Are We Overcomplicating Things With 10 Step Skincare Routines?

Living in highly capitalised cities isn’t just tough on your mental health—it takes a toll on your skin too. Urban heat, emissions, and air pollutants demand extra care and attention, as they can clog pores, damage skin cells, and disrupt your skin’s delicate bacterial balance.

So when we look at these environmental factors, it might feel like our simple three-step skincare routine isn’t cutting it—and that we need to buy more products to keep our skin healthy and protected.

This idea is especially amplified on social media platforms like TikTok, where influencers with flawless skin promote their 10-step Korean skincare routines—sometimes even more—all in the name of showing viewers what they need to achieve that perfect, glossy, “healthy skin” look.

Those ten steps often include two different types of face wash—like cleansing oil and foam—plus exfoliants, toners, essence, multiple layers of serums, capsules and ampoules, sheet masks, eye creams, moisturisers, and SPF. All used in a single routine.

So after stumbling across these video recommendations, we start to wonder—is the classic three-step skincare routine no longer enough, given the environmental conditions we live in? Does our skin really need that many products now? Or is it just clever marketing, with influencers feeding into a culture of overconsumption?

@yejee.lee 10 Step Korean skincare routine 🤍 Remember to do what works best for you. #koreanskincare #10stepskincare #10stepskoreanskincareroutine #manyofactory #manyo #purecleansingoil #manyobifida #torriden #sulwhasoo #abib #roundlab ♬ original sound – yej

To get to the essence of these questions, we sought professional perspective and advice from Danielle Andrews, Clinical Director, Nurse, and Co-Director of Laser + Skin Clinics across Ireland. In our conversation with Danielle, we explored these pressing skincare questions—especially around cosmeceutical skincare—in clear, simple terms that anyone could understand.

Before diving deeper, Danielle starts with the basics—explaining what cosmeceutical skincare is, why and when we need it, and how to use it correctly.

“Cosmeceutical skincare is a blend of cosmetic and medical targeted treatment, chosen specifically for individuals with the purpose of keeping the skin functioning and healthy,” says Danielle.

She continues to explain that the need for skincare develops gradually as we grow—even for non-problematic skin.

“As we age, our cell turnover slows down—they don’t heal, regenerate, or repair like they did when we were younger,” she says. “So young, healthy skin doesn’t need invasive treatments.”

The best thing young people (aged 13–25) can do, she adds, isn’t piling on hyped beauty products from social media, but simply protecting their skin with SPF to defend against environmental damage.

But as we get older, our skin does become more vulnerable to external factors—and yes, it does require a bit more attention and care.

But does that mean we need to ditch the classic three-step routine and start layering ten different products just to keep our skin healthy and glowing?

We won’t drag this out—here’s Danielle’s honest answer: obviously, no.

Applying multiple products at once without a rationale—like a dermatologist-prescribed treatment for a specific issue—won’t do you much good. In fact, it can backfire, leading to inflammation, breakouts, irritation, flare-ups… and the list goes on.

Danielle recalls her generation at a young age as the “generation of St. Ives scrub,” which was heavily advertised on television. “We scrubbed our faces to within an inch of, causing huge damage,” she says. “We were creating tiny micro-tears in our skin.”

Even today, influencers promoting intensive skincare routines remind her of that same issue—damaged skin barriers caused by relying heavily on media as the main source of skincare advice.

In Danielle’s opinion, “social media is a minefield of information.” Ethically, she believes influencers shouldn’t promote skincare routines because skincare is incredibly specific—everything depends on the individual.

“Your skincare needs are completely different from mine,” she says. “And your skin reacts differently to different elements and stressors.”

Therefore, recommending products to others is a delicate matter, since a product can have a completely different reaction for someone else.

Danielle also points out that the visual representation of skin on social media isn’t accurate because “the photos we see online are just brief moments in time.”

Influencers often use perfect lighting, filters, and capture their skin only when it’s looking its absolute best, simply to sell products by promising their followers they can achieve similar results if they apply ten products from a specific brand.

@aamnaadel This is the correct order to apply your AM skin routine! 💕🧴✨ #dermatologist #dradel #skintok #skincare #skincareroutine #skincaretips #morningroutine #skincaresteps #foryou #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound – Dr Adel | Dermatologist

So if you have non-problematic skin, want to protect its health and maintain its appearance, but feel overwhelmed by skincare advice online, here’s what Danielle recommends:

First of all, it’s important to remember that skincare isn’t only about the products you use—it’s also about your lifestyle.

“If you don’t eat well, don’t nourish yourself, and lack adequate protein, your skin won’t function optimally. You need to take care of yourself on both levels: external and internal.”

Follow a “less is more” approach with consistency. Here’s Danielle’s simple yet effective three-step routine, plus a few helpful additions:

Step One: Cleanse your face using two types of face wash.

Danielle suggests a gentle cleanser daily to remove makeup and impurities without disrupting your skin barrier, and an active cleanser a few times a week to remove deeper impurities that gentle cleansing might miss.

Step Two: Apply an antioxidant serum.

A common and effective choice is vitamin C, which protects your skin from oxidative damage caused by environmental stressors.

Step Three: Always finish with SPF.

According to Danielle, combining SPF with an antioxidant serum offers optimal protection— “You get 80% protection from environmental damage,” she explains.

These three simple steps form your essential morning routine, providing stronger protection from environmental harm and saving precious time each day. Danielle even shares her personal time-saving tip:

“Wash your face in the shower, apply your serum while brushing your teeth, then put on your SPF.”

And just like that, you’re ready to conquer the world without worrying about the environmental damage your skin might face.

As for the evening… Danielle recommends sticking to the same simple formula, but replacing your SPF step with a moisturiser.

Danielle also mentions that beyond your basic three-step routine, you can of course include additional products like retinols, which are highly beneficial. Retinols brighten the skin, smooth texture, reduce inflammation, and unclog pores.

However, before introducing retinol into your skincare routine, it’s important to consult a professional who can recommend the best option for your skin.

She advises using retinol carefully—start with a low concentration and apply it slowly, gradually increasing frequency to avoid irritation or peeling.

As for specific product recommendations, Danielle doesn’t swear by just one brand—she and her team prefer to cherry-pick the best from the ranges she works with.

“We only work with brands that have clinical research and papers to support their claims,” she explains.

That said, she did mention a few trustworthy names, specifically vitamin A from Obagi, cleansers from ZO, and antioxidants from Skinceuticals.

And Danielle’s final piece of advice?

Don’t let price guide you. Influencers often promote pricey products that seem high-quality simply because of the cost—but that’s not always the case.

“Your skincare doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and more expensive doesn’t mean better,” she says.

So, just like using more products doesn’t automatically mean better results, a higher price tag doesn’t always guarantee better skincare.

Words by Bohdana Shmyha