ROCK YOUR 2021 WITH #SKINIMALISM

Experts believe that if one is targeting well-nourished and supple skin, less is more should be the approach

If there’s one thing that we learnt amid the lockdown, it is, most definitely, the skill to survive with and appreciate the bare minimum. And the trend of ‘skinimalism’ seems to have seeped into the New Year, too. Skinimalism is all about accepting your skin the way it is, and working out a routine that’s simple and minimalistic, yet effective. And experts believe in it, too.

“Use a few products in your skincare regime, instead of hoarding every product available in the market. It’s about giving enough time to the few products you use and seeing their impact,” says Shantal Mujumdar, a beauty expert.

Sticking to basics has its own benefits. “Layering the skin with products which are heavy in texture clogs the pores and results in breakouts. Reducing the number of products to bare minimum helps the skin to breathe and allows it to glow naturally. This trend will also reduce wastage of products,” says Vivek Singh, a skincare expert who believes the pandemic has made people more conscious about what ingredients are being used in the products they use. “Skinimalism is about letting go of complex layering of products and looking at the natural demands of your skin,” he adds.

Working from home and a subsequent increase in working hours might make it difficult to stay regular with regards to an elaborate skincare routine. This, therefore, makes it all the more vital to find a minimalistic yet effective approach to skincare. Here are a few ways to help you get started:

Inner nourishment: Enrich your skin from within by improving your way of living. If you keep your skin healthy and happy from the inside, that’ll help you minimise what you need on the outside.

Quality over quantity: Invest in high-quality skincare products with a wide range of benefits, instead of using a large number of products with lesser benefits. For example, using a good quality vitamin C-based serum or cream can take care of a number of skin woes, as opposed to using multiple products to do the same job.

Try Gua Sha: This traditional Chinese practice involves using a tool to apply pressure and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension. It helps improve circulation right below the skin and enhances its glow by reducing dark circles and puffiness. It is also said to be beneficial in curbing breakouts.