There is much more behind the daily practice of minimalism than just the particular aesthetic it showcases, though that is important. Minimalism is about reducing a subject to its essentials by stripping away the excess. Everything that's left must serve a purpose. In this blog, we dive into building your minimalist regime. If you own a private label skincare business, it's helpful to guide and educate your customers in creating a minimalist routine with your product line.
Many people overcomplicate their regimes, therefore actually causing more damage by disrupting the skin's barrier function. Practicing this approach will eliminate the unnecessary and keep the skin happy by going back to the basics and using simple essentials. Being intentional with your private label skincare business and setting the bar high when it comes to product formulation and sustainable manufacturing processes will be a win for both your skin and the planet.
Designing Your Minimalist Regime
Reaching out for expert advice when building your regime will help you find the right products to fit your skin's needs. A non-negotiable staple that just about any esthetician will advise in your routine will be an SPF 30 to help prevent premature aging. Maintaining the skin's wellness with few products is achievable once you better understand your skin type and concerns. A regime consisting of a gentle cleanser, exfoliator, a treatment serum, moisturizer, SPF, and an optional facial oil will give you optimal results.
Rainshadow Labs' resident esthetician Antonina will breakdown a guide to helping you choose the right products! When shopping for new beauty products, she recommends looking at the ingredient deck rather than just the eye-catching packaging. Looking for brands that set a particular standard of being cruelty-free along with ethically sourced ingredients will help you choose better options.
Cleanse
Using a gentle cleanser will benefit all skin types and prevent over-stripping the skin of its natural oils. If you have a dry skin type, a milk or oil cleanser will be a great option. An oil cleanser can also double as an effective makeup remover. Looking for organic ingredients like aloe and non-comedogenic oils in your cleanser will effectively cleanse without stripping the skin. Using a toner is optional and entirely up to your preference. "Since we are steering away from using harsh cleansers that can disrupt the skin's pH balance, a toner is not necessary," says licensed esthetician Antonina. Try Rainshadow Labs Coconut Milk & Honey Moisture Cleanser.
Exfoliate
A proper exfoliation with either an enzyme or a physical exfoliant 2-3 times per week will prevent your skin from looking dull by removing dead skin cells. An added benefit to using an acid or enzyme exfoliant is the superior brightening effects!
Serum
Using a "treatment serum" in your regime is still an important step even if you are looking towards a minimalist approach. Think of serums as a multi-vitamin for the skin due to their higher potency of actives. A few serums that just about any skin type can appreciate is a gentle vitamin C or a hyaluronic acid serum. Ultimately, you ll find what serum your skin is needing and use it fit for your needs.
Hydrate
Now it's time to find your holy grail moisturizer, whether it's a cream or gel base or maybe even a light facial oil. Keep in mind that as the seasons change, a heavier or lighter moisturizer may be needed, so slightly adjusting your regime with the seasons is recommended. Looking for a daily moisturizer with an SPF 30 can have you skip purchasing a separate SPF product, hence one less step! A pro skin tip is to receive a facial each season (quarterly) to see what your skin needs at every season!
Your Skin is an Investment
Your skin is an investment and absorbs roughly sixty percent of what you apply to it. Educating yourself on what ingredients to avoid will improve your skin and overall well-being. Also, remember to take into consideration that sometimes not all "chemicals" are harmful in skincare and are necessary to protect the product from growing toxic molds.
Shopping from small-batch skincare brands may seem pricier at first, but the quality is unparalleled to the synthetic-filled cheaper products. Remember "quality over quantity," so using brands that are transparent about their values and ingredients is essential.
Tips and Techniques
Hopefully you are now feeling empowered to get started on your eco-conscious minimalist skincare journey! There are many techniques that you can perform on yourself - without the use of products. Incorporating facial massage in your regime will "wake the skin up" and activate the lymphatic system. If you wake up with puffy under eyes or maybe even a pesky pimple, use an ice cube to roll over the skin to calm inflammation and redness. Simple lifestyle choices like an outdoor workout can help oxygenate the skin, while drinking plenty of water and managing stress can help your skin look youthful and you to feel well.