The 3-Step Routine That’s Going Viral in 2025 (And It Actually Works)

If you’ve been keeping an eye on skincare trends, you’ll have likely noticed that the long and complicated 10-step skincare routines that stemmed from the K-beauty craze a few years ago are now out. Instead, the skincare industry has swung in the opposite direction, with simplicity and minimalism (aka ‘skinimalism’) taking center stage.
While stripping your skincare routine back to just a few steps may seem a little daunting, it’s a movement that dermatologists wholeheartedly support. For years, they’ve been proclaiming how complex routines are doing more harm than good for the skin, and people are finally listening.
Take a look at some of the viral skincare routines currently in the spotlight, and you’ll notice a common thread: the majority consist of just three steps. The best part? A three-step skincare routine can be extremely effective, so long as you slot in the right products.
If you’ve been thinking about going minimalistic with your own skincare routine, keep reading as OROGOLD shares a three-step routine that will work wonders in catering to your skin’s needs without leaving your skin feeling overwhelmed.
Step 1: Cleanse
The very first step of any skincare routine, whether your routine contains three steps or 15 steps, is to cleanse your skin. It’s vital that you remove any dirt, excess oil, and other impurities from your skin before you move in with any other skincare products. Skip this step, and not only will your other products struggle to penetrate your skin, meaning that they won’t be able to work properly, but you’ll also end up trapping those impurities under the products that you apply. This will quickly lead to dullness, congestion, clogged pores, and breakouts.
While some people prefer to use separate cleansers for morning and night, this isn’t strictly necessary. If you’d like to keep your skincare routine as simple as possible, use the same one both day and night. However, what you do need to take into account is your skin type. This should dictate your choice of cleanser.
How? Let’s start with dry or sensitive skin. These skin types have a compromised skin barrier, which calls for a very gentle cleanser. The last thing that you want to do is strip away more of that barrier with harsh cleansing agents. A moisturizing formula, like the OROGOLD 24K Mousse Cleanser, would be perfect.
On the other hand, if your skin type is oily, you’ll need a more powerful cleanser than those with dry skin. Find a formula that’s capable of cutting through the excess grease that coats your skin’s surface, but without damaging your skin’s natural barrier. The OROGOLD 24K Vitamin C Facial Cleanser is great for this. It also contains a blend of antioxidants that will leave your skin feeling less oily in the long run.
Step 2: Target
If you wanted to keep your skincare routine as basic as possible, you could cut this step out and just follow the first and third steps of this routine. However, while that will allow you to maintain a healthy complexion, it won’t do much to target the visible skin concerns that you’re dealing with, which is where this step comes in. With that said, what this step consists of should depend on whether you’re following this routine in the morning or in the evening…
Morning
In the mornings, your focus needs to be on preventing the appearance of environmental damage. This can quickly take a toll on your complexion, which is why it’s worth doing whatever is necessary to keep your skin feeling safe.
This is where antioxidant serums can be a game-changer. Antioxidants are superstars at keeping the visibility of environmental damage at bay, be it damage from the sun, from pollution, or anything else. Many antioxidants also work hand-in-hand with SPF (which is the next step of this skincare routine), leaving your skin feeling even better protected against harmful UV rays.
Which antioxidants should you be using? Most tend to favor vitamin C, with this antioxidant known for its multitasking abilities. Research shows that regular use of the ingredient can lead to skin that looks smoother, firmer, and brighter. Vitamin C helps to boost skin hydration levels too, while leaving the skin barrier feeling stronger.
If you don’t yet have a go-to vitamin C serum, check out the OROGOLD 24K Vitamin C Booster Facial Serum. It contains two forms of vitamin C: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and ascorbyl palmitate. Both are highly stable and effective. They work even better when combined with other antioxidants, which is exactly what this serum does!
Evening
There’s nothing wrong with using a vitamin C serum twice a day. While most prefer to apply vitamin C in the morning before facing the world, it works well when used in the evenings too. Your skin benefits from access to extra antioxidants overnight. This is when it focuses on healing and regeneration, and antioxidants will leave it feeling more capable of doing so.
With that said, when keeping your skincare routine short, you also need to consider the other needs that your skin may have overnight. Hydration is a big one, with skin moisture levels significantly dropping while you sleep. For this reason, a hydrating serum can make a big difference to your complexion when applied before bed.
How can you tell if a serum is hydrating? Take a look at its ingredients. The OROGOLD 24K Termica Activation Serum, for example, is infused with several humectants, including sodium hyaluronate, seaweed extract, ceramides, and peptides. These ingredients also keep the skin barrier feeling supported, which your skin will greatly benefit from overnight. The best part is that this formula is filled with a variety of antioxidants as well, including vitamins A, C, and E. They’ll leave your skin feeling even more rejuvenated the next morning.
Step 3: Moisturize (and Protect)
The final step in this skincare routine is to moisturize. This is another essential step that nobody should skip, no matter what your skin type may be. However, just like the previous step, how you go about doing this will depend on the time of day:
Morning
Nobody wants their skin to look greasy and shiny all day, which is why lighter moisturizers tend to be favored for morning use. The best day creams will be infused with plenty of antioxidants, which, as we discussed above, will keep your skin feeling safe from environmental damage.
Of course, sun protection needs to be considered too. This is often carried out as an additional step in a skincare routine, usually applied after all other skincare products have been used. However, thanks to the growing popularity of SPF moisturizers, it’s now possible to combine sun protection with moisturizing. This will save you from having to add yet another step to your skincare routine. It also makes sun protection so much more convenient and enjoyable since SPF moisturizers don’t tend to be as heavy or greasy as dedicated sunscreen formulas.
With that said, not all SPF moisturizers will provide enough protection. Ideally, you want a formula that offers broad-spectrum protection, with a minimum SPF of 30, just like the OROGOLD 24K Skin Tone SPF 30. Luxuriously silky and lightweight, this cream not only moisturizes and protects but also contains ingredients that soothe and calm the complexion. Between aloe vera, green tea, and vitamin E, it’s great for giving the skin a bright and dewy finish that lasts for hours.
Evening
As we’ve already mentioned, moisture loss increases overnight. This calls for a richer moisturizer to be used in the evening. The thicker your cream, the thicker the seal it will form over the surface of your skin. This means that less moisture will be able to evaporate out of your skin, ensuring long-lasting hydration.
While that may be the case, it’s also important to keep your skin type in mind when choosing a night cream. Dry or sensitive skin will require a much richer cream than oily or combination skin, with the OROGOLD 24K Overnight Cream being a great example. Thanks to a blend of shea butter, hemp seed oil, and vitamin E, it boasts a lush texture that will leave your skin feeling incredibly soft. Meanwhile, its numerous antioxidant-rich extracts will ensure that your skin cells feel supported throughout the night.
If your skin type is oily, you’ll likely need a lighter blend, like the OROGOLD 24K Termica HD Solution. Rather than containing rich plant oils and butters, this moisturizer hydrates with light ingredients that won’t clog up your pores. It’s packed with a selection of powerful botanicals too. These will leave your skin feeling less oily in the long run. Better yet, its antioxidants, from resveratrol to retinol, will counter the appearance of aging and skin damage while you snooze.
Whichever moisturizer you end up choosing, try to apply it while your skin is still damp from the serum in the previous step of your routine. This will allow your cream to lock in even more moisture, giving your skin a plumper and brighter finish.
Are You Ready to Try This 3-Step Skincare Routine?
If your skincare routine currently consists of several different steps, cutting this back to just three may not seem very appealing. However, there’s a reason why this simplified skincare routine has been going viral – it really does work! Not only will you save your skin from being overloaded with hundreds of extra ingredients that it doesn’t actually need, but you’ll also find that your new three-step routine is much easier to stick to and be consistent with. Give it a try for a few weeks, and you’ll soon understand exactly why everyone has been raving about minimalistic skincare routines.
Click here to enhance your skincare routine with more bestselling products from OROGOLD.