Treating one will help you deal with the other.
Whenever friends come over, the first thing they notice is my skin-care collection, and audibly ooh and aah at the hundreds of products strewn around my bathroom. I tend to collect serums and moisturizers the way that other people collect baseball cards and coins, which means my routine has historically involved slathering a lot of product on my face. It’s fun, for sure, but it hasn’t always yielded the best results for my skin.
With that in mind, this year I decided to make a change. Not only did I want to declutter some of the products I never used, but I also wanted to make sure that I was only using things that really and truly worked for my individual skin concerns. As I get older—I’m approaching my 44th birthday in January—I really want to continue to achieve the poreless, dewy, acne-free skin of my youth. And contrary to what you might think, the best way to do this is actually by using fewer products with better consistency.
“Embracing a minimalist approach to skincare can prove remarkably effective for individuals seeking a simpler, healthier, and more radiant complexion,” says Natalie Aguilar, a dermatological nurse and celebrity aesthetician at Dr. Kami Parsa’s Beverly Hills office. “Your routine is simple yet effective—none of the ingredients overlap, and your products are clean.”
So, about 10 months ago, I cut my skin-care routine down majorly—from a whopping 19 steps to a far more manageable six—and can honestly say my complexion has never looked better. It’s hydrated, smooth, and plump; my pores are nonexistent; and I rarely (if ever) break out. This experiment has been going so well, I don’t even really need professional facials anymore.
“By simplifying one’s skin-care routine, a person can minimize the potential for adverse reactions and sensitivities,” says Aguilar. “The philosophy of less is more in skin-care underscores the idea that a select few, carefully chosen products can often deliver more potent and harmonious results than an extensive array of formulations that may counteract each other’s benefits.”
Jenette Serrins, founder of Being in LA and Jenette Skincare, agrees. “The more products you pile on, the more likely you are to be exposed to an ingredient that may be harmful or simply not good for your skin type,” she says. “With fewer products, you’re automatically minimizing your risk of skin irritation.”
I’ll always love skincare, but the moral of this story is that the less I do, the better my skin looks. If you’ve been curious about cutting down your skincare routine in favor of what works—well, here’s what I’ve been doing, and how to copy it. (You’re welcome.)
1. Cleanse
Any derm will tell you that a good cleanse is the most important first step in a skin-care routine, as it whisks away pore-clogging dirt and debris and provides a clean canvas for you to apply the rest of your products on top of.
I wash my face once a day, at the start of my shower routine (pro tip: use lukewarm water instead of scalding hot to avoid drying out your skin).
This cleanser has been a staple in my routine for the better part of a decade thanks to its dual-phase cleansing action that nourishes skin while dissolving dirt, oil, and makeup. Plus, the ophthalmologist-tested formula is safe for eye makeup removal and won’t cause stinging. My skin tends to be on the drier side, and I love how moisturizing this creamy formula is while still removing every stitch of debris. It’s almost like using a moisturizer as a cleanser at the same time! It refreshes my skin and opens it up for the rest of my routine.










