Not too long ago, long and complex 10-step skincare routines were being splashed all over social media – some even went so far as to incorporate 15 steps into their daily skincare regimen. 

Now, however, the tide has turned, and it’s all down to a trend that has turned out to be remarkably revolutionary: minimalist skincare. Join Vivo Per Lei as we take a closer look at why everybody is raving about minimalist skincare, and whether or not this is something that you should be trying too.

Minimalist Skincare: What’s it All About?

Minimalist skincare is exactly what it sounds like: embracing the ‘less is more’ approach when it comes to skincare, so that you end up with a short and simplified routine. If you’re someone who enjoys slathering on product after product each day, you may be wondering why you would want to suddenly strip back your skincare routine in this way. Turns out, there are a few distinct advantages that come from doing so:

A Reduced Chance of Irritation and Sensitivities

Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, the more products you apply, the higher your chances are of experiencing irritation. All it takes is for your skin to react to one ingredient, which is more likely to happen when you’re applying hundreds of ingredients to your skin each day. A minimalist skincare routine does away with unnecessary extras. This means fewer potential irritants for your skin to have to deal with.

Enhanced Skin Barrier Function

While you may think that applying numerous products to your skin is doing your skin barrier a favor, the opposite is usually true. It doesn’t take much for the skin barrier to end up overwhelmed, which is exactly what longer skincare routines can lead to. 

Consistency Becomes Easier

Do you ever find yourself struggling to be consistent with your skincare? As you probably know, consistency is everything if you want your routine to produce results. However, it’s much harder to be consistent when your routine is long and time-consuming. Taking it back to basics can often be a big motivating factor to strictly adhere to your skincare routine since a shorter routine tends to be much more convenient.

Time-Saving

One reason why a minimalist skincare routine is easier to be consistent with is that it doesn’t take quite as much time to carry out. Whether you’re trying to save precious time in the mornings or want to speed through your evening routine so that you can get into bed ASAP after a long day, a minimalist skincare regimen will help.

Cost-Efficiency 

There’s nothing wrong with splurging on skincare. However, as many would agree, it can be all too easy to go overboard, meaning that a large chunk of your budget ends up going toward skincare. If you’ve been looking for a way to save a few pennies without neglecting your skin, a minimalist skincare routine could be exactly what you need.

Sustainability

Sustainability has been a huge buzzword in just about every industry lately, including skincare. While it’s now easier than ever to make sustainable skincare choices, the best way to do this is by cutting back on the sheer number of products that you use. The less you contribute to consumerism, the lower your overall environmental impact will be. 

How to Create a Minimalist Skincare Routine

Thinking about making the switch to a minimalist skincare routine? Here’s how to get started:

Assess Your Skin’s Needs

People often worry that taking a minimalist approach to skincare will mean that their skin ends up missing out. However, if you’re strategic when it comes to putting your new routine together, this won’t be the case at all. 

This is why the very first step to take is to thoroughly assess your skin’s needs. Start with your skin type. Dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and normal skin will each have its own requirements. Each product in your skincare routine should be tailored to your skin type.

Then, make a list of the other skin concerns you want to tackle. Be it wrinkles, dark spots, loose skin, a rough texture, or anything else, note these down in order of importance. This way, when it comes to picking products for your routine, you’ll be able to ensure that your choices are geared toward your primary problems. 

Find Your Go-To Essentials

Go to Product

While your skincare routine should be unique to you, all skincare routines, whether minimalist or not, will share a few similarities in terms of essential products. These products form the foundation of your skincare routine, making it important to make the right choices. 

The first product you’ll need is a cleanser. As we mentioned above, try to find one that’s not just suitable for your skin type, but also targets some of your main visible skin concerns. For example, if your skin type is oily and your skin has been looking dull and congested, a foaming cleanser, like the Vivo Per Lei Collagen Foaming Cleanser, would be a great choice. On the other hand, if your skin type is dry or sensitive and dehydration is a common issue for you, go with a gentle, hydrating cleanser. Vivo Per Lei’s Hyaluronic Acid Daily Facial Wash would be ideal. 

Next up, you’ll need a good moisturizer. Most people have two: one for the day and one for the night. Day creams, like the Pumpkin and Collagen Day Cream from Vivo Per Lei, tend to be lighter in texture. Meanwhile, night creams, like the Vivo Per Lei Snow Mushroom Night Cream, are usually richer. Since your skin’s needs change between day and night, having two separate moisturizers is a good way to ensure that you’re meeting those needs without having to add unnecessary extras to your skincare routine. 

Last but not least, sun protection. Go for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. Keep your skin covered in this during daytime hours. With UV rays responsible for so much skin damage, sun protection is one of the most important aspects of skincare – minimalist or otherwise!

Choose Multipurpose Extras

Go to Product

Multitasking skincare products are at the heart of every minimalist skincare routine. This is the secret to catering to all of your skin’s needs without overloading it with a long line of different products. 

Say, for example, you’ve been struggling with the appearance of inflammation and dehydration. Both are also signs that your skin barrier has undergone damage. Rather than looking for three different products (one for each issue), find a multitasker that’s able to help with all, such as the Aloe Soothing Facial Serum from Vivo Per Lei. This serum hydrates, soothes, and strengthens the complexion. The best part is that it has a minimal ingredient list, making it perfect for a minimalist skincare routine. 

The Radiance Gold Facial Serum from Vivo Per Lei is another multipurpose formula worth knowing about. It’s packed with hydrating humectants, including sodium hyaluronate, beta-glucan, and polyglutamic acid. At the same time, it also contains ingredients that soothe the feeling of inflammation. Meanwhile, the antioxidant-rich extracts in this serum will fight the appearance of environmental damage. 

This approach should apply to all of the skincare products in your routine. Fortunately, with minimalist skincare trending in such a big way, there are now more multitasking products than ever available for you to choose from! 

Pay Attention to Ingredients

The products that we’ve featured above all have one thing in common: relatively short ingredient lists. This is something that you’ll need to pay attention to. After all, there’s no point cutting back your skincare routine to just a handful of products if each of those products contains 100 ingredients. Ideally, try to ensure that each of the products in your routine features a short and sweet ingredient list. 

In addition to prioritizing short ingredient lists, you should also be focusing on quality. Yes, this could mean spending a little more on the products in your routine. However, having fewer products overall will mean that you’ll still likely benefit from the cost-saving nature of a minimalist skincare routine. 

Adapt and Adjust

It’s so important to listen to your skin when making any changes to your skincare routine. Pay attention to how your skin responds to various ingredients/products/techniques, and then adjust your routine accordingly. 

Patience is crucial as well. Don’t forget that it often takes 6-8 weeks to see a difference in the complexion after new products have been introduced. This means that you may not notice any changes in the first few weeks after switching to a minimalist routine. However, stick with it and it won’t be long before your skin starts to look and feel healthier.

Would a Minimalist Skincare Routine Work for You?

As you’ve now seen, there are several benefits that come from going minimal with your skincare. If you’re still undecided as to whether or not a minimalist routine would work for you, here are a few things to consider:

• Does your skin often feel irritated by the skincare products you use? If so, cutting back could be very beneficial.
• If you lead a busy lifestyle, a minimalist skincare routine would make skincare much more convenient for you.
• If skincare sometimes feels overwhelming, stripping your routine back to the basic elements allows you to embrace simplicity. 

Is there anyone who shouldn’t give minimalist skincare a try?

The only exceptions would be if you’re dealing with a complex skin condition that requires the use of specialized products. If this is the case, you may not be able to cut any of those out of your routine. However, simplifying your skincare routine could still be an option – speak to your doctor or dermatologist for more advice. 

Summary

While some people may still be dubious about the benefits of a minimalist skincare routine, there’s no getting away from the fact that, for most, the pros greatly outweigh the very few cons. There’s a reason why minimalist skincare has been trending in such a significant way – give it a try for yourself, and you’ll soon reap the rewards firsthand! 

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