The case for a shorter routine

Most bathroom shelves tell the same story. A cleanser bought on a recommendation, a serum from a sale, three moisturisers that never quite worked. Each product promises something, and together they promise nothing at all.

Why less tends to work better

Skin is a slow organ. It renews itself roughly once a month, which means any change you make needs weeks to show. When you swap products every few days, you never give a single formula the time it needs, and you multiply the chances of irritation.

A short routine is easier to read. If something flares up, you know where to look. If something works, you know what to keep.

The three we would keep

If we had to start again, we would keep a gentle cleansing oil, one treatment serum and a face oil for the evening. Everything else is a nice extra, not a necessity.

Start there for a month. Take a photo on day one and day thirty. Then decide what, if anything, is missing.