Should I Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise?

This week, we're diving into one of the most iconic skincare routines ever created: the 3-step "cleanse, tone, and moisturise" system. It's a ritual many of us are familiar with, often passed down through generations as the foundation of skincare. Personally, it was my Gran who took me to buy my first set, and I still remember the excitement of opening it on Christmas morning!

Despite its widespread popularity and historical significance, it's surprising to many that this routine is not something I’d recommend today. Let's explore why...

The History: A Groundbreaking Skincare Revolution

The cleanse, tone, and moisturise routine first became famous in 1968 and was a revolutionary step forward for skincare. Before this, skincare products were largely unregulated, causing irritation for many. This routine, which featured a bar of soap for cleansing, a toner to rebalance the skin, and a moisturiser to hydrate, was the first to be clinically tested - and it made a noticeable difference in people's skin.

However, while it helped prevent irritation and made skincare accessible to millions, it missed two critical elements that are now considered essential: correction and protection.

Why It’s Time to Upgrade Your Routine

While cleansing and moisturising are crucial steps, they only clean and hydrate the skin. Today’s skincare demands more advanced solutions to treat specific concerns and protect your skin from damage. Let’s break down the missing pieces:

1. Correction: This step involves using serums, which have a thinner consistency than face creams. Serums penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, addressing concerns such as wrinkles, loss of firmness, and dark circles directly at the source. Without serums, you're only treating the surface.

2. Protection: The most important step of all is protection, specifically from the sun. SPF shields your skin from UV rays, which can cause up to 90% of premature ageing and are a leading cause of skin cancer. No skincare routine is complete without daily SPF use.

What Should Your Skincare Routine Look Like Today?

With modern advancements in skincare, the recommended routine is now cleanse, eye serum, face serum, moisturise, and SPF. This is the exact system I’ve prescribed throughout my career and use in The 5 Minute Kit.

But what happened to the toner, you ask? Originally, toner was used to rebalance the skin’s pH after cleansing with soap, which is alkaline. Without it, skin could feel tight and dry. Today, high-quality cleansers like our Dream Clean Cleanser are already pH-balanced, making toner an unnecessary step.

Skincare Has Evolved, and So Should Your Routine

The classic cleanse-tone-moisturise routine wasn't wrong, but just like how landline phones have evolved into the smartphones we use today, skincare has also progressed. With the science and research we have now, it's no longer just about hydration; we can completely transform our skin.

By incorporating these modern steps, you can achieve your best skin ever in just 5 minutes each morning and night! A true skincare revolution 🥰