Most women I talk to are doing 8 steps and still look tired. That's not because they need a $90 serum.

It's because they're stripping the barrier every night and then piling actives on top of a compromised surface. Glow doesn't come from more products. It comes from a barrier that can actually hold water.

The boring version that works:

• Gentle cleanser at night. Water in the morning if you're not greasy.

• Moisturizer while skin is still damp.

• SPF every day, even inside.

If it stings, it's not "working." It's damaged. Stop the acids for two weeks and watch what happens.

That's the whole game. Everything else is optional.