Look, I’m not proud to admit it, but…I haven’t had a “proper” skincare routine in years. Yes, you are correct, I did complain about my acne with body oils, but hear me out: skincare routines are tiring. There are five billion steps to achieve that ~healthy glow~ and I just don’t have time for it, because I’ve done it before, and nothing has worked. Minimal skincare routine? Unheard of.
I mean, let me vent: Neutrogena, Proactiv, AcneFree? No change. Clay masks? No change. Selling my soul to the devil for clear skin? Nada. My skin has been red, I’ve had zits pop up regularly, and my skin never shines like the commercials claim. So what was the point, you know?
Same went for makeup. Why did I have to own foundation, highlighter, blush, eyeshadow, powder, and more just to have my face ready for the day? Why couldn’t I just use a few products? Plus, I wasn’t willing to shell out a bunch of money for something that could only be used in one way. So, no makeup for me.
Well, that was my mindset, until I heard the buzzword “skinimalism.” A routine that didn’t consist of 20 products and didn’t take an hour?
Sign. Me. Up.
Anything that could possibly help my skin, not cost an arm and a leg, and have the effectiveness equal to – if not more than – a long skincare routine was worth trying.
So, what exactly is skinimalism? And what products do I recommend? Let’s dive in.
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What Exactly IS Skinimalism?
Skinimalism is becoming more relevant this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a huge boom next year. I’m not the only one who thinks this – Pinterest released their 2021 Pinterest Predicts report, and number one on the list was skinimalism.
The concept of skinimalism started in Korea around June 2019. It was called “skip care,” and it dictated that multi-use products were better than a multi-product skincare system. Following that, the Japanese skincare brand Mirai Clinical started the movement of “skin fasting,” in which you don’t wear products for a certain period of time, so your skin can rejuvenate naturally. Now, the minimal skincare routine is starting to enter the US and pick up in popularity.
What Products Are Good for Skinimalism?
There are many other brands out there with multi-use products – products I absolutely adore. And some of them are household names – I just didn’t know there were more uses than the obvious! So, without further ado, my picks.
Sephora Collection Cleansing & Exfoliating Wipes
Sometimes a full face-wash for getting makeup off just isn’t realistic. These wipes help take off even the most caked-on makeup. Better than that: different wipes give off different benefits. For example, Green Tea Exfoliating Wipes mattify, while Papaya Exfoliating Wipes give you a glow.
Jergens All-Purpose Face Cream
Yes, “All-Purpose” is true here. Nourishing and moisturizing: check. Deep cleaning: check. Makeup and dirt removing: also check. Basically, you’re fully covered (pun intended) with Jergens. Who needs five different products when this face cream does it all? The best part: it’s seriously cheap.
Garnier Green Labs Pinea-C Serum Cream
This formula works overtime, minus the harsh ingredients. This vegan 3-in-1 cream is a serum, SPF 30 sunscreen, and moisturizer all at once. It’s lightweight and oil-free, so you don’t have to worry about clogged pores. Just rub it on and let it work its magic.
FLOWER Beauty Heatwave Bronzing Essence
When you’re looking for a tan minus the sun, FLOWER has you (literally) covered. The best part about this liquid bronzer: you can use it without other products — because of its jojoba oil, it hydrates and nourishes on its own.
Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Crème Pigment
Liquid blushes can be intense, but this one will give you the natural flush you’re looking for. And the benefit of this product: you can use it as a lip tint and eyeshadow — aka, you’ll look bright and alive after using just one product. Last-minute touch-ups have never been so efficient.
It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
I’m dead serious that this CC cream is a homerun for the skin. It nourishes and hydrates, brightens, reduces the appearance of pores, and has SPF 50+. Who needs one hundred products to use when you have this CC cream? #thankyouItCosmetics
UOMA Beauty Double Take Contour Stick
Buying highlighter and bronzer separately to contour? Officially not a thing thanks to UOMA. One end has a highlighter that will make you subtly glow or full-on shine — whichever you prefer — while the opposite end will help you contour to perfection.
Roller Lash Curling and Lifting Mascara
We wrote an entire article on different mascaras, but this mascara does more than your average eyelash booster. This mascara is both curling and lifting, giving you your most luscious lashes yet. Bonus: it lasts 12 hours, so no need to reapply throughout the day.
Rénergie Lift Makeup Lightweight Liquid Foundation SPF 27
Finding a foundation that matches can be next to impossible, but Lancôme fixes this with 25 different shades. It also helps with anti-aging by erasing fine lines, uneven skin tones, and dark spots. And then there’s the SPF 27 — is there anything this foundation can’t do?
Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek
Looking to swap your separate blushes, eyeshadows, and lip tints for something universal? Milk helps you switch from all of that makeup to this all-in-1 cream, which is guaranteed to bring you to life — if only externally.
Already practicing a minimal skincare routine? Let us know which products you love in the comments!
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