If you have explored the skincare side of social media, you have likely seen videos of skincare routines with a surprising number of steps and products. While many of these routines are fun to watch, most of us don’t have the time, budget, or skin type to replicate them.
When you have acne-prone skin, it can be difficult to stop hunting for more products or skincare routine steps that we hope will finally solve our breakouts. But sometimes the right thing to do for acne is to cut products out instead of adding more. It’s the perfect time to embrace a new, simple, and affordable skincare trend called skin streaming.
What is Skin Streaming?
The term “skin streaming” refers to streamlining your skincare routine for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. It’s all about using fewer products that can still fulfill multiple skincare needs, so you can simplify your skincare regimen while still maintaining or improving your skin.
The trend emphasizes reducing your skincare routine to generally just three or four essential steps by cutting down on the number of products and active ingredients. In skin streaming, the focus is on curating a few products that work well for your skin and focusing on those. Especially for acne-prone skin, adding too many products can irritate or clog your pores.
Ideally, products fulfill multiple needs at once and will be highly curated to your skin needs. For example, a tinted moisturizing sunscreen can help hydrate your skin with humectants and occlusives, protect it from the sun with UV filters, and use a tint to help with hyperpigmentation from visible light and provide a natural level of makeup coverage. Similarly, a prescription or over-the-counter retinoid product will increase cell turnover to help with acne, prevent signs of aging, and reduce hyperpigmentation.
If you are someone who enjoys many steps in your skincare routine and your skin tolerates it well, this trend is probably not for you. But if your skin seems irritated or unhappy with a lot of products or you are tired of keeping up with a lengthy and complex routine, skin streaming may be the perfect new trend to embrace.
Benefits of Skin Streaming
Streamlining your skin care routine to be efficient with a few products curated for what you want to address can have many benefits, including:
Environmental
Skin streaming can be an environmentally sustainable choice, as it cuts down on excessive product use. By minimizing the number of products in your routine, you can reduce the waste of buying new products that don’t work for you and that will expire or be discarded, making it a more sustainable approach to skincare.
Financial
Skin streaming can also be financially sustainable. The cost of skincare products can be very high, and completing a 10-step (or more) routine twice a day can cost hundreds of dollars. By streamlining your skin care routine, you can save your money or use the difference towards effective and professional acne treatments from a dermatologist.
Irritation
Acne-prone skin can also be sensitive and reactive to new ingredients. Applying too many products with active ingredients can irritate your skin and damage your skin barrier, which might lead to more breakouts. But by skin streaming and sticking to a smaller number of favorites, you minimize the risk of irritation. And if your skin does show signs of a negative reaction, it is much easier to find the culprit among a smaller selection of products.
Effective
One common factor in acne treatments is that they need several weeks at a minimum to show results. By focusing on one active treatment at a time and giving it the time to have an effect, you are more likely to find what will actually work for your specific breakouts.
Travel
If you often travel or spend nights away from your home, it can be tedious to remember to bring multiple bottles of skincare products or decant them into smaller containers. Having a pared-down skincare routine can make it easy to grab your whole routine and fit it all in your bag to keep your skincare consistent when you travel.
Time
Not only do some more elaborate skin care routines have a lot of steps that must be done twice a day, but they often require waiting for certain products to dry fully or a set amount of time between certain active ingredients. Minimizing your routine to the most essential products can save a lot of extra time that you could spend sleeping or doing a different activity you enjoy.
Mental Energy
Beyond the initial research that goes into selecting new products to address your skin concerns, remembering to repurchase and apply so many products can be mentally draining. Streamlining your skin care routine to a few products can reduce the mental load of caring for acne-prone skin.
Is Skin Streaming Good for Acne?
Skin streaming is good for acne because it allows you to adopt a simple and efficient skincare routine aimed specifically at managing and preventing acne. By reducing the number of extra products, you can focus on ingredients effective in targeting acne-related issues, such as excess oil, inflammation, and bacteria, without overwhelming or irritating the skin with too many products or steps. Sticking to a few of your tried-and-true products also reduces the risk of trying a new skincare product that ends up causing breakouts.
Skin Streaming for Acne Routine
A typical skin streaming routine for acne might include just a cleanser, moisturizer, treatment, and sunscreen. If your acne is mild, the treatment might just be your choice of a medicated cleanser instead of a separate step. If your acne is more severe, your treatment should be a prescription from your dermatologist. If you are on Accutane, you must follow the skin care routine given to you by your doctor.
Here are some options to help you customize a skin streaming routine for acne:
Start with a Gentle Cleanser
Choose a gentle cleanser that can effectively remove dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities without being drying or irritating. If you have mild acne and are skipping a separate treatment step, you can use a cleanser with active ingredients like salicylic acid to penetrate oil in pores or benzoyl peroxide to tackle bacteria.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser with Niacinamide
La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser is designed for skin that is normal to oily but also sensitive. It thoroughly cleanses to remove excess oil, makeup, dirt, and impurities while maintaining the skin's pH and natural protective barrier. As an added benefit, it contains niacinamide to soothe and fade discoloration, ceramide-3 to support the skin's moisture barrier, and its signature prebiotic thermal water.
- Good for oily and sensitive skin
- Contains niacinamide, ceramide-3, and prebiotic thermal water
- Can be purchased in a refill bag to reduce plastic
- Niacinamide can be irritating for some people
Moisturize with a Lightweight Formula
Acne-prone skin may be oily, but it still needs hydration. Choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to hydrate and repair the skin barrier without adding extra oil or clogging pores.
EltaMD Skin Recovery Lightweight Moisturizer for Damaged Skin Barrier with Amino Acids
Elta MD's Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer is a weightless lotion designed with acne-prone and sensitive skin in mind. It uses the brand's patented AAComplex of amino acids to restore the skin's natural barrier, which makes it one of our favorite moisturizers to use alongside a strong acne treatment. With hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and coconut extract, this lotion soothes and moisturizes dehydrated skin while calming irritation and redness.
- Lightweight with hydrating ingredients
- AAComplex restores skin barrier
- Great option when using harsh acne treatments
- Expensive
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Fluide Lightweight Protective Moisturizer with Niacinamide
The Toleriane Sensitive Fluide is an oil-free moisturizer from La Roche-Posay's sensitive skin line. What makes it unique is its limited number of ingredients, which can help you avoid irritation if you have sensitive skin. Made with La Roche-Posay thermal spring water, niacinamide, and glycerin, it can hydrate your skin for up to 48 hours and also helps to support your moisture barrier. It is lightweight and moisturizing with a mattifying texture, making it a great option if you have skin that is both sensitive and acne-prone.
- Lightweight with mattifying texture
- Thermal water, niacinamide, and glycerin to hydrate and soothe
- Expensive
- Niacinamide can be irritating for some skin types
Paula's Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer with Niacinamide, Soothing Antioxidants, and Ceramides
This Oil-Free Moisturizer from Paula's Choice Clear line is specifically formulated for the needs of acne-prone skin. The non-greasy lotion texture is water-light and hydrates and soothes without leaving a shine. The formula includes niacinamide to help minimize pores, soothing antioxidants from pumpkin and blueberry to calm redness, and ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier.
- Water-light texture
- Niacinamide to reduce appearance of pores
- Antioxidants and ceramides to soothe redness
- Expensive for the size
- Niacinamide may irritate some skin types
Incorporate an Acne-Fighting Treatment
Look for treatments that contain proven acne-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or a topical retinoid. These can help to reduce inflammation, prevent clogged pores, and accelerate skin cell turnover. The key is to select one potent treatment rather than using multiple products with similar functions, which can cause irritation and make it difficult to know what is working. For a gentle spot treatment, try hydrocolloid pimple patches.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Treatment
From La Roche-Posay's Effaclar line, which is designed for acne-prone skin, comes their adapalene 0.1% treatment gel. Adapalene is a prescription-strength retinoid available over the counter in the U.S. in 0.1% strength. It works by increasing cell turnover to help prevent acne and can be used to treat blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores, and pimples. La Roche-Posay's version comes in an effective fragrance-free gel that you apply in a thin layer to your face or body once a day.
- Maximum over-the-counter strength
- Non-greasy gel-like texture
- Expensive
Paulas Choice Skin Perfecting BHA Liquid Exfoliant with 2% Salicylic Acid
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a fan favorite for good reason. This lightweight toner refreshes skin and uses 2% strength of salicylic acid to exfoliate and clear pores. It has an optimal pH, which is important for exfoliants to get maximum effectiveness without irritation, and it contains soothing green tea to support the skin’s barrier. But watch out because this gentle formula is still strong, so remember to ease into use.
- Optimal pH for acid
- Green tea to soothe and support skin barrier
- Expensive
- Too strong for some skin types
Paula's Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Paula's Choice Daily Skin Regular Strength Clearing Treatment comes in a balanced 2.5% benzoyl peroxide in a leave-on treatment. With soothing allantoin and bisabolol, it will work to calm existing pimples while fighting acne-causing bacteria to prevent future breakouts. For more stubborn acne that does not respond to the regular strength, you can try the extra-strength version with 5% benzoyl peroxide.
- Lightweight lotion with matte finish
- 2.5% benzoyl peroxide is gentle yet effective
- Allantoin and bisabolol to soothe
- May not be strong enough for stubborn acne
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster with Licorice and 0.5% Salicylic Acid
This 10% Azelaic Acid Booster from popular skincare brand Paula's Choice is one of the strongest azelaic acid products available over the counter. The azelaic acid is combined with 0.5% salicylic acid to fight acne, fade hyperpigmentation, and reduce redness. It comes in a lightweight gel-cream formula that can be applied by itself or mixed with a serum or moisturizer to simplify your routine.
- Great for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin
- Reduces redness, fights acne, and fades marks
- Can be mixed with other skincare products
- Expensive for the amount
Apply Non-Comedogenic Sunscreen
Protecting your skin from the sun is vital, especially when treating acne. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that is non-comedogenic. Choosing a tinted sunscreen can help offset any white cast and simplify your routine by providing a natural level of coverage over breakouts.
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
Colorescience is known for mineral SPF products, and Face Shield Flex is our favorite of their tinted sunscreens. What makes it stand out is the encapsulation of iron oxide pigments in the formula. So even though the sunscreen comes out white, it will "bloom" to the right color as you apply it to your skin, giving you an adaptable and buildable coverage. The six shades cover a range of skin tones, making it easier to find a match that will blend in with your skin. Colorescience's patented EnviroScreen® Technology protects from UVA and UVB rays as well as blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation.
- Six shades with adaptable medium coverage
- Water-resistant for 40 minutes
- Protects from blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation
- Niacinamide can be irritating for some people
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40+ with Antioxidants, Titanium Dioxide, and Zinc Oxide
La Roche-Posay is a global leader in sunscreen development, and thanks to their recent release of three new deeper shades of tinted Anthelios on the U.S. market, more people can wear this mineral formula without a white cast. Available in four flexible shades designed to add a subtle tint to your skin, it can be worn alone for a healthy glow or as a base for makeup. Your skin will be protected by the proprietary Cell-Ox Shield Technology®, which provides broad-spectrum and antioxidant protection. It does contain talc, so skip this sunscreen if you know your skin is sensitive to this ingredient.
- Four flexible shades for healthy glow
- Water resistant for 40 minutes
- Contains talc
TULA Protect and Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Tula's Protect and Glow offers daily SPF 30 protection in a glowy gel formula. In addition to filtering UVA and UVB rays from the sun, it also offers protection from blue light and pollution. It's lightweight and sheer formula uses encapsulated technology that breaks on contact and will leave a beautiful glow on your skin; however, if you are sensitive to mica in shimmery products, this might not be the right choice for you. Protect and Glow also includes ingredients to promote even skin tone and probiotic extracts to protect your skin barrier.
- Glowy gel formula
- Blue light and pollution protection
- Probiotic extracts for skin barrier
- Mica may be irritating for some people
- Not water-resistant
Be Selective with Additional Products
If you feel the need to add more products, such as toners or spot treatments, be very selective and ensure they serve a specific purpose in your acne treatment routine. Avoid overlapping ingredients or overly irritating the skin.
Skin Streaming vs Skin Flooding
On the other side of the skincare spectrum is skin flooding, a technique focused on maximizing hydration. This method is based on ‘flooding’ the skin with layers of hydration while it is still wet. The aim is to infuse as much hydration as possible into the skin, starting with wet skin and then layering on moisturizing products like toners, serums, creams, balms, and ointments.
Applying a skin streaming or skin flooding philosophy to your skincare is a very personal decision, as it depends largely on your skin type, skincare budget, and available time. If you have very dry skin and struggle to find a single product that provides enough moisture, skin flooding with various products might be what you need to keep your skin barrier healthy. On the other hand, if your skin reacts negatively to many products, you may find that skin streaming helps to keep your skin clear. It’s not an all-or-nothing decision. For example, you might default to skin streaming most of the year but add more moisturizing products during drier seasons.
Skin streaming for acne is all about a simplified skincare routine that rejects the belief that more products equate to better skin. While it may be a trend, skin streaming is part of a larger movement away from the endless pursuit of perfection towards authenticity and sustainability in beauty and personal care. It can be seen as a less-is-more response to overly complicated skincare routines by promoting a more sustainable, economical, and time-efficient approach to skincare that doesn’t compromise on results.
There’s no magic number of products to stick to while skin streaming, and your skin needs may change throughout the year. But by focusing on a few key steps and products, you can maintain a minimal skincare routine that can still benefit your skin maximally.
