Over the last few years, the skincare industry has grown in leaps and bounds. Affordable products with active ingredients, indie brands, promising ingredients, and formulas, it is an exciting time to be a skincare nerd. South Korea is one country that is at the forefront of trends. Ampoules, sleeping masks, essences, the list of innovative products is endless. Many skincare nerds across the continents are dedicated followers of the 10-step routine that was made popular in South Korea.
The most recent trend to emerge, however, goes against the grain. Let us introduce you to the Skin-Care Diet. We will preface this by saying that when someone mentions diets it makes us shudder. And we think of the cabbage soup diet. But we digress.
What is the Skin-Care Diet?
Simply put it means to streamline your skincare routine to no more than 2 or 3 products, preferably ones that contain no harsh ingredients. Cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, done.
When you think about it, it does make sense. One thing we always recommend to all of our customers is to introduce one new product at a time (and to patch test).
The impulse to pile on ALL the products at the same time is understandable. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. But even with the “blandest” of products, it pays to be prudent and resist the urge.
Likewise, when it comes to active ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids, overexfoliation is a valid concern.
Not to mention if your skin is sensitive to begin with, to pile on products is asking for trouble. It could trigger an allergic reaction, disrupt your moisture barrier or worse still give you contact dermatitis.
In that aspect, the Skin-Care Diet is no different to what we would recommend to any of our customers whose skin is freaking out or breaking out. Pare your routine to a bare minimum and let your skin calm down.
That said – one thing we wouldn’t get bogged down with is just 2 or 3 products.
There is a term in the reddit skincare community YMMV. It stands for Your Mileage Might Vary.
Now Skin-Care Diet might be about streaming lining your routine, but many of us have our non-negotiables. For example, if you have dry skin, a facial oil or a hydrating serum might be an essential step in your routine. If you have oily skin, on the other hand, your non-negotiable might be a BHA or an exfoliating acid.
Just remember to pay attention to your skin and adapt your routine to your needs.
Have you tried the Skin-Care Diet? What are your experiences with a streamlined routine?
