What Is Skinminimalism?
Skinminimalism (or Skinimalism) is an emerging trend driven by consumers seeking to simply their skin care routines. Most discussions of Skinminimalism focus on using fewer cosmetic products, but there are two additional factors to consider in Skinminimalism; (1) The number of ingredients in any one cosmetic product; (2) The percent inclusion of any one ingredient in a cosmetic product.
Cosmetic Products & Ingredients
The average woman in the US uses up to 12 cosmetic products with a cumulative total of 168 individual cosmetic ingredients applied to their skin daily. The average male uses 6 cosmetic products daily containing a total of 85 individual ingredients. Skinminimalism is an effort to reduce the exposure to a large number of ingredients, simply routines to reduce cost and save time, and use products that complement the skin’s natural ability to regenerate and heal.
Skinminamilism: Products, Ingredients & Percentages
Skinminimalism isn’t about just using fewer cosmetic products. It’s about using fewer cosmetic products containing fewer ingredients in the proper efficacious percentages.
As we will discuss later, the Essential Skinminimilist Routine is comprised of 3 products: Cleanser, Moisturizer, SPF. That is really all most people need to achieve healthy skin appearance and to protect from sun damage.
Now, enter into the picture the number of ingredients in each product and the percentage inclusion. If you use a Cleanser, Moisturizer & SPF, only three (3) products, but each product contains forty (40) ingredients each, have you actually achieved Skinminimalism? Not really.
Now consider percent inclusion of ingredients. It is very common to see companies offering inordinate and unnecessarily high percentages of certain ingredients – the More Is Better marketing pitch. Not true. Too much of any one ingredient can result in skin irritation. More Is Not Better! Enough is Enough is the proper metric.
You will most commonly see this with Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) Serums. Companies touting 22%, 25% Vitamin C. The scientifically proven optimum L-Ascorbic Acid percent inclusion is 15%.
The same with companies offering products containing up to 35% Tetrahexadecyl Ascorbate (Oil-Soluble Vitamin C derivative). The manufacturer’s clinical studies were conducted at 3%.
Various companies are pushing 12% Niacinamide serums. There is no clinical evidence that 12% Niacinamide is any more effective than 2% – 5% Niacinamide.
Skinminimalism is much more than simply using fewer cosmetic products. It’s about using the right products containing the right ingredients at efficacious concentrations and devoid of ineffective label ingredients that are used purely for marketing.
The Essential Skinminimalist Skin Care Routine
For the great majority of people, the Essential Skinminimalist routine is comprised of 3 products: Cleanser, Moisturizer & SPF, or Cleanser & Moisturizer containing SPF
Beyond these essentials, depending on your skin condition and age, you may desire additional products to address specific skin issues such as sensitive skin, well-aging, longevity, fine line & wrinkle reduction, hyperpigmentation, acne, eczema.
Cleanser – Water-Based & Oil Cleansers
Water-Based Cleansers: The essential ingredients in Water-Based Cleansers are comprised of Water, Surfactants, Preservatives & Refatting Agents. Choose a Cleanser with a simple ingredient deck. The singular purpose of a Cleanser is to remove dirt, debris & oil to cleanse the skin. This is accomplished by the surfactants. Refatting Agents counteract the drying or defatting effect of surfactants.
You will often see Cleansers formulated with a variety of ingredients such as plant extracts. These ingredients are ineffective and unnecessary in a Cleanser. Why? Because they simply rinse down the drain. There isn’t sufficient contact time with the skin for these ingredients to have any effect on your skin.
Oil Cleansers: Many women employ the Double Cleanse Method in the evening. First applying an Oil Cleanser to remove makeup followed by a Water-Based Cleanser. Oil Cleansers are comprised of carrier oils and a surfactant.
You can develop effective skinminimalist Water-Based and Oil Cleanser that contain 10 individual ingredients or fewer.
Here’s an example of a gentle, effective Skinminimalist Cleanser: Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Skinminimalist Cleansing Oil: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Castor Oil, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol
Skinminimalist Moisturizers
A Moisturizer is the absolute essential product in any skin care routine. You can use either a Moisturizing Cream or Serum. Look for Moisturizers that contain emollients, humectants and Natural Moisturizing Factors such as Squalane, Free Amino Acids, Free Fatty Acids (Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid), Sodium PCA, Lactic Acid, Urea, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Tremella Fulciformis (Snow Mushroom) Extract, Ceramides, Cholesterol, Sorbitol, Trehalose, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Niacinamide. Aquaporin-3, Petrolatum (or natural alternatives), Lanolin (or natural alternatives).
A good Moisturizer will perform several functions including moisturization (Emollients – Squalane), hydration (Humectants – Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Snow Mushroom Extract), strengthen the skin barrier (Ceramides, Free Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Niacinamide) and prevent Transepidermal Water Loss (occlusives – Petrolatum, Lanolin or natural alternatives).
Multifunctional Moisturizers
A great way to practice Skinminimalism is to use MultiFunctional products. For instance, a good Moisturizer infused with well-aging actives such as Anti-Aging Peptides, Oleosomes or Growth Factors. A MultiFunctional Moisturizer will provide all the benefits of a Moisturizer plus well-aging benefits such as reducing fine lines & wrinkles, all in one product.
Skinminimalist SPF
Over 80% of extrinsic aging is caused by sun exposure, so SPF is an essential skin care product. You can choose either SPF 30 or SPF 50 and chemical sunscreen or mineral sunscreen. Whatever your preference, SPF is an essential component of any skin care routine. It also helps if you limit sun exposure, wear a hat. Look for Moisturizers that contain SPF.
Skinminimalism Simplified
Skinminimalism is much more than simply using fewer cosmetic products. It’s about using the right products containing the right ingredients at efficacious concentrations and devoid of ineffective label ingredients that are used purely for marketing such as plant extracts.
The Essential Skinminimalist routine includes Cleanser, Moisturizer or MultiFunctional Moisturizer and SPF.
A good Skinminimalist cosmetic product will generally contain 20 ingredients or less. But, it’s not just the number of ingredients in the product, it’s all about the right efficacious ingredients included at functional levels.
Look for products that contain proven “Gold Standard” cosmetic ingredients that work in harmony with your skin’s biology: Natural Moisturizing Factors, Niacinamide, Retinol or Retinol alternatives.
If your skin is sensitive to Retinol, there are some great alternatives that perform equally well without the irritation including Peauforia and Peauvita (Epidermal Growth Factors fused to Oleosomes) from Core Biogenesis and CycloRetin from Lucas Meyer Cosmetics.
Avoid products that contain carrier oils high in Oleic Acid as it disrupts the skin barrier such as High Oleic Sunflower and Safflower Oils, Olive Oil, Soybean Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil
Your skin regenerates from 28 -40 days if you are under 50 years of age and up to 85 days if you are older. Give your skinminimalist skin care routine at least 60 days to show results and preferrable 90 days. There is no such thing as “Instant” in skin care although that is often advertised. Be patient.
Work in harmony with your skin’s biology by using the right products with the right ingredients loaded at efficacious levels in moderation. Your skin will love you for it and it will show.
