beminimalist – Insha's Skinology

Skincare Actives – Dry Skin Type

This is a continuation of the last post on Actives, You can read it here.

In the last post you might have got an idea of what are actives and How are they helpful. Now coming to its usage it varies in many things. Note that not everyone needs to use them or fall into FOMO.

As Actives are used for a particular purpose or target area, the first thing is to identify if you really need them. If you are a normal skin type person in her/his teens with basic acne issues then there is a high chance that it could be hormones, puberty, and other related stuff. You need not rush to apply any strong skin care products. You might just need some time and a good diet.

For Dry Skin type people with normal acne – Actives like Niacinamide (It’s the scientific name for Vitamin B3), LHA (Lip Hydroxy Acid), and HA (Hyaluronic Acid) are ideal. Always read the labels as most of the brand mentions what the product does and for what kind of skin type it works best.

Niacinamide:

A dry skin type person needs more moisturization and nourishment to the skin. B3 helps to nourish the complexion, build proteins in the skin, and prevent dryness. Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties which can help to soothe acne-prone skin and reduce further breakouts. It minimizes pores for a smoother complexion, Strengthens the skin’s barrier function, Reduces the effects of rosacea, Protects against UV damage, Reduces oily skin, and Diminishes the effects of hyperpigmentation.

LHA:

Lipo Hydroxy Acid is a chemical exfoliant. It helps to get rid of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, just like acids that are used as chemical exfoliants. However, it’s active mainly on the skin’s outermost keratin layer, making it safer to use even for people with super-sensitive skin. It has a pH level that is close to our skin’s ideal level (5.5) which decreases the risk of irritation when applied. In addition to exfoliation, LHA is “comedolytic,” which is a fancy way of saying that it is exceptional in unclogging cores with sebum and blackheads.

Hyaluronic Acid:

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan found throughout the body’s connective tissue. It functions as a humectant and holds water molecules onto the surface of your skin to keep it nice and hydrated. Anytime we’re talking about skin that’s well-moisturized, we’re mainly referring to skin that has a lot of water content. it’s very good for healing wounds, too! If you feel your skin is dehydrated then this Active is go to go.

As mentioned in my previous post all these are natural substances that are already present in our food or skin. Hence taking a good diet will always boost the growth of healthy cells in the body, resulting in healthy skin.

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♡♡:::: Inspiring and getting Inspired ::::♡♡
Insha

Summer Face Packs

The top 5 and my most favourite summer face packs for oil free skin.

Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth):

Now, I know you must have heard about it so many times but this is the ultimate face and body pack for summers that can be used by any gender regardless of their age. There are so many combinations with different ingredients giving amazing results. Due to it’s oil sucking, cooling and skin firming properties it is usually used in many Indian and Asian households. Another substitute for this is Kaolin clay but still Multani Mitti is much more cheaper and easily available.

It reduces fine lines, remove external impurities, firms and soften the skin. It’s a bit drying due to it’s oil sucking properties, it may remove the natural oils which are essential for skin. But for that reason it is usually combined with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. Honey, Milk, Curd, Milk Cream are most common. You can add enhancers such as turmeric, cucumber, rose water, liquorice, besan, etc to target conditions or just to give some extra love to your skin.

2. Aloe Vera Gel:

It is super cooling, antifungal, antibacterial, and protects from UV rays. Such an amazing ingredient for skincare. Your skin gonna love the texture and feel of this product. Mix it up with other enhancers or just apply directly the results are amazing. It can calm the skin down, adds hydration, treats sunburns and redness. It goes really well with all the Skin types. If you are skin is super sensitive then try to use cosmetic aloe gel with 99% purity and fragrance free.

3. Green Tea:

It is one of the best ingredients for anti-aging and dull skin. Perfect for a summer pack. Due to its relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties it is used for dark circles. It increases the blood flow, reduces the tension of the skin, brings calmness and boost freshness. Mix it up with Multani Mitti or Besan for a thick pack. Mix it with aloe Vera gel for a sleeping pack. Plus you can always use those tea bags for under eyes.

4. Coffee:

Yeah so this face pack is so good for winters as it super moisturizing but I have noticed that it makes a pretty good pack for summers too. Here’s why:

In summers the chance of skin becoming tanned and red is more. Some may love the tanned skin tone but for those who doesn’t or if it’s gone too far then coffee is best to bring back your original skin tone, reduce the redness and nourishes the skin. Mix it up with milk or oat milk for extreme sunburn or sensitivity and apply to the target area of the skin.

Note: This is the second step in case of sunburn as the first step will be to calm the skin down and that aloe vera gel is best.

5. Papaya:

Last but not the least is papaya face pack. It is for pigmentation or is an anti tanning face and body pack. Mixing papaya with tomato gives really good results for pigmentation, tomato bleaches the skin naturally and papaya works on pimples.

Pimples are a common concern for youth these days. This papaya face pack for pimples helps greatly to reduce pimples and also dark spots related to it. This bleaching pack is good to use once in a while and is great to remove dead skin cells and to give hydration as well to the skin tone.

Beminimalist Salicylic Acid Serum

Beminimalist is an Indian brand that has an amazing range of products on skincare, it is transparent with ingredients and does a good job overall.

The BHA serum is again based on aloe vera juice, so if you have a sensitive skin type then be careful and consult experts before applying.

Now everyone starts with packaging and ingredients, both are good and you can find many reviews on that. What I want to talk about is the experience of the product. Its consistency is runny almost like water and has no smell/ fragrance.

Firstly using acid on the face will peel your skin, yes you may notice the peeled skin if you use this serum.

But this is very mild peeling and you can see the tan peeling off from the face. At first, this bothered me a lot, but after a few uses, it reduced as there was not much tan remaining on my skin to be peeled off. The peeling of skin will stop. So no worries about that if someone is facing that and looking for answers.

If in can case it doesn’t stop after a few uses and if peeling is causing you rashes, purging or any difficulty then stop using the product and reach out to Doc.

Secondly, you might feel mild tingling and itchiness, it might be around lips, nose, or cheeks.

All that is fine as you are using a new product for the first time, this is normal however if it becomes painful or is not going away after some time then you may have to approach for help.

Thirdly you may not see the drastic difference on your blackheads, it removes whiteheads and all the gunk on the skin, exfoliating the skin well, but it will not remove blackheads. it will lighten them by time.

Now coming to its positives it’s an amazing exfoliant for removing tan, pimples, impurities, whiteheads, and of course milia.

Including this serum in your routine is an easy way to remove milia. If you don’t know what’s Mila then watch my video on that topic.

This serum is not too harsh on the skin, it will not tear the skin barrier and after using this exfoliant the other products will get absorbed well.

The next point is Purging may be there and may not be there, I was waiting for purging to happen thinking that the product is not working, it’s not the case for everyone, I have normal to dry skin and I haven’t experienced any purging.

However even if it’s happening, it’s normal up to some time and if it’s in limit. Remember that any new product will take time to work on the skin so be patient. I recommend using it for at least 2-3 weeks to make it compatible with your skin.

Usage: Coming to its usage, I will not recommend using it daily, as that will be too much exfoliation. Alternate days at night will work best.

Don’t use it for morning routines, no matter what your fav influencers or brands say, using acid at Day time might grab sunlight and cause more damage. And I don’t trust your sunscreen application skills so, stay away from it during the mornings.

Layering:
So if you are someone who is using multiple products and want to layer with BHA then is mindful of these things:

Always dab the product, don’t get influenced by the popular dropping action, the serum may go into your sensitive areas, like eyes or inside of the nose.
Keep a good gap of 2-5 min
Don’t layer with other acids or peels.
Use a good moisturizer
Always wear sunscreen in the morning, even though you don’t apply it in the morning.

♡♡:::: Inspiring and getting Inspired ::::♡♡
Insha

Winter haul❄❄

Good vibes rosehip serum

Hello all welcome to another review, this time it’s the miraculous face oil “Rosehip”. Now we all know the amazing benefits rosehip has, it’s has the olic acid which makes it non grease and light on skin.

It brightens the skin, good for acne, works for anti aging process and reduces wrinkles. I have been using a blended face oil from the brand “PLUM ” Which does contain rosehip too, and will review that soon but for now I have it from “Good Vibes “.

A very popular and affordable brand good vibes has been in trends since, it was launched on an another popular online store Purple. It has been promoted as one of their standard brand and was impressing many beauties.

While coming to product, it is used by my sister who is around her mid 20s, she has acne skin type and some pigmentation. Now if you are not counted in this type, you can still use the product but be sure to do a patch test.

Starting with the texture, it’s thick I felt that it’s bit thick and heavy at first on hand but it easily gets absorbed into the skin. It is non grease, don’t cause any rashes and doesn’t further trigger acne, doesn’t makes the skin shiney. It is colour less and have mild fragrance of dry rose. Which is amazing smell. Even though rose tend to have strong fragrance but this is very mild dry rose And I’m sure it won’t be a problem.

So, my sister using this daily since 2 weeks, as night serum after cleansing and she is quite happy with it. She felt plumpy and soft, it does work on pigmentation but very very slowly.. Surprisingly it has lighten the open pores around cheek but doesn’t seem to work on acne. It’s still there. it’s a neither good nor bad type of product.

If you guys are looking for an affordable skin enhancer then this will not disappoint you. But if you are looking for a product to work on targeted area or issue then I would not suggest this.

I have seen many online reviews about this product being excellent but I would say it may be to those who are consistent with their routines and using a lot of other skincare essentials accompanied by this product or are people from their teenage to early 20s.

For matured skin type and for someone who is irregular and doesn’t follow all step by step process or use limited products then, this product will not make a huge difference. And also there is no need for this product if you are following a simple and targeted routine. It can be handy for normal body and skin massage etc.

That’s it from me.. Let me know how feel about the product/ blog. Suggestions are always welcome. See you soon.. ! Bye bye!

♡♡:::: Inspiring and getting Inspired ::::♡♡
By Insha

Minimalist 5% Niacinamide Face Serum

Hello beauties! Got another review of one of my fav Products. The Niacinamide Serum and again a well know brand Beminimalist.

First of all, I love the packaging! The bottle has clear instructions of how to use it and what are the ingredients in it.
Secondly, the base of this serum is aloe juice and not water which is excellent for moisturising and calming the skin. It’s a clear thickish liquid with little to no smell. Use 3-4 drops and massage it into the skin. It’s easily absorbed but does gives a little sticky feel.

Niacinamide (Vit B3) is excellent for nourishing the skin and reducing pore size. Hyaluronic acid is good for overall skin health and reducing acne marks. However, one must be careful when introducing strong acids and retinoids into their skin care routine. Always start with a lower potency and do a test patch for a few days to see how your skin reacts to it. Gradually increase the concentration of these as your skin becomes used to it.

I’ve been using it for a month at night and my skin feels fresh and dewy. After using it with Bha serum, as usual I top it up with my plumgoodness face oil. It tents to shed like dry skin when topped with oil, sometimes even without layering with oil.. and I believe that was the Aloe Vera gel layer which is peeling off. I tried to get some info on that via Instagram chat with Be-minimalist but didn’t got any response. But the product doesn’t cause any harm and overall very happy with it!

This serum can be used stand alone for acne prone sensitive skin. But be careful and do patch test before using as it has aloe vera base. And as we know Aloe can be irritating to some skin-type people. It also has 1% Hyaluronic Acid for hydration. Since, it does contains humectant for hydrating your skin please follow it up with a lightweight moisturizer.

AM & PM, after cleansing, apply 2-3 drops. With a gentle circular motion, you can spread it all over your face. Although it is a lightweight formula that quickly sinks in, wait for at least 5 minutes before applying other serums or moisturizers. Pack your cells with a AM & PM, after cleansing, apply 2-3 drops. With a gentle circular motion, you can spread it all over your face. Although it is a lightweight formula that quickly sinks in, wait for at least 5 minutes before applying other serums or moisturizers. Pack your cells with a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or above for AM routine.

So, that’s it from me… hope you guys like the post and if you have any doubts, comment them down.

♡♡:::: Inspiring and getting Inspired ::::♡♡
By Insha

Sepicalm 3% by Be minimalist

Hello beauties..!

Looking for a good moisturizer, well here I have a product that might delight you.

Before moving on, Let’s talk about “Be Minimalist” as brand.. It is recently launched a few months back and at first faced criticism for copying the packaging of “The Ordinary” which is a foreign based company, which makes similar skincare products with actives. But they eventually gain trust and popularity from customers around India. Now I must say that it is truly doing great, as I am also one of them. Using there products from quite a good time and found them to be pleasing. Their customer service is also nice. They do have options on all media service and their website with loads of info.

The products includes some potent ingredients and actives but lets keep them for further. For now, I have their basic light moisturizer, which completely matches with my recent blog on minimal skincare.

Sepicalm 3% + Oats moisturizer is a light, hydrating and fragrance free which can be used in both AM and PM routine. It mentions all the ingredients on packaging, doesn’t cause any rashes or acnes, it mentions that it for all skin types which I believe so.

At first I didn’t like it, as I felt some yeast type of smell while applying but it went off after few uses, it’s good soft and creamy in texture comes in a small sturdy tub. However, for dry skin it might feel less moisture for obvious reasons and usually after applying a sunscreen. Now you might say it is because of sunscreen, as some of them contain matte finish formula but here I am using the same sunscreen with other moisturizers and the results are different. The others are not drying but this one is a bit drying on skin. However, it gives light moisture at PM, which is good and I love to top it up with a face oil.

It may vary from person to person so, that is what I felt, I have normal to dry skin type with a bit oily T-zone – you may experience other results too. Overall it is a good soft product which I am positive about. And definitely recommend a try. Coming to ingredients they’re amazing😍. All are safe humectants and some safe preservatives.

So that’s it from me guys.. I would recommend this moisturizer and mostly it will work for all skin types.

PS: please do a patch test before using any new product.

You can buy it here.

Minimalism is the key..

Hello there..

How important do you think a moisturizer is ?

Are you someone who skip toning or who don’t even follow any step to skincare?

Tired of listening and reading all the confusing and multiple steps to healthy skin..

Well now you don’t have to be confused.. I will clarify all your doubts and let you know the very basic and simple steps and also try to explain why these steps are so important.

So, without any further delay lets get started…!

What are these skincare steps which are gaining the hype in the skincare market and every person with a social account is talking about it ? .. making them dramatized and fanfare among the youth.

According to me everything was good and proper, until the evolution of Korean steps to skincare entered India and every skin expert went GAGA over it.. These are 15 – 20 steps with multiple new products and not that simple way of application. The new market exaggerated its benefits to the next level. Double cleansing, Moisturizing, Toning, Serum, Essence, Mask, Sheet mask etc.. etc..

Here I want to say I am not completely against all the steps but it is not essential to every person, every skin or normal skin type or everyone with acne or blackheads. No my beauties you all are with amazing skins and beauty, you don’t need all the products with all the ingredients out there. Your skin is a survivor of all the skin conditions till now.. and I’m sure it will keep doing so.. without all these amazing products.

However, the only thing we should do is to study and listen to our skin what it’s craving for and feed it with good and healthy skin food. And off-course we can take help of science and technology to do that but mostly this process needs some self-love/self-care.

So, now that we are agreeing to do so… I am going to share few steps that can help you to start your journey to healthy skin and maintain a routine. The very first thing is to be consistent with whatever routine you follow. Have clean, healthy food and liquid intake (note here liquid is not necessarily have to be water.. you can include detox water, juice, herbal teas etc…) yes you heard it right ! the journey starts with your tummy.

Basic Routine :

1. Cleansing

It is nothing but just washing your face daily twice and a pretty normal thing since humans have evolved. Now try to use a simple wash with less or no harsh chemicals. Note: Double cleansing is recommended by many but I would suggest if you are not applying makeup or sunscreen on regular basis then you can simply skip this.

Honey is one of the best natural moisturizers

2. Moisturizing

After cleansing it is the next basic thing we have been doing and we should continue to do so. It restores the moisture of skin and make it supple, also keeps away from drying out. Here the other famous steps include toning, essence and serum. But I wouldn’t suggest it because.. it’s a bit much for an Indian skin tone, and until and unless you are using some actives or treatments you may not need it, still if you wish.. you can try out some simple ones.. Please be careful with any product you put on your skin and do a patch test before applying always.

3. Sunscreen

It is a very essential step and is only required in AM routine. Many studies today have reveled that different rays from sun can burn and may also cause serious skin conditions, and if your thinking that darker skin tones are safe, then you have absolutely misunderstood, the sun rays effect every skin tone the same way. I would highly recommend a sunscreen with at-least an spf of 25 or higher in case you usually stay out in sun.

The PM routine is same, just 1 product less.. you don’t apply sunscreen at night.

And End/..!

That’s it from me.. whatever I share here is my personal point of view and my routine which I follow in day to day life. I do have some other products in my alternate days routine which I will share shortly, it is a different concept regarding skin basic issues which I will share soon.. Till then keep smiling and loving yourself.

I have linked down the products which I use and recommend, please checkout if you wish to buy.

The Facewash I recommend, click here.

The Moisturizer I recommend, click here.

The Sunscreen I use, click here.