What is Skinimalism? Everything You Need to Know About Minimalist Skincare

Ever wish you could ditch the complicated skincare routine without ditching the TLC your complexion deserves? That’s what skinimalism is all about, sis. 

Not so long ago, when beauty influencers ruled the world, more was more when it came to makeup and skincare. Fast forward to today, the era of cakey makeup and 12-step skincare routines has made a hasty exit. Taking their place is fresh-faced no-makeup-makeup and the minimalist skincare movement. 

So WTF is “skinimalism,” and how do you implement it into your day-to-day life? You know your low-effort, skincare bestie isn’t about to gatekeep. So grab a PSL, lay out your skincare, and take notes. 📝 Here’s why it might be time to give your routine a skinimalist overhaul.

What is minimalist skincare?

There’s a reason multi-step routines have garnered so much popularity. They’re not inherently bad. And depending on your skin needs, layering more than just a handful of products could be exactly what your complexion calls for — and that’s okay. 

Skinimalism is all about stripping your skincare routine back to basics. In other words, less is more. (If that isn’t music to a lazy babe’s ears, I don’t know what is.) 

Sure, a minimalist approach to skincare embraces the idea of using fewer products, but it’s more than that. It’s about using fewer ingredients and ditching the synthetic filler ingredients that don’t really do anything for your skin.

And guess what, sustainable queens? Clean beauty and less products are also better for the environment. 

Saving our planet and our skin simultaneously? Now that’s a movement. 🙌

So what’s the beef with excessive skincare ingredients?

Lengthy, multi-step skincare routines were all the buzz just a while ago. So why the sudden shift to skinimalism? And what is better about this new skincare approach?

It turns out that many of the skincare products we use are overloaded with icky filler ingredients like strong fragrances, preservatives, and not-so-great additives that can make our skin woes even worse. 

And too many unnecessary ingredients can totes backfire — that means more oily skin, blemishes, irritation, discoloring, even hormonal issues —😬 no, thanks!

So why do brands do this? There are a few potential reasons:

• Cutting corners on quality ingredients saves them some coin.
• Waiting for Mother Nature to produce natural ingredients takes too long, and mass-producers ain’t got the time.
• Thickeners, gelling agents, and foamers add weight and volume to products duping us into thinking we’re getting more bang for our buck.
• More preservatives mean your products last longer than they probably should. 
• It makes their products “look and smell prettier.”
• Because they can. Few regulations mean few consequences.

Now don’t get us wrong — we aren’t talking about powerful active ingredients (like retinol or hyaluronic acid) that can be great for your skin in moderation. On the contrary, we stan a good active! 

We’re referring to those unnecessary, harmful chemicals you frequently see in most mass-produced skincare, some of which the European Union even banned. 

Here’s a snapshot of some common chemicals you might want to avoid:

• Dioxane
• Chlorine
• Fillers
• Foam boosters
• Mineral oils
• Parabens
• Phenoxyethanol
• Phosphates
• Phthalates
• Polyethylene glycol
• Silicones
• Synthetic anything
  

Ever try to battle a skin concern by adding another product only to have your skin wig out even more? Same! That sort of thing is what skinimalism can prevent. 

Getting conscious about what you put on your face and adopting a minimalist skincare routine could be just what your regimen is missing.

So why is skinimalism trending?

Because it actually works.

Skinimalism isn’t just another viral skincare scam shouting empty promises. This trend walks the walk, too.

Here are some benefits of a skin minimalist routine:

• Fewer products mean more money in your bank account. #Cha-ching 🤑
• It puts you on the path to a more sustainable lifestyle.
• Studies suggest that products free of harmful ingredients have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-repairing properties. 
• It teaches us to embrace our skin rather than relying on endless products to achieve unrealistic perfection.
• It gives skin ample time to adjust so that our skincare actually does what it’s supposed to.
• Cleaner ingredients are less likely to have adverse effects on the skin.

Now that you have a better idea about what skinimalism is, let’s talk about how to simplify your routine.

Getting in on the skin minimalism trend

So what is a minimalist skincare routine? According to a review published in Dermatologic Clinics, facial cleansing and moisturizing are the core of every skin-care regimen. So start there and build on from that. 

A skinimalist routine can be as simple as 1, 2, 3. 

• Step 1: Cleanse

Start with a gentle yet effective cleanser. 

The One & Done Oil Cleanser from embody is powerful enough to do the work of two cleansers without stripping your skin dry. The best part? It’s cruelty-free and contains zero synthetic fragrances, parabens, or harmful additives. 

• Step 2: Moisturize

Follow up your cleanser by pumping some moisture back into your skin. If you’re unsure which moisturizer to go with, a quick Google search can give you recommendations for what works best with your skin type. 

• Step 3: Nourish

Nourish your skin from within with ingestible skincare. 

I love embody’s Retinol Gummy! It’s the perfect way to harness the power of active ingredients like retinol without the usual irritation that comes along with it. And bestie, you know it’s all-natural. No nuts, dairy, soy, gluten, parabens, or fillers here! 

Skinimalist skincare routine? Check! (Yep, it’s that simple).

That said, don’t forget what skinimalism is all about: giving your complexion what it needs — nothing more, nothing less. Remember to read the ingredients and opt for what suits your complexion’s needs.

For instance, if you’re an eczema baddie like me, you might want to throw in a little aloe vera. Or, if you’ve got dry skin, opt for a thicker moisturizer. The key is to minimize your ingredients and avoid overdoing it with anything you don’t really need.

Less is more with embody

So what’s skinimalism, in a nutshell? 

It’s the minimalist skincare approach catered to you and only you. 

Cutting down some steps in our routine so we can squeeze in another episode of Selling Sunset? Well, that’s just another perk of the minimalist skincare movement.

Kickstart your skinimalist journey and love the skin you’re in — with a little help from your #LazyGirlSkincare confidante, embody.