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Born out of the Covid lockdown, ‘skinimalism’ refers to pared down daily skincare routines, in contrast to layering multiple products on the skin at one time.
Says Joanne Corcoran, UK educator at Image Skincare UK: “’Skinimalism’ is set to continue as a trend in 2023; as the cost of living increases, we are all looking to make our money go further.”
‘Skinimalism’ emphasises a simple approach to skincare, with people using only the essential products and ingredients that are necessary to support healthy skin.
However, as Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder and medical director of Adonia Medical Clinic in London, points out, the cons of a more basic skincare routine include potentially missing out on the benefits of certain ingredients or products, and not being able to address specific skin concerns.
Therefore a skinimalist routine needs to work smarter, not harder – products need to target specific skin concerns and issues.
“Sometimes when we are trying to treat too many things with multiple products, our skin can become overwhelmed and respond negatively. If your skin is all over the place and you’re struggling to get it under control, stripping back to the basics can often be the best course of action,” comments Victoria Evans, education manager at Dermalogica UK.
While clients buying fewer products might sound like a bad thing for beauty businesses, the ‘skinimalism’ trend actually provides therapists with the opportunity to let their skincare knowledge and customer service skills really shine.
“This trend can be an advantage by highlighting therapists’ expertise in providing personalised and effective skincare solutions, rather than offering a wide range of products,” explains Dr Ejikeme.
Maria Naskos, national educator UK at Xpert Professional, which distributes skincare brand Dibi Milano, adds, “In skincare there are five fundamental groups of ingredients. These are antioxidants, peptides, vitamins and minerals, hydrators and protectors. Using one ingredient from each category is enough for a complete skincare routine. However, most cosmeceutical skincare products contain two or more of these ingredients in each product.
“For instance, peptides and hydrators are often combined. It is not uncommon to use a hyaluronic acid alongside a peptide. Antioxidants such as vitamin C or ferulic acid are often combined with vitamins and minerals such as niacinamide or vitamin A,” she adds.