Not everyone is cut out for a 12-step skincare routine. In fact, most of us are just trying to remember if we washed our face before collapsing into bed. If the idea of layering essences, serums, toners, and snail slime makes you want to take a nap—good news: you can still have healthy, glowing skin without turning your bathroom into a chemistry lab.

Here’s your guide to lazy skincare. Spoiler: it’s less about doing everything and more about doing the right things.

Step 1: Clean (But Don’t Overthink It)

Yes, you do need to wash your face. (Baby wipes don’t count.) But you don’t need three cleansers and a spiny brush that feels like a power tool.

• A gentle cleanser that removes dirt, makeup, and SPF is plenty.

• If you wear heavy makeup, consider a cleansing balm or oil first, then follow with your usual wash. Two steps, tops.

Step 2: Moisturise Like Your Life Depends on It

Think of moisturiser as your skin’s security blanket. Even if you do absolutely nothing else, slapping on a good moisturiser morning and night will make a difference.

• Look for formulas with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or glycerine.

• If your skin feels tight, flaky, or itchy, you need more moisture—not more steps.

Step 3: Sunscreen, Always

We get it. Sunscreen feels like a chore. But skipping SPF is the fastest way to age your skin before its time. If you want to do the bare minimum and still look good, this is the one product you cannot ditch.

• Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every single day. Yes, even when it’s cloudy. Yes, even if you’re “just indoors.”

• To make life easier, grab a moisturiser with SPF so you’re essentially killing two birds with one pump.

Step 4: Bonus Points (If You Can Be Bothered)

If you ever find yourself with a burst of motivation, here are some optional upgrades:

• Vitamin C serum in the morning for brighter skin.

• Retinol at night to help with fine lines and breakouts.

• Exfoliate once or twice a week (but please don’t sandpaper your face).

These aren’t daily essentials, but they’re nice to add in when you feel like levelling up from “lazy” to “semi-committed.”

The Takeaway

Skincare doesn’t need to be complicated—or expensive. If you’re cleansing, moisturising, and wearing SPF, you’re already covering the basics that actually matter. Everything else? Think of it as extra credit.

So yes, you can be lazy and still look good. Your skin won’t know you skipped the 47 serums—it’ll just be grateful you showed up with the essentials.