Aside from freeing up some space on your vanity desk, simplifying your skincare routine by eliminating products that your skin doesn’t need can actually have a positive impact on it. Noting that it’s never a good idea to give your skin a sensory overload, dermatologist Dr. Melanie Palm tells Byrdie, “There is a benefit to giving your skin a break from certain products and following a more simplified routine, especially if you’re using a lot of actives, so it can repair its lipid barrier.” Dr. Palm goes on to say that a simplified routine helps protect your skin barrier from potential irritants throughout the winter when low temperatures, plus an indoor heating system, can easily weaken it.

Echoing the sentiment, dermatologist Dr. Pamela Benito tells Glamor that the skin cannot digest all the skincare ingredients at once. Overwhelming it with many actives can make it extra sensitive and vulnerable to irritation and extra dryness. Also, it’s worth noting that c are not all Ingredients work well together. Some cancel each other out and make the ingredients ineffective when used in conjunction. That’s why dermatologists would advise you to use certain products on alternate days — in the morning or evening — rather than all at once. For instance, combining retinol with vitamin C or benzoyl peroxide is one surefire way to irritate your skin and trigger a flare-up. Now that you know how beneficial a minimalist skincare routine can be, let’s talk about what stays and what goes.