I’m in Paris at the moment, but Sophia Smith, an Australian blogger and magazine contributor very kindly offered to write me a guest post while I was away. Sophia has written a fabulous article about minimalist beauty, which I am sure you will love!

When it comes to makeup I am absolutely a minimalist. Because I travel so much I have pared my products down to absolute basics – I call it a capsule collection. It has refined how much makeup I wear (very little), reinforced my belief in a good, bold lip, and has made me even more focused on maintaining a really great complexion. Skin care on the other hand is my kryptonite. I can’t get enough! The Korean 10 step regimen is right up my alley. If they made it a 20 step program I would love it even more!

I have been working hard to streamline everything in my life, so Sophia’s timing was perfect. I hope you enjoy this article as much as I have, and that you will follow Sophia on her social media, linked at the bottom of this post.

5 Steps To Minimalist Beauty

By Sophia Smith

It’s the movement that intends to change the way shopping and consumerism shape our societies. And it strives to do so not only without causing any harm, but while actually bringing a positive change to the world. In essence, minimalism is the modern individual’s way to make a statement and make a difference in the world, one Earth-friendly, long-term choice at a time.

Why switch to minimalism in your beauty routine, you ask? Because both your skin health and your environment will be eternally grateful. And here’s how to do it effortlessly and permanently.

1. Back to basics

If your bathroom cabinets are chock-full of various products you apply randomly without a specific rhythm to it, then it’s high time you got rid of the extra bottles and rethink your skincare strategy. Ditch all those expired creams and lotions, assess your skin type and keep only those items you need for your daily cleanse and moisturizing.

A sunscreen, a moisturizing lotion and a weekly exfoliator are at the very core of a solid minimalistic beauty routine – everything else is accessorizing. Consider multi-purpose items such as moisturizers that work as toners and have built-in sun protection, and that are gentle enough to be applied even on your most sensitive areas around your lips and eyes. This will cut your beauty stock in half and simplify your routine.

2. Think: pure

Much like your diet, your skincare product ingredients should be nourishing and natural, without synthetic elements that can harm your health or the environment. It takes more than a single, prominent item on the ingredient list to be organic for the whole product to qualify as such. And nowadays, you can even screen products for cruelty, and find those that reflect your values as well as your skincare needs.

Many brands have earned a solid reputation as all-natural and organic and have become a number-one choice by green-oriented communities, such as the skincare line by Dr Hauschka. When you choose pure products that will keep your skin radiant and healthy, you ensure that your skin will age well, and stay protected from oversaturation with harmful chemicals.

3. The twice-a-day rule

Your three-step morning routine of water-cleanse, moisturize and protect can be simplified even further for your bedtime ritual. This time, since your skin had to endure the challenges of the weather and other harsh conditions, a slightly deeper cleanse should be incorporated. Instead of pure water, you can apply a gentle cleanser that will vary depending on your skin type, such as The Little Alchemist’s apple and mint gel.

Follow up with an evening-friendly moisturizer (and many natural ones double as both day and night creams) and your skin will be ready for the much-needed beauty sleep that is an equally important segment of your skincare regime.

4. Minimal makeup

While it seems to be a trend on the rise for this season, using little to no makeup to flaunt your natural beauty is also every minimalist’s attitude. Instead of overburdening your skin with excessive amounts of beautifying products, try to stick to one or two skin-friendly items that also nourish your complexion.

Mineral makeup has some great benefits that are incredible for people with sensitive or acne prone skin, so it’s definitely something to consider. Read the labels and only trust brands like Nude by Nature without synthetic ingredients, preservatives, 100% cruelty free and PETA certified.

5. Multipurpose minimalism

In case you’re a foodie as well, your kitchen is probably filled with delicious, healthy choices that nourish your skin from within. But have you tried using some of your trusty kitchen supplies as your beauty boosters? Some of the simplest items can have a powerful effect on your skin health, and coconut oil is a perfect example – it can be used as a lip balm, an exfoliator when mixed with sea salt, or your body lotion.

The same goes for your tea-packs that can help you get rid of eyebags, cucumbers that tone and revitalize your skin, face masks made of eggs, honey and healthy oils, you name it. In all likelihood, most of your skin necessities are hidden in your kitchen, so homemade can be your perfect solution.

Author BIO:

Sophia Smith is an Australia-based beauty and lifestyle blogger. She is very passionate about yoga, natural skincare and healthy food choices. Sophia writes mostly about beauty related topics in her articles. Over the years she wrote pieces for: Eco Warrior Princess, Viva Glam Magazine, How to Simplify, Urban Naturale, Just Haves and Carousel.

Find Sophia on Twitter @sophia_bri  and on Google+ here

All images in this post are courtesy of Sophia Smith