Your guide to a minimalist skincare routine

Marie Kondo is proof that less is more and that a minimalist way of life indeed sparks joy. So if you can follow this for our home, why not our skin, right? Right! That’s exactly what the minimalist skincare routine is all about.

As the name suggests, it’s about keeping it simple and easy. It’s about giving up on over-indulgence and ditching the time-consuming tedious regime of using many products. Instead, use what you need. Don’t load your skin with products that it doesn’t need. Strip it of excessive and give it a healthy. Minimal routine it’ll love.

And no, it’s not as tough as it sounds. In fact, it’s super simple, and we’ve made it even simpler by preparing a ready reckoner of the top 5 minimalist saviours that you need to include in your skincare routine right away.

1. Start with cleansing

The first and the most important step in the minimalist skincare routine is a good cleanser. Pick one that suits your skin type. If you have dry or acne-prone skin, use gel cleansers and if you have oily skin, try one with Salicylic Acid. Using a cleanser in the morning is important, as it will help wash the build-up and oiliness over the night

2. Slather moisturizer

Once your face is clean and fresh, slather it with moisturizer. This will keep your skin smooth, supple and oh-so-soft! Look for a moisturizer with essential nutrients and vitamins as these give the skin a much-needed boost. If you have acne-prone skin, use oil-free formulas. If you have dry skin, look for ingredients like Squalane and Ceramides to replenish your skin. And if your skin is sensitive, keep a lookout for anti-inflammatory ingredients like Chamomile and Licorice. Avoid any product with irritants like synthetic fragrances, alcohol or harsh additives.

3. Don’t skimp on the SPF

One of the biggest enemies your skin needs to fight is the harmful sun rays. And your armour is sunscreen. A good sunscreen will protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays thus reducing the chances of sunspots, sunburns, wrinkles and skin cancer. Sunrays can penetrate through clouds too, so wear sunscreen even on cloudy days. Opt for an SPF 30 or higher and reapply every four hours. You can also use a moisturizer enriched with sunscreen.

4. Always exfoliate

Exfoliation works wonders and helps slough dead skin cells thus making your skin look radiant and fresh. Always be gentle with your skin and make sure you choose a product with Salicylic Acid or Lactic Acid for a lasting glow. Never, ever over-exfoliate and this can damage the outer layer of the skin.

5. Get serious about serums

While we have covered the bare essentials you will need to look good, we throw in serum for a good measure and its benefits. Serums have active ingredients like antioxidants and Vitamin C which tackle a whole range of skin issues like dryness, acne and pigmentation. Niacinamide Serum is considered excellent in this regard and will give you long-term benefits.

What beauty essentials you could skip

• Let go of products with astringents as these can irritate the skin
• You can skip toners and neck creams and there may be repeat ingredients, which already exist in your cleanser or moisturizer.
• You can also say goodbye to eye creams as the key ingredients like Caffeine and
• Retinol can be found in other products you’re already using.

What you definitely got to do

• Eat healthy
• Exercise daily
• Drink water throughout the day
• Stay happy
• Meditate
• Sleep well
• Smile more

So you see, minimalism is the keyword. Keep your beauty regime to the bare minimum, simple and straight with fewer products yet better results. Start by clearing up your drawers. Toss out or recycle old cosmetics that you have not used in a while. Begin with the new. And definitely think twice before indulging in those in-fashion ‘ticks all boxes’ products that you see on your favourite gram pop-up. So don’t forget, choose less and love your skin more.