Why You've Been Doing Your Skincare Routine All Wrong

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Like many major events, you may remember where you were and what you were doing the first time you heard about the Korean beauty 12-step skincare routine. More like a skin ritual, the intense routine included everything from double cleansing, toner, emulsion, essence, treatments, masking, and several layers of moisturizers. Such an elaborate regimen was an outrageous concept at the time — even for the most skin-obsessed people out there. It caught on, though, and most would consider it pretty standard. Years later, though, as is the case with any trend, the pendulum has officially swung back the other way.

The latest K-beauty rage to hit the community? Skip-Care. Consider it the purging-your-wardrobe equivalent to your skincare regimen. The idea is to eliminate any products from your routine that are either unnecessary, or that may not be working for you, or to use multi-functional products that help streamline.

It’s not that you’re removing vital steps, but rather that you’re making better use of your time and paying even more attention to what your skin craves. In the end, your routine may have three, four, or seven steps, but it’ll be significantly shorter than 12 while still leaving you with a no-filter-required complexion. Pretty genius, really.

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4 Ways You Can Embrace Skip-Care:

Chances are you’re probably already doing a little of this already, but we wanted to give you some additional guidance as you navigate the new waters.

1. Nix Steps That Aren’t Serving Your Skin

Comb through your current products and determine what’s serving you and what isn’t. For example, are you using aggressive acne products that are drying out your skin when maybe an occasional spot treatment is better? Is daily chemical exfoliation causing irritation? Is that essence you’re using really adding anything to your regimen?

2. Use Products That Double Down

Speaking of rolling one product into another, the biggest friend to skip-care is the multi-functional hero. Luckily, their popularity is rising right alongside skip-care’s. For example, Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, $105, serves as a mask, exfoliator, and serum, and you can even mix it into your face wash and let it set as a mask before rinsing, and Whamisa’s Green Tea Serum Toner, $22, is a calming multi-tasking that hydrates and tones.

Other options include Neogen’s Real Flower Calendula Cleansing Water, $22, which can be used as both a cleanser and toner, and MMXV Infinitude, $225, a tiny jar full of big promises. It claims to serve as a serum, eye cream, day cream, night cream, neck cream, chest cream, and brightener, virtually replacing everything in your routine but a cleanser.

3. Forget the Eye Cream

There’s an ongoing debate about the necessity, and even efficacy, of eye creams. Many skincare experts argue that you can simply apply your preferred facial moisturizer to your eyes, which eliminates the need for an extra product. The only exception to this would be if you’re targeting as issue like puffiness or fine lines (a caffeine-based cream, such as 100% Pure’s Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, $26, would be fab) or dark circles (vitamin C is BAE).

4. Consider Masking Less Frequently

Whether cream, clay, or sheet, masks don’t have to be applied every single night. If cutting back the amount you spend on skincare — both time and money-wise — is your end-goal, consider only masking once or twice a week instead of daily.

Final Note: While the above advice is a great starting point, the whole premise of Skip-Care is to refine your skincare regimen so that it aligns with your specific needs. Maybe you love masking and wouldn’t dare give up your nightly indulgence, or maybe you don’t feel a need to double-cleanse. Find products that work for you and use them in the order that leaves you looking and feeling positively radiant.

Have more Q’s on Skip-Care? Hit us up and we’ll help!