AIBU to think it’s ridiculous how much ‘extra stuff’ has been added to the average routine!

Yes, but after trying them, if you don't look or feel better then why carry on?

And if you don't have good skin, it's unlikely anything will make your skin amazing. Some stuff will make it better, but some people are chasing an unachievable perfection and spending ££££ on it when the improvements are negligible.

@minipiemy skincare is minimal and I have super problem skin - severe eczema where I have to take drugs to control it. The main side effect being spots. I found the more products I added the worse my skin got. Now I use rice-based Korean cleanser, toner and moisture and that’s it. Plus SPF.

@Bloozie "It does NOT feel bare minimum. I enjoy it all, but my own body and its future strength, flexibility and heart and bone health is a full time job."

you don't sound like you enjoy it

I agree that it's a full-time job if you look at it that way - less if you enjoy your exercise, but it really doesn't sound like you do

You say you are senior do you mind if I ask how Senior? If I look at senior members of the family, none of them have done this. Obviously, when they were younger, people weren't selling all of this. "get some exercise" is a good message, but I think some people are feeling very particular about it

Also depends how sedentary your normal life is

@TheGirlWhoLived YouTube bombard me with this as well I don't think you have to be on TikTok to see a lot of crap

That company you mentioned, I see their adverts all the time but I've never thought to look them upp

Interesting how many people believe we are peeing out supplements? I don't take many so I don't know. My worry would be that too many supplements would actually damage your body in terms of overloading your kidneys and stuff

it's interesting because I posted on here that I felt my usual workout was getting too much for me in my 50s

I didn't get many responses but there was a lot of "change your diet, you mustn't cut back on your exercise". I think if you're doing the same exercise in your 50s as you were in your 20s, that's great, but I'm not like that and it actually doesn't worry me that I feel the need to cut back in my 50s, I came to the conclusion that's what I needed to do - so I did it.

Older siblings have also scaled back their workouts

I think a lot of things are being sold as "don't get old"whereas the reality iswe're all going to do that

Don't forget that you only hear the people who do do a thing talking about it. This makes you think that everyone is when actually most people aren't bothering, so aren't talking about it. Floss though; that's meant to be good for preventing heart attacks. And use an SPF.

I think 7 step skincare is for people who enjoy it. There's some evidence that so many products are actually counter-productive if you have sensitive skin. I cleanse, use an antioxidant serum and moisturising SPF in the morning, then cleanse, retinol + facial oil at night.

I walk every day, do yoga and pilates and am trying to fit some strength training in.

Take a multi vit and omega capsule, plus creatine when I remember. I have bought some collagen powder but it's rank and tastes of BSE so might just bin that.

I do spend time on my teeth- flossing, brushing and interdental brushes. There's some evidence that gum disease doesn't just harm your teeth but also your general health through inflammation, so it's worth taking care. Mouthwash is best used at different times of day, not after brushing, as you wash away the toothpaste which is more effective than the mouthwash.

the definition of problem skin seems off to me though. I have spent some casual browsing time on skin care social media and some people are aiming for skin that looks like glass. Any minor blemish is deemed problematic. My skin isn't lovely. I have some redness and occasional spots and dryness as well as lots of fine lines. But this isn't, to me, a problem that needs fixing.

I use face wash, eye cream, moisturiser (day with spf or night). No fancy brands, just simple/olay/nivea. My night routine is usually at about 7pm including floss/dental brush, so I only need to brush my teeth before I get into bed. Only wear make up every few months, so I just remove it all with eye makeup remover 😅

I do take vitamin d, iron, calcium and magnesium, usually with dinner. I don't forget as DH has medication he has to take, so we both have pill boxes.

I think it’s a little misleading to say something like “I do none of this and my skin is amazing” with the implication being that none of these products are necessary.

Some people are blessed with naturally lovely skin and that’s why they can get away with doing very little. Some of us have problem skin and that’s why we use all the products in the hope something helps. It isn’t that the minimal regime causes the lovely skin, it’s the other way round!

Similar with the supplements - if you feel on top of the world naturally then unlikely you need supplements, it’s those of us who don’t feel 100% who try them.

So true!

This really.

I did all of it for about 9/10 months and I didn't feel or look better. So I stopped. Now I wash with soap, moisturise, eat well and get Botox!

I don’t do half of the skincare stuff but I have always eaten mostly none UPF foods and exercised a lot. I am 63 and a lot fitter and healthier than my partner of 66, my fitness age is around 20 years younger than his so I would say it’s definitely worth it looking after yourself and avoiding UPFs which is a big talking point at the moment but I always avoided things like ‘healthy spreads’ and used butter, don’t have ready meals. Limited sugar intake to look after my teeth as I was getting a lot of fillings, etc.

None of it is compulsory nor really needed. Manufacturers have been plotting ways to convince us we need to buy extra products for years. My earliest memory back in the eighties is of a brand promoted trend of wearing different colour mascara on top and bottom lashes. Hence a 'need' to buy two tubes of mascara instead of one.

I must have missed the memo.

I changed my routine when Covid hit and I’ve never had better skin.

Morning:
Wash face with water
Eye serum
Moisturiser
SPF 50

Evening:
Wash face with water
Rose oil as night moisturiser

I were makeup maybe once per week, sometimes less. If I wear it then I use Simple face wash. I used to buy into all the steps and such but reducing the products I use has been what works (for reference I was 37 when covid hit, almost 43 now). No supplements, though I drink a ton of water. I do admittedly workout a lot between dog walking and dance cardio.

That is impressive! Are you consistent with these per the schedule you set yourself?

I do a few of these inconsistently and annoy myself every once in a while for not doing me
more but just can’t be bothered half of the time.

To your question I do indeed do more than I did 20 or even 10 years ago….as I see my ageing self in the mirror. It has changed over the years, eg no more toner, but other specific things my skin needs, different supplements over the years.

I wonder how much of it is "new" and how much of it is "you're 10 years older and can't get away with a 3-in-1 wipe"

YES. And depending on the weather, waiting between 5 minutes and 3 working days for it to dry.

A horse would definitely tick all the boxes that need to be ticking - but they're so expensive! And scary. I love horses, but they're also petrifying.

No, I'm in my 50s and I don't do most of that stuff.

Unfortunately I do find that as various health conditions have appeared over the years, that adds to my routine: checking blood pressure, doing exercises for arthritis, taking prescription medicines. And they are all problems which aren't likely to go away, so chances are I'll only acquire more!

Im like you. Takes me about half an hour to get to bed with all the flossing, interdental brushes, facial routine and the oils, moisturizers etc. My father in his late 80s has washed his face twice a day with coal tar soap and looks a decade younger than he is!!! It’s not fair 🤣🤣

@MotherWol I’ve been doing yoga, meditation and eating a whole food vegetarian diet since the 90s in my teens. I’ve always been more invested in skincare than in make up. I agree that it isn’t compulsory but it’s just what habituate to. Lots of people routinely engage in numbing behaviours like scrolling, eating junk food, watching crap tv, alcohol, weed and so on. None of that is compulsory either and doesn’t really make people feel good but it’s just their habit.

I don't do any of that as I can't be arsed. Wash my face, moisturise, clean teeth, job done!

Sixties here. Don't wear make up, wash with water, use Nivea.

One multivitamin a day, as much fruit, veg and protein as I can shovel down me.
Lots of water.
Walk for miles in the fresh air every day and swim in the sea each morning.
Plenty of rest and sleep.
A daily stretch.
I REALLY look after my teeth though. My parents lost theirs young and I do not want that.

I look like I'm in my sixties but am happy and fit enough to do all I want. It's enough for me and to be fair, I couldn't bear the faff, ever changing rules and time commitment of anything else.

Caring too much about all this stuff is a law of diminishing returns as you age.