Embrace Skinimalism: Ditch the clutter, boost your beauty (Part 1)

Skinimalism Series Part 1

Ever feel like your bathroom shelf is starting to look like a beauty counter at Boots? If you’re juggling cleansers, toners, serums, masks and creams every day, you’re not alone – but you might be overdoing it. In fact, surveys show women use around five skincare products per day on average. And when you factor in every lotion and potion (moisturisers, makeup, haircare, etc.), the average woman uses about 12 personal care products daily, exposing herself to 168 unique chemical ingredients in the process. That’s 168 different things being slathered on or absorbed by your body each day! No wonder our skin (and our wallets) might be feeling a little overwhelmed.

The good news? There’s a growing movement in skincare that says “less is more.”

Let’s explore why simplifying your beauty routine can be a game-changer for your skin health, your bank balance and even the planet – and how innovations like Collavegan® fit perfectly into this new “Skinimalist” approach.

What’s hiding in your skincare? (Hint: a lot of chemicals)

With a long list of products comes a long list of ingredients – and not all of them are as lovely as they sound. Many cosmetics and skincare products contain potentially harmful chemicals or irritants that most of us can’t even pronounce. Some of these ingredients are harmless, but others can be endocrine disruptors or even carcinogens, and they often haven’t been fully tested for safety. In other words, your anti-ageing night cream or floral-scented body lotion could harbour some unwanted extras.

Here are a few common culprits that sneak into our beauty products:

• Parabens: Often used as preservatives, parabens (e.g. methylparaben, butylparaben) help products last longer on the shelf. The problem? They’ve been linked to hormone disruption in the body and other potential health risks. While research is ongoing, many people choose to play it safe and avoid parabens where possible.
  

• Phthalates: These are used to help fragrances linger or to make products spread easily. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors – meaning they can mess with your hormones – and have been linked to reproductive and developmental issues, even possibly an increased risk of certain cancers. Yet they often hide under the term “fragrance” on labels, so you’d never know they’re there.
  

• Formaldehyde releasers: You won’t see “formaldehyde” listed on a face cream (it’s banned in UK cosmetics), but some products use ingredients like DMDM hydantoin or quaternium-15 that slowly release formaldehyde to keep bugs at bay. Unfortunately, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions – not exactly what you want from your skincare.
  
  

• SLS/SLES: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and its gentler cousin Sodium Laureth Sulfate are the foaming agents in many cleansers and shampoos. They get you that satisfying lather, but they can also strip your skin’s natural oils and cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Ever had a face wash leave your skin feeling “squeaky clean” and then uncomfortably tight? SLS might be the reason.
  

This is just the tip of the iceberg – we could talk about heavy metals in cosmetics or oxybenzone in sunscreens – but the bottom line is that a more complicated routine means more exposure to questionable chemicals. A typical woman’s daily cosmetic cocktail can include chemicals that are “endocrine disruptors, carcinogens and neurotoxins” and the cumulative exposure is raising concerns about links to long-term health issues. Yikes! Simplifying your routine often means using fewer products with shorter ingredient lists, which automatically cuts down your exposure to these nasties. Your skin can focus on benefiting from a few great ingredients, rather than fighting off a swarm of 168 different ones every day.

When more is not merrier for your skin

If you’ve ever experienced mysterious breakouts, redness, or flaky patches despite using all the right products, your skincare routine itself might be to blame. It turns out that piling on too many creams and serums can overwhelm your skin. “Most people’s skin doesn’t need six products in the morning and six in the evening,” says Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist.

“Your skin is absorbent, but it has its limits. Using fewer products ensures better absorption and effectiveness of the ingredients you’re putting on your skin.”

In other words, when you bombard your face with ten different formulas, they can interfere with each other or just sit on the surface because your skin can’t drink them all in.

Dermatologists are increasingly seeing cases of irritation and sensitivity caused by well-intentioned routines. “Sometimes I see friends’ bathrooms or patients who are definitely using too many products,” Dr. Chacon notes. People come in with a laundry list of products for every skin concern under the sun, yet all they have to show for it is irritated skin. The signs of product overload can include persistent dryness or flaky patches, increased acne breakouts, oily congestion, and a generally upset complexion. It’s a bit ironic – we often add more products to tackle these issues, when in fact the excess of products may be what’s causing them in the first place.

The key takeaway? Moderation, not excess, is key for healthy skin.

This “less is more” approach has sparked a major trend dubbed “skinimalism” – a blend of skin and minimalism.

Skinimalism is all about going back to basics and letting your skin breathe. It’s a refreshingly simple philosophy: use fewer products, but choose ones that are high-quality and multitasking. By cutting back on clutter, you keep your skin healthy and radiant without drowning it in product.

In fact, many beauty experts now say that a basic routine really only needs three steps: a cleanser, a moisturiser and a sunscreen. Everything else – toners, essences, masks, eye creams, spot treatments – can be considered add-ons for specific needs, not everyday must-haves.

The popularity of Skinimalism in the UK and beyond comes from a growing desire for simplicity and results. After years of 10-step routines (inspired by trends like K-beauty) and bathroom cabinets full of half-used products, consumers are discovering that using fewer products can be just as effective, if not more so. It saves time and money and also prevents the irritation and imbalances that come from overloading the skin with too many active ingredients. As one skincare minimalist put it, it’s about “quality over quantity” – prioritising a few great products that really work for you, rather than throwing the kitchen sink at your face every day.

The benefits of simplifying (for your skin and your wallet)

Besides calmer, happier skin, paring down your routine comes with some pretty great side benefits. First off, your wallet will thank you. Have you ever added up how much you spend on skincare in a month? A recent survey found that over two-thirds (68%) of British consumers spend £50 or less on skincare per month, and a dedicated 4% spend over £150 monthly. But even at £50 a month, that’s £600 a year – and plenty of people spend much more.

By simplifying your routine, you’re buying (and wasting) fewer products. Imagine cutting your skincare spending in half without compromising results – that’s money freed up for other treats (or, you know, the heating bill).

Dermatologists often recommend setting a “skincare budget”, not just money-wise but product-wise: give yourself a limit on how many products you’ll use. This encourages you to pick multitasking products and not buy new lotions that do basically the same thing as something you already have. For example, a good fragrance-free moisturiser might double as your night cream and eye cream; a tinted moisturiser with SPF can cover your hydration, sun protection, and a bit of makeup in one go. Dr. Chacon suggests “looking for one product that targets multiple concerns” instead of a dozen separate serums. This kind of smart simplification means fewer steps, less clutter, and more money saved.

Another bonus: a simpler routine is easier to stick to. When you’re tired at night, the thought of a 7-step regimen can make you just want to crawl into bed with your makeup on (we’ve all been there). But if it’s just cleanse, moisturise, and go to sleep, you’re more likely to do it consistently.

Consistency is key for skin results – a minimalist routine done every day beats an elaborate routine you only muster the energy for twice a week.

Let’s not forget the environmental and sustainability benefits too. Fewer products mean less packaging waste (all those plastic bottles and jars), and often a move toward simpler formulas means choosing brands with cleaner, more eco-friendly ingredients. It’s a win-win: you simplify your life and reduce your eco-footprint at the same time.

To sum up the benefits of the “less is more” approach:

• Healthier skin barrier: With fewer products, you reduce the risk of ingredient overload and irritation. Skin retains its natural balance and is less likely to freak out with redness or breakouts.
  

• Better results: Each product you do use can absorb properly and do its job without layers of other stuff interfering. You might find your active ingredients (like that one retinol or vitamin C serum you truly need) work better when they’re not competing with everything else. As one expert put it, using fewer, thoughtfully chosen products can be “just as, if not more, effective” for your skin.
  

• Time and money saved: A simple routine is quick – you’ll breeze through your morning and nightly skincare in minutes, which is great for busy folks. And buying fewer products means saving cash. Whether you’re at £20 or £200 a month on skincare, cutting out the non-essentials is like giving yourself a little raise.
  

• Less stress and more mindfulness: There’s something freeing about decluttering your bathroom shelf. Skincare becomes a relaxing ritual instead of a chore when it’s streamlined. You can actually enjoy the feel of cleansing and moisturising without juggling ten bottles. Minimalist routines encourage you to be mindful of what you truly need, which often aligns with a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle overall.
  

By now, you might be thinking of all the extra products you could drop from your routine – and that’s great! But “simplifying” doesn’t mean neglecting important aspects of skin health. It means choosing smart, multipurpose solutions whenever possible. Which brings us to one part of beauty that many people overcomplicate unnecessarily: collagen supplements. Can we simplify those, too? Absolutely – and that’s where Collavegan comes in.

Ready to see how you can apply “less is more” to collagen too? Get excited, because Part 2 in our Skinimalist series unveils a simpler, plant-based solution that’s turning heads in the world of beauty and beyond. Read it here.