When it comes to skincare, we've all heard the saying "less is more" but with so many products and beauty trends out there, it can be hard to know what's worth trying and what's just a passing fad. However, there is one trend that we believe is worth paying attention to: that is skin minimalism.
As microbiome educators, we believe in a minimalistic approach to skincare and we are here to tell you clean skin as you know it is not a healthy obsession.
Here are some skin basic facts:
Your skin is the largest organ of the body, Nature's most sophisticated membrane. The skin functions as our body's armour, and protects our muscles and internal organs from things like harmful microbes, sunlight, and toxins. It insulates our internal organs and allows nerves to send messages to the brain. As our body armour it keeps the good stuff in and the bad stuff out.
As a society, we have become obsessed with cleanliness. One of the many contributions to the epidemic of sensitive skin is overwashing. It's a vicious cycle: Wash, Cleanse, Exfoliate, Actives.
We need to differentiate between Hygiene & Cleanliness.
Hygiene involves practices required to protect us from Infectious diseases ie washing your hands after you use the bathroom and touching rails on public transport.
Cleanliness is the absence of dirt, and the feeling of freshness, which has become part of social acceptance.
The question is are you washing to ward off infectious disease, or washing to feel fresh? The washing practices that keep us healthy & hygienic are a lot less rigorous than the washing practices we have been socialised into thinking are keeping us clean.
In many ways, we are washing our bodies so much that we are damaging the protective layer that wards off harm from outside aggressors. For freshness purposes, we are exposing our skin to ingredients that disturb the skin's natural barrier.
What causes your barrier to dysfunction?
- Washing too often
- Using too many different products
- Using those products too frequently
Your skin's microbiome naturally communicates with your immune system, protects you from infection, tempers inflammation, and that process shouldn’t be disturbed. External aggressors, the environment, pollution, and over excessive application of topical products can disrupt your skin's natural function, leading to an unbalanced skin barrier.
In fact, the average woman who uses skincare products and make-up daily accumulates several hundred different ingredients on their skin.
Parabens, commonly found in skincare products, are known to disrupt your hormones and lead to issues such as PMS, breast pain, heavy periods, and even some cancers. That's why it's crucial to be mindful of the ingredients in your skincare products and to simplify your routine as much as possible.
Extensive overwashing damages your microorganisms on the skin in the long term and deprives them of the nutrients they actually need to survive by continuously removing oils, sebum, and sweat. Inflammation or itchy, dry, scaly skin is usually the result of the damaged microbiome and skin barrier with accompanying transdermal water loss.
Stop overwashing & overusing skincare products. We have been convinced that we need to double down on our skincare but this is nothing but a marketing gimmick to sell more products. We recommend using a less is more approach. Feel, touch, understand and educate yourself on what your skin needs.
In conclusion, a minimalistic approach to your skin care routine can benefit your skin and overall health. By simplifying your routine, becoming aware of product ingredient lists, and adopting a mindful knowledgeable skin routine, you can give your skin the care it needs without overwhelming it with too many products. So if you want a beautiful Healthy Skin Glow, use the common sense approach.
Our Microbiome Booster Serum is the perfect product to include in your minimal skin approach. It will nourish your skin barrier, instantly leaving it glowing and improving its overall look and feel. Find out more here.
