A Minimalist's Skincare Routine
Ever since I read this post by my colleague, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of having a minimalistic skincare routine. Whilst I love the ritual of dousing my skin with a zillion serums and creams, I was curious to see whether a simpler regime would be equally effective. After months of trial and error, I’ve finally mastered a routine that works well on my sensitive, combination skin.
Step One: Cleanse
Foaming cleansers are my skin’s worst enemy. Not only do they dry my skin out, but often leave it red and flaky. Our Managing Editor recommended Avène’s Gentle Milk Cleanser to me a few months ago and I haven’t looked back since. The milky formula takes off any product residue, whilst calming and hydrating my skin. I use this twice a day to keep my face clean.
Step Two: Treat
I’m not too picky with my serums and usually use whatever lands on my desk. Currently, I’ve been applying The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% to combat dullness and oiliness. Whilst I haven’t tested it out long enough to report on the results, I’m happy with the fact that it hasn’t broken me out. I use this at night as it leaves a slightly tacky residue behind.
Step Three: Moisturise
I’m obsessed with Drunk Elephant’s Protini Polypeptide Cream! It provides just the right amount of hydration for my skin type, without feeling greasy or heavy. Since it dries down to an invisible finish, I use it both morning and night.
Step Four: Moisturise Again
There’s no better multitasker in the industry than the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. I use a generous amount on my lips and cuticles to keep them protected. It also works wonderfully on any inflamed patches or sunburnt skin. Since it is rather sticky, I prefer applying it only at night.
Step Five: Exfoliate
Once a week, I exfoliate my skin with the Herbivore Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask. The AHA-based mask works to slough off any dead skin but is gentler on my skin than any physical scrub.
Although I still love toying around with different products, I’ve come to realise that my skin doesn’t need much more than this simple routine. Plus, I’ve ended up saving a lot of money – which will obviously go into my makeup fund. The only thing I need to add is a good, mattifying sunscreen. If you have any recommendations, please drop a line in the comments below. Alternatively, if you are following a minimalistic routine too, I’d love to hear all about it!