I’m in Search of a Low Maintenance Self-Care Routine—Here’s How I’ve Started Supporting My Skin, Sans 10 Steps of Serums

Recently, I made a pact with myself. This fall, I’d reclaim my time by prioritizing wellness habits I genuinely enjoy—and cutting out the ones that feel like chores. Chief among them? My ever-growing, overly complicated skin-care routine.

Once upon a time (okay, not that long ago), I tried to get on board with the 10-step skin-care trend—and I’ll cut to the chase: It didn’t work for me. With each new serum I thought I needed, a once-relaxing regimen turned into a source of stress. And the worst part? All the time and effort I put in didn’t clear my breakouts or heal my dry skin.

After doing a bit of research, I learned that certain oral supplements may actually help promote your skin’s tone and hydration.* This discovery sparked a lightbulb moment: Maybe I could simplify my routine by skipping the layer-upon-layer of topical products and focusing on supplements for healthy skin instead.*

I started this “less is more” journey by identifying my main skin goals: to hydrate, to even my tone, and to smooth my skin’s texture.* Those needs aligned seamlessly with three NOW^® Solutions supplements: Hydration Rescue Capsules, Aquatic Beauty+^™ Capsules, and Collagen Jelly Beauty Complex sticks.

Cut to now, and it’s official: Incorporating these supplements for healthy skin into my routine (which, BTW, is definitively low-maintenance now) has helped me support my skin goals and make time for other joy-inducing wellness habits—in other words, I’ve kept my pact intact.* Here’s how.

Shop Skin-Supporting Supplements*

Hydration Rescue Capsules $30

Aquatic Beauty+™ Capsules $38

Sweet Orange Collagen Jelly Beauty Complex Sticks $20

Sweet Plum Collagen Jelly Beauty Complex Sticks $20

For hydration*

One of my skin’s most frustrating issues? Intense dryness when the seasons shift, especially these days as warm air gives way to chilly winds. In my former life, I’d incessantly slather on multiple moisturizers to combat the dryness—but according to board-certified dermatologic surgeon Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, I may have been working against myself.

“When your skin is overburdened by too many products, you might notice signs like increased redness, irritation, breakouts, dryness, or an overall dull complexion,” Dr. Engelman says. “These symptoms can indicate that your skin barrier is compromised from ingredient overload or conflicting active ingredients. A simpler routine helps by reducing the number of products your skin has to process, allowing it to recover and rebalance.”

With that in mind, I kicked off my new low-maintenance routine by paring back to Dr. Engelman’s recommended basics—a gentle cleanser, a vitamin-C serum, and a good moisturizer—and adding in a twice-daily Hydration Rescue Capsule.

The supplement is formulated with super-hydrating Hyabest^® hyaluronic acid, which can help retain moisture in the skin and improve hydration from within,* Dr. Engelman says. “This promotes plumper and more supple skin with improved texture and reduced dryness.*”

Since I started taking the Hydration Rescue Capsules, my skin has stayed soft and hydrated—and I’ve felt relief from the painful dryness I usually experience this time of year.*

For evening skin tone

Between acne scars and irritation, evening out my skin tone has always been a top priority. To tackle it, I used to rely on over-exfoliating—so I was intrigued (and yes, a little skeptical) to see if supplements could really make a difference.

According to Dr. Engelman, vitamin C is key for toning, brightening, and supporting overall skin repair and hydration*. NOW^® Solutions’ Aquatic Beauty+^™ Capsules pack 111 percent of your daily vitamin C needs, so naturally they seemed like my best bet. On top of that, the supplement includes collagen tripeptides, which can help boost skin hydration and stimulate collagen production to smooth out fine lines.*

My skin tone will never be totally even, but I have noticed that my face is less red and some spots seem to be fading since I started taking Aquatic Beauty+^™ Capsules.* So yes, they’re getting a long-standing spot in my new low-effort lineup.

For smoothing out my skin*

After years of dealing with breakouts and scars, I consider “smooth skin” to be a personal oxymoron—but that doesn’t stop me from striving for it. So when Dr. Engelman told me that the VERISOL^® Bioactive Collagen Peptides found in the Collagen Jelly Beauty Complex sticks may reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin smoothness,* I was all in.

I love a gummy, so these jelly sticks are a welcome addition to my daily routine. (Pro tip: Keep them in the fridge—they’re extra tasty chilled). I didn’t track any noticeable changes to my skin at first—that is, until I stumbled upon an old selfie and saw a clear difference in how radiant and smooth my skin’s appearance had become (almost like a real-life filter?!).*

The verdict? By ditching my 10-steps-of-serum routine for a simpler, supplement-backed one, my skin feels more hydrated and more balanced than ever.* I’m supporting my skin with much less effort, and finding joy in other wellness practices with all that freed-up time.* Confirmed, sometimes less really is more.

Hey wellness seeker! Friendly reminder that—like all of wellness—the supplements you take are personal. Well+Good always recommends checking in with your health-care provider before adding a new supplement to your routine.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.