Test First
Make sure to always patch test before trying out new products, even if they boast that they contain gentle ingredients or are suitable for all skin types. It's also important to understand what your skin needs and which specific formulas work for you, instead of blindly buying products you think might work.
6. It Might Not Be Your Skincare
Sometimes, it's not your skincare that's breaking you out or irritating your barrier—it could also be your makeup products or tools. If you've been using your routine for a while with no problems, try eliminating possible irritants first before immediately introducing substitutes or new products to fix the issue.
7. Be Consistent
Just as you should give your products time to do their magic, you should also be consistent with your routine. You don't want to only apply your products once every week—you should be sticking to your routine daily. That's how you'll get lasting results.
8. Introduce New Products Gradually
If you're introducing new products, do so gradually. Patch test first, then slowly add them to your routine one at a time. If your skin accepts it, then repeat the process with all other new products. You never want to add multiple new things to your routine at once, especially without patch testing them first.
9. See a Dermatologist
If your skin is still irritated, tight, or sensitive, it may be time to visit a dermatologist instead. A certified skin doctor will know how to heal your skin barrier and understand what it needs. Research can only do so much, and you don't want to make your problems worse.
10. Remember: Less Is More
Remember: stick with the basics, and keep to a simple routine even afterward. If you add too many to your routine, there's a higher chance that you may layer ingredients that don't react well with each other, or that you'll damage your skin barrier. For ultimate efficacy, ditch the 10-step routine and keep it simple.
