Whether virtual, hybrid, all-in or homeschooling—back-to-school season is a busy time of year! Add in sports practices, music lessons and social obligations, and pretty soon things become really hectic, really fast. Multiply that by four kids (*waves*), and you might be pushing the limits of exhaustion. Oh, and those summer self-care sessions? Forget about it. They might as well drop as quickly as the temps.

But it doesn’t have to be this way!

Before you fall into bed at night or rush to get out the door in the morning, it’s crucial to take a few minutes for yourself to stay on top of your skincare routine. Your complexion needs this consistency more than ever, especially with the added stress this time of year can bring.

Not sure where to start? Have no fear! Here are three quick tips to help you prioritize what matters most in your skincare routine, so you’re (at the very least) spending time on what’s essential and eliminating what’s unnecessary.

Your new mantra? You can achieve healthy, glowing skin, even during the most stressful times of the year!

So, let’s do this.

Tip #1: Only use active ingredients your skin *really* needs.

Over-applying too many ingredients is the fastest way to disrupt your skin, leading to sensitivity, irritation and ultimately worsening skin conditions. When your skin is stressed, don’t overdo it with too many products—this just doesn’t work. Instead, keep it simple. Pick your top two skin issues (think: pigmentation, fine lines, hydration, breakouts, dullness, etc.) and work on those.

Psst...not sure which ingredients to grab for your skin issues? No worries! We have a blog post for that.

Also, we recommend choosing products that work hard for your skin-specific issues, like serums. You may even find a serum that treats all of your concerns in one product! The truth? It’s totally not necessary to have a five-step routine if you’re using a high-quality serum. Depending on your issues, apply a nutrient-dense serum either in the morning or at night. A good rule of thumb is that hydrating, antioxidant-rich, and pollution-fighting serums are best in the morning (like our Go-Getter Day Serum) while clarifying, brightening serums that contain exfoliating AHAs or retinol are best to use at night (our Multitasker Night Serum combines niacinamide with gently exfoliating fruit acids to help even, clarify and brighten your skin while you sleep!).

Tip #2: If nothing else, cleanse.

If you do nothing else before you go to bed, always choose to cleanse. It’s *so* important to wash off your day—removing makeup, pollution, sweat and dirt is essential to prevent blocked pores that lead to breakouts and an uneven, dull-looking complexion.

But beware: there really is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Leaving some natural oil and even sweat on your skin is healthy for the maintenance of your microbiome, so be sure not to over-cleanse.

The most important times to wash are before bed and after workouts. Also, consider using a micellar or cleansing water after workouts and a gentle, hydrating cleanser with ceramides before bed. Unfortunately, cleansing is the one place in your routine that has the potential to strip your complexion of its natural oils, so adding back ceramides while cleansing can help combat dry, dehydrated skin!

Tip #3: Protection can prevent your need for a more complex routine.

Wearing a good SPF 30 on your face every single day can significantly help prevent sun damage. If you’re consistent with sunscreen in your daily routine, it will ultimately help prevent the need to use active ingredients in the future—specifically those that treat uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. Also, adding a good, quality antioxidant serum helps to prevent pollution damage that may lead to dull, dehydrated skin issues.

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So, there you have it! Whatever back to school looks like for you this year, you may be feeling a little run down. But a busy schedule should *never* be a reason to abandon your self-care. By simplifying your skincare routine, you’ll be able to maintain healthy skin with very little effort.

The most important tips to remember? Limit products, reduce your active ingredients that only focus on two skin issues at a time, cleanse every day and always protect your skin from sun and pollution damage.

Wishing you and your little ones a great school year ahead (and healthy, happy skin with an effortless skincare routine you will want to reach for every day!).