Five years ago, my bathroom was an homage to the promises of the beauty industry. Between the foaming cleansers, the scrubs, the toners, the eyes creme, the masks, the pore refiners, the daytime moisturizer and the nurturing night creme, I believed that if I only found the right combination of products, my skin would suddenly look the way I wanted it to.

Fast forward five years, and my bathroom now contains only two products: Cetaphil cleanser and Aveeno's Positively Radiant moisturizer. Go figure, my skin looks better than ever before, and I have way more money in my pocket.

As the cosmetics industry comes out with new miracle products at an unprecedented rate, a number of dermatologists have started encouraging their patients to cut back on what they put on their faces. Doctors believe that by simplifying the beauty routine, patients will actually make it that: a routine. By sticking to a consistent regimen, those with problematic skin can begin to soothe the irritation caused by over-cleansing and harsh products.

Doctors also say that by simplifying skin care, patients can save a lot of money by not buying expensive products that have dubious effectiveness. Unlike prescriptions formulas such as Retin-A and Accutane, which must undergo considerable testing to be approved by the FDA, cosmetic companies aren't require to prove their claims. And who wants to drop $100 on something that doesn't even work in the first place?