How To Declutter Your Skincare Collection

There is something so satisfying about having a vanity adorned with pretty bottles. A medicine cabinet lined with vials and potions is aesthetically so pleasing to the eye of any beauty lover. Each bottle containing a “breakthrough new ingredient” that will slow down the signs of aging and keep you looking young and fresh.

Or so we may be led to believe.

I am the first to admit, I am a total skincare junkie. I love the stuff! Give me ALL of the amazing ingredients, pretty bottles, French pharmacy finds and K-beauty wonders. But what I have come to understand over time (particularly in this last year) is that sometimes, less is more. Some skin cannot handle multiple products at a time and sticking with gentle, tried and tested products can work wonders for your skin (and your wallet!)

Whether you’re a skincare lover like myself or a cleanse and go kind of gal or guy, follow along as I share my tips on how to create a concise collection of products that will suit your skin’s needs and keep your medicine cabinet clutter free!

Find Your Favorite Cleanser

I am strangely obsessed with cleansers these days. I think it has to do with the fact that I have seen such a change in my skin since I’ve switched to gentle, no fuss cleansers that keep my skin balanced and happy.  I think it’s important to have two products in this category. Ideally, you’ll want one cleanser for makeup removal such as an oil cleanser or a micellar water. A few of my favorites are my beloved Bioderma, Garnier Micellar Water , Fresh Cleansing oil and the L’occitane Cleansing oil. Your second cleanser should be one that is gentle, doesn’t irritate the skin and works perfectly as a second cleanse as well as a morning cleanse. A few of my favorites in this category include the Neutrogena Creamy Cleanser, Cerave’s Foaming Cleanser and Philosphy’s Purity Made Simple. Time to toss all of those harsh cleansers that dry you out like a desert! Only keep the chosen few that your skin loves.

Choose 2 Toners

I know that many think toning is an unnecessary step but it’s actually my favorite step in my skincare routine! Keep 2 toners in your collection-1 for hydration and 1 for clarifying/exfoliating. If you want to get really fancy, keep a hydrating, a clarifying and an exfoliating acid toner. My favorite hydrating toner is from Bobbi Brown. It is super soothing and lovely to use in the morning. An affordable clarifying toner that I can’t live without is Thayer’s Witch Hazel. If you have combination/oily skin, this is your new best friend. An acid toner is an essential in most skincare collections! They are far less irritating than physical exfoliators and give noticeable results. A few of my favorites are the Pixi Glow Tonic, Ren Ready Steady Glow Tonic and the Tarte Knockot Treatment.

Have a Handful of Serums

This is the category that can get a bit crazy! There are so many serums out there with multiple active ingredients. In my opinion, this is where we can splurge a bit in our routine.

Choose serums that address your skin’s concerns. If hyperpigmentation is an issue, choose something that contains niacinamide like The Ordinary Nicacinamide and Zinc or Olay’s Regenerist Serum (which is a fantastic budget friendly option.)

Dehydrated? Choose The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid, Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Serum or Kate Somerville Quench. Want an all around, brighten you up, tone, lift and do your laundry, too?! (I wish!) Choose Sunday Riley Good Genes.

You will thank me later.

An Eye Cream that Does it All

Some days I use an eye cream, some days I don’t. It is important to keep the undereye hydrated. But truth be told, there are so many face moisturizers that can be taken under the eyes that it makes an eye cream (in my opinion) optional. A few of my favroties are the Clinique All About Eyes and Kora Organics Noni Glow Eye Oil. Toss any eye creams that you don’t use or don’t love. They take forever to use up and if you’re keeping creams that you don’t love but simply want to use up, it completely depletes the joy of the skincare routine!

A Few, Great Moisturizers

If you are not a skincare hoarder like myself, you can absolutely get away with having 1 “do it all” moisturizer. But if you are anything like the #skincarecommunity on Instagram, you need a few options!

Once again, take a look at what skin concerns you’d like to target. If you are using a serum with actives, perhaps you’ll want to stick with a simple moisturizer like one of my absolute favorites, Josie Maran Argan Butter or a multi tasker like Philosophy When Hope is Not Enough Balm. Only keep a handful of choices in your collection. If you have 10 moisturizers open at once, chances are, you won’t finish them all before they expire.

Want a moisturizer with a bit more oomph? Try a water cream like Sunday Riley Tidal that is packed with skin brightening and soothing ingredients. Kate Somerville Oil Free is a great option for oily skin and Drunk Elephant Protini if your skin needs some serious TLC and repair.

Choose Your Oil

Ah, one of my favorite skincare products. The face oil! I have oily skin and oils are a vital step in my routine. I like to layer my oil last as it can penetrate through my moisturizer. A few of my favorite single oils are Josie Maran’s Argan Oil and Trilogy’s Rosehip Oil.

My favorite way to incorporate an oil (and the best way to get the most nutrients into your skin) is to use an oil blend. A few of my favourites are Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil, Sunday Riley Juno, Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Oil and the Fresh Seaberry Oil.

Always check the expiration dates on your oils as they tend to go rancid quicker than most products. Toss any oils that are expired or that you haven’t used in months. Remember, we only want to use what we love!

SPF

Toss any sunscreens that are expired! They not only may cause breakouts but they are not going to work as effectively. Choose a lightweight formula that sits well under makeup like Farmacy Green Screen.  The more aesthetically pleasing the formula, the more likely you are to get the sunscreen on your face!

The Fancy Extras

This is where we can really have some fun! Masks, essences, mists, devices. There are so many great products that fit into this category. A few of my favorites are the Sand & Sky mask and the La Mer Treatment Lotion. Choose a few masks that make you feel fabulous (and actually yield results) and clear out the rest. Does that $2 peel off mask in the cute tube make you break out? Time to toss!

Keeping a concise skincare collection not only makes your routine more approachable but it allows your skin to truly adapt to the products you’re using. Incorporating too many ingredients can cause irritation, inflammation and just unnecessary stress. Keep it simple and happy decluttering!

You are more than enough!

Love and light, Carrie xo

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