In this episode, we're exploring the rising trend of skinminimalism: the art and science of streamlining your skincare without sacrificing performance. To help break it down, we're joined by Mark Broussard, founder of Desert in Bloom Lab—a formulation and manufacturing expert who's built a career helping brands create high-performing, science-forward products with purpose.

Together, we explore:

What skinminimalism really means for consumers and brands

The difference between functional ingredients and "label decoration"

Why multi-functional actives and purified plant extracts are key

How minimalist routines are reshaping product portfolios

And what it takes to approach formulation with a "less is more" mindset

Key Takeaways:

• Skin Minimalism = Smarter Skincare: It's about fewer ingredients, fewer products, and fewer steps—without sacrificing performance.

• The 1% Line Trick: Learning to read ingredient lists helps spot label decoration and identify what's actually doing the work.

• Functional vs. Fluff: Functional ingredients like niacinamide and retinol alternatives should be used at optimal concentrations—not just for marketing.

• Keep It Simple: A basic, effective routine includes a cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF. That’s it for most skin types.

• Layering Caution: Using too many products from different brands can lead to sensitivity and ingredient conflicts.

• Product Portfolios Need Streamlining: Brands should evaluate performance and cut portfolio bloat before launching more products.

• Formulators Need Restraint: Focus on gold-standard ingredients and avoid ingredient overload.

• Less Can Be More Effective: Overuse of actives (e.g. 12% niacinamide) may cause irritation or harm skin instead of helping it.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Start
00:30 – Introduction: Skin minimalism and guest Mark Broussard
01:52 – Mark’s philosophy on clean beauty and minimalist formulation
03:11 – What is skin minimalism? The three pillars: ingredients, products, time
04:39 – How Mark starts minimalist formulation: needs-first approach
06:04 – Functional vs. label ingredients (e.g. glycerin, plant extracts)
08:30 – Importance of use levels in functional ingredients like vitamin C
10:18 – How formulators and consumers can identify effective ingredients
12:15 – Ingredient layering risks and sensitivity from overuse
14:09 – INCI names and how they can obscure what’s really in a formula
16:02 – Building a minimalist routine: cleanser, moisturizer, SPF
17:57 – Tailoring products by skin type and environmental conditions
21:52 – How brands can apply minimalism without losing identity
23:44 – Navigating product briefs with a minimalist mindset
25:35 – Evolving a brand’s portfolio toward simplification
27:28 – Addressing skin conditions with minimalist add-ons
30:16 – Has overuse caused more skin issues?
32:09 – The risk of layering multiple products from different brands
34:03 – Final advice: what to look for when choosing products
35:58 – 90-day skin cycle and long-term thinking
36:58 – Closing thoughts: “Let your skin protect your beauty”
37:53 – Where to find Mark Broussard online