The simplest way to keep your skin care routine going through November and December is to make it small enough to do on your worst day: a 60-second routine, twice a day, triggered by something you already do. Cleanse, moisturize, and protect in the morning; cleanse and moisturize at night. Pack it when you travel, and never let one skipped day turn into five.
TL;DR
- Keep it to a 60-second, twice-a-day routine so it survives a packed schedule.
- Anchor it to a habit you already have — your shower, or brushing your teeth — so the cue is built in.
- Pack travel sizes so holiday trips don't break the chain.
- Missing a single day won't undo your progress. The rule is: never miss twice.
- Winter air is drier, so moisturizing matters more in the holidays, not less.
Why is it so hard to keep a skin care routine over the holidays?
The holidays stack up every reason to skip your routine at once: travel, late nights, richer food and drink, more stress, and cold, dry air. Add a schedule that's already full and the two minutes you'd normally spend on your skin is the first thing to go. The fix isn't more willpower — it's a routine small enough that skipping it makes no sense. When your whole morning step is "wash, moisturize, done," there's almost nothing left to drop.
How do you stick to a skin care routine when you're busy or traveling?
Attach it to a habit you already have and keep the steps few. Keep your products next to your toothbrush or in the shower so the cue is automatic, use a routine with a handful of steps instead of ten, and pack travel sizes when you leave town. Consistency beats complexity: a simple routine you actually do will out-perform an elaborate one you abandon by December 15. That's the whole premise behind Tiege Hanley's Level 1 Essential Routine — the fewest products and the least time possible, in a 30-day supply. It starts with WASH, a sulfate-free cleanser you use morning and night, and builds from there.
Does skipping a day or two over the holidays ruin your progress?
No. In a University College London study on how habits form, missing a single day did not meaningfully reduce people's odds of forming the habit — but being highly inconsistent did. So one travel day without your routine won't undo anything. In the same study, behaviors took a median of about 66 days to become automatic, with a wide range from 18 to 254 days depending on the person and the habit. Translation: give the routine the whole season, keep showing up, and don't treat one lapse as a reason to quit.
What's the simplest routine to stick with in November and December?
A four-step routine covers it: cleanse daily, exfoliate about twice a week, moisturize with SPF in the morning, and moisturize again at night. Each step takes roughly 10 seconds, so the whole thing runs about a minute a day. Here's the order:
- Morning: WASH, then work in AM, a lightweight morning moisturizer with SPF 20. It hydrates, helps balance oil, and adds broad-spectrum SPF 20 for everyday, incidental sun exposure — AM has earned the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation. For extended time outdoors or on snow, layer a dedicated sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on top.
- About twice a week: SCRUB for 10 seconds after WASH to clear away dead skin and dullness.
- Night: WASH again, then PM to lock in moisture while you sleep.
If you're on the fence about the morning SPF step, here's the case for a daytime moisturizer with SPF. And if you're brand new to this, start with the four products that form the base of a men's routine.
How do you keep your routine going while traveling for the holidays?
Pack it, don't wing it. Move your products into carry-on-friendly sizes (3.4 oz / 100 ml or under), keep them in your dopp kit so they're the first thing you unpack, and apply AM in the morning even on indoor travel days — your skin still catches UV through car and plane windows. Your ingredients absorb in about an hour, so an afternoon shower won't wash the benefits off. If you'd rather not decant anything, the Holiday Gift Set Level 1 is a ready-made 90-day supply of WASH, AM, PM, and SCRUB — a clean way to restock before a trip or to gift the routine to someone who keeps saying they'll "get around to it."
How does winter weather change what your skin needs?
Cold outdoor air plus indoor heating pull moisture out of your skin, so hydration matters more in winter, not less. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying moisturizer right after washing to seal in moisture, keeping showers short and lukewarm rather than hot, and choosing hydrating ingredients like glycerin and jojoba oil. That lines up with the routine already: WASH is formulated with jojoba oil, AM is formulated with glycerin, and both are gentle enough for daily winter use. Wash with lukewarm water, moisturize while your face is still slightly damp, and you've handled most of what the season throws at your skin.
FAQ
Is it worth starting a routine in the middle of the holidays? Yes. Early repetitions build a habit fastest, so starting now means you head into January already consistent instead of starting from zero.
How long does a men's skin care routine take each day? About 60 seconds, twice a day, for a basic cleanse-and-moisturize routine. Exfoliating adds roughly 10 seconds, about twice a week.
Do I still need SPF in winter? Yes. UV exposure happens year-round, including through windows and off snow. A daytime moisturizer with SPF 20 like AM covers everyday incidental exposure; use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher for extended time outdoors.
Can I bring my products on a plane? Yes. Use travel or small sizes at 3.4 oz / 100 ml or under for a carry-on, or pack full sizes in a checked bag.
I skipped three days over Thanksgiving. Did I ruin it? No. One lapse doesn't erase your progress — just restart with your next wash and keep going.
