Minimalist Skin Care: Dos and Don'ts for a Minimal Skin Care Routine

We all have that one friend who has a 40-minute nightly skin care routine with 13 different steps…and that friend whose only skin care is letting water run down their face in the shower. And yet, there’s not always a clear winner as far as who has the best skin. So what’s the best approach to your skin care?

As with anything related to health and aesthetics, the right answer will vary from person to person. One option you can take is something called minimalist skin care. We’ve got your go-to guide right here to learn about minimalist skin care, whether it might be right for you, and how to do it well.

What Is Minimalist Skin Care?

Minimalist skin care, AKA skinimalism, is the practice of using a simplified skin care routine that has minimal steps. It usually involves only 2 or 3 skin care products in the morning and at night.

Potential Benefits of Minimalist Skin Care

Why is minimalist skin care becoming so popular? Other than the simple fact that it’s easier, there are several potential benefits.

Reduced Irritation

Every skin care product is designed to help your skin, but truth be told, skin is a complex and fickle organ, and each person’s skin has certain ingredients that it just doesn’t like. The more products you’re putting onto your skin, the more ingredients and combinations there are in the mix, so you have a higher chance that some of those ingredients will spark irritation, inflammation, or a breakout.

Anyone can get adverse effects from skin care products, but people with sensitive skin are especially prone to this issue. That’s why minimalist skin care is particularly popular among folks with sensitive skin.

Manageable Care

Let’s all be honest with ourselves – it’s tough to find the time for a lengthy skin care routine. In the morning you’re watching the minutes and trying to get out the door on time and at night you’re exhausted. Minimalist skin care is a life-friendly approach.

You may have heard the saying that the best workout routine is any workout routine you’ll actually stick to, and skin care is the same way. It’s always better to do a basic two-minute cleansing and moisturizing than to get overwhelmed by the thought of an 8-step routine and skip it entirely.

Budget-Wise Skin Care

Minimalist skin care is easier on your wallet because you don’t need to stock up on so many different products. For anyone who wants their best skin on a budget (i.e., all of us), it’s better to invest in a few high-quality products than to split your budget among 10 different low-quality products.

What Does a Minimalist Skin Care Routine Look Like?

Want to put together your own “skinimalist” routine? It will be a bit different from person to person based on what your skin needs and what struggles your skin is having. Here are the bare bones, though:

• For your morning routine, use cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen (or use cleanser and a moisturizing sunscreen)
• For your nighttime routine, use cleanser and moisturizer

For generally balanced skin, those couple of steps can be all you need. Or, you might want to also toss in a serum to work toward a specific look, or a prescription treatment for acne or another condition.

Dos and Don’ts of Minimalist Skin Care

If you’re thinking about trying the “less is more” approach, there are right ways and wrong ways to do it. Follow these dos and don’ts to make simplicity work for you.

Do Try Multi-Functional Products

One handy way to minimize your skin care products without sacrificing the effects you need is to choose products that do multiple jobs at once. For example, try a tinted hydrating sunscreen that moisturizers your skin, protects you from sun damage, and also gives your skin a more even appearance. In your nighttime routine, you could opt for a moisturizer that includes retinol so you get that anti-aging power while hydrating your skin.

Don’t Minimize by Reducing Consistency

There’s a common misunderstanding that minimalist skin care is all about doing as little to your skin as possible, but that’s not really true. The goal is to reduce the number of products you’re using, not cut your skin care routine down to washing once a week. You still need to consistently care for your skin twice a day, just with fewer products.

Do Find Other Ways to Minimize Irritation

If you struggle with skin irritation, minimalist skin care is a great way to help your skin cool its jets, but it shouldn’t be the only strategy you’re using. You should still follow other best practices for reducing inflammation, such as:

• Washing your pillowcase regularly
• If you use makeup, washing your makeup brushes often
• Hydrating your skin frequently – twice daily or more often if necessary
• Avoiding any skin care products that have dyes or fragrances, and choose skin care products for sensitive skin

Don’t Get Impatient

Your skin is a living organ and it takes time for it to respond to changes in your routine. When you switch to minimalist skin care, give it several weeks before you expect to see results. If you give up and make more changes after a week or two, you’re just getting your skin even more confused.

Simplifying Your Skin Care Routine with Skinimalism

Looking to keep things clean and simple for your skin this year? It might be time to give minimalist skin care a try. Now that you have your go-to guide, start designing your minimized skin care routine and put more time back into your day.