Call us minimalists, but here at BECYCLE we live by the philosophy of less is more, especially when it comes to skincare. We’d much rather spend our precious mornings in a heart-pumping RIDE or REFINE class, than on a 10-step skincare routine with fifty different products.

To get the professional advice on how to do just that, we sat down with BECYCLE member and skincare expert Daniela Mellis, who recently launched her own line of organic, single-ingredient plant oils, Voyage Organics.

1. What are the most common issues affecting our skin, when living in a city like Berlin?

What I am seeing most, is either acne prone skin that is not related to any of the break outs we all had as teenagers or super dry, super sensitive skin sometimes even bordering on Rosacea and eczema. And even though both skin issues seem to be on the exact opposite spectrum in regards to skin problems, both are very related, as both are skin inflammations, oftentimes triggered by the same lifestyle choices (or life in general):

Stress
Too much of the bad stuff (sugar, unhealthy food - think sugar, wheat, dairy - long work hours)
Too little of the good stuff (time spend in nature, relaxation, healthy eating habits, balance)

Another factor contributing to skin out of balance is the polluted environment we live in. No denying anymore that the air we breathe and expose our very largest organ to on a daily basis is simply wrecking havoc on skin.

2. Can you describe the ideal skincare routine for busy people? Should this be different for mornings vs. evenings?

I have a super minimal approach to skin care which is three products in the morning, four in the evening, sometimes a little more if you add something for lips and eye area. So in the mornings its wash (under the shower, no product), tone and hydrate. In the evening its a pre-cleanse with oil, wash (with your favorite cleansing milk/foam/gel), tone and, again, hydrate.

I really love and advise on a double (or oil) cleanse at night, for which I have created our Chia Seed Pre-Cleanse. Skin is super dirty after a long day and even though we might not be able to see this, pores are clogged, there is toxic residue lingering on skin, and skin cell turnover leaves dead skin cells that need to be removed (I know, sounds gross, but it’s reality) so this pre-cleanse is what makes the difference between okay skin and super healthy skin.

Pre-cleanse/cleanse: Work the pre-cleanse oil into dry, dirty skin (yes, make-up still on) and then without taking the oil off, work in a layer of cleansing product. This creates the double cleanse effect when you wash it all off with warm water. Try this for two weeks only and skin will be so much better. If you only want to change one thing in your skincare routine, I advise our Oil Cleanser, as like dissolves like, and oil clears skin pores without any drying effects. This is the best kept secret of the whole industry! If everybody used an oil based pre-cleanse at night, there’d be less need to buy into fancy this and anti-aging that. Skin will just be healthier, pores will be less clogged, break outs reduced and hydration levels increased.

Tone: Only in Berlin is water so harsh so I really like a floral toner to balance and calm skin, set the mood for a good nights sleep and counteract our bad water.

Hydrate: a plant oil that is perfect for your skin type is all you need. Morning and evening. And now I hear you all screaming: Face oil under make up? Face oil with my acne prone skin? Face oil when my skin is so dry? Yes, yes and yes! Not all face oils are created equal and there are huge differences in which plant is the perfect fit for your skin type, but in general face oils are the holy grail in providing skin with everything it needs.

3. What are the main differences between skincare products that are labeled for eye, face or body care? In a minimalists world, could we have less products which do more?

The main differences are the molecular size of the oil, and that especially the eye area and hair are different. For the face - unless you have super easy skin - you really need to choose your perfect fit. For the eyes, you would need a lightweight oil that deeply penetrates while providing hydration. Hair is thicker, dryer and need some heavy duty oils. Macadamia works wonders here. I do agree though that less is more, so a routine with three or four products already requires a bit of convincing for some people, since the industry is pushing so many different products.

In general, with single-ingredient products (like Voyage Organics) the beauty lies in the power of each plant ingredient. You can find your perfect fit for face and add maybe one more for eyes, hair and body - which is such a healthy indulgence. That being said, you could also pick up pure Almond body oil and do a pre-cleanse, work it into your dry hair, use it as a face and eye moisturizer and lather onto body too. One for all. Easy. But its great to explore nature’s abundance and the different plant offerings… see what Mother Nature can do to help you achieve your best skin ever.

4. Besides products, what are your top three tips for youthful skin?

Sleep. Underestimated but so important. As said, skin is our largest organ and we need some quality shut-eye to help the body repair itself.
Food. And there is no right or wrong, its very much about bio-individuality. Even though we could all agree a diet of no meat, mostly plant based, no dairy, no wheat, no sugar is ideal, everyone is different and it is important to feel that food is nourishing for you. So for some people that might mean including cheese. But if skin is inflamed, it is super important to look into what we eat and maybe do an elimination diet to see what triggers inflammation.
Limiting alcohol. Sorry to say it! I know you are probably about to skip reading this bit! But do yourself a favour and try to limit. Bad sugar cravings are working into the same direction though, as the bio chemical process set off in the body by consuming a large box of Gummi bears is not too far away from having three glasses of vino.

5. Do you believe the future of skincare will become more high-tech? Or a return to tried-and-tested traditions?

Oh there will always be more high-tech. Thats how the beauty industry works. And tried and tested? Not so sure about that anymore, because what seemed to work during the last decade sometimes doesn’t seem to work any longer. We are living in a highly stressful time. So if tried and tested means less is more and organic beauty, yes please! But I believe even the natural approach in skincare needs to understand the holistic aspect of viewing the person as a whole. Everything is connected, skin is not a separate entity. Connecting the dots when something shows up in form of a rash, dehydration, acne, itching, even heavy wrinkles - it needs to go hand in hand with everything else you do in your life.

Does that sounds like a fair amount of work on yourself? Yes. I have to admit. But then again, you really have the power to heal yourself. And skin is just the beginning of this beautiful journey of living a life that feels good. As feeling good in your very own skin is so important and can make the greatest difference.

6. From the Voyage collection, can you share your personal favourites?

1. Chia Seed Pre Cleanse Oil

2. Lavender Floral Water

3. Plum Kernel face oil

4. Grapeseed Eye area roll-on

5. Passionfruit Body oil

Want to take a more minimal approach to your skincare routine? To go pure and simple with single-ingredient oils and floral waters from Voyage Organics, use the code BECYCLE to get 25% off on all products at www.voyageorganics.de. Offer ends 29th Feb 2020.

Interview by Stephanie Cusack - Head of Partnerships and Head of Yoga at BECYCLE

Natural Skincare: A Minimal Approach