If you are one who likes to keep things simple or simply can’t afford the time for elaborate skin care rituals every morning, the minimalist skin care diet might just be perfect for you.
As minimalists would suggest, less is more.
If your skin has been getting more sensitive after trying out complex routines from numerous products and brands, going back to basics may actually help your skin cope better. Cutting back on products may reduce the chances of skin irritation and sensitivity.
You’ll also be more adept at identifying which are the products that are irritating your skin. What’s more, you won’t be breaking the bank for great skin.
Here’s a principle to be an effective skin care minimalist:
Keep to your bare essentials and introduce 1 or 2 supplementary items at a time depending on how your skin feels.
What are your bare essentials?
These are your non-negotiables. Period.
They are the foundational blocks to help your skin function healthily. Think of skin care like learning a new subject – get the foundations right first before progressing on to solve more complex problems.
For skin care beginners, this is a good place to start. Instead of being overwhelmed by ingredients and products, focus on creating a simple skin care routine habit like above.
If you are battling skin sensitivity due to previous skin treatments, this back-to-basic routine will be a lease of life for your overwhelmed skin.
We recommend:
Day: Cleanser 1, Moisturizer 6, Refining Serum 9, Sunscreen 5
Night: Cleanser 1, Moisturizer 6, Refining Serum 9
For oilier skin, try: Cleanser 1, Aqua Boost Serum 10, Refining Serum 9, Sunscreen 5
How do you introduce supplements?
Once your skin feels more stable and is less likely to break out, you can consider introducing skin care supplements like your essences, serums and antioxidants one or two at a time for a skin care boost.
Below we put together routines with 5 steps or less to help you target different skin issues.
When skin feels dry
Pump up the water content in your skin by introducing an alcohol-free hydrating toner or essence like Toner T2. Use a gentle and hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip off the natural oils on your skin. Infuse your skin with moisture and strengthen your skin barrier with an intensive hydrating serum like Aqua Boost Serum 10.
If your skin feels really dehydrated, incorporate a soothing hydration mask like the Hydro Mask in your night routine.
We recommend:
Day: Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Aqua Boost Serum 10, Sunscreen 5
Night: Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Hydro Mask, Aqua Boost Serum 10, Moisturizer 6
Bonus:
When travelling to colder countries or during harsh winter weather, start and end off your routine with Toner T2 to lock the moisture in:
Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Moisturizer 6, Toner T2, Sunscreen 5
When skin is breaking out
Add a spot treatment into your routine to help soothe and clear blemishes. If your acne occurs only at certain parts of the face, focus on treating those spots rather than applying your spot treatment all over.
Stop using products that are too heavy or nourishing for a season. Those can burden your skin even more and cause clogs. Swap out your cream-based moisturiser for a lightweight lotion or replace it with a hydrating serum to keep your skin moisturised.
We recommend:
Day: Cleanser 1, Spot Serum 8, Refining Serum 9, Sunscreen 5
Night: Cleanser 1, Spot Serum 8, Refining Serum 9, Skinlight T3, Aqua Boost Serum 10
When skin feels dull
Your complexion may appear dull due to dead skin cells accumulating on your skin surface. Exfoliating regularly helps to uncover fresh new cells and push them up, giving you a natural glow.
Incorporating a brightening serum can help to increase cell turnover rate and speed up your skin’s renewal process. This is especially helpful for improving overall skin tone and treating pigmentation.
A gentle reminder to never forget your sunscreen when it comes to eradicating hyperpigmentation. Overexposure to the sun causes your skin to produce more melanin, darkening scar marks and making them difficult to heal.
We recommend:
Day: Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Skinlight T3 + Skinrecon T4, Sunscreen 5
Night: Miraglo + Cleanser 1, Toner T2, C15 Essence 7, Skinlight T3 + Skinrecon T4, Refining Serum 9
When skin feels congested
Clogged pores occur when dead skin cells are trapped in your skin together with sebum, dirt and bacteria. Exfoliating helps to free up your pores and eradicate clogs.
Introduce a pore tightening product like Refining Serum 9 to minimise the appearance of enlarged pores.
We recommend:
Day: Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Spot Serum 8, Refining Serum 9, Sunscreen 5
Night: Miraglo + Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Refining Serum 9, Spot Serum 8, Aqua Boost Serum 10
For mature skin
If you are starting to spot fine lines or experiencing a little gravity pull on your skin, time to step up on your anti-ageing routine!
Antioxidants like Vitamin C help to fight off free radicals that are mainly responsible for robbing our skin of its youthful bounce. Certain peptides like the E-Factor peptide in Age Arrest A3 help to encourage skin renewal and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
We recommend:
Day: Cleanser 1, C15 Essence 7, Skinrecon T4, Sunscreen 5
Night: Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Age Arrest A3 + AR Essence A3, Moisturizer 6/ Emulsion A6, Refining Serum 9 or Cleanser 1, Toner T2, Skinlight T3 + Skinrecon T4, Moisturizer 6/ Emulsion A6, Refining Serum 9