We are incredibly fortunate to live in a time where many of us can buy more than we need. Either we are honest about this fact, or we convince ourselves that we need more than we do. There was a time in history where people had one or two outfits and that was it. We have come extremely far from there. Now, not only do we have more than two outfits, but we also have way more than two pairs of shoes, scarves, hats, coats, lipsticks, eye shadows, and blushes – and that’s only in our bedroom. Our bathroom cabinet probably looks like a cluttered mess full of cleansers, toners, eye creams, “specialty” creams, serums, moisturizers, masks, and more. But how does our skin look? Do we even use these things? Probably not, and so its time to take up a minimalist skin care routine.

Why Do We Accumulate So Much Stuff? 

Wardrobe full of clothes.

When it comes down to it, what we all really want is to achieve our goals which will ultimately make us feel happy and accomplished. In order to get to our goals, we need the right tools to get there. This is where good marketing comes in. Companies know what we really want is self-fulfillment. They market their products in order to make us feel that their item will be that last piece in the puzzle to get to our goals. This is true whether we want to be beautiful, rich, popular, in love, or just happy. 

This is why many advertisements and commercials have almost nothing to do with the item they are selling. They are often scenes of idyllic lives with the implication that if you buy their item, your life can look and feel just as idyllic too. This is how you end up with so much stuff. With each new addition, comes the promise that with this item, all your hopes, dreams, and wishes for yourself can come true. 

Benefits Of Being A Minimalist

Now while it is true that in order to accomplish many life goals you need the right tools, I promise you, these tools are not what you think they are. Having 35 different lipstick shades won’t make you feel more beautiful any more than having 15 pairs of running sneakers will make you feel more in shape and athletic. One or two lipstick shades are necessary, and you definitely need a good pair of sneakers to stay fit, but any more than that is you using material items to make you think that you are much closer to your goal than you really are. 

Since minimalism is about not finding happiness in the material, having good skin is an integral part of being a minimalist.  When you have good skin, you feel beautiful, and therefore you won’t acquire 73 beauty products to try and make yourself feel good in your own skin – literally. 

Feeling good about yourself means you will fall for way fewer advertisements that are trying to make you well, feel good about yourself. Good skin makes you feel confident, it makes you glow. These things make you more likable, and it really goes on from there. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t be all these things with skin blemishes, but it is often the case that when a person has clear and healthy-looking skin, they feel quite confident. To become more of a minimalist, start with your skin care routine. 

Minimalist’s Skin Care Routine

Being a minimalist does not mean not taking care of your skin. Although the 10 step Korean skin care routine might not be for you, definitely don’t forget about the basics. Here is an easy minimalist skin care routine to follow that will keep your skin refreshed and healthy.

1. Cleanse

Washing your face is a must.

Get a gentle but thorough cleanser appropriate for your skin type. Just one is enough, use it morning and evening. We’ve already identified the best facial cleansers for you. 

2. Tone

After cleansing, your skin’s pH levels are unbalanced. Make sure to include a toner in your minimalist skin care routine after cleansing. Toning the skin with an astringent rebalances pH levels, and exfoliates the top layer of your skin, for a baby-soft complexion. 

3. Moisturize

Don’t forget to moisturize.

Every skin needs to be moisturized, even oily skin. Here is where people tend to spend a lot of money and accumulate many products. Each moisturizer claims its own life, or at least skin changing benefits. Some people have one for the morning and one for the evening. While that might be a nice luxury for some, it is absolutely unnecessary.

If you get the right moisturizer for your skin type, with gentle ingredients, not only will you be able to use it as your day and night cream, but you will be able to use it as an under-eye cream as well. The key here is being very choosy with the ingredients. 

Alternatively, you could choose a serum instead of a cream. Serums are more concentrated and are packed with nutrients that can help your skin look young and fresh. Serums are seriously awesome for moisturizing and transforming all skin types. 

4. SPF

Woman admiring clear skin in mirror.

Using SPF to protect your skin from the sun not only helps prevent skin cancer but keeps your looking youthful. The sun breaks down collagen, causes hyperpigmentation, and promotes fine lines and wrinkles. As such it’s super important to get yourself a good lightweight sunscreen and even carry it with you throughout the day. While you’re at it, make sure to be using sunscreen that is also good for the environment. Many good skin care and makeup products have SPF included in them already. You should double-check your moisturizer and foundation to see if you need to include a separate SPF in your minimalist skin care routine. 

5. Treat

Woman with clear skin laughing.

We all have specific skin concerns. Whether it be dark spots, acne, wrinkles, or uneven skin tone, whatever your skin issue is, there are products that help get it under control. The point of minimalism is not to force you to forgo “extra” things. It’s to help you for-go what you don’t need. It doesn’t matter that a dark spot remover isn’t part of a typical paired down skin routine, if its what you need in order to achieve your best skin, you should have it in your routine. But that doesn’t mean 5 of these products, that means one. 

Conclusion

It can be difficult to come to terms with but sometimes we try and find happiness through material items. It isn’t that we need lots of “stuff” to make us happy, as some people may assert, it is that we are constantly trying to find the right tools to get us to our goals. 

As with many different parts of our lives, our beauty routine can become cluttered and ineffective. Having a minimalist skin care routine with good quality products will make your skin look amazing, making your foundation and concealer drawer, a thing of the past. All you really need is a cleanser, toner, sunscreen, moisturizer, and treatment. Finding products in each of these categories that work for your skin will help to not only declutter your beauty cabinet but encourage you to take on minimalism in other areas of your life.