Before Buying Another Serum, Consider Whether Your Skin Needs Less

With so many serums, creams and exfoliating acids available, adding another product can seem like the answer to every new skin concern. But a growing skincare routine is not necessarily a better one, especially when products leave the face feeling uncomfortable.

Redness, stinging, dryness or flaking can be signs that a routine needs reassessing rather than expanding. These symptoms can have different causes, but using several potentially irritating products together may contribute to the problem.

New breakouts after a change in routine are also a reason to pause before buying more. Introducing multiple products at once makes it harder to work out which one may be causing trouble, and adding another serum can complicate that process further.

A simpler approach centres on gentle cleansing, moisturising and daytime sun protection, while setting aside non-essential products that appear to cause irritation. Persistent or worsening symptoms should be assessed by a dermatologist rather than treated with an ever-longer shopping list.