Minimalist skincare: Steps and key points to remember as per your skin type

We are living in times when a number of skincare trends brands and products have rendered us conscious of our skin health While this has enhanced peoplersquos information it has also puzzled them about choosing a routine best suited for their skin The trend has also pushed many to take up a minimalistic skincare methodAccording to Dr Kaustav Guha director of RampD division SkinKraft Labs defines minimalist skincare as a simple and easytofollow basic yet effective routine comprising only few products for maintaining a healthy and glowing skinldquoAs a significant proportion of modern population remains busy with their daily work schedule they like quick care routines that are easy to follow A complicated timeconsuming and expensive skincare routine is not only difficult to follow but it also makes people reluctant over timerdquo she addsMoreover similar to many other skincare trends the Covid19 pandemic was also instrumental in boosting skin minimalism According to Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta aesthetic physician and founder of Isaac Luxe the fad rose to popularity among Indians who were nearly trying everything to make their beauty routine enjoyable straightforward and uncomplicated amid the lockdown quarantineGuha also highlights the affordability factor which plays a vital role in streamlining the skincare routine in India ldquoInstead of buying multiple expensive products here people prefer going for twothree suitable products to keep their skincare affordable Therefore a minimalist approach is more popular and is considered more practical affordable feasible and enjoyable among IndiansrdquoWhat are the essential steps in a minimalist skincare routineFor minimalist skincare you must choose skincare steps and products according to your skin type and specific skin needs Guha elucidates on five steps to skincare which play a vital role in keeping the skin healthy and beautifulStep ndash 1 Cleansing Cleansing is essential to remove all impurities and allow your skin to absorb the skincare products Proper skin cleansing with a suitable cleanser twice a day once in the morning and once at the end of the day is optimum Get a cleaning gel facewash or cleansing milk to remove sweat dirt pollutants etc Use it in the morning and night before bed Without proper cleansing your skin can become oily dull and even prone to acneStep ndash 2 Exfoliation Choose a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells from your skin surface and provide clean evenlooking skin Ideally an exfoliator is not an everyday thing You can use it once or twice a weekStep ndash 3 Moisturising Moisturising is an integral step after cleansing It forms a skin barrier or a layer to retain natural hydration maintain healthy cells and protect your skin cells Different components of moisturisers provide multiple benefits For example while hyaluronic acid can help hydrate the skin and improve its appearance vitamin C has antioxidant properties and helps brighten the skinStep ndash 4 Using sunscreen Sunscreen is an essential skincare step It helps protect skin from harmful effects of UV ray exposure such as tan sunburn dull skin and even skin cancerStep ndash 5 Nourishment with Essence Serums Oils Add an extra glow and shine to your skin by nourishing it with antioxidants vitamins etc You can use essential oils or serums of your choice for thisThere is hype about the tenstep Korean skincare or multiplestep routine involving essential oils serums and an array of products Amid these how does minimalist routine stand out and why is it importantAccording to Guha choosing too many products for your daily skincare routine can make the whole process complicated timeconsuming and challenging to follow and can also damage your skin instead of improving it In contrast choosing minimalist skincare over a multistep skincare routine has multiple benefits1 When you use several products every day the ingredients of different products can interfere with each other and ultimately lessen the effects of a particular product2 Reactions between different ingredients can create problems with your skins condition3 A complicated regular skincare regimen can damage your natural skin barrier This condition can lead to multiple issues like an imbalance of your skins natural pH etc4 The application of too many products can irritate your skin triggering skin issuesWhile a 10step routine can be a bit too much Gupta notes that the Japanese beauty regime which serves as an inspiration for minimalism consists of only three stepsmdashcleanse hydrate and seal The Japanese believe that quality is what counts not the numberAlso read Simple skincare Experts share insights on face masks for different skin typesHow does one identify the right products and ingredients for a minimalistic routineBoth Guha and Gupta stress on the need to identifying the products based on onersquos kin type and also understanding the varied seasonal needs of the skinGuha elaborates on suitable products according to the skin typeFor dry skinIf your skin is dry you must look for deeply hydrating products Go for a gentle creamy face cleanser that removes dirt without stripping out the natural oil and moisture Instead of a thick and heavy moisturiser look for one that contains skin barrier repairing ingredients A serum with lactic acid can help you resolve dryness by repairing the moisture barrierOily skinA cleanser with an oilcontrol formula followed by a super light moisturising gel will keep your skin moisturised without making it oily For daily serum look for products with hyaluronic acid niacinamide and salicylic acids to control excess oil secretionAcneprone skinInstead of acnefocused strong chemicalloaded cleansers go for a gentle gel cleanser For acneprone skin toner plays a vital role Select an alcoholfree toner to clean the pores Use a hydrating and soothing moisturiser along with acnecontrolling or spottreatment serumNormal skinSelect a mild facewash or cleansing milk and a light moisturising cream When adding a serum look for one with five percent niacinamide and one percent hyaluronic acid for proper hydrationAdditionally while too many products can negate the effects and worsen skin problems Gupta suggests one must steer clear of foamy face cleansers with sulphates She also cautions of double cleansing which is only suggested when removing makeup and some acne cleansers which contain potent chemicals and abrasive ingredients She suggests using an antimicrobial exfoliating gel cleanser instead to clear up your pores while still nourishing your skin it has antiinflammatory properties that will help to relieve acne issuesWhat is the testing period of a product How long must one wait to evaluate the efficiency of a product effectivelyExperts say skincare products do not work instantly and need some time to show desired results Factors like onersquos skin type product category and ingredients define the testing period of a product which is not the same for all types of products According to Gupta skin cells typically last 28 days before shedding and the skincare process begins in the dermal layer before reaching the skinrsquos surface During the skin cycle cells go through four stages dry improving glowing and oily Because its unusual for all skin cells to enter the same phase at the same time you can have sporadic pimples or dry patches throughout the course of those 28 daysAccording to Guha it generally takes about four weeks for skin cells to turn over Most of the products take about one month to reflect noticeable outcomes Depending on the product type Guha notes the approximate waiting period for the following products to evaluate their efficiency1 Cleansers usually need three to four weeks to show an improvement As you apply a cleanser once or twice a day but for a limited period of time it takes about a month to show the effects of its ingredients2 Serum also takes from six to eight weeks to show results Moreover overthecounter products take longer to show effect than prescribed ones As dermatologists know which ingredient at which amount is most effective for your skin condition prescribed serums show faster results3 Moisturisers are comparatively fast in showing results One can instantly notice the change For the complete result of other ingredients you must wait about two to three weeksAlso read Monsoon health care Expert explains how to prevent vaginal infections