A Simple 3-Step Skin Care Routine for Busy Days

If you’re a regular skin care enthusiast, then you may have committed yourself to a 10-step high maintenance skin care routine at some point or another. But let’s be real: It can be seriously difficult to stay on track when you’ve got so many skin care steps to follow morning and night. Your skin care routine doesn’t have to be that complicated, though. On busy days, all you need to do is follow three simple steps to care for your complexion. Yep, it really is that easy! Keep reading for your most basic skin care routine for those days when you just don’t have that much extra time to spare.

Step 1: Cleanse

One part of your skin care routine that you just shouldn’t skip? That would be cleansing! Reach for a no-rinse cleansing option, like micellar water, to get you started. Micellar water is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that act as a magnet to lift dirt, oil, and makeup up and away from the skin. The L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin purifies and mattifies, the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin hydrates and soothes, and the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof – All Skin Types intensely purifies. Just pour your micellar water of choice onto a cotton pad until it’s saturated and wipe the pad across your face.

Step 2: Cleanse Again

Before heading out the door in the morning (or hopping into bed and night), get a deeper clean by double cleansing. Once you’ve initially cleansed your skin with micellar water, reach for a rinse-off facial cleanser. Try the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Cleanser, L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Cleanser, or L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Exfoliate & Refine Cleanser, which are seamlessly formulated to transform from clay to mousse. Squeeze a small amount of cleanser into your hands and add water to transform it from clay to mousse. Gently massage the cleanser onto your skin circular motions, then rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Step 3: Moisturize

Last but not least, no matter how busy you are, it’s absolutely essential that you complete your skin care routine with a moisturizer. Yep, that goes for all skin types—even oily skin! Look for one that’s formulated for your specific skin type, and sweep it over your face and neck morning and night. The L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Dry Skin, L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Oily Skin , and L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Extra Dry Skin are formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera water to help provide long-lasting hydration.

Bonus tip: In the morning, reach for a moisturizer formulated with broad-spectrum sunscreen, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Lotion SPF 30. Reaching for a multitasking skin care product can cut down on the number of steps in your skin care routine—which is what you’re looking for if you’re on the go, right? According to the Food and Drug Administration, you should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily as directed. Other sun protection measures you should also take every day are limiting your amount of time in the sun (especially between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), seeking shade, and covering up exposed areas in long sleeves, pants, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. And remember to reapply your moisturizer with SPF at least every two hours—or immediately after swimming or sweating. So, toss the bottle in your bag before you leave home for the day.

Now that you’ve got your basic three-step skin care routine down pat, we wanted to give you another helping hand by ensuring that your hair looks presentable even when time is running low. To style your hair in a jiffy, check out our article, Easy Hairstyles You Can Do in Under 3 Min or Less.