What is the minimalist approach to skin care

With countless cleaning products, serums, moisturizers, moisturizers, exfoliants available on the market, your bathroom is “full”. But maybe it doesn’t have to be that way. The minimalist approach to skin care involves limiting the number of products in your routine to the essentials.

“Minimalist skin care is exactly what you hear! It’s a skin care routine that is simple and easy.” That’s according to Michele Green, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

Rather than incorporating a wide variety of products with many different steps, “a minimalist skin care routine focuses on the basic steps and ingredients needed to keep your skin healthy and vibrant,” says Susan Massick, MD, a dermatologist in Gahanna, Ohio, and associate professor of dermatology at Ohio University’s Wexner Medical Center Wexner Medical Center.

Why has the minimalist movement gained so much momentum?

The minimalist movement is gaining momentum now – perhaps in response to the pandemic, as people try to simplify their lives. “What people really want and what they need is a simple but effective routine that they can follow on a consistent basis,” says Dr. Massick.

There are many people who enjoy the process of creating a personalized, comprehensive skin care routine. However, there are others who are convinced that more does not always mean better.

Moreover, this approach is not only for people with naturally dewy skin without imperfections. “It’s really for everyone,” Massick says. It can be particularly beneficial if your skin does not respond well to a complicated routine. “It’s time to simplify when your skin is more irritated than when you started your skincare regimen,” says Massick. And he adds that time-consuming multi-step systems can lead to skin irritation, redness and acne.

There are a few reasons why your skin may not match certain skincare products. You may have an underlying skin condition (rosacea, for example) or be allergic to an ingredient in the product, Massick says. But reactions can also be caused when certain ingredients are mixed, such as products with exfoliating effects like salicylic acid, lactic acid and retinols. “It can overwhelm the skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation and redness,” he explains.