A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SKIN MINIMALISM

Happy Friday! Today, I am sharing with you everything you need to know about skin minimalism. Over the last few years, our approach to beauty has changed drastically. We moved from wearing a thick layer of foundation, with cut-crease eye makeup looks to something more natural and editorial. Skin minimalism is a beauty trend that focuses on natural makeup looks and simple skincare routines. Beyond that, it’s a trend that puts the welfare of the environment in the front. In this post, I include what is it exactly, why you should follow this trend, and my tips to start into it. Also, in this article, I focus more on the skincare aspect of the trend, and not on the makeup facet.

Now, don’t forget to check out my previous post and let’s get into it!

What is skin minimalism?

According to Pinterest, skin minimalism is one of the biggest upcoming beauty trends of 2021. More and more people are embracing slow beauty and letting their natural skin texture shine through. But what is skin minimalism exactly?

In terms of beauty, this trend is all about simplifying your skincare routine by focusing on the necessities. It’s basically about going slow in your beauty consumption. This movement steps away from the 12-step skincare routine, endless sheet masks, useless eye creams, but also, makeup products you don’t need.

This trend basically marks the end of the caked-on makeup looks, 12-step skincare routines and introduces something more minimal and natural. It’s all about being effortlessly chic and letting our natural beauty shine through.

Why go minimalist?

It allows you to save more money

Opting for a minimalist beauty routine allows you to purchase only the products you need and save more money on other things. Instead of buying products you know you won’t use that much, you get to spend it on other things like a bamboo toothbrush or ethical fashion!

It minimizes potential irritation

Exposing your skin to fewer products will definitely help reduce or control potential irritation. Overusing or even combining ingredients, like retinol and acids, can cause visible and painful irritation. Doing too much to your skin, might just harm it more than anything and might disrupt your skin barrier. So, going for a minimalist skincare routine can help you minimize potential irritation and avoid sensitivity. One of the main reasons my acne came back is because my old skincare routine consisted of using a glycolic acid toner, salicylic acid serum, and vitamin c serum. This was too much for my skin to handle.

It keeps your skin barrier healthy

By reducing potential irritation, you keep your skin barrier healthy and happy. In fact, one of the reasons your skin barrier gets damaged is from overusing products or using harsh ingredients. Your skin barrier is here to keep all of the damage out and help your skin stay hydrated and balanced. A damaged skin barrier can lead to acne, dehydration, sensitivity, redness, itching, and/or a dull, depleted look. Moreover, a lot of skincare experts advise people to go back to basics whenever their skin looks damaged and irritated. It just allows your skin to repair itself and to have a break.

It is better for the environment

By going minimalist, you are definitely helping our planet. Overconsuming is one of the most toxic behaviors in our society. It creates more waste and contributes to more release of CO2 in the air. Moreover, recycling is not enough to help our environment. Even glass packaging is not as sustainable as brands claim it is. Before recycling, we need to reduce our consumption and shop more mindfully. Going for a minimalist skincare routine can definitely help you keep your consumption at bay and just focus on what you actually need.

How to start?

Focus on the essentials

A solid skincare routine should consist of a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. After that, you can add products that you need to target a specific concern like acne or hyperpigmentation. Either way, you certainly do not need 3 serums to have a healthy-looking skin.

Look for products that combine ingredients

In order to follow the skin minimalism trend, try to go for products that target many concerns at the same time or that contain several amazing ingredients. For instance, the hydrating toner I use allows me to hydrate my skin but also contains niacinamide which is amazing to control excess sebum and target acne scars.

Focus on your main skin concern and choose the right products

In order to build my minimalist routine, I decided to first pinpoint what I wanted to focus on. Personally, my main skin concerns are dryness, acne, and acne scars. With that in mind, I chose products that could effectively answer my concerns while making sure I don’t irritate my skin and make it drier.

Forget about masks and eye creams

Unless you have a specific concern on your eye area, eye creams are unnecessary. They are fun and make you feel bougie but they definitely do not make a difference in your skincare routine. An eye cream is basically a pricier version of a moisturizer and if you just apply your daily moisturizer to your eye area, you’ll get the same result. A mask is another type of product that is totally useless, especially if you have a solid skincare routine. It will not bring anything more to your skin and it is just a waste of money (with exceptions).

Focus on one active at a time or choose a multi-function ingredient

My last point is pretty close to my second one but instead of using several products with different active ingredients. Go for products that can target many concerns or try to focus on one thing at a time. For instance, I use retinol to target several different concerns. Retinol is amazing because it targets acne, acne scars and fights signs of aging. It also makes my skin look radiant and healthy.