One of the latest TikTok beauty trends is skin streaming, a simplified skincare routine that minimizes the products you use while maintaining the health of your skin. As a dedicated beauty junkie, I love a good skincare product, and there have been times in my routine where I've used... a bunch. But lately, I've been embracing the simplified life in a lot of things, and skin streaming makes perfect sense. So far I love it, and I suspect I will continue to adore my streamlined beauty routine.
What Skin Streaming Is All About
Skin streaming is not waterboarding (that's sort of what I thought it could be when I first heard the term) or dipping your face in a mountain stream (although hello! That'll wake your skin right up)! Instead, it's simplifying your skincare routine from multiple products that all do different things to just a few products. Some dedicated skin streamers love multi-use products (like TruSkin's Super C duo with super C+ serum and vitamin C brightening moisturizer).
In general, avid skin streamers recommend using 3-4 products that work well together, such as a face wash, a serum, and a moisturizer with sunscreen. If you're not sure where to start, check with your dermatologist or esthetician about what products will best benefit your skin.
My current routine consists of three products: Eminence Mangosteen Resurfacing Facial Cleanser, TruSkin Vitamin C Facial Serum, and EltaMD's UV Facial Sunscreen and Moisturizer SPF 30. Oh — and LaNeige Lip Sleeping Mask at night or EltaMD UV Sunscreen Lip Balm during the day.
9 Skin Streaming Benefits
There are both practical and beauty benefits to a simplified routine that make skin streaming worth trying. These are some of the benefits I've noticed (and that skincare experts mention).
1. Simplify Your Routine
I love skin streaming because of its simplicity. I only have a few things to do every day for my skin, and the process is super easy to remember. It feels uncluttered, relaxed, and a lot more manageable than many of the skincare routines I've had over the years.
2. Save Time
And because it is so simple and manageable, my skincare routine doesn't take a lot of time. I don't have to wait a few minutes between each product to allow it to absorb, so I'm in and out of the bathroom pretty quickly with just a wash, serum, and moisturizer/sunscreen.
3. Save Money
Here's the thing. Skincare can be pretty expensive. And the more serums and products you use, the more you spend. There have been times in my life when my monthly skincare routine was costing me hundreds of dollars. Now, it doesn't. I use just a few high-quality products that will last for a few months.
4. Use the Products Your Skin Really Needs
It turns out our skin probably doesn't need many of the products we're layering on. In fact, it may not even absorb all the product if you have too many layers, don't wait enough time between layers for absorption, or put them on in the wrong order. By simplifying and choosing a multi-purpose product, you can use exactly what your skin needs to look its best.
5. Keep Products From Cancelling Each Other Out & Reduce Waste
This is sort of two reasons, but they go hand-in-hand. Some products actually cancel each other out when you use them together. For example, salicylic acid and vitamin C will cancel one another out (the acid will break down the vitamin C and make it ineffective). So, when you're using products that don't play well together, you're actually wasting them. Skin streaming allows you to reduce this waste.
6. Avoid Irritation
Using too many or the wrong products can also cause skin irritation. For instance, AHA and Retinol don't play well together and can irritate your skin. Simplifying with fewer products reduces the risk of this happening.
7. Helps You Rely on Your Skin's Natural Function (While Still Supporting Its Needs)
This is something my esthetician told me. Apparently, skin is pretty good at taking care of itself. So when we layer it up with a ton of product, we can keep our skin from doing what it does best. Minimizing products and just giving your skin what it needs actually helps it be healthier as it does its own thing.
8. Reduce Your Risk of Allergies or Breakouts
I have sensitive skin, so I need to be a little careful of the products I use anyway. But my esthetician also told me that the more product you use, the more you increase your chances of allergic reactions or breakouts. Fewer products mean fewer ingredients and less chance of allergies or breakouts from clogging your pores with too much stuff.
9. Save Space on Your Bathroom Counter (or in Your Suitcase)
Avid traveler here, and I'm going to tell you this: it's a lot easier packing (especially when I fly) my skin streaming routine than it ever was before (bye-bye overweight baggage!). Plus, I have more room on my bathroom counter, so that makes me feel a lot less cluttered. Big benefit, in my book.
Should You Try Skin Streaming
I was hesitant to try skin streaming when my esthetician recommended it... turns out I was a little addicted to all my little lotions and potions and truly thought I was giving my skin the best care I possibly could. So I expected all heck to break loose on my face (jowls to the floor, eye wrinkles you could hide a dime in) when I simplified my routine. Color me surprised that actually, my skin looks better than it has in years. Talk to your dermatologist or esthetician, and give skin streaming a month and see how you like it. I'm betting you'll love it like I do.
