Can 'quiet quitting' save your skin?

The term “quiet quitting” is an Internet phenomenon that has translated well into real life. The term was popularised by Tiktok user Zaid Khan, and refers to doing only the bare minimum at the workplace. Forget answering e-mails after you’ve left the office, or going above and beyond your job description to score points with the boss.

This approach has hit our skincare regimen too. Some people are “quiet quitting ” by scaling back to the essentials and simplifying their beauty routine. This is unlike a skin fast, which involves going cold turkey on skincare products.

Dr YZ Tan, founder and medical director of Mizu Aesthetic Clinic, says this shift in focus towards skincare over makeup has taught us some lessons, such as how “skincare trends and fads don’t work on everyone”.

“Everyone’s skin is different, so your skincare routine should always be tailored to what your skin needs, and it is not necessary to follow a 10- step routine,” Dr YZ Tan says.

“Reducing your skincare to the basics with just a few essential ingredients can be a good way of helping your skin strengthen and repair itself. You are also reducing the risk of your skin reacting badly to an overload of ingredients.”

It’s also a case of scaling back after buying tons of products during lockdowns. Dr Melvin Tan, founder of aesthetic clinic Epion Clinic, thinks that spending more time online – be it for work or leisure – during the pandemic influenced our skincare habits.

“With the long periods spent on Zoom as well as the popularity of social media, people have been observing their appearances a lot more, and purchasing different types of products from different brands. This likely resulted in a fairly extensive skincare collection,” he explains.

“Among this group, there might be a lot of paring down of their skincare, as there would be a fair amount of overlap between products that are either redundant or cause sensitivity.”

But while being less stressed about work could certainly be good for our physical and mental health, can quiet quitting with regards to skincare actually benefit us?

Why less is really more

Shinji Yamasaki, founder of Japanese skincare brand Re:erth, saw this trend coming years ago, which is why he felt it needed to be one of the brand’s key philosophies when it was launched in 2017.

“All of our products use highly efficacious, nature-derived ingredients that work together to give you healthy, glowing skin. By focusing on exactly the types of ingredients (and their effect) that your skin needs to become healthier, a smaller group of products is able to provide you with a multitude of benefits and results,” he explains.

Sonam Uttamchandani of Founders Beauty says that taking a simpler approach to skincare “makes the experience intentional, intuitive and hassle-free”. She believes a pared-down routine eliminates the stress you might feel with skincare, and overdoing it can cause more harm than good.

“We are going through a sensory overload of products in the market, and this over-saturation is causing us to feel overwhelmed and confused about what we need,” she says.

“In many cases, this means you use fewer products overall, and each product contains more active ingredients. Your skincare journey is specific to you, so build it as you see fit.”

And as Dr Melvin Tan points out, using too many products is too time consuming and not sustainable.

“Purchasing many different products from different lines could see you doubling on certain actives, which isn’t productive and could lead to skin sensitivity,” he explains.

Your quiet quitting guide

Sonam suggests starting with a skin fast. Give your skin at least 24 hours to rest with no product at all, which means cleansing with only water. This will show you whether your skin is dry, oily or normal after 24 hours.

“Then, you can build an effective routine with what you really require,” she says.

If you need advice to determine which products are good for your skin, Dr Melvin Tan recommends speaking to your dermatologist.

Dr YZ Tan advises to focus on hydration, and effective, multitasking formulations that strengthen your skin barrier and aid in cellular renewal.

“Cleanser, serum, moisturiser and sun protection should remain the foundation of your skincare routine. Instead of layering multiple serums, you can opt to alternate your routine. One good approach would be using vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night,” he says.

Get back to the basics with these bare essentials:

Super C Creme Serum (30ml), $52, Fields of Yarrow

Credit: Fields of Yarrow

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One of the brand’s most versatile products, this can be used as a serum or light moisturiser, and is great as a base for makeup. The powerful vitamin C blend illuminates the complexion by regulating melanin overproduction in the skin. It also improves blood circulation, leading to more radiant skin.

“Fields of Yarrow is all about bringing back our skin to its natural function by using what the earth has to offer, we strongly believe that nature has it all for us,” says founder Souhela Ferrah.

“We combine plant and flower extracts with modern technology to create powerful yet clean formulas. Our range of products is made of only essentials, meaning we don’t create two products that are the same in terms of skin concerns. We make sure to create the best of each and that’s all, because less is more,” she adds.

Multi-Targeted Elixir (30ml), $116, Re:erth

Credit: Re:erth

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Key ingredients include the brand’s proprietary Japanese White Turmeric, which has been shown to protect hyaluronic acid from breaking down by up to 100 per cent, as well as stimulate skin cell activity by 61 per cent.

This ingredient is said to suppress the overproduction of melanin by 88 per cent, while APPS, a stable and effective form of vitamin C, has been proven to be a powerful antioxidant and effective stimulator of collagen production.

All of these ingredients are encapsulated in Lipodisq, the brand’s dermal delivery system that allows the product to be absorbed in less than 10 seconds, leaving zero residue.

“I think it’s important to note that you’re not actually ‘quitting’ anything. That term gives the impression that you need to ‘sacrifice’ something, or forgo some sort of benefit, in order to have a pared-down routine,” says founder Shinji.

That’s not the case at all with our products. Just because you’re using fewer products, or have fewer steps in your routine, it doesn’t mean you’re at a disadvantage.”

Creamy Clay Concentrate mask, $24 (a bundle of four sachets), Founders Beauty

Credit: Founders Beauty

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This creamy mask hydrates your complexion while drawing out toxins, reducing excess oils without stripping skin of its natural moisture.

“Clay has been used for generations, but it ends up not being suitable for many skin types due to the way it dries on the skin,” explains founder Sonam. “Our product marries the benefits of clay, along with pure and potent ingredients, to hydrate and nourish skin”

The formula is made with Bentonite Glacial Clay from New Zealand, a highly pure form of clay known for its detoxifying and calming effects. Other ingredients – including lavender, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and shea butter – have been carefully curated to deliver rich hydration.