Page 2 | AIBU to feel overwhelmed by skincare routines becoming another pressure?

GimmieABreakOr3 · 2026-04-30T11:59:50+00:00

I’m mid 30s - plastered all over my social media (Instagram & Facebook) seems to be a bombardment of 10 step skincare routines, everyone going on about what products they’re using, glass skin, Korean skincare, this serum, that serum, snail mucin, glycolic pads, salicylic pads, this moisturiser, that spf… I just feel like it’s become another obsession for girls and women to fixate and obsess over. Do others agree?! If it’s not our weight, it’s how our pores, lines, skin texture. Enough already.

MrsShawnHatosy · 01/05/2026 11:21

My skin care routine is to wash my face in the morning with a hydrating cleansing balm, then apply spf 30 moisturising day cream. I don’t wear make up and do nothing at all to my face at night. I’m 65 and my skin looks good for my age.

MartinBishopsbum · 01/05/2026 11:17

Don't get sucked in to the nonsense, soap and water and a moisturiser , i never bother taking my makeup off, smoke, am 55 and barely a wrinkle, the only think I've done is stay our of the sun all my life, I can't stand hot weather

BauhausOfEliott · 01/05/2026 11:04

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 14:22

I don’t feel pressured to join in. I just find that it’s quite obsessional, it was more of an observation and talking point. I’m ok not to follow such a routine - I have a 3 step routine that I currently follow and it’s fine.

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Someone having different interests to you doesn't make it 'obsessional'. It simply means they enjoy skincare/beauty and like to experiment with products. Not sure why that's a probem for you.

If you're 'OK not to follow such a routine', why do you feel 'overwhelmed', as you call it in your thread title?

Essentially, you're just judging other people for liking something different to you and daring to talk about it.

21ZIGGY · 30/04/2026 20:46

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 14:22

I don’t feel pressured to join in. I just find that it’s quite obsessional, it was more of an observation and talking point. I’m ok not to follow such a routine - I have a 3 step routine that I currently follow and it’s fine.

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Your title literally says you feel pressured

AIBU to feel overwhelmed by skincare routines becoming another pressure?

FrodisCapering · 30/04/2026 20:30

This reply has been withdrawn

Post withdrawn at author's request

Charlenedickens · 30/04/2026 20:27

You’re not making logical sense. Surely you understand social media algorithms?

you look it finds more in that topic and puts it on your feed, you keep looking it keeps adding more. That’s why you’re social media feed is full of it, ss you keep looking.

mine isn’t full of thst, snd I do have a skin care regime. But I don’t look at it. So it’s an obsession driven by your own, and only your own,

tofumad · 30/04/2026 20:21

ButterYellowHair · 30/04/2026 20:14

Well if you’re not hydrated you’re dehydrated and you can end up with kidney failure and then death so I’d say there’s some science backing up hydration as key to looking and feeling healthy.

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In the sense that if we get seriously dehydrated we die, yes. But in these temperate islands, by and large, drinking when you're thirsty is sufficient and you don't need to give it any thought at all. That's really what I meant.

TheDivergentEnigma · 30/04/2026 20:21

happybug1234 · 30/04/2026 13:37

I agree, hair nails, facials, eyebrows, eyelashes, pedicures, Botox. The beauty standard is so high for women. Problem is if you don’t conform you look comparatively rubbish!

it puts a lot of pressure on women financially and emotionally.

No, those who dont conform look much better, natural and authentic. I think the opposite of you, the more hair, nails, eyebrows, lashes and botox, the worse they look. It's so fake and unnatural.
Good skin/personal care can be simple but very effective, and all the above OTT.

fartotheleftside · 30/04/2026 20:14

If you don't want to do it, then don't! A lot of people enjoy it, me included.

If you can splash your face with water a good sunscreen in the morning, then wash your face at night and use a basic moisturiser, you'll get 90% of the benefits of people with fancy multi-step routines. It's cheap as chips too.

Sunscreen really does most of the heavy lifting.

ButterYellowHair · 30/04/2026 20:14

tofumad · 30/04/2026 19:14

Well. SPF yes. Hydration, well, I'm dubious about this too. Very very poor science behind all the focus on drinking litres of water every day. Drink if you're thirsty. Don't bother if you're not. Unless you are elderly or have a condition, that's all you need re hydration, thirst. It's a myth that you are already dehydrated if you are thirsty. You get most of your fluids from food. Tea and coffee is fine too.

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Well if you’re not hydrated you’re dehydrated and you can end up with kidney failure and then death so I’d say there’s some science backing up hydration as key to looking and feeling healthy.

Original poster

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 20:13

tofumad · 30/04/2026 20:04

Based on what I've read, that's not true at all.
www.physiology.org/publications/news/the-physiologist-magazine/2021/july/the-science-of-hydration?SSO=Y

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Thanks for this, I’ll have a read.

OP posts:

ButterYellowHair · 30/04/2026 20:12

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 19:38

See, I’ve even read that too much tea and coffee is bad for hydration.

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Tea and coffee count as fluids. The only liquid that doesn’t count is alcohol. Tea can somewhat reduce the uptake of some vitamins (but contains some other beneficial micronutrients and phytochemicals itself) and coffee is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Though there is a safe intake level for caffeine - so long as you stay within the safe intake daily they’re perfectly valid fluids and not dehydrating.

Original poster

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 20:10

mzpq · 30/04/2026 19:40

No-one is piling on.

Ditch your ageism, it’s not a good look.

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It’s not ageism… I’m stating the obvious. I’m not sure how pointing out the truth is ageist here?

OP posts:

tofumad · 30/04/2026 20:04

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 19:38

See, I’ve even read that too much tea and coffee is bad for hydration.

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Based on what I've read, that's not true at all.
www.physiology.org/publications/news/the-physiologist-magazine/2021/july/the-science-of-hydration?SSO=Y

Rachelshair · 30/04/2026 19:59

There's a vast beauty-industrial complex designed to keep women in a constant state of insecurity, spending thousands of pounds and a lot of energy trying to fight our natural state. We can never be done. The battle is endless.
And we all go along with it, well most of us do. You'd think we'd know better really.
Social media just feeds it, it's evil how it makes people feel.

cramptramp · 30/04/2026 19:51

Ignore.

Unnecessaryletter · 30/04/2026 19:45

Not different from my 11 year old wanting a bloody 'NeedHo'. A squishy cube, basically, that social media has made every child want, to the point the price is now ridiculous on Amazon, and it's sold out literally everywhere. My child does not even have social media, yet she's imbibed this new urgent need from her classmates who do!

It's the same bloody thing with all this skin care nonsense. The adverts and the influencers are just creating a nation of cattle who flock to the to the trough of the latest thing.

mzpq · 30/04/2026 19:40

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 19:36

Thank you. I am not sure why people feel the need to pile on. To be perfectly honest, it’s not the first time I have experienced this on Mumsnet, and judging by people’s posts, it seems really sad that most of this is coming from 40-60 year old women!

People love getting on their high horse on this site, don’t they?

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No-one is piling on.

Ditch your ageism, it’s not a good look.

Bikenutz · 30/04/2026 19:38

MagpiePi · 30/04/2026 13:28

I would think genetics have quite a big effect too.

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Yes agreed, but that’s something we cannot change

Original poster

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 19:38

tofumad · 30/04/2026 19:14

Well. SPF yes. Hydration, well, I'm dubious about this too. Very very poor science behind all the focus on drinking litres of water every day. Drink if you're thirsty. Don't bother if you're not. Unless you are elderly or have a condition, that's all you need re hydration, thirst. It's a myth that you are already dehydrated if you are thirsty. You get most of your fluids from food. Tea and coffee is fine too.

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See, I’ve even read that too much tea and coffee is bad for hydration.

OP posts:

Original poster

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 19:37

RRAaaaargh · 30/04/2026 19:15

I don't think anyone is reading your replies. They're just responding to the stupid AI title. That box is a menace.

True 🙈 I shan’t use it again!

OP posts:

Original poster

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 19:36

mzpq · 30/04/2026 19:16

The OP has repeated that she meant it as a talking point.

And we’re talking 🤷‍♀️

Disagreeing doesn’t mean piling on.

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Thank you. I am not sure why people feel the need to pile on. To be perfectly honest, it’s not the first time I have experienced this on Mumsnet, and judging by people’s posts, it seems really sad that most of this is coming from 40-60 year old women!

People love getting on their high horse on this site, don’t they?

OP posts:

mzpq · 30/04/2026 19:16

Flatinbed · 30/04/2026 19:13

This has turned into a bit of a pile on hasn't it?

I think your title makes it sounds like it is causing you MH issues which is why you are getting the responses you are getting.

That is the justification for snotty responses?! Very few people have given kind or caring posts regarding the OPs mental health. Most posts have the "stop being so silly" tone. Excellent if someone were to have poor mental health.

Not that is the case. The OP has repeated that she meant it as a talking point.

Anyway, i agree with the OP. It has entered the general consciousness in a way that some (not all obviously because we have different brains) will feel lacking and that they don't match up.

I saw an ad by a pharmacy skincare range aimed at early teens. The ad suggests multi-step skincare to improve self-esteem and take control of your world. These are old-fashioned bilboard ads. God knows what is on the kids social media.

The OP has repeated that she meant it as a talking point.

And we’re talking 🤷‍♀️

Disagreeing doesn’t mean piling on.

RRAaaaargh · 30/04/2026 19:15

I don't think anyone is reading your replies. They're just responding to the stupid AI title. That box is a menace.

TakeALookAtTheseSwatches · 30/04/2026 19:15

GimmieABreakOr3 · 30/04/2026 13:52

It was more an observation I guess and it’s not adverts, these aren’t always influencers either. They every day people. Just seems to be an obsession. Of course I’m not going to engage and I wish to save my money, lol. It was more a discussion point for MN more than anything…

I agree, it's everywhere!

I wash my face in the shower with the shampoo that drips on my face and that's it 🙈