Do We Really Need a 10-Step Skincare Routine? Probably Not, Says Our Beauty Editor
Once upon a time, my bathroom shelf looked like a science lab. Bottles everywhere. Essences to pat. Serums to press. Acids to rotate. Moisturisers for morning, moisturisers for night, moisturisers for different seasons. I wasn’t just washing my face. I was committed. I was a pro at a 10-step skincare routine. It felt intentional, luxurious and a little bit smug if I’m honest. If you weren’t layering three actives before your morning caffeine fix, were you even serious about your skin? But do we really need a 10-step skincare routine, or is this just product overload?
The expert weighs in
As a beauty editor, I try and test beauty products for a living (I know, I’d hate me too!) I believe in ingredients. I love innovation. But after years of enthusiastic layering, here’s the uncomfortable truth: most skin does not want 10 steps. It wants consistency. And calm.
When you stack vitamin C, retinol, exfoliating acids, and so-called gentle resurfacing toners in one enthusiastic week, you’re not accelerating results; you’re causing irritation. Believe me, I’ve been there.
After years of enthusiastic layering, here’s the uncomfortable truth: most skin does not want 10 steps. It wants consistency. And calm.
Tamara, Contributing Beauty Editor
Dermatologists have been quietly repeating the same advice for decades: cleanse, treat, moisturise, protect. That’s the backbone, always has been and everything else is optional. And yet, the industry thrives on “more.” More peptides. More percentages. More promises. Somewhere along the way, we have all fallen for it.
The turning point for me wasn’t dramatic. It was subtle. A proper cleanse (sometimes double if I’m wearing heavy makeup). One targeted serum. A moisturiser that supports rather than suffocates. SPF, always. And something radical happened: my skin settled; my redness reduced, breakouts stopped popping up unexpectedly and the texture of my skin softened. It was a true sign that extra steps were just unnecessary.
There’s confidence in knowing your skin well enough to stop chasing every new product. Not every new serum is your solution. Often, it’s just excellent marketing.
There is also the small matter of time. As a working mum of five, every second counts. And my longer skincare routine, was taking far too much time away from my endless to-do list. This doesn’t mean my skincare ritual is redundant. But there’s a difference between enjoyment and obligation and locking yourself in the bathroom just to have some ‘Me Time’.
The modern beauty conversation is shifting anyway. We’re talking about barrier repair. Inflammation. Microbiome health. Skin that looks like skin. The goal is resilience and consistency. There’s confidence in knowing your skin well enough to stop chasing every new product. Not every new serum is your solution. Often, it’s just excellent marketing.
These days, my shelf is edited. Intentionally. I finish products before opening new ones and I know why each formula is there. So, to answer the question, we probably don’t need 10 steps, but we do need good ingredients and patience. And we also need to remember that skin thrives on balance, not chaos.
Chloe Dufresne/dupe
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The Inkey List
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SkinCeuticals
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Medik8
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111Skin
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There’s a difference between enjoyment and obligation and locking yourself in the bathroom just to have some ‘Me Time’
Tamara, Contributing Beauty Editor
