After Years of Being a Beauty Maximalist, These Are the Products That Convinced Me to Cut Back
I started my beauty journey as a skincare maximalist. As a teenager, my Cool Aunt took me to a mall in Queens where I had my face scanned and given a complete seven-step K-beauty routine. I was in heaven. Through years of experimentation and beauty education, I finally did the 10 or 12 steps, thanks to social media trends like double cleansing and slugging, which promise to produce glass skin.
At the time, I was proud to be a skincare maximalist. I love the ritual of my routine and the results. Whenever I’m tempted by skinimalism or product runs out, my attempts to cut back inevitably lead to breakouts or dryness. So, of course, I remain a devotee of the 10 steps.
With over a decade working in beauty, I’ve seen products come and go, and I’ve changed my routine a lot. But recently, as social media has made us more savvy about skincare and brands have accelerated innovation, I’ve started introducing products into my routine that can do a lot of the work without a lot of steps.
Sound like an empty promise? I’m also skeptical. But I’ve finally been able to cut my beauty routine in half—and my skin looks better than ever! Next, find beauty products that work so well that they finally convince an esthetician to cut back on them.
Daily Microfolian
I’ve always believed that if my cleanser doesn’t work overtime, the rest of my skincare routine goes down the drain. After all, what’s the point of covering your skin with dirty leather? uh. But cleansing two or three times a day actually had the opposite effect on my skin—it stripped away my skin barrier. Powered by rice powder enzymes, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is gentle enough to use every day, but it actually removes everything—including sunscreen. Plus the fact that it comes in a water-activated powder form means you get the whole product, without any fillers.
Cashmere Leather
The milky skin trend has reached its peak. Some entries are purely aesthetic. Most of the entries are hydrating essences that don’t stand out from the rest. An exception is the EADEM Cashmere Skin Exfoliating Toner. More than just a toner, this is a gentle exfoliator that hydrates while exfoliating to prevent barrier damage. No more tugging at your face with pure acid exfoliators. This gentle formula uses AHA to exfoliate, PHA to treat pigmentation, and a blend of rice water and oatmeal to soothe.
Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Years of skincare experimentation and education taught me to be at the forefront of my routine, so Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid have always been the cornerstones of my morning routine. Enter: DAMDAM Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid, which doesn’t feel like you’ve missed a step but rather hit the holy grail. The satisfying texture isn’t sticky or pill-like like most Vitamin C serums, and makes dull skin instantly look brighter. When I use this serum, I immediately look more awake.
Firm Brightening Serum
I usually use Frankenstein with some serums to target dark spots, texture, and acne. Firm Brightening Serum from Skin By Brownlee & Co. has replaced all those serums with one powerful formula. It has all the good skin care Acids: Hyaluronic, Kojic, Mandelic, and Lactic, plus Niacinamide and other antioxidants. Packed with proven ingredients and developed by skin care experts, this product produces smoother, healthier skin for all skin tones.
Cicaplast B5+ Balm
During a time of skin sensitivity, I discovered this product and I have never looked back. This is a jack of all trades. Deeply moisturizes skin, heals acne, prevents pigmentation, soothes stressed skin, and more. It is the ultimate pharmacy hero skin.
Sea Silk Lip Balm
While some trendy lip balms actually make my lips drier or produce a rough texture that makes me nauseous, MARA Sea Silk Lip Balm is a hydrating lip treatment that provides long-term and short-term moisture. Made with algae, shea butter, and other hydrating botanicals, this product heals chapped lips and smoothes under or over your lip combo.
Mineral Sunscreen Serum SPF 30
The best 2-in-1 product. Many people don’t apply or reapply sunscreen because of its texture or pigment. Bask Sunscreen Serum solves both problems. Unlike when I’m trying to multitask, this sunscreen does both well: protects, and intensely hydrates—a must for dry summer skin. Powered by glycerin, its non-comedogenic formula doesn’t clog pores (another common complaint with sunscreens) and its skin-first formula restores skin health as it works.
Langa Chinyoka, Contributing Writer
Langa is a writer living in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, British Vogue, Highsnobiety, Eyeswoon, Camille Styles, The Good Trade, and more.
The post After Years of Being a Beauty Maximalist, These Are the Products That Convinced Me to Pare Down appeared first on The Everygirl.
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