I have 23 skincare products.

I didn't plan to have 23 skincare products. It started with a cleanser and a moisturiser. Then I learned about SPF. Then serums. Then someone mentioned retinol, and suddenly I had a shelf full of bottles I couldn't keep track of.

Sound familiar?

I'd buy a new serum, use it religiously for a week, then completely forget it existed. I'd run out of sunscreen without noticing. I'd layer products in the wrong order. And don't get me started on trying to figure out which products were actually making a difference.

So I built Renew — a simple app to track what I use, build consistent routines, and finally understand what's working.

This is the story of why I made it, and what I learned about building a skincare routine that actually sticks.

The Problem With Skincare Routines

Most skincare advice focuses on what to use. Vitamin C in the morning. Retinol at night. SPF always.

But nobody talks about the harder part: consistency.

A £50 serum does nothing if it sits unopened in your bathroom cabinet. The best routine is the one you actually follow.

I tried everything. Notes apps. Spreadsheets. Setting alarms. Nothing stuck. The friction was too high, and the reward was too invisible. Skincare isn't like exercise — you don't feel the burn after a good session. Changes happen slowly, over weeks and months.

That's why I built Renew around streaks, habits, and small wins. Not a product database. Not a 10-step routine planner. Just a calm, simple way to check off what you use and watch your consistency grow.

How to Build a Skincare Routine That Sticks

After months of building this app — and tracking my own routine with it — here's what I've learned:

1. Start With Less Than You Think

The biggest mistake is starting with too many products. You've just watched a 10-step Korean skincare video and you're ready to overhaul everything.

Don't.

Start with three products:

  • Cleanser (morning and evening)
  • Moisturiser (morning and evening)
  • SPF (morning only)

That's it. Do this for two weeks. Build the habit of doing something before you optimise what you're doing.

2. Attach It to Something You Already Do

Habits stick when they're linked to existing behaviours. This is called "habit stacking."

Instead of "I'll do my skincare routine every morning," try:

  • "After I brush my teeth, I'll wash my face."
  • "Before I get into bed, I'll do my evening routine."

The cue is already there. You're just adding a step.

3. Make It Visible

Your skincare products shouldn't live in a closed drawer. Put them where you'll see them — on the counter, next to your toothbrush.

Same with tracking. If checking off your routine feels like a chore, you won't do it. That's why Renew lives on your home screen. One tap, check off your products, done. Your streak grows. Small dopamine hit. Repeat.

4. Track for Trends, Not Perfection

You're going to miss days. That's fine.

What matters isn't a perfect streak — it's the trend over time. Are you doing your routine more often than you were a month ago? That's progress.

Renew shows you your consistency at a glance. Not to shame you when you slip, but to show you that you're doing better than you think.

5. Add Products Slowly

Once your basic routine is locked in — and I mean really locked in, like you don't have to think about it anymore — then you can add.

One product at a time. Give it at least two weeks before adding another. This does two things:

  • You'll actually notice if it's working (or causing breakouts)
  • You won't overwhelm yourself

The goal isn't to use every product you own. It's to find the ones that make a difference and use them consistently.

Why I Made Renew Free (Mostly)

The free version of Renew lets you track up to 10 products, build morning and evening routines, and see your daily streak.

For most people, that's enough.

Pro unlocks unlimited products, custom routines, weekly insights, a skin journal, and cloud sync. It's there if you want to go deeper. But the core experience — tracking your routine and staying consistent — is free.

I built Renew because I needed it. Now it's here for anyone else who's tired of buying products they forget to use.

Your Routine, Ready to Go

If you've made it this far, you're probably someone who cares about their skin but struggles with consistency. Same.

Renew is available now on the App Store. It's free, it's calm, and it might just be the thing that makes your routine finally stick.

Download Renew →

Lars is an indie developer based in Melbourne, Australia. When he's not building apps, he's probably adding another serum to his shelf.