Unless a dermatologist has told you otherwise, the skin around your eyes isn't so different that it needs its own $60 jar. A good facial moisturizer works fine there too. Save the money for something that actually moves the needle.
Toners used to exist to rebalance skin after harsh, high-pH soaps stripped it. Modern cleansers don't do that anymore. If your toner is just a hydrating mist, fine — but don't feel like your routine is incomplete without one.
Apricot scrubs and walnut shells create micro-tears in your skin. If you want exfoliation, a gentle chemical exfoliant (AHA/BHA) does the same job without the damage.
Retinol, vitamin C, and exfoliating acids all in one routine sounds efficient. It's actually how people end up with red, irritated skin and a return trip to buy “repair” products for a problem they created. Pick one active focus and build around it.
This is the one step people cut to save money, and it's the opposite of what you should do. SPF is the single most effective anti-aging product that exists — more than any serum. If you're only going to spend well on one thing, make it this. The one we keep coming back to is Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen — it sits under makeup without pilling, which is the usual reason people stop wearing one.
Boring, but it's 80% of what actually matters. Fancy serums are the 20% on top, not the foundation.
The honest version of skincare isn't 9 steps. It's 3–4 done consistently, plus sunscreen every single day.