I used to be the person with a shelf of glass bottles and an evening checklist that read like a miniature passport: double cleanse, oil, foam, tonique, essence, hydrating serum, vitamin C, retinol, eye cream, moisturizer, and sometimes a sleeping mask for good measure. It felt luxurious — and exhausting. Over time I realised more steps didn’t always equal better skin. So I learned how to pare things back to a five-step routine that keeps my skin calm, clear and actually happier. Here’s the honest, practical guide to switching from a 10-step skincare routine to a streamlined five-step one without losing results.

Why simplify? (Spoiler: less can be more)

Simplifying isn’t about being lazy. It’s about being intentional. Fewer steps reduce the chance of irritating ingredients interacting badly, lower product fatigue (your skin stops reacting wildly to new things), and make consistency far more achievable. For me, the biggest win was noticing fewer breakouts and less redness once I stopped layering every active I owned.

If your current 10-step routine is working perfectly — and by that I mean your skin looks healthy, you’re consistent, and you’re not dealing with sensitivity — you don’t need to change it. But if you’re overwhelmed, constantly swapping products, or seeing diminishing returns, a five-step routine can give you the same or better results with less drama.

What a true five-step routine looks like

When I say five steps, I mean the daily essentials that cover the bases: cleanse, treat with targeted actives, hydrate, protect (AM), and replenish (PM). The idea is to pick multi-functional, effective products rather than one miracle bottle for every minor concern.

  • Step 1 — Cleanse: A gentle, effective cleanser that removes dirt, makeup and sunscreen without stripping.
  • Step 2 — Treat: One targeted active or lightweight serum that addresses your main concern (acids, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinol, depending on AM/PM).
  • Step 3 — Moisturise: A hydrator that locks in water and supports barrier function.
  • Step 4 — Eye care (optional but counts as a step for me): Lightweight eye cream or gel to address puffiness/dark circles while avoiding heavy layers.
  • Step 5 — SPF in the morning / Richer barrier repair at night: Sun protection is non-negotiable in the AM; at night you might swap this for a more nourishing cream or a lightweight facial oil.

How I pared down from 10 to five steps

Here’s the process I used — and it’s one I recommend you follow rather than throwing everything away and starting over.

  • Inventory everything: Lay out every product you use weekday mornings and evenings. Note active ingredients (retinol, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C), texture, and when you use them.
  • Identify redundancy: If you have two hydrating serums or three products containing the same acid, pick the best-performing one and retire the others.
  • Prioritise based on goals: Are you trying to manage acne, hydrate, reduce pigmentation, or prevent ageing? Choose one primary concern to treat daily and schedule others weekly if needed.
  • Introduce transitions: Replace single-purpose products with multi-taskers. A hyaluronic acid serum plus a ceramide-rich moisturizer can replace multiple layers.
  • Patch test and go gradual: Swap one product at a time over 1–2 weeks so you can see effects and avoid bad reactions.

Choosing the right products for five-step simplicity

Here are the criteria I used when selecting replacements. I’ve listed examples that I’ve tried and liked, but substitute with what suits your skin and budget.

  • Gentle cleanser: Look for non-stripping foams or cream cleansers with glycerin or mild surfactants. My go-tos have included CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser.
  • Multi-purpose serum: A hyaluronic acid serum or a niacinamide serum is a great daily go-to. They hydrate, calm, and help texture. I often rotate The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 or Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster when my skin needs clarity.
  • Targeted active (one at a time): If you use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night, they don’t need to be layered. For daytime antioxidant protection, try a stable vitamin C like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic or a gentler option like La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10. For night, a low-to-mid strength retinol such as The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane can be enough.
  • Effective moisturizer: Look for ceramides, fatty acids and humectants. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion is a budget-friendly, barrier-supporting option. If you want something richer, try First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.
  • Daily SPF: A broad-spectrum SPF 30–50 that layers well over your serum without pillling. I’m partial to La Roche-Posay Anthelios or Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen for a makeup-friendly finish.

How to handle actives when trimming steps

This is where people worry they’ll lose gains. You don’t have to give up retinol or AHA exfoliation; you just need to be strategic:

  • Keep one active in daily rotation. For example, vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night — but not both in the same slot as additional serums.
  • Use stronger exfoliation weekly. If you previously used a daily exfoliating serum plus an AHA toner, swap to a single in-shower exfoliant or a 1–2x weekly leave-on AHA/BHA at night.
  • Listen to your skin. If it becomes irritated, reduce frequency rather than drop the active altogether — patching back in slowly helps retain results.

A simple AM and PM five-step routine I actually follow

AM PM
  • Gentle cleanse (soft foam or gel)
  • Antioxidant serum (vitamin C or niacinamide)
  • Hydrating serum (hyaluronic acid if needed)
  • Moisturiser with barrier-support ingredients
  • Broad-spectrum SPF 30–50
  • Double cleanse if wearing makeup/sunscreen (oil/balm + gentle cleanser)
  • Targeted active (retinol or exfoliant, alternating nights)
  • Hydrating serum if skin feels dry
  • Rich moisturiser or nourishing oil
  • Eye cream or lightweight balm

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

When I first simplified, I still made mistakes. Here are the ones I see most:

  • Replacing everything at once: If you swap multiple products immediately, you won’t know what’s working. Change one product and monitor for two weeks.
  • Thinking more expensive equals better: There are stellar budget products. Focus on ingredients not price tags.
  • Neglecting SPF: It’s the single most important anti-ageing tool. No matter how minimal your routine, sunscreen stays.
  • Overusing actives: More frequent use of acids or retinoids won’t speed results and often causes barrier damage. Less is often more effective.

When to reintroduce steps or products

Simplifying isn’t permanent. Your skin changes with seasons, stress, hormones and travel. Reintroduce products deliberately:

  • Only add one item at a time and track changes for 2–4 weeks.
  • If you switch to a drier season, swap in a richer night cream rather than adding another layer.
  • If a specific concern resurfaces (pigmentation, acne), temporarily add back a specialist product and then step it down once improved.

Final practical tips I learned the hard way

To wrap up the practical things I repeatedly tell readers who want to simplify:

  • Prioritise consistency over complexity. Five steps you do every day beat ten steps you skip.
  • Layer from thinnest to thickest. Serums before creams; sunscreen last in AM.
  • Keep a small toolkit of backups: a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum, a barrier-supporting moisturiser, an SPF and one active. You’ll always have what you need while staying flexible.
  • Journal briefly. Note how your skin looks and feels when you change something. Small records help you spot patterns.

Switching from a 10-step to a five-step skincare routine changed the way I think about skincare: it’s less about collecting products and more about understanding what my skin actually needs. With the right choices and a bit of patience, you can get simpler, faster and better results — and actually enjoy your routine again.