Skinimalism: Everything You Need To Know

Five years ago, the term “skinimalism” would get you nothing but some confused looks. Today, “skinimalism” is just about everywhere. According to the 2021 Trend Predictions Report, this new beauty regimen is not going anywhere any time soon.

So, what is skinimalism and why should you care? Today, I am diving into everything you need to know, plus the perfect products to start your own skiniminalist routine. 

A Simplistic Approach to Skincare 

The term skinimalism is a play on the words skin and minimalism. In other words, it’s a super simplistic approach to skincare. With a skinimalist routine, you only use the essential products needed for your skincare. By essential, I mean cutting down your 10 or 12-step skincare routine to a few basics steps. 

Of course, if your skin needs some additional TLC—like if you are managing eczema or acne-prone skin—you may want to add a couple of specific and purposeful prescriptions or OTC products to address your skin’s unique condition. 

Advantages of Skinimalism

There are a ton of advantages to adopting a skinimalism skincare routine. For one, you scale back on the number of products that you use daily. Not only will this save you money, but it will also save the planet from a significant amount of waste. Considering the beauty industry produces more than 120 billion units of cosmetics packaging globally each year, cutting back on waste is definitely a good thing.

A skinimalist routine is also ideal for busy moms and professionals on the go. By eliminating excess products, you can spend more time focusing on the core products that truly benefit your skin health. 

A Four-Step Skincare Routine You Can Adopt

The purpose of skinimalism is to only focus on the essential steps of your beauty routine. During the day, those steps are cleansing, applying a serum, moisturizing and following with a sunscreen. At night, I skip the sunscreen (no UV rays to protect your skin from while you snooze!) and swap out my daytime moisturizer for a night cream.

Check out my recommendations for a seamless daytime four-step skinimalism routine. 

1. Cleanse

Make sure you wash your face every morning and night! This step is even more important now that you are likely wearing a face mask daily (and possibly treating maskne). I recommend the following depending on your skin condition:

• Normal Skin: Environ Low Foam Cleanser
• Normal/Dry or Age Defying Desired: Environ Hydrating Cleansing Lotion
• Acne-Prone Skin: Environ Sebuwash Gel Cleanser
• Dry or Inflammed or Post Procedure Skin: iS Clinical Cream Cleanser
• Pigmentation Concerns (but must be careful if you have dry skin): LifeLine Brightening Cleanser 

2. Serum

Next up is a serum to nourish, hydrate, replenish, and protect your skin. The type of serum you use will depend on which skin condition you are treating, such as acne, redness, or fine lines and wrinkles.

• Acne-Prone Skin: iS Clinical Active Serum
• Dry Skin: Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40
• Pigmentation Concerns: iS Clinical Brightening Complex
• Antioxidant Burst: iS Clinical GeneXC Serum
• Concentrated Retinol: Environ Retinol Serum 3

3. Moisturize

Never skip moisturizer! This third skinimalism step is essential for locking in hydration and supporting the skin barrier. 

• Acne-Prone Skin: Biopelle Tensage Soothing Cream Moisturizer
• Very Dry Skin: iS Clinical Sheald Recovery Balm
• Age Defying: Defenage 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream
• Dry Skin: Biopelle Advanced Cream
• Normal Skin: Environ Super Moisturizer

4. Sunscreen for Day Use 

You absolutely need to wear sunscreen during the day to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and premature aging. My personal favorite for all skin types is the ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless SPF 50. However, remember you can skip this fourth step at night, and end your skinimalist routine with a rich moisturizer instead. 

Build Your Ideal Skinimalist Routine 

If you have a specific skin condition that you would like to treat, I always recommend speaking to your dermatologist to discuss in-office treatment options or adding products to your foundational skincare routine. Book a virtual consultation with me today to craft your ideal four-step skinimalism routine.