My skincare routine used to have ten steps and take twenty minutes I didn't have. These days it's five minutes, five products, and it works better than the complicated version ever did.
The Order That Actually Matters
Cleanse, then a vitamin C serum while skin is still slightly damp, then a rosehip facial oil to seal it in, then a light moisturizer, then — if I remember — a silk pillowcase to finish the job while I sleep. That's it. The order matters more than the number of products.
Where I Splurge
The vitamin C serum is the one product I don't compromise on; the brightening difference over a few weeks is real and visible in photos. It's the first thing I repurchase every time it runs low.
Where I Save
My moisturizer is a drugstore find that performs just as well as luxury versions I've tried at triple the price. Some things are worth the splurge, and some really aren't — moisturizer, for me, is the latter.