Why the 'Best Skincare Routine' Doesn't Exist

In a world obsessed with celebrities and their flawless skin, it’s easy to fall into the trap of perfection. When an influencer says, “This is the best skincare routine for me,” many would blindly follow suit – influenced despite the absence of personal evidence.

The truth is many of these influencers already have smooth, poreless skin. Rarely would a brand hire someone with substantial acne to sell a facial wash for acne-prone skin; or someone with dry, rough elbows to talk about lotion. It is why #SkinToks of individuals who share their real-life skin transformations are compelling and persuasive, but it doesn’t make them any less dangerous.

Saying something is “the best” doesn’t hold much weight – especially with skin care. More than that, it can be harmful if heeded by an impressionable following. Here’s why skincare routines are not one-size-fits-all and why you should take these superlatives with a grain of salt.

As you probably already know, the skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is active, living tissue that adapts and reacts to various stimuli, substances, and external factors. When someone complains about how their skin has a mind of its own, they’re not wrong.

Like other organs in the body, your skin has some autonomy. It regenerates itself every 27 days, protects you from harsh environments, produces sebum to moisturize itself, sweats to regulate temperature, and heals wounds. She’s a strong, independent gal, and often, you’d be surprised by how much she doesn’t need you.

Jokes aside, skin also changes with age. From the age of 20, your skin starts producing 1% less collagen each year. You also make less elastin, a protein that lends elasticity and resilience, and your oil and sweat glands become less active.

These changes, while ongoing, can still surprise you. One day, you’re doing a skincare routine for oily skin. The next day, it feels extra dry, and desperate for a moisturizing regimen. Although dependable, the skin can evolve in seemingly unpredictable ways, which means caring for it should also be a flexible and evolving process.

If your skin constantly changes, try using a mild cleanser that won't strip it of essential moisture. Try Dove Beauty Bar, a product that combines gentle cleansing with the benefits of ¼ moisturizing cream to keep the skin soft and healthy-looking. It’s also suitable for all skin types.

There’s no such thing as the “best skincare routine” because everybody’s skin is different. What works for your friend may not necessarily work for you, even if you share the same skin type or condition.

Skincare vloggers recommend products and routines that worked for them, and often, these deal with sensitive skin issues like acne, rosacea, and eczema. But just because they had success, doesn’t mean you will, too.

Aside from your skin color, which affects how sensitive it is to UV radiation, your skin type, skin microbiome, and genetics all contribute to how your skin looks, feels, and reacts. This combination of factors makes your skin unique in its appearance, needs, and responsiveness to skincare routines.

Your lifestyle also contributes to skin health and how it reacts to products. The best skincare routine for you today can lose its effectiveness once you overexpose yourself to UV rays, for example. It can quickly become dry and flaky, regardless of how hydrated or oily it is.

Other lifestyle factors that can change your skin include diet, hygiene, exercise, and sleep quality. Certain medications and birth control pills can also have noticeable effects. Therefore, adjusting your routine to your skin’s changing needs is crucial. If you insist on practicing the 12-step regimen on skin that’s already sensitive and irritated, you risk damaging it even more.

Observe your skin and do not ignore its needs just to try out someone else’s idea of the best skincare routine. Talk to your doctor before trying a trending TikTok hack or the latest “holy grail” product. Most of all, make sure your regimen is agile and evolving as your skin changes to keep it healthy and functioning as it should.