The Essential Skincare Steps—And Why Your Routine Shouldn’t Be One-Size-Fits-All

We’ve all seen the perfect skincare routine checklist floating around: cleanse, tone, serum, moisturize, SPF. While this classic 5-step sequence is a helpful guide, it's not a universal rule—and it’s definitely not one-size-fits-all. What your skin needs can vary depending on your skin’s condition, the season, your age, lifestyle, and more.

At Olyanna, we believe in listening to your skin, not following trends blindly. So let’s walk through each step and highlight where there’s room for flexibility—plus a few common skincare mistakes to avoid along the way.

 

Step 1: Cleanse – But Don’t Overdo It

Cleansing removes dirt, excess oil, and product build-up, creating a clean canvas for the rest of your routine. But too much cleansing—or using the wrong type of cleanser—can do more harm than good.

Tip: Use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser once or twice a day depending on your skin’s needs. If your skin feels tight, dry, or squeaky-clean afterward, that’s a red flag. You may be stripping away your skin’s natural sebum, which plays an essential role in protecting and moisturizing your skin.

Avoid: Over-cleansing, especially with harsh foaming cleansers. It can lead to irritation, breakouts, or dryness.

 

Step 2: Tone – Optional, But Often Helpful

Toners can help rebalance the skin’s pH, deliver hydration, and prepare your skin to better absorb serums and moisturizers. But not everyone needs one.

Tip: Hydrating or soothing toners are a great addition for dry, sensitive, or mature skin. Exfoliating toners with acids (like AHAs or BHAs) should be used sparingly and not in the same routine as other active treatments unless you know what your skin can tolerate.

Avoid: Using strong exfoliating toners daily or combining multiple acid-based products. This can lead to over-exfoliation and a compromised skin barrier.

 

Step 3: Serum – Targeted Treatment

Serums are concentrated formulas designed to address specific concerns—think dullness, dehydration, fine lines, or dark spots. This is the step where your routine becomes highly personalized.

Tip: You might not need a serum at all, or you might benefit from rotating serums throughout the week based on your skin’s changing needs. Vitamin C in the morning, hydrating serums at night, or a peptide formula a few times a week—there’s no universal answer.

Avoid: Layering too many active ingredients or buying serums because they’re trending. Choose ingredients based on your skin goals, not a viral video.

 

Step 4: Moisturize – Support Your Skin Barrier

Moisturizers help seal in hydration and support your skin barrier. This step is often skipped by oily or acne-prone skin types—but it’s just as important.

Tip: Choose a moisturizer based on your skin’s needs—lightweight gel-creams for oilier skin, richer creams for drier or mature skin. Even if you use oils, a proper moisturizer (especially one with water-loving humectants) is key for balanced skin.

Avoid: Thinking oily skin doesn’t need moisturizer. Dehydrated oily skin can actually produce more oil in response to dryness.

 

Step 5: Sun Protection – Non-Negotiable (AM Only)

This is the step we don’t skip. Sun protection whether using an SPF and or covering up is your best defense against premature aging, sunspots, and skin cancer. No matter your skin tone or type, daily broad-spectrum protection is essential.

Tip: If you choose to use sunscreen as your method of sun protection, use SPF 30 or higher every morning, rain or shine. If you wear makeup, look for SPF-friendly layers or apply sunscreen underneath your makeup. Reapplication is key if you're outside or exposed to sunlight throughout the day.

Avoid: Using SPF only in summer or thinking it’s not needed indoors. UV rays can still penetrate windows and affect your skin.

 

Skincare Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Trendy routines and product layering videos might look beautiful on social media, but your skin doesn’t need 10 steps to thrive. In fact, more is not always better.

Some people benefit from simple, minimal routines. Others may enjoy experimenting with new ingredients or multi-step regimens. There’s no right or wrong—only what works for you.

 

Things to Avoid in Any Skincare Routine

·       Over-Cleansing or Over-Exfoliating: This disrupts the skin barrier and leads to dryness, redness, and breakouts.

·       Stripping Your Natural Oils: Your skin’s sebum has a purpose—completely removing it can lead to imbalance.

·       Chasing Every Trend: What works for someone else might not work for you.

·       Self-Diagnosing Skin Conditions: Persistent or severe issues like cystic acne, eczema, or rosacea deserve care from a licensed dermatologist—not an internet search.

 

In Conclusion: Trust Your Skin, Not the Hype

The goal of any routine is to support and protect your skin, not to keep up with the latest beauty craze. Take the time to learn what your skin responds to—and don’t be afraid to simplify, swap steps, or take breaks from actives when needed.

If you’re ever unsure, it's better to get guidance from a skincare professional rather than piecing together advice from strangers on the internet (even well-meaning ones!).

Your skin is unique. Your routine should be too.

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer

The content provided on this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for professional dermatological consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual skin conditions, sensitivities, and reactions to ingredients can vary. Always consult with a licensed dermatologist or healthcare provider for personalized skincare advice. The products, techniques, or routines discussed in this blog may not suit everyone, and the results may vary. The author assumes no liability for any adverse effects resulting from the use of the information provided.