A new beauty buzzword seems to gain traction every week. Recently, “skinimalism” has been on the rise. However, unlike other skin care and makeup trends, this one isn’t telling you to buy more stuff. It’s asking the exact opposite.

Followers of the trend advocate against excessive buying, encouraging people to stick to a few products. Doing so can do wonders for your skin and the environment.

Here’s what you need to know about this movement.

What Is Skinimalism?

Skinimalism is just as the name suggests. It's all about applying a minimalist approach to skin care and makeup. It’s a philosophy that goes directly against how people consume beauty products.

People can't get enough of skin care and makeup. The global beauty and personal care market is valued at $579.2 billion in 2023. People buy and fill cabinets with products they can't possibly finish before they expire.

Using excessive products also leads to skin problems, prompting people to buy more to fix things. It’s a harmful cycle.

It's easy to see why people are moving away from this approach to beauty. They want to consume less and have better skin. Skinimalism encourages ditching the 10-step routines and opting for multitasking products. It calls for a return to the basics like moisturizer and sunscreen.

Skinimalism helps people maintain healthy skin, save money and avoid product waste.

How Can Skinimalism Reduce Product Waste?

Skinimalism feels freeing. You don't need to worry about grabbing all the new products and trying out the next holy grail item. This minimalist approach to beauty also has another huge benefit — it’s great for the environment.

Here are some ways you can reduce your product waste through skinimalism:

1. Go Back to the Basics

The boom of skin care and makeup in the last decade has prompted companies to develop more products that are almost impossible to keep up with. Instead of worrying about which ones are right for you, go back to the very basics.

Stick to a tinted moisturizer and a lip tint and let your skin breathe. Focus on proper care and letting your face take center stage.

Keep your skin care routine limited to two to five products. Stick with a cleanser, moisturizer, serum and SPF. Use just one product that targets specific issues, like acne. The less products you use, the better. You’ll avoid clogging your skin and filling up landfills.

Try a basic skin care duo set featuring moisturizer and serum, and you should be good to go.

2. Go for Multitasking Products

Buying multitasking products is a great way to practice skinimalism. Instead of purchasing blush, lipstick and eyeshadow, why not buy a face pigment that can act as three? There’s no need to purchase individual brightening and calming products when something can do both.

Plenty of makeup, skin care and personal care items are multipurpose, such as nourishing oil that works for hair and skin. Use them to your benefit.

3. Approach Skin Care Holistically

Instead of buying more products, approach skin care from the inside. Often, issues pop up because of health problems. For instance, stress and lack of sleep contribute to dull skin. As you sleep, your body increases blood flow in your skin and produces collagen, which will allow you to wake up glowing.

Dehydration also impacts the skin negatively, causing dullness and fine lines. Make sure to drink plenty of water and consume fruits and vegetables, which high water percentages. They should be an essential part of your diet.

4. Try One Item at a Time

Skin care ingredients often overlap. For instance, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and adapalene help with acne. You might want to buy all of them and try to make them work simultaneously. However, doing so can harm your skin, especially if you’re using acids. Buy just one product to fix your skin care issue and avoid wasting and throwing products away.

5. Take Things Slowly

Skin care products often bombard you with promises. “Works as fast as seven days!” “Visible results instantly!” It’s easy to give up when things don’t work as fast as advertised, but you can usually achieve results after weeks or months of consistent use. When you don’t see your skin care issues resolved in a week, keep going. Don’t go on a wild goose chase for products, buying and throwing away when you don’t get instant results. Give them time to work their magic.

Hop on the Skinimalist Train

There are plenty of benefits to paring down your routines. One amazing effect of consuming fewer things is creating less waste. You’re letting your skin, wallet and the planet breathe. Upgrade your skin care routine by downgrading your spending and see what a difference it can make.

Author bio: Cora Gold is a skincare writer with a passion for simple, eco-friendly living. She is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.