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Let’s be real—if you’re a mom, you probably don’t have time (or the energy) for a 10-step skincare routine every morning and night.
Between kids, work, laundry, schedules, and everything else that somehow needs your attention, skincare can quickly become one more thing on the list.
But taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated.
The same goes for self-care in general—the best routine is usually the one that actually fits your life. If you’ve been trying to make more space for yourself, you might also like my self-care routine you’ll actually stick to.
Over the years, I’ve tried plenty of cleansers, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, and treatments. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a simple routine you’ll actually stick to is better than an elaborate one you won’t.
These days, I focus on a few basics that keep my skin hydrated, protected, and feeling good—and then add targeted products where they make sense.
So if skincare has started feeling like another project, start here.
The Simple Skincare Routine
You really only need a few basics to build a solid routine.
Morning
Cleanse
Moisturize
SPF
Night
Cleanse
Treatment or hydrating serum
Moisturize
That’s it.
You can always add more later, but you don’t need a bathroom counter full of products to start taking better care of your skin.
And no—you’re not lazy. You’re busy. There’s a difference.
1. Start With a Cleanser You’ll Actually Use
A good cleanser doesn’t need to be fancy. I want something that removes the day without leaving my skin feeling stripped or tight.
I’ve used both CeraVe Foaming Cleanser and CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, and both have had a place in my skincare rotation.
The Foaming Cleanser works especially well when I want that clean feeling, while the Hydrating Cleanser is a gentler option when my skin feels like it needs a little more moisture.
More recently, I’ve been using a BYOMA Milky Oil cleanser as I’ve simplified and changed some of the products in my routine, and I really like the product itself.
My only complaint? The packaging isn’t my favorite.
And I actually think those little details matter when recommending products. Something can be a great formula without being perfect in every way.
Make it easier: Keep your everyday cleanser somewhere you naturally encounter it—mine often becomes part of my shower routine. Removing one extra step makes consistency much easier.
Products I’ve used and liked:
2. Add Hydration Without Adding Five More Steps
Serums are where skincare can start getting overwhelming fast.
You hear about hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, vitamin C, acids—and suddenly your simple routine looks like a chemistry experiment.
You don't need all of them.
I started with affordable serums from The Ordinary and have used both hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. I liked them, especially as an inexpensive way to experiment with adding targeted products to my routine.
More recently, I’ve been using a BYOMA hydrating serum, which I really enjoy.
For me, a hydrating serum is an easy extra step because it gives my skin a little more hydration without making my routine feel complicated.
If your basic cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF are working for you, though, you don't have to add a serum just because everyone else has one.
Products I’ve used and liked:
3. Find a Moisturizer That Keeps Things Simple
Moisturizer has always been one of my basics.
I've used CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for a long time and still think it's a great straightforward option.
I've also recently been using BYOMA Barrier Repair Treatment Moisturizer and I've really enjoyed the way it feels in my routine.
This is another category where I don't think you need to chase every new launch.
Find something your skin likes, that works well underneath your other products, and that you'll consistently use.
That's enough.
Products I've used and liked:
4. If You Prioritize One Morning Step, Make It SPF
If there’s one part of my morning skincare routine I don't want to skip, it's sunscreen.
Daily sun protection helps protect your skin from UV damage and the premature visible signs of sun exposure—and it becomes especially important when you're using products that can increase sun sensitivity.
For everyday wear, I've used a CeraVe Tinted Mineral Sunscreen and like that it gives me a little bit of coverage while protecting my skin.
When I need something more suited to water, sweat, or being outside, I've also used Supergoop Play! and really like it.
This is one of my favorite ways to simplify a morning routine: find an SPF that you actually enjoy wearing.
Because the sunscreen sitting untouched in the cabinet isn't doing much for you.
SPFs I actually use:
5. My Nighttime “Extra”: Tretinoin
If you've been around skincare content for any amount of time, you've probably heard about retinol and retinoids.
Before I started prescription tretinoin, I used The Ordinary Retinol. For me, it was a simple, affordable way to introduce a retinol product into my routine before eventually moving on to tretinoin.
I've now used prescription tretinoin for some time, and for me personally, it's become the real anti-aging workhorse in my nighttime routine.
I usually double cleanse at night when I've worn makeup, follow with hydration, use my tretinoin as directed, and finish with moisturizer.
That said, retinoids are one area where I wouldn't simply copy someone else's routine. Tretinoin is a prescription medication and can cause dryness, peeling and irritation. If you're considering prescription tretinoin, talk with your dermatologist or healthcare provider about whether it's appropriate for your skin and how to use it.
If you're not ready for prescription tretinoin, an over-the-counter retinol may be a more approachable place to start. Introduce it slowly and pay attention to how your skin responds.
What I started with:
What I use now:
- Prescription tretinoin
A Product I Recently Tried—and Want to Keep Using
I recently received a sample of La Roche-Posay Effaclar from my dermatologist when I was dealing with some small bumps and an acne flare-up.
I haven't used it long enough to pretend I can give you a six-month review, but I did feel like my skin texture looked and felt better while I was using it.
So it's one I'm interested in continuing to try.
And that's how I want to approach recommendations here: if I've only sampled something, I'll tell you. If I've used something for years, I'll tell you that too.
You don't need another list of products pretending everything is someone's “holy grail.”
Product I’ve used and liked:
What I’m Actually Using Right Now
My routine changes a little depending on what my skin needs, but most days it looks something like this:
Morning
Cleanser
Moisturizer
Sunscreen
Night
Double cleanse if I've worn makeup
Hydrating serum
Tretinoin
Moisturizer
That's really it.
No ten serums. No elaborate skincare schedule taped to the bathroom mirror.
Just a handful of products I like and a routine I can realistically maintain.
You Don’t Need to Do Everything
One of the easiest ways to make skincare overwhelming is to decide you suddenly need every ingredient you've ever heard about.
You don't.
Start with:
Cleanser + moisturizer + SPF.
Use those consistently.
Then, if there's something specific you'd like to address—hydration, texture, uneven tone, breakouts or visible signs of aging—you can consider adding one targeted product at a time.
That makes it much easier to figure out what your skin actually likes and what might be causing irritation.
Skincare should feel like a small way of taking care of yourself—not another area of life you're somehow failing to optimize.
If everything has been feeling like one more thing lately, start smaller. The free 5-Minute Reset is a simple place to pause, clear some of the mental clutter, and decide what you need next.
One Last Thing
You’re not lazy.
You're probably managing a hundred invisible things before you've even washed your face in the morning.
So make skincare fit your life.
Keep the products you enjoy. Skip the ones you don't need. Give new products time. Protect your skin from the sun. And build a routine simple enough that taking care of yourself doesn't become another thing you have to keep up with.
Because sometimes self-care isn't an elaborate ritual.
Sometimes it's washing your face, putting on moisturizer, and remembering that you deserve a few minutes of care, too.
And if taking care of yourself has started to feel unfamiliar altogether, you might also like How to Find Yourself Again After Losing Yourself in Motherhood.