I woke up this morning, looked at my skincare and wanted to hurl it out the window. No, it’s not that the products aren’t working for me, nor that I don’t think any of the dozens of skin creams are useless. I just can’t continue with my 400,000-step, snail water-essence-mist-serum-oil-bloodofasacrificiallamb-based routine. It’s enough. Give me soap, give me moisturizer, and give me some damn sunscreen and let me live my life while I’m still young! Unfortunately, when I think about mentioning my newfound disdain for this unnecessarily long process to my equally skincare-conscious friends, I feel like I’m committing a grave sin. But they’ll live *sweats-in-the-heat-of-judgment*. In the meantime, I am in desperate need of the ultimate minimalist skincare routine, and if you’re here, you must be too.
In the midst of whittling down my process, I figured that there must be another poor soul (you) out there in the world who is crying for an equally simple and minimalist skincare routine. To begin, I knew there were a few products I absolutely could not live without: my salicylic acid face wash, hyaluronic acid, vitamin e oil, and sunscreen. I took those four products and searched for the very best of those products. If I’m going to cut down, then I at least have to be using high-results products, right? Right. Funny enough, though, three of these products stayed the same, only one changed…mainly because Garnier Fructis no longer produces their Gelee Cleanser, but that it neither here nor there.
A Really Good Salicylic Acid Cleanser…
If you aren’t already using Paula’s Choice Clear Pore Cleanser, I suggest you start. If you have uber sensitive skin, then I suggest you go for the run-of-the-mill Cetaphil or CeraVe—(they are tried and true and to die for). This cleanser does dry out the skin, but that is why we don’t allow our skin to dry out before moisturizing, right?…..Right?
Layering on the Gooey Goodness…
Top it off with a hyaluronic acid serum. (Please make sure your face and decolletage are still wet. You want to keep the moisture in, not dry out the skin.) The one that I swear by is the Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum by cosmedica. This serum is No. Joke. In most cases, the reason why your skin looks like it has fine lines and is showing premature signs of aging is because it is dry. By using a hyaluronic acid serum, on a freshly washed face, you are slowly training the skin to be more receptive of water, and to retain it. In turn, this plumps out the skin and refreshes your previously prune-like appearance.
Seal In Your Hard Work!
After, use a drop of vitamin e oil. If all you have at home are tablets and you don’t feel like buying a bottle of an oil, that works! If you read my previous article on How to REALLY Shave 4C Hair, then you’ll know that a vitamin e serum is valuable in moisturizing the skin while keeping hyperpigmentation at bay. By applying vitamin e over hyaluronic acid, you are sealing the skin so that all of that water and moisture stays on the skin. I personally love the one by Nature’s Bounty because of the added lemon-citrus scent!
Wait! Don’t Leave the House Without Sunscreen!
Lastly, I top it all off with my favorite sunscreen Missha All Around Safe Block Aqua SPF 50 PA++++. There are several pros—and no cons…well maybe one con—that I must mention for this sunscreen. There is no white cast. Missha sunscreen works so well for all skin types, and makes every complexion look like dolls-skin. It is super moisturizing and extends my morning skincare routine all the way through to the evening. By being PA++++, it prevents any old dark marks on my skin from darkening in the sunlight and keeps my overall complexion smooth and ‘bouncy’ looking. While this product is only 50mL, it has lasted me from August of 2020! And it is currently May of 2021! The one con, however, is that this product always sells out SO fast. *very dramatic sighhhh*
And voila! There is my full, whittled down—but still effective— minimalist skincare routine. I hope my take brings you as much joy, and brilliantly glowing skin, as it has me!
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links; therefore, I sometimes receive compensation from them.
