# The Case for Simplifying Your Skincare Routine
Dermatologist Dr. Chan is challenging the beauty industry's push toward elaborate multi-step skincare routines, particularly for pregnant people who face real safety concerns about ingredients.
The standard 12-step skincare regimen promises glowing skin but delivers complexity, expense, and unnecessary anxiety. Dr. Chan argues that most people need far fewer products to maintain healthy skin. During pregnancy, this streamlined approach becomes medical necessity rather than preference. Pregnant people must avoid retinoids, salicylic acid, and certain other common skincare staples, making simplified routines both safer and easier to navigate.
The dermatologist critiques how the skincare industry exploits consumer insecurity. Marketing convinces us that more steps equal better results, when research shows that basic cleansing, sun protection, and moisturizing form the foundation of healthy skin for most people. Additional products often add irritation rather than improvement.
For pregnant individuals, this perspective offers real relief. Instead of researching ingredient safety across a dozen products, a pared-down routine eliminates guesswork. A gentle cleanser, pregnancy-safe moisturizer, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen address core skin health without exposing the developing baby to unnecessary chemicals.
Dr. Chan's approach aligns with dermatological evidence showing that skin barrier health depends on consistent basics, not product quantity. Over-washing or using too many actives can damage the skin's natural protective layer, triggering irritation, sensitivity, and breakouts.
Parents expecting or nursing children benefit from permission to opt out of trendy skincare culture. The message resonates beyond pregnancy too. Teenagers obsessing over Instagram-worthy routines, busy parents juggling multiple roles, and anyone on a budget can embrace simpler skincare without guilt.
The conversation reflects a broader shift in der