Summary
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Skinimalism is a refreshing approach to skincare that embraces simplicity while nurturing your skin’s natural balance.
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By using multipurpose formulas, it reduces irritation, saves time, and minimizes waste—helping both your skin and the planet thrive.
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A skinimalism routine consists of essential steps like cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection to keep skin healthy and radiant without unnecessary complexity.
- Optional add-ons like exfoliation or serums can be customized to support your unique and changing skin needs.
While the name might be confusing, the movement is anything but — skinimalism is focused on paring down complicated routines in favor of simple but effective formulas. Read how to create a skinimalism skincare routine.
Once upon a time, 10+ step-long skincare regimens reigned. While nourishing the skin is a positive thing, using numerous products that solely focus on just one task is both time-consuming and unnecessary. Which is exactly where skinmalism — or skin minimalism — steps in to save the day and your skin, wallet, and time. Building a skincare routine based on minimalism isn’t just for those in a rush though; a minimal ritual can have major benefits for your skin, too. Keep reading to learn how to simplify your skincare routine, without compromising your skin’s health.
What Is Skinimalism?
Skinimalism is focused on simplifying your skincare routine with multipurpose formulas — all in the name of an easier regimen and healthier skin. It embodies the concept that “less is more” and confirms the idea that minimalist routines can be just as effective (if not more) as complicated, multi-step ones. Instead of layering multiple cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and facial oils, skinimalism skincare is focused on a pared down ritual that takes your skin back to the basics — it’s a win for your skin, wallet, and time.
Benefits of Skinimalism
The benefits of skinimalism are multipronged — let us count the ways.
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Healthier Skin
It might be hard to imagine, but bloated skincare routines can not only confuse the skin, but might even be damaging it. Using too many products can increase the chance of irritation, breakouts, and redness — not only from possible bad ingredient interactions, but also from overuse of active ingredients. Layering a vitamin C serum and a niacinamide serum atop of a base of AHA-exfoliated skin, then locking it all in with a moisturizer containing active ingredients is a recipe for disaster. Instead, keeping things simple allows the skin to auto-correct and balance on its own. Your dermatologist will likely agree that skin needs just a few formulas to support its health and anything else is probably just adding fuel to the irritation fire.
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Saving Money (and Waste)
Less skincare means more money in your pocket. This is also a good thing for the environment, as less products purchased means less packaging that eventually will be recycled or thrown away. Instead, purchasing just a handful of formulas that multitask means less you need to buy (e.g. less money spent) and fewer products that will need to be recycled one day.
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Saving Time (and Stress)
Having a 10+ step regimen? That can be time consuming and while we’re all for self care, this bloated routine can begin to feel more like an obligation than a mindfulness practice. Trading a complex regimen for a skinimalism ritual can make you feel like every step counts — because it does. You won’t get lost in the blur of complex steps and instead be focused and mindful of each part of this pared-down ritual. Rather than stressing about applying formula after formula, a minimalist ritual can save you time and worry.
How To Do Skinimalism Skincare
While it might seem as simple as just reducing the formulas you’re using (and it can be), a skinimalism ritual is still quite intentional. Because the steps are massively reduced to just a few preparations, the formulas are selective — and multipurpose. Rather than using a makeup remover, then a cleansing balm followed by a foaming cleanser, skinimalism is about choosing a specific face wash that can magically accomplish all three of those steps in one. That takes a very intentional and thoughtfully crafted cleanser, rather than just any face wash off the shelf.
Skinimalism requires some research and planning (which we’re happy to do for you!) to ensure formulas are successfully multipurpose. Skinimalism is also about supporting your skin type and celebrating your skin — and its unique qualities. Healthy skin means knowing what your specific needs are, gearing your routine appropriately, and not being too focused or worried about everyday skin conditions, like enlarged pores, blemishes, or pigmentation. Skinimalism is about nurturing and loving your skin — as well as your time and wallet.
Skinimalism Ritual
We’ve highlighted skinimalism’s benefits, but let’s finally get to the good stuff: how to create a skinimalism ritual. While this format can (and should) be customized to your skin type, here is the general skinimalism ritual.
Step One: Cleanse
A cleanser that can remove the day’s makeup, sunscreen, and debris and also cleanse and support the skin itself? That’s a tall order, but we’ve got a few suggestions based on your skin type. However, you can also pick your cleanser based on your preference of formulation — whether that be gel, foaming, cream, exfoliating, or balm.
Oily or Combination Skin
This daily clarifying gel cleanser decongests pores without stripping skin, while also rebalancing skin’s natural oil production for smoother skin and reduced makeup slip-off. The refreshing watery-foam formula includes premium Kyo-matcha (sourced directly from the famed Uji region in Kyoto), powerhouse coix seed (used in herbal medicines for centuries to purify pores), and Japanese mugwort (to support barrier function).
Dry or Combination Skin
This cream cleanser is designed for all skin types, including dry. The soft and creamy foam texture gently soothes and washes away buildup without stripping skin for a hydrated, luminous complexion. The bestselling face wash is purposeful with its lather: the foam comes from the amino acid base and Japanese rice powder, which naturally softens and balances skin. Plus the addition of Okinawa algae and hyaluronic acid gives skin a boost of hydration and plumpness as well.
Sensitive or Mature Skin
This skin-strengthening formula instantly calms visible irritation, while also supporting and transforming the skin barrier. The dermatologist-tested and fragrance-free formula was crafted with weakened, sensitized skin in mind, knowing traditional cleansing can be painful and damaging. The formula includes Japanese indigo to calm visibly irritated skin; lipids and ceramides to replenish the barrier; Japanese lotus root to soothe; and mondo grass root to balance the microbiome. But unlike harsh cleansers, the Indigo Cleansing Balm also soothes visible irritation and replenishes moisture, strengthening the skin barrier for smooth, visibly calm, and radiant-looking skin.
Step Two: Moisturize
To keep things streamlined and simple, you can go straight from cleansing to a moisturizer. Customize your moisturizer to your skin’s needs to ensure you’re fully following the skinimalism movement.
Oily or Combination Skin
Finding the right moisturizer that supports and balances oily skin is a tough task, but this formula is brilliantly designed to balance oiliness and impart radiance with a lightweight feel. The refreshing gel-cream refines pores, hydrates, and smooths skin’s texture over time.
This lightweight, creamy formula balances the skin, delivers instant hydration, and imparts a lasting dewy glow. It’s the sibling to our iconic Dewy Skin Cream, with a similar dewy finish, but this version is designed for oily and combination skin.
Dry or Combination Skin
Visibly plump and hydrate skin with this juicy moisturizer that features hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane. The rich cream texture also provides antioxidant protection from visible signs of premature aging, making it multipurpose.
Sensitive or Mature Skin
Colloidal oatmeal and Japanese indigo extract make this superpowered formula the best soothing moisturizer for sensitive skin. The decadent cream provides relief from visible redness and itchiness with lasting hydration.
Looking for moisture but still want to balance skin? This rich yet weightless gel-cream formula toes the line between deeply hydrating and balancing skin. The formula features powerful ingredients like inositol to improve visible elasticity, Bulgarian rose (a retinol alternative) to help address visible firmness and the look of fine lines, and silk extract and squalane to hydrate and nourish. It’s ideal for aging skin that skin wants to keep oiliness at bay.
Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream
In need of a deeply hydrating experience? This formula is designed for more mature skin, but it also can support those with very dry skin (or in extreme cold weather conditions). The intensely rich formula nourishes the skin with botanical extracts, including peony and gardenia.
Step Three: Protect
Skinimalism is about zeroing on just the most vital steps and sunscreen couldn’t be more important. If it’s daytime, you need to apply sunscreen — no excuses. Whether it is mineral or chemical based, find a sunscreen you enjoy using and apply the recommended amount in the correct order.
This brilliant sunscreen features superior protection with broad-spectrum SPF 50 yet it has a weightless feel and a sheer, radiant finish. It also diligently follows the tenets of skinimalism by containing powerhouse ingredients that improve the skin’s health, including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, which visibly even skin tone and hydrate, as well as silk extract to help smooth skin’s texture and add a silky weightlessness to the formula. Importantly, the formula also features KLEAIR, a patented zinc oxide, that is proven to be over two times more effective at protecting against free radicals than standard zinc oxide. (Talk about multitasking!)
Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen
Perhaps you're looking for a matte, silky-smooth finish. In that case, grab this beloved formula, which provides broad-spectrum SPF 35 coverage and blends effortlessly and invisibly for a smooth, matte finish. The sunscreen features a handful of intentional ingredients for additional benefits, including wild rose to address the appearance of enlarged pores, and silk extract.
Step Four: Optional Add-Ons
You could easily stop right above at a simple two-step ritual at night (cleanse and moisturize) and three-step ritual for daytime (cleanse, moisturize, and protect). However, if you wanted to add in a few additional steps, here are a few that multitask and support skin’s overall health.
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Exfoliation
Some might need additional exfoliation, which is great. Determine if that’s you and how frequently your skin prefers exfoliation. Start with once a week and go up, if necessary, from there. Then, see if skin prefers physical exfoliation or chemical exfoliation (or a mix of both). Here are our favorite options for exfoliation.
-Physical Exfoliation
The Rice Polish is a water-activated exfoliant that transforms into a creamy, cloud-like foam. While the word ‘exfoliant’ might feel excessive for a skinimalism routine, it is multipurpose because the non-abrasive formula both cleanses and exfoliates simultaneously. This means it can be used in place of a cleanser. Finely ground rice bran and papaya enzymes promote natural skin turnover, while the amino acid-base formula provides effective cleansing without stripping the skin of essential moisture or breaking the skin’s barrier function. And with four different exfoliating formulations, you can find the cleansing exfoliant that fits your skin needs best. Classic is ideal for combination and mature skin. Calming is soothing for sensitive skin. Deep is a great fit for combination and oily skin. Gentle is perfect for exfoliating dry skin.
-Chemical Exfoliation
The Texture Tonic is an AHA-powered liquid exfoliating formula designed to be used daily. The formula helps reduce excess oil and sebum, and can improve skin’s moisture levels, thanks to niacinamide and Japanese mugwort, which visibly even skin tone, while also calming visible redness and irritation. But the formula doesn’t just work wonders on the skin, it also has emotional benefits, too. (Multitasking!) The liquid exfoliant is scented with a functional fragrance blend of sweet fennel and rosemary, two botanicals known to increase focus and mental clarity.
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Serums
Serums are your workhorses, but that also means they treat the skin. Be careful to not overwhelm skin by following the package instructions on how to and how frequently to use a product. Customize your serum by seeking out what you're looking for in a formula.
-Addressing Fine Lines and Wrinkles
You know what is complicated? Retinol. You know what is multitasking and easy to use? A retinol alternative that visibly firms and smooths the look of wrinkles without the visible irritation often associated with vitamin A derivatives. The Silk Serum also multitasks by visibly calming redness and strengthening the moisture barrier, too.
-Brightening Skin
This potent and multipurpose brightening serum is powered by a 12-hour time-release vitamin C and ferulic acid to illuminate, firm, and target hyperpigmentation. Why time-released vitamin C? With an even, gradual dose, skin better absorbs the ingredient with less irritation. (Which is very skinimalism coded.)
-Hydration
This skin-plumping serum instantly floods dehydrated skin with hydration and improves elasticity over time. The milky formula includes a plethora of ingredients (including Crambe abyssinica seed oil, our proprietary Hadasei-3 complex, hyaluronic acid, and squalane) that allow skin to be hydrated instantaneously and over time. In clinical studies, participants saw an immediate boost in hydration (up to six times more moisture than before application)* and an improvement in radiance and texture over the course of four weeks.**
*Based on a clinical study of 45 panelists.
**Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 25 panelists.
Need a hydrating pick-me-up? Grab this on-the-go, pocket-sized serum that provides instant and deep moisture, while also blurring the look of fine lines and minimizing makeup creasing (basically, a must for mid-day touch-ups).
Who Should Choose A Skinimalism Skincare Ritual?
Skinimalism has staying power because it’s for everyone. Looking to simplify complex routines? Minimize with skinimalism. Have sensitive or sensitized skin? Take things back to the basics with skinimalism. Want to save money, time, and effort? Try the minimalist movement of skinimalism. Plus, the trend is geared toward individual customization, meaning it’s focused on your specific skin health rather than forcing it to fit one specific routine. A refreshing ritual that’s meant for all skin types? Consider us sold on skinimalism.
