Is ‘lazy luxe’ a skinimalism reset or just another beauty trend in 2025?

Logomania is out and lazy luxury is in (yes, we’ve moved a step beyond quiet luxury). Less is more not just in our closets but on our skin too. The 10-step—or for some a 22-step (oh my)—skincare routine, which resulted in reactive instead of glazed skin, is out. It’s like curating a capsule wardrobe, but with beauty essentials.

What was once deemed as an act of self-love—rewarding ourselves with a soothing, restorative ritual after a long day or masking while reading our favourite book in bed—has now turned into an exercise in exhaustion. Who’s waiting till they enter their 30s to use retinol anymore? Tweens on Instagram are all about their anti-ageing skincare routines. Women in their 70s and beyond are getting makeovers. Needless to say, in 2025, we’ve hit peak product fatigue. We’re going from extensive everyday skincare routines and shelfies to the rise of skinimalism. And while some might even argue that Indian beauty practices always banked on conscious simplicity, it seems we’re once again embracing a cultural reset. Welcome to the era of beauty burnout, where the relentless pursuit of perfection has left women depleted in body, mind and bank account.

A movement that has resulted from this beauty burnout is mindful consumption. Think carefully condensed beauty rituals that allow us to pause this mental overstimulation. Something as simple as a cleanse-tone-moisturise routine signals the return of skinimalism. Dr Jaishree Sharad, a Medical Council of India–certified cosmetic dermatologist, shares that many dermatologists are reporting an increasing number of patients with compromised skin barriers, increased sensitivity and paradoxical worsening of skin conditions despite extensive routines. “More is not always better. People come with irritation, redness or breakouts, not because of neglect, but because they are overloading their skin.”

Being selective in our choice of beauty consumption is going beyond indulgence to intention. That rich-girl beauty flex is actually luxurious skincare that’s about innovation and focus, rather than the old definition of luxury as excess. Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta, an aesthetic physician, skin expert and the founder of Isaac Luxe in Delhi, explains, “Combining ingredients that work in sync for amplified results is not just convenience bottled in fancy packaging. Using fewer products that can pull off double duty is a sustainable approach for our environment while actually putting in less effort.” Especially after the last five years, having transitioned out of COVID-19, we want lazy skincare now more than ever. Our offices allow us to stay cocooned in our comfort zone and attend Zoom meetings in pyjamas. Who wants to slap on a full face of foundation to get to work on three days of a hybrid week? We want minimal effort every single day of the week.