Embracing ‘Skinimalism’: Why less is more
Skinimalism (skin minimalism) is a term that has gained popularity recently, referring to the trend of buying and using fewer skincare and cosmetic products. This can be beneficial for your skin, purse and the planet. Coupled with the rise of the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic on social media, less is proving to be more!
Skin advantages
Before the pandemic, 20-step skincare routines consisting of double cleansing, toning, moisturising, spritzing etc were considered the norm. It was thought that the more you put on your skin, the more benefits you would reap.
However, as everything started slowing down and allowing for reflection during the pandemic, people started realising that using less products can actually be more beneficial for the health of your skin.
This was certainly the case for me during lockdown! Pre-lockdown I was using way too many products on my sensitive acne-prone skin, having been drawn in by the clear-skinned models in advertising campaigns, which was actually making it more irritated.
Having more time on my hands (and less money) due to lockdown, I started researching what ingredients I should use for my acne-prone skin and narrowed my routine down to 4 key products, which almost completely cleared my skin and made it a lot less inflamed. Since then, I have kept my skincare routine simple, sticking to 4-5 products morning and evening and slowly introducing new products over time to ensure my skin doesn’t get overwhelmed.
Skin is delicate and can become irritated when we use lots of different ingredients in combination with each other. Using excessive products can also cause a build up and block pores, which can lead to inflammation, blackheads and acne.
By using minimal products, our delicate skin has space to breathe, which allows our natural radiance to shine through. I have found that makeup goes on a lot better over minimal skincare too, so I am also using less makeup products, allowing my pores to breathe even more - a win-win for my skin!
Cost savings
It probably goes without saying, but using fewer products in your skincare routine means you will not have to buy as much, saving you money! Opting for products that are made from minimal or singular ingredients can also be cheaper, for example The Ordinary offers affordable skincare products that are made from pure ingredients.
By taking the time to research which ingredients will be beneficial for the type of skin you have (for example, dry, oily, acne-prone) you will save money over time on buying products that have the wrong ingredients for your skin type, which will likely not work for you. This will reduce the amount of unnecessary trending skincare products you buy, as you will know which ingredients to look out for and avoid products that do not contain these ingredients.
Benefits to the planet
As with the cost saving that comes with buying fewer products, there are also environmental benefits. Buying less skincare means there is less product and packaging waste produced, resulting in less waste going to landfill. What’s more, skinimalist beauty products often use pure ingredients without added chemicals or parabens, which benefits the environment by reducing marine pollution.
In essence, Skinimalism encourages us to love the skin we have, rather than trying to ‘fix’ it by buying endless products. When we use less, our natural beauty shines through even more. So why not give skinimalism a try? Cut down the number of products you are using and research which ingredients will work for you and your skin, wallet and the environment will thank you.
