BeMinimalist is a brand from India that is also available in the US, and a lot of people have thought of them as The Ordinary of India. However, Cassandra actually thinks the two brands are very different. The most significant difference is the stunning results BeMinimalist gives to hyperpigmentation-prone skin. So, what are the best BeMinimalist products for acne-prone skin, specifically acne-prone skin that is prone to hyperpigmentation? Hyperpigmentation means those little dark, purple, or brown marks that acne tends to leave behind.
So after testing a variety of BeMinimalist products, Cassandra has gathered a roundup of the best BeMinimalist products for acne-prone and hyperpigmentation-prone skin. She will also explain the ingredients and the science behind their effectiveness.
Minimalist Salicylic + LHA 02% Face Cleanser (Dry and Oily) -$8.99
First, we’ll start by reviewing a cleanser since cleansing is the first step of a skincare routine. BeMinimalist has the salicylic and LHA cleanser at 0.2 percent. LHA stands for lipohydroxy acid, and even though a lot of people haven’t heard of it, it's a derivative of salicylic acid. LHA is wonderful because it exfoliates the skin cell by cell. But, at the same time, it’s much more gentle than salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is one of the main ingredients used in acne treatment because it helps to exfoliate and remove any clogs sitting on top of the skin.
LHA kills bacteria. It gets into that little pore where the acne bacteria is grown and cleans it out. Because it is oil soluble, it helps to decrease the oil or sebum that feeds the acne bacteria. And although the bottle is small, it's a fantastic cleanser. It's very good, and you can get it to lather if that's what you want.
Moreover, this cleanser contains oat extract, zinc, and allantoin.
The zinc in here is also great for making sure the skin is regulating oil production, and it’s also slightly anti-inflammatory. This is a wonderful yet very gentle cleanser. And based on how effective it is, you wouldn’t even expect it to be this gentle, but even the most sensitive skin types can use this comfortably.
Another thing Cassandra likes about Minimalist is that they disclose the pH of the product or acidity level. For example, this cleanser has a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 pH which is exactly what we want in a cleanser.
This cleanser is so wonderful and gentle. and Cassandra absolutely recommends it. If you’re going to add this to your routine, use it during the day and night
Minimalist Niacinamide 05% Body Lotion -$8.99
They have a niacinamide body lotion too which Cassandra loves too.
Minimalist AHA BHA PHA 10% (Dry and OIly, use something more hydrating as a moisturizer if you’re on the dry side and only use twice a week) -$9.99
You can use this for both oily-prone skin and dry skin, but if you do use it for dry skin, make sure that you’re following up with a moisturizer. But ultimately, this is wonderful for someone who is prone to acne and blemishes that leave behind red or brown marks.
This exfoliating mask comes out a golden bright yellow because of the turmeric. Turmeric can be very helpful for dark spots and pigmentation. It’s definitely not the same as something like hydroquinone, but it is indeed helpful for someone who gets marks left behind. It’s also a wonderful alternative to The Ordinary’s AHA/BHA peel!
It reminds Cassandra of a less intense version of The Ordinary’s AHA BHA peel. This product is composed of 25% alpha hydroxy acids. AHAs are water-soluble, and they hold onto moisture a little more without drying out the skin.
This product contains 2% beta-hydroxy acids as well. BHA or salicylic acid is an oil-soluble acid, and likewise, it penetrates the skin easier. This also includes 5% polyhydroxy acids, and polyhydroxy acids are wonderful because they’re way more gentle. PHAs are big molecules that sit on top of the skin. So, even though they draw in moisture, they also exfoliate very gently and evenly. And for someone who suffers from hyperpigmentation, this is an amazing option since acids and other exfoliators can cause irritation and even more hyperpigmentation.
While deeper skin tones are more prone to hyperpigmentation, know that it’s 100% okay to use different AHAs or PHAs on all skin colors and Fitzpatrick tones, but it may be helpful to patch test or avoid mixing this with other things. That’s why Cassandra loves how Minimalist tells which product works best with what. They specifically recommend using the marula oil and the ceramide cream after the peel.
They say to use this every other week or twice a month. A little goes a long way, but similar to The Ordinary, you need to use it on dry skin, leave it on for 10 minutes, and then, rinse it off. Always patch test, but if you are looking for something fun to add to your routine, this is a fragrance-free, affordable option.
Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% (treatment step, need skin support, white heads, and blackheads) -$9.99
Now, we have to talk about serums. Serums are one of Cassandra’s favorite parts of a skincare routine, especially if we’re talking about treating acne. All good skincare routines have a cleanser and sunscreen. SPF is our BFF, but the step in the middle, our serum, is the treatment step. When it comes to acne and hyperpigmentation, you want to look for specific ingredients such as retinoids, salicylic acid, and tyrosinase inhibitors. Tyrosinase ingredients stop the skin from producing and spreading uneven color.
That’s why the salicylic acid from Minimalist is in Cassandra’s routine. She mixes it in with her moisturizer. It’s so exfoliating without being overly stripping. There are no fragrances or essential oils, and the pH is 3.2 to 4.0. Salicylic acid products should have a lower pH because this enables them to penetrate the skin more effectively. But, not only does it have a fantastic pH level, but it also has EGCG and oligopeptide 10. EGCG is known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and it is found in green tea. It’s such a wonderful antioxidant that helps rebuild your skin. For people who have acne or breakouts, there’s usually a lot of inflammation in the skin, and that’s what causes those whiteheads to pop up. Having antioxidants or other ingredients that quell inflammation is so important. So, this is great for blackheads.
Antioxidants are known to be anti-aging too, but if you’re struggling with raised acne bumps that are red, tender, or excreting fluid, this is a slam dunk. You can layer this under a moisturizer, or you can mix this in with your moisturizer.
The other thing Cassandra loves about this is the Oligopeptide 10. Oligopeptide is actually considered an anti-acne ingredient. It’s not meant to treat or cure acne, but peptides are strings of amino acids that are strung together into a polypeptide chain. And then, they fold into proteins. These peptides are small enough to get into the skin.
If they get deep enough into the skin, they can potentially cause other chain reactions that cause anti-inflammatory effects or help get specific immune cells to an area that’s struggling with acne bacteria.
If you want to wear this during the day, you’ll need to wear sunscreen, but Cassandra recommends wearing this at night.
Minimalist Granactive Retinoid 02% (mature skin) -$9.99
They also have this .2% granactive retinoid. This is a facial retinoid that hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Vitamin E is great for acne scarring. This is a granactive retinoid which is said to be more gentle and stable than other retinoids. This 0.2 percent granactive retinoid is formulated and stabilized very well. The pH is 5-6 of the product, and that’s where retinoids like to hang out while our skin is slightly more acidic. The acidity helps ingredients penetrate, and that’s why acids tend to be more irritating. Some retinoids can be irritating too because they cause redness and retinization. But, this is so gentle. It’s wonderful for beginners and a great introduction to retinol. Retinoids are also great for people struggling with pigmentation.
In dermatology clinics, retinoids are prescribed by doctors and derms for things like hyperpigmentation. Doctors and derms may also prescribe things like hydroquinone, but retinoids are still the overall gold standard treatment when it comes to things like pigmentation. That’s why Cassandra loves this entire line for people who struggle with acne and pigmentation. Cassandra feels like Minimalist does it better than the majority of different brands. This serum is simple but effective. The main ingredient doing the work here is theHydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR)which is a granactive retinoid.
Minimalist Vitamin B5 10% Moisturizer (Oily skin) -$7.99
This is a B5 moisturizer with copper zinc, magnesium, hyaluronic acid, and betaine. It’s wonderful for oily skin, and the combination of vitamin B5 and zinc is phenomenal. Vitamin B5 aka panthenol specifically helps to reduce sebum production in the skin. It’s a wonderful antioxidant, but it’s helping to make less of the oily greasy stuff that the acne bacteria likes to consume.
When the acne bacteria consumes the oil, it emits waste products, and that’s what creates irritation and inflammation in the skin. Zinc and copper are anti-inflammatory so it’s literally helping to get rid of inflammation that leads to big, raised pimples. This is what commonly leads to the pigmentation being left behind too. Fortunately, this is a lightweight and oil-free moisturizer for oily skin types. They recommend using this during AM and PM which is what Cassandra recommends as well. Even though this is lightweight, you can still feel it on your skin. However, it doesn’t peel, making it easy to put under makeup or sunscreen.
If you go on their website, they have cleansers and moisturizer combos in acne packages.
Minimalist Sepicalm 03% Moisturizer (Dry skin, especially going into winter) -$7.99
On the other hand, if you have dry skin and acne, this one does the trick. This has oat extract, amino acids, and squalane. And remember, squalane is similar to the squalene our skin naturally produces, and it is a type of oil. But, the squalane is more of an antioxidant. So, it gives you a little bit more skin support. While there’s nothing in here that’s going to directly fight acne, there are different oat extracts and oat oils, and those are very nourishing to the skin in addition. Beta-glucans and oats can technically be a little anti-inflammatory, but there’s not anything in here that’s going to annihilate breakouts which is why Cassandra loves to mix or layer serums with it like the salicylic acid. Again, this one is better for those who are a little more on the dry side.
Minimalist Ceramides 0.3% + Madecassoside - $9.99
This isn’t Cassandra’s favorite for acne, but it is awesome for those with more redness, maturity, or rosacea on the skin or even eczema-prone skin. But, if you think you might have one of these conditions, go see a dermatologist as well.
Glycolic + Tranexamic 11% Body Exfoliator - $9.99
This has glycolic, tranexamic, and glycolic acid at 11%. Glycolic is an AHA that penetrates into the skin and brings moisture with it. Glycolic acid can be irritating for some so it’s great to patch test. The tranexamic acid helps to prevent the spread of pigmentation and to prevent the skin from creating it at all.
It’s a wonderful exfoliating and anti-pigment option for the body. It’s also wonderful for glowy skin, but Cassandra believes it to be a bit much for the face. If your skin can handle it, use it. But, on the other hand, it’s a bit sticky and potent whereas the niacinamide body lotion works overtime and more gently.
Cassandra used the body exfoliator, and it was her least favorite. The results were fantastic, and she loves what it did for her redness. However, it’s very sticky. That’s her only concern. It has a similar texture to the AHA BHA PHA peel, but it’s a little thicker. At one point, Cassandra was using so much of it because of breakouts. So, it was sticking to her clothing, hair, and bed sheets. So, for Cassandra, it wasn’t perfect. They say to use this in the evening, to leave it on the skin overnight, and rinse it off in the morning. But, it was sticking to Cassandra’s bedsheets. If you’re struggling with body pigmentation, whether it’s red or dark marks, this is a fantastic formula. Cassandra doesn’t feel like it got rid of any major breakouts on her body though, and salicylic acid probably would have been a better choice.
BeMiniamalist SPF 50
With all of these, you’ll want to wear sunscreen. Cassandra wouldn’t say that this is an acne-fighting sunscreen, but it’s perfectly acceptable to use if you are breakout-prone.
Coverphoto cred: pattayathailand.ru