When it comes to skincare, there is never a one-size-fits-all situation. Every person would have a different skincare routine tailored to meet their skin’s needs. If you’re on the fancier side of the scale, you’ve probably heard of the very elaborate 10-step skincare routine.
You might be thinking, “what person could possibly need that many steps?!” but this Korean-born trend has accumulated some hardcore fans who are convinced that this is the best thing ever! The 10 steps comprise of:
- An oil cleanser or a cleansing balm
- A foaming cleanser
- An exfoliant
- A toner
- An essence
- A serum
- A sheet mask
- An eye cream
- A moisturiser
- A sunscreen (in the morning) or a sleeping mask (in the evening)
However, it might not work for everybody. This is why we’ve sought out the advice of this Malaysian who shared with us about how downsizing her skincare regime and sticking to ONLY the basics have actually improved her skin even more! Read on to find out why she believes that less is more when it comes to skincare:
1. You might pair the wrong ingredients together
When it comes to the 10-step skincare routine, layering the right products together is very important. You’d need to do extensive research for each product to study the ingredients in them in order to ensure that they will not become counter-productive. For example, dermatologists don’t recommend pairing retinol with benzoyl peroxide as they can literally cancel each other out, which would just be a waste of products.
It is also important for you to know the correct steps to apply your skincare. It is advisable to always apply your skincare products from the thinnest to the thickest texture. This is because if you were to apply the thicker products first (like a moisturiser) it can block the lighter products (like your serum) from penetrating the skin, making them less effective.
2. It can get overwhelming for sensitive skin
Before you consider adopting this 10-step skincare routine, you do need to learn about all the extra steps that go into it. This routine involves various products containing ‘active ingredients’ which are meant to tackle different skin concerns. Currently, the ‘in trend’ ingredients would be good chemicals such as hyaluronic acid or salicylic acid. Though they might be effective to some, they can also be quite harsh.
If you have sensitive skin, putting on all these active ingredients at once can be too much for your skin to handle and would cause irritation. This is why it’s best if you keep to a simple routine and stick to gentle products instead. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?
3. It’s hard to tell which product is working and which is not
The main issue with these 10-step skincare routines is that it can be tricky to track which products are actually working and which are not. Especially if you’re the type that would often change up your products or you’d introduce multiple new products into your routine at the same time.
Once you do discover that a product is causing issues with your skin, you’d have to experiment by quitting the products one by one, which could take a considerable amount of time before you discover the problem.
4. The most basic skincare routine is actually more than enough
According to dermatologists, the most basic skincare routine that your skin truly needs is a very simple three-step routine that includes:
1. CLEANSER
This is the first and most important step in a skincare routine as it helps to cleanse any impurities or dirt from your face, to prevent blemishes. However, choosing the right cleanser is also important. If you choose a harsh cleanser, it can strip your skin of all its natural oils, damaging your skin’s barrier.
Thus, choosing a gentle cleanser like the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser would be the best choice. This product is so gentle because it’s free from fragrance and soap and is also pH-balanced, making it suitable for all skin types!
2. MOISTURIZER
Applying moisturiser is also another important step as it will keep your skin hydrated by balancing its moisture level and also providing a protective layer. Most of the time, blemishes occur due to a lack of hydration in our skin, which is why moisturisers should be a must-have in your routine.
If you’re looking for a good moisturiser, why not check out the Cetaphil Moisturising Cream! This moisturiser is also gentle on the skin as it is free from fragrance and parabens. But best of all, it can provide 24-hour hydration to strengthen your skin’s barrier without actually clogging your pores. Plus, it can also be used on other parts of the body such as hands, feet, elbows and knees.
3. SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen is a very vital step in protecting your skin from damaging sun rays and it is also the most effective anti-ageing solution for our skin. One myth that Malaysians believe is that we don’t need to wear sunscreen if we’re indoors but that is not true! Always wear your sunscreen no matter what and try to reapply throughout the day.
With that said, however, there is of course nothing wrong with wanting to add more steps into your skincare, especially if you have specific skin issues you’d want to tackle. But make sure that you’re adding on steps that are actually necessary and you’re not just doing these elaborate routines because they have gone viral, okay!
For those of you who are still unsure of your skin’s condition, here’s a simple questionnaire you can answer on Cetaphil’s site to find out if your skin is showing any signs of sensitivity. You can also sign up to get FREE samples to try out and see if the products are suitable for your skin!
If you’re interested to know more about the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or the Cetaphil Moisturising Cream, simply head on over to their website here. You can also purchase Cetaphil products via Shopee or Lazada and have them delivered right to your doorstep so you can start your journey to clear skin now!
Have you tried the 10-step skincare routine and did it work? Share with us below!
