Your daily skincare doses now come in mini but mighty formulas through pods, tabs, ampoules or patches providing only the desired dosage that your beauty regime needs.
In current times, the art of slathering various ingredients and products every now and then in order to meet the growing trends has only given rise to a new way of embracing one’s skincare regime. There was a time when products and ingredients generally came in certain sizes that make sure that you only apply the perfectly measured ingredients that target your specific skin concerns. That’s where the new skincare trend “monodosing” aims for single-use skincare packed in pods, tabs, ampoules or patches to take only that amount of actives that your skin needs.
More than ever, there seem to be great dialogues around sustainability in beauty packaging. Monodosing is the newest way of packaging up and delivering your skincare goodness, only in the correct manner that is required. This goes to show that when done right, it can be more eco-friendly. This single-shot skincare trend has been opening a lot of doors to skincare goodness and other benefits with all their superpowers intact. On delving more into this trend, we realised that it goes much further than the packaging, it is revolutionising the way we allow food to our skin.
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Breaking Down The Monodosing Trend
Anything used in excess amounts never did good to anyone, and the same principle applies to skincare. Instead of thinking about how much formula you need to apply to your skin, monodosing helps you to apply the correct amount of product every single time as they are packed in a single-use capsule, only the desired amount is said to turn its full attention to your skin. Not to forget that by fidgeting the application with your fingers, the efficacy starts getting lost right away.
Leading celebrity cosmetic dermatologist, Dr Jaishree Sharad warns, “Usually, these ampoules or single-shot skincare product contains the exact amount of dose or ingredient that one’s skin requires. But sometimes, if a person has dry skin or using some other medicated creams then they may require lesser amounts. Well, this is something that one needs to cage.”
There are many of us who do not know how much product is enough depending on the various skin types. Let’s face it – the varying concerns and each type demands a certain amount to be slathered on the skin. “Monodosing is suitable for all skin types, however, it depends on the ingredient. For example, if the product contains Vitamin A, the ones with dry and sensitive skin will experience more dryness. Hence, they would need to use it more sparingly. If there’s salicylic acid in the constituents, then again the ones with dry skin cannot use it. You see, it depends on the ingredients as most of these ampoules come packed with lots of highly-performing actives”, shares Dr Jaishree Sharad.
Basically, single doses tend to be highly concentrated and extra-effective. Oxidation is your product’s worst enemy. When your skincare formula is in a jar, it’s exposed to oxygen and bacteria, which can hinder the formula and cause it to be less potent over time. For example, if your skin needs a good burst of Vitamin C, these little pods have the power to keep highly unstable molecules from deteriorating, thanks to airtight packaging allowing us to use them with all their superpowers intact.
There is also no need for filler ingredients like oils, water or silicones to bulk up the formula so you know, you’re using only the full required ingredient. For those who don’t like the idea of preservatives or worry they might irritate sensitive skin, most of these single-shot products are preservative-free.
Since these single-shot products focus on more precise and targeted concerns, is monodosing enough to answer the concerns? Celebrity skin and wellness expert, Dr Kiran Sethi shares, “Monodosing is helpful to get good actives into your skin. It helps but it won’t answer all your concerns. We all need at least 2-5 actives a day in our skincare. Moreover, these single-shot products are pricey and probably unnecessary. A good combo serum can mix many good actives in the right percentages together to limit layers and cost.”
“Ofcourse, every possible ingredient is not put in a capsule or ampoule right now as this technology is still in the developing phase. Along with these, one will need to combine other serums, creams – this cannot be used as a standalone product especially for the ones having skin problems. If you’re just looking for maintaining your skin, monodosing can be a good addition at night and sunscreen and moisturiser combo at day time” advises Dr Jaishree Sharad. Whatever your skin’s demands, you can simply choose a certain single dose and mix-match it.
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The Sustainable Beauty Episode Of Monodosing
When it comes to the discussion of sustainable beauty, the major issue lies with packaging. Let’s face it – most of our products finish their journey at a landfill. Although we might have good intentions, it’s rare that we actually recycle our empty shampoo bottles or clay mask tubs. So, what role does monodosing play here? Remember your overflowing bathroom cupboard or beauty box stuffed with bulky packaged products that you do not know if they follow eco-friendly packaging or those unused moisturisers, serums that no longer suits your skin? With monodosing, it is said that you may consider it a thing of the past.
This new generation of recyclable and biodegradable skincare sachets, pods, capsules and ampoules are providing a simple and hassle-free approach to skincare. That might be the case for us, humans. There’s the fact that our skin is not always the exact same year-round. Piling on products help neither the planet nor us.
Since monodosing is on the rise, lesser brands have only chosen to jump onto the trend. A UK-based skincare brand named WO has its monodose products in recyclable materials with minimum decoration that uses a combination of up to 80% recycled PET (polyethene terephthalate) bottles. Elizabeth Arden’s iconic ceramide capsules come with biodegradable packaging that provides a dissolvable alternative to plastic entirely. But is it worth it? According to monodosing brand, Noble Panacea estimates that one 50ml plastic bottle creates 15 times more waste than 30 doses of its single-shot serum. However, if we go by definition single-use sachets can be problematic when it comes to being eco-friendly. Maybe if we do this trend right, it can truly be eco-friendly.
(Also Read: The Switch Fix: How A Beauty Brand Is Recycling Food Waste)
Our Edit Of Monodose Skincare
Not many brands have started to cater for the “monodosing” trend. The Indian beauty market still doesn’t have a lot of choices that allow for single-shot products. However, there are a few available that follow monodosing that you may pick from the leading beauty retailers.
Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic Glycolic Concentrate
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Kiehl’s Clearly Correctiv Accelerated Clarity Renewing Ampoules
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The Face Shop Dr.Belmeur Clarifying Spot Soothing Patches
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Martiderm Ampoules Serum
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Cosrx AC Collection Acne Patch
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SomeByMi 30 Days Miracle Clear Spot Patch
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Innisfree Capsule Recipe Packs
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O3+ Meladerm Tan Removal Serum Set Of 15 Ampoules
Buy Here
Circcell Vitamin C Ampoules
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Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Ampoules
Buy Here
Lead Image Credits: Dr Barbara Sturm
