The Simple Skin-Care Routine Is Trending, But Can It Give You Better Skin?

You’ve probably heard of the Korean skin-care regimen. It’s famous for being 10 (or more!) steps and, over the past decade, has become popular in North America for anyone looking to achieve their best skin ever. But for many people, it’s also led to burnout. After all, using 10+ products every morning and evening is expensive, time-consuming and can even cause irritation.

Enter: skinimalism. The opposite of slathering on every serum, cream, and lotion in your beauty cabinet, skinimalism centers around using fewer products for better skin. Here’s what you need to know about the return of the simple skin-care routine.

What Is The Skinimalism Trend?

The word itself combines “skin” and “minimalism.” It involves streamlining your skin-care routine to just a few key products and getting rid of the rest.

What Are The Benefits Of Skinimalism?

The simple skin-care routine is on the rise because many people find that constantly layering products, sampling new formulas, and using tons of different actives disrupts their skin barrier and leads to inflammation. Instead of smooth, youthful, and glowing, their faces start looking red and bumpy or experience itching and burning.

• May reduce sensitivity and irritation: Using fewer products means there are fewer ingredients that can interact with each other and overwhelm the skin’s delicate barrier.
• Consistency: If you’re only using three, four, or five products, you’re more likely to stick with them and use them properly.
• Saves time: A 10-step routine is no joke!
• Saves money: Cutting down on the number of products you use every day will give your wallet a break.

Which Products Are Non-Negotiable In A Simple Skin-Care Routine?

There are three skin-care products that every adult, no matter their age, gender, or skin type, should be using in their skin-care routine: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

• Cleanser: Bacteria, viruses, and pollution collect on our faces throughout the day. Our skin also produces sebum and sheds dead skin cells. It’s important to wash these things off in the morning and at night to prevent breakouts. And if you wear makeup, cleansing becomes even more crucial. Try Back To Earth Skin Glow Foaming Cleanser.
• Moisturizer: Applying a lotion or cream after you cleanse keeps your skin hydrated, elastic, and protected from the elements. Try Back To Earth Skin Glow Daily Moisturizer.
• Sunscreen: An SPF of at least 30 is critical for protecting your skin against the damaging effects of the sun. Not only can sun exposure cause skin cancer, but the cellular damage it causes also leads to premature aging.

So long as you’re using those three products, any other additions (like a serum, exfoliator, or the occasional mask) will depend on your concerns and lifestyle. Many dermatologists tout the benefits of the ABCs for youthful skin. A stands for vitamin A (meaning retinoids like retinol), B stands for Block (a.k.a. sunscreen) and C stands for vitamin C. The best way to use active ingredients is through a serum, which you’d apply after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. You may want to try skin cycling, which involves using different active ingredients on different nights.