Do You Need a 10-Step Skincare Routine?

Written by Dennis Guevarra, Pharmacist

Your bathroom shelf has quietly filled up. There's a cleanser, a toner, an essence, two serums, an acid you use "on some nights", a retinol, an eye cream and a moisturiser. Lately your cheeks sting when the third serum goes on, and you're not sure which bottle is to blame.

Multi-step routines fill social media feeds, often styled to look clinical: neat rows of bottles, precise layering, and a step for every concern. They promise that more steps mean better skin.

Here's what you might not know: for many people, especially those with sensitive skin, a shorter routine with gentler products may cut your skin's exposure to potential irritants. Fewer products mean fewer ingredients touching your skin each day and fewer suspects when something flares.

Do more steps mean better results?

Not on their own. Each extra product adds more ingredients, and every ingredient is another chance for irritation.

A 2025 study of skincare routines shared on TikTok shows how quickly the products stack up. Researchers at Northwestern University reviewed 100 videos made by children and teens. The average routine used six products, some used more than a dozen, and a typical regimen cost about US$168, lasting roughly a month. The most-viewed videos contained an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients.

The researchers linked these routines to a high risk of irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. Part of that risk came from layering several active ingredients at once, such as hydroxy acids. The other part came from repeats: the same active ingredient turned up in three, four or five products. Pharmacists see the same trap with cold and flu tablets. Take two different brands for a bad cold, and you may double up on paracetamol without realising.

Skincare works the same way. An exfoliating acid in your toner, serum and moisturiser adds up to three doses on the same patch of skin, every day.

Can layering multiple actives irritate sensitive skin?

Yes. Skin irritation often builds from several mild irritants acting together, and sensitive skin reaches its limit sooner.

According to DermNet, irritant contact dermatitis often results from several irritants adding up. Repeated low-level exposure can wear down the skin over time, even when each product seems mild on its own.

Some common actives carry their own risks:

Retinoids. Cosmetic brands commonly add retinol and retinaldehyde to their formulas. DermNet lists retinoid dermatitis (redness, peeling and dryness) as a side effect, and notes their drying effect can make eczema worse.
Fragrance. Fragrance allergy ranks second only to nickel as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis and affects around 1% of adults. A product that lists "botanical", "herbal" or "natural" ingredients can still contain fragrance, so plant-based products deserve a patch test too.

Sensitive skin is also more common than many people assume. In a review of 26 studies across 18 countries, 71% of people described their skin as sensitive to some degree, and 40% rated it moderately or very sensitive. The authors note that surveys may overestimate these figures.

What does a pharmacist recommend for a simple, effective routine?

For most adults, three daytime steps cover the basics: cleanse gently, moisturise, and protect your skin from the sun.

Cleanse gently. Use a soap-free, fragrance-free cleanser and lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry.
Moisturise while your skin is still slightly damp. Choose a fragrance-free formula with a texture you'll use every day.
Protect from the sun. On days when the UV Index reaches 3 or above, Cancer Council Australia recommends SPF 50 or 50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, plus a hat, shade, and covering clothing.

Cutting back an existing routine? Line up your products and read the ingredient lists. If the same active, such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid or retinol, appears in more than one product, keep it in one and set the others aside. Your cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen stay.

At night, cleanse and moisturise. If you want an active such as retinol, add it on its own and see how your skin responds before you add anything else. Patch test each new product on a small area for about a week, and stop using it if your skin stings, burns or peels.

Read more about why fewer, cleaner ingredients matter in our guide to fragrance-free products.

How simple should a routine be for babies?

Even simpler than yours. Most babies need only warm water, a gentle cleanser when needed, and a fragrance-free moisturiser if their skin feels dry.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne recommends bathing babies in warm tap water for 5 to 10 minutes every few days, or as needed. It advises a mild, soap-free cleanser only as required and no soap or bubble bath, since bubble baths may strip natural oils from the skin.

For dry patches, the hospital recommends a thick, non-fragranced moisturiser applied all over daily at the first sign of dryness. Your pharmacist or child health nurse can help you choose one that suits your baby.

See your GP if your baby's skin becomes red, weepy or cracked, or if dry patches keep spreading.

Where does Natralus fit in?

A simple routine can start with two products. SorboDerm Natural Gentle Skin Cleanser is a fragrance-free, plant-based, pH-balanced cleanser with glycerin, rice bran oil, niacinamide (vitamin B3) and panthenol (vitamin B5).

Follow it with SorboDerm Natural Restoring Gentle Moisturiser, a fragrance-free, vegetable-based cream with rice bran oil, glycerin and vitamin E. Add your own SPF 50+ sunscreen in the morning, since neither product provides sun protection. As with any new product, patch test first.

Quick answers on simple skincare routines

Is a 10-step routine bad for your skin?

Not always. Some people with resilient skin use several products without trouble. If your skin stings, burns, flakes or turns red, cut back to the basics and reintroduce products one at a time.

Can natural products irritate skin too?

Yes. Plant extracts can contain fragrance compounds, so patch test botanical products the same way you would any other.

Do you still need sunscreen with a simple routine?

Yes. Cancer Council Australia recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index reaches 3 or above, even on cool or cloudy days.

Medical disclaimer: For educational purposes only. Consult your pharmacist/healthcare provider.