The realistic beauty routine is not just for young mothers! The beauty of real life, without (too many) filters
In recent years, the beauty routine has become one of the most viral topics on social media. From TikTok to Instagram, videos are shared daily featuring lengthy skincare regimens, nighttime rituals, and makeup and haircare tutorials where the keyword always seems to be the same: infinite layering. But outside the screen, everyday life runs at a different pace, full of work, commitments, kids, and little time in front of the mirror. This is where the realistic beauty routine comes in: essential steps, effective products, and a more authentic approach.
Does skincare really need ten steps?
The so-called glass skin and Korean routines have set the myth of ten steps as the new standard, but more and more people are questioning whether all of this is really necessary. The truth is that skin mostly needs hydration and protection, rather than an endless array of formulas. A sustainable routine is also easier to stick to consistently, which is what truly makes the difference. In this sense, the realistic beauty routine embraces the concept of less is more: a few carefully chosen products can be far more effective than an endless ritual, because they make consistency and authenticity possible.
@_lilpeet if you’re looking for an EASY, realistic skincare routine….. save this video!!!! what should I ask ChatGPT next??? #skincaretips #beautytips #morningskincare #skincareproducts @Skinfix @CeraVe @The Ordinary @Point of View Beauty @Youth To The People original sound - Lauren Wilensky
What does realistic beauty routine mean?
The realistic beauty routine is an approach to self-care born from the need to bring skincare, makeup, and haircare back to a more practical and essential dimension. Not an obsession with often superfluous rituals to showcase on social media, but a few targeted gestures that can be adapted to the time you have. It’s a flexible, authentic, and sustainable routine that changes every day.
The morning ritual when you only have 5 minutes
Being a freelancer with two daughters and two dogs means living days where priorities shift quickly. In this scenario, the beauty routine becomes part of survival and must work even in a super fast version.
Skincare
- Infyve Acqua 2.0 a dense micellar cleanser that removes makeup, cleanses, and hydrates at the same time.
- Yepoda The Porefec Pad multifunctional toner pads that exfoliate, hydrate, and brighten the skin in a single step.
- Miamo combo day cream and Hyaluronic 14+ serum with anti-wrinkle, plumping, and hydrating action.
Make-up
- Erborian BB Cream 5-in-1 tinted cream with "Baby skin" effect and SPF
- The ABC Concealer by Espressoh to erase both the time you didn’t have for a longer routine and the tiredness of the day ahead.
- Essence Mosaic Compact Powder to add a touch of color and glow.
- Astra Lip Marker to outline and fill in the lips.
Haircare
- Gisou Hair Oil on the lengths. Just a few drops make them look healthier and shinier.
Realistic beauty routine vs. social illusion
On TikTok, spectacular content wins: Hailey Bieber’s perfect skin, textbook night routines, clean girl looks that take more time than they appear to. The realistic beauty routine is exactly the opposite: not a performance to show online, but a daily act that works between calls or while the kids throw tantrums. It’s beauty to live, not to perform.
@butenk_nataliia Unboxing?
A social trend or a counter-narrative?
The realistic beauty routine wasn’t born as a viral trend in the traditional sense, but as a reaction to ten-step skincare and the perfect routines flooding TikTok and Instagram. While social media celebrates infinite layering, clean girl looks, and textbook night rituals, the desire for authenticity is growing: fewer products, fewer filters, more real life. More than just a hashtag with millions of views, the realistic beauty routine is therefore a counter-narrative: a way to bring beauty back to a more tangible dimension, where self-care doesn’t mean performing but adapting to the pace of your own day.
A routine that changes with you
Cutting down your beauty routine to a few steps doesn’t mean giving up, but rather rediscovering and embracing authenticity. Dark circles tell the story of restless nights, wrinkles reflect lived experiences, messy hair marks busy days. Just a concealer, a moisturizer, or a few drops of hair oil are enough to remind yourself that self-care hasn’t been lost: it has simply adapted to the beautiful chaos of life. The realistic beauty routine is never the same every day: sometimes it lasts a minute, sometimes five, and other times maybe hours. This flexibility is what makes it authentic. Because true beauty lies in recognizing and liking yourself in everyday life, which is never perfect.
