Gone are the days of a jam-packed beauty cabinet, filled with unused products staring back at you. Capsules and ampoules – tiny containers delivering micro-doses of potent ingredients – are set to shake up and, more importantly, slim down your skincare routine.

This unassuming new breed of minis might seem like a gimmick, but these skincare heavyweights – hailing from Korea, of course – have many advantages. No larger than a 10p coin, capsules are packed with powerhouse ingredients. And while using one small product per application may seem wasteful, single-dose packaging can actually be kinder to the environment. Capsules are usually made from biodegradable packaging, which is twisted to open and squeeze out the product, while ampoules are typically made from recyclable glass and dispense formulas through a mess-free dropper system. 

It also means no mucky fingers being dipped in multiple pots and cross-contaminating your precious creams. And not forgetting that scooping up moisturiser from a jar or excessively pumping a serum bottle can lead to product wastage. “Using capsules or ampoules means you’re using a fixed amount of product daily which potentially means you’re using the right amount for best efficacy,” says Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible.

Another benefit is that the packaging is sealed and opaque, adds Dr Mahto. Unstable ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C break down when exposed to light and air, meaning you’re on a time limit from the moment you open that serum bottle or unscrew the lid on your night cream. But capsules and ampoules prevent active ingredients being compromised and ensure consistent applications with every use. Maintaining the potency means they also pack a punch, with higher doses of top-performing ingredients compared with traditional serums.

Elizabeth Arden first launched its iconic Ceramide Gold Capsules in 1990, but now ampoules and capsules are experiencing a resurgence on the high street. Market research firm The NPD Group found that mini heroes have experienced double-digit growth for the past two years. And when L’Oréal Paris launched its Revitalift Filler Ampoules in China last year, it sold 2,000 units within the first minute.

With holiday season fast approaching, there’s no need to lug around heavy jars of creams and serums when you travel; these spill-proof options weigh next to nothing and take up less space than a Missoma necklace.

Scroll down to discover which ones to weave into your skincare routine. You won’t ever look back…

Main image: Pixeleyes

Other images: Courtesy of brands