In recent years the humble skincare routine has evolved from being simple “cleanse, tone, moisturise” to something resembling a full day at a spa. The influence of beauty routines from other countries has also made a difference to the way we are using skincare. From Japanese beauty routine which advocate a minimum of five different steps to the ever-popular Korean beauty which sometimes includes the use of upwards of 10 different products, our beauty routines are very different these days.
Cleanser
As you may have guessed, the first step in a minimalist beauty routine is cleanser. Ensuring that you have a clean base on which to put your other products will allow them to work more effectively and keeping your skin clean will help you to avoid blocked pores and blemishes.
However not all cleansers are suitable for every skin type; if you have dry or sensitive skin then Elemis Sensitive Cleansing Wash is a good choice for you. It contains soothing extract of thyme, chamomile and ladies mantle which all contain antibacterial products properties to both cleanse and soothe your face.
If you have normal or combination skin then Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Detox Facial Wash is a great option for you. It uses natural sugars and organic aloe vera to cleanse away impurities and soften your skin.
For skin which is oily or prone to blemishes we would highly recommend Jan Marini Bioglycolic Oily Skin Cleansing Gel. It leaves your skin feeling very clean and targets excess oil without inflaming the skin further. It also helps with the appearance of acne lesions and is excellent for acne prone skin.
Moisturiser
The next non-negotiable product in our minimalist beauty routine is moisturiser, which is something that everybody should use after cleansing, regardless of their skin type.
It is a common misconception that people with oily skin don’t need to moisturise, however excess sebum can actually be indicative of underlying dryness, for which your skin is trying to compensate by overproducing oil. Opting for a lightweight, non-oil based moisturiser like SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture will help to hydrate your skin while rebalancing your oil production.
People with dry or ageing skin will often need something with a bit of extra “oomph” in the moisturising department, so we would recommend Decleor Lavender Fine Rich Day Cream. It is made from ultra nourishing cupuacu butter, which fights against the signs of ageing and gives skin a deep boost of moisture.
If you have normal or combination skin, then the options for moisturisers for your skin type are fairly limitless, however a solid place to start would be Elemis Hydra-Balance Day Cream. It’s ultra-light, antioxidant rich day cream that provides continuous hydration, to leave skin feeling perfectly hydrated, balanced and supple.
Sunscreen
The final, and perhaps most important, step of your daily skincare routine should ALWAYS be sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen is one of the best — and easiest — ways to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age. Used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer and premature ageing, all of which will keep your skin looking its best for longer.
People with oily or spot-prone skin often find it the hardest to find a product with SPF which doesn’t exacerbate their skin issues. SkinCeuticals Oil Shield UV Defence Sunscreen SPF 50 is a unique product which provides broad spectrum protection while actively controlling oil production and limiting the root cause of spots.
For ageing or dry skin, you can’t do any better than Murad Age-Balancing Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30, which is designed to deeply nourish dry skin while also protecting you from the sun’s harmful rays.
If you’re blessed with normal skin, we’d highly recommend Dermalogica Solar Defence Booster SPF50. It’s actually suitable for all skin types, but at SPF50 it offers high protection from UVA and UVB rays and can be added to your facial moisturiser or foundation for an invisible barrier against the sun.