There are two types of skincare enthusiasts in the world: the first being a dedicated practitioner of the lengthy yet luxurious 10-step Korean skincare routine, or the skincare multitasker who is often too busy to be bothered with toners and essences. If you fall into the latter category, there’s a high chance you’re someone who appreciates simple and streamlined routines, and formulas that are just as unfussy, straightforward, and made with minimal-but-effective ingredients.
It’s not to say that a 10 or even 12-step routine packed with active ingredients and different types of acids is bad, but there a lot of us out there who don’t necessarily need so much going on for our skin. These are the type of beauty enthusiasts who love their products, but have skin types, conditions, or lifestyles that don’t usually respond well to overloading the skin with various different products.
Below, you’ll find six brands that will no doubt spark joy in your minimalist life – whether you’re looking for a truly simplified ingredients list or effective multitaskers that will keep your routine as minimal as possible – without compromising on results.
One Thing
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Honestly, you really can’t get anymore simplistic than One Thing – where its star products literally only feature, one ingredient. If you’re someone who often struggles with complicated formulations, you can try the gentle skin tonics from One Thing, which feature pure plant extracts for different skin problems. Popular products include the Artemisia Capillaris extract for redness reducing, Centella Asiatica extract for skin calming, and Houttuynia Cordata extract for its purifying and anti-inflammatory benefits. You can use the skin tonics as toners, in DIY sheet masks, or with different types together to fully customise your own toner blend. W onethingmalaysia.com
Skin 1004
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Inspired by the healing, calming, and soothing properties of Madagascan Centella Asiatica, Skin 1004 has dedicated the entirety of its skincare line to the gentle plant. Among the formulations aimed toward strengthening skin barriers and tending sensitive skins, the highlight of the collection is no doubt the Centella Ampoule, which is made from 100% Centella Asiatica extract to deeply soothe and relieve sensitive skin of redness, dryness, and irritation. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more kick, the Hyalu-Cica Blue Serum is a more thirst-quenching option, featuring niacinamide, ceramide, and multiple weights of hyaluronic acid. W shopee.com.my
Root Remedies
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After being discouraged by commercial beauty brands that couldn’t serve her skin, Sian Chiew found power in nature and discovered the benefits of plant oils – one of nature’s rawest solutions to healthy skin. And thus, Root Remedies was born – where 100% pure plant oils are used primarily as moisturisers to nourish the skin, while delivering their respective benefits to the skin – such as tamanu oil to curb acne breakouts, sea buckthorn oil for brightening the skin, and black seed oil to prevent hyperpigmentation. The ingredients are kept as pure and minimal as possible to ensure efficacy, while minimising the risk for irritation. Even blended formulations such as the Pure Castile Face Wash and Gentle Restoring Face Oil features less than 5 ingredients. W rootremedies.com
Discover more on the benefits of plant oils and how they differ from essential oils in our guide here.
Joi
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In the pursuit of creating products with 100% natural ingredients, Joi started out with a line of deodorants that are made without aluminium and enriched with probiotics. Since then, they have branched out to include other nature-powered products for both the face and body, using plant oils and gentle surfactants. You won’t find lengthy, complex ingredients lists here – and if you’re someone whose skin reacts well with plant extracts, this brand will definitely spark joy for you. W shopjoi.com
Violette_fr
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As the French queen of simplifying your beauty routine while still making a strong impact, it’s only expected that makeup artist and entrepreneur Violette would create beautiful and effective products that can be taken on the go. However, one multipurpose product shines above the rest – the Boum-Boum Milk all-over cream spray that acts as a toner, serum, and moisturiser in one lightweight, nourishing product. Made for streamlined, minimalist skincare routines, this probiotic-based spray features fermented birch sap, glacier water, olive leaf extract, calendula extract, and green tea leaf extract to hydrate, soothe, and moisturise the skin. Aside from using it on freshly cleansed or toned skin, it can even be used on the body and hair as well. W violettefr.com
Herbivore Botanicals
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Admired for its gorgeous, jewel-toned packaging and natural approach to skincare, Herbivore Botanicals offers no-fuss, multitasking products with a straightforward ingredients list that feature potent plant extracts to tackle various skin concerns. Some of the products to look out for are the Lapis Facial Oil, Prism 20% AHA + 5% BHA Exfoliating Glow Facial Mask, Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask, and the Calm Soaking Salts. W sephora.my
