Work Smarter, Not Harder For The Best Skin You've Ever Had—Here's How

One way to streamline the process without sacrificing essential steps: habit stacking. Here's how to streamline your skin care. 

This buzzy term was coined by James Clear, author of the New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits. The goal is to add healthy habits to your day without disrupting your routine, thus making it easier to stick to them. 

To use this method to your advantage in skin care, keep the following tips on hand:

For anyone using a cleanser with active ingredients (like AHAs, BHAs, benzoyl peroxide, etc.), you should keep it on for at least a minute or two before rinsing. Rather than watching the clock, brush your teeth at the same time—ah, so efficient. 

In the name of efficacy, opt for a research-backed collagen supplement, like one of these—they're all approved by a nutrition Ph.D. 

This one is a personal favorite: Slather on a face mask before lying down for a guided (or silent) meditation. This is the ultimate spa-like experience that doubles as TLC for your mental and physical well-being. 

Here are a few more rapid-fire ideas to get you thinking: 

Habit stacking involves placing one healthy habit on top of or next to another in your daily routine. You can do this for any area of your life, including skin care. Want more healthy skin habits to test drive? Here are a few more.