To think that skincare is a load of old rubbish?

[GodivaEater]

It dawned on me today while in Boots that the size of the men’s toiletries bit was one aisle and the women’s stretched into the dozens. And then I thought- men for the most part just wash their faces and then get on with their day. Your average man does not use serums, toners, face masks, moisturisers, nowt.

So why do we as women believe we need all this shit? Why do we buy in to all this shit? Why do some of us spend so much money on this shit? (That includes me in the past). And isn’t it all making our skin worse? You rarely see men with bad skin. Ask the average woman however and most reckon we/they need to sort their skin out.

The older I get the more I think that skincare is a load of bollocks and that most of us don’t need to buy in to any of it. And I say that as someone who has struggled with acne and horrible oily skin for 20 odd years.

Thoughts?

Skincare is very important in some cases, and in others it just makes you feel good! Healthy, clear skin actually takes something of a routine.

I think it's marketed less to men because there's less pressure on them to have not just functioning, but healthy and clear skin. Many men also consider basic hygieneskincare to be "gay" or for women As my DD says, a man with dry dirty skin isn't exactly a dreamboats!

I do notice a difference in my skin when I use certain products, but as a whole we don’t need nearly as much as we are led to think. I use an oil cleanser and a moisturiser most of the time as my skin is really dry. However, I do find that hydralonic acid and the aha peel from the ordinary have helped the texture and dryness a fair bit. A lot of it is genetics and what you are putting into your body - drinking lots of water and so on.

A lot of men I know are using skincare now as well though. I lived in S Korea for a while and the skincare industry for men there seems to be booming from what I can tell.

*dreamboat, sorry.

I don't know why Autocorrect is never happy with a singular.

It’s always people who have good skin who trot out the old I only use soap and baby lotion pish . Try having acne and rosacea or extra dry skin , my skin is incredible now I’ve looked after it properly using good cleansers , acids , oils , it’s really does make a difference .

I have to disagree. I research products/ingredients thoroughly, because I have acne and oily skin I can't use most generic stuff but good skincare doesn't have to cost the earth. I'm a skincare junkie on a very low wage. And I know lots of men who take very good care of their skin.
Fancy cleansers aren't necessary because you just rinse them off. I use a cold pressed oil or balm to remove my makeup in the evening to remove makeup properly, then a cream cleanser and a toner.
Toners (not micellar water) are for removing leftover traces of your cleanser and adding hydration, if I don't use one my pores will be blocked and I'll break out. Exfoliators with scrubby bits are absolutely not needed I can agree with that, chemical exfoliators are much better. I don't think face masks do much either. At night I'll use a moisturiser and an oil which really helps reduce oil production and in the morning I use a moisturiser with sunscreen on top. There's no way I'd get away with just soap and water.

YABU. I never took care of my skin, used moisturizer but no SPF and my sister has always taken care of hers well. I now have many sun damage, dry patch while hers looks luminous.

I also agree. But I am ashamed to say I fall for it all hook line and sinker 😣

I tend to agree

I have started using almond oil and it’s lovely
Lovely for the bath and to clean face

I have really gone off the Lancôme / clarins type face creams . Emporers new clothes

Make up however is essential for me

I don't wear make up and my face just gets washed in the shower with water. My skins great.

Men don't wear foundation that sits there clogging them up all day (usually).

I don't wear face makeup, just eye stuff. As long as I keep it clean with something like micellar water and use a moisturiser so my skin doesn't produce its own oil, my skin is fine.

However when I was 17 I cleared my spots within a week by switching to Imperialis moisturiser from Lush. It smelled a lot like calamine lotion. So some ingredients do clearly soothe/help with redness and acne.

As somebody who had horrific skin, it really affected my confidence. Until I found products to clear it up, my life was all about how bad my skin was the morning I woke up. I avoided mirrors as all I could see was my awful skin.

I have always looked after it since. I followed advice and used an SPF from early twenties, AHAs in 30s, retin based products in 40s and now in my 50s have pretty amazing skin.

So personally, I am grateful to the skincare industry and what it can do. If my daughters ever have any problem with their skin, I'll know what to buy.

YANBU. I wash my face with water and pop a bit of £4 baby moisturiser on when I remember to and I have the best skin I’ve ever had.

Probably massively helps that I don’t wear make up so my pores aren’t constantly clogged.

OP you are spot on. I'm always complemented on my skin but the most I do is slap cheap moisturiser and sunscreen on. My DM's skin and DGM's skin were great too. Purely genetics.

Most 'women' in skincare and cosmetic ads are very young and/or airbrushed so skin is nothing to do with what they're advertising.

On a side note all these new miracle ingredients to make vain women think that they can defy aging end up being tested on animals. WTF. Accept that everyone ages please. Nobody is going to live forever nor look 21 forever.

Consumerism works if people buy things. We buy more if we believe we are not quite right, and need to change ourselves.

been lucky with not many spots and no hormone issues. long stopped makeup and now it is just soap, water, sunscreen and nivea if nose is itchy.

i also think most beauty product claims are lies.

I'm 30 and still trying to find my way with a skin care routine. While I agree that some products seem fairly pointless, I do think some are essential for lots of women and do actually work.

I've suffered with acne since I was a teenager, so I've tried lots of different things (including just plain water!) Last year I finally went to my GP who prescribed long term antibiotics and a gel to use at night. It worked really well, I now just use the gel when I feel spots coming. My skin is dry, then the gel dries it even more, so I use a gentle daily scrub in the shower then aveeno moisturiser which seems to be the best I've tried over the years. I remove make up with baby wipes which I know is frowned upon but every other wipe, wash, lotion I've used has made my skin sore or red, or has made my eyes sting. I don't wear much make up, just a bit of power foundation to take away shine, then mascara.

I'm now looking for a sun cream that I can use every day on my face that doesn't cause spots... So far they've all left me with lots of painful spots on my chin, but I can't go without sun cream in this weather so the spots just get worse!

*powder

You do realise that there’s an actual science behind this? That women research and try out different products to see what works for them, not that they’re just sheep who’ll buy anything they’re told? Bloody hell, some of you have a very low opinion of your own gender.

I use Garnier oil infused micellar cleansing water to remove make up and Olay ProVital day and night creams, rrp £10 but I never pay full price because they are on offer at half price so often. Skin’s great.

You do realise that there’s an actual science behind this? That women research and try out different products to see what works for them, not that they’re just sheep who’ll buy anything they’re told? Bloody hell, some of you have a very low opinion of your own gender.

That is marketing not science
as women stop when they find something they like
rather than carry on to test the full hypothesis

the whole monthly hormones thing is western piffle
for a start after menopause its history
and in much of the world its irrelevant

skin naturally moisturises itself
do not mess about with that and its ok

Simple soap and water is fine for those with 'normal' skin, but for those of us with sensitive, hormonal acne prone skin we need alot more help!

Hmmm. I had good skin from a young age - my mother suggested cleansing as soon as my periods started at 11.

Had good enough skin 20-45. Regular facials. Then started to see a new beauty therapist on a regular basis. She’s not tied to a specific brand and had suggested various products over the last 2 years (within about 4 brands, depending on how my skin is, time of year etc). Costs me a fortune. Like, a lot. Hundreds. But...

My skin looks incredible. Clear, glowing, smooth, pimple (and blackhead) free, reduced wrinkles, reduced sun damage, lifted. Makes me happy.

So, I’m my experience YABU.

theSnuff - I'm spot prone and have been using biore watery essence or Frezyderm without any issues
The Frezyderm is more silicone feeling, the essence is v v light

YABU! If you’re happy not taking proper care of your skin then that’s fine, but I’ve worked very hard on my skincare over the last year or so and my face has never looked fresher!

If you’re happy not taking proper care of your skin then that’s fine

You may be happy with your skincare regime and thats great. But other people not buying mountains of shit for their faces does not mean they are not taking proper care of their skin.

Cleanser
Balm
Toner
Serum
Moisturiser
Eye cream
Day cream
Make up remover
Mask
Night cream

Thats a lot of stuff thats potentially full of shit like sls and alcohols that mess with the skin meaning you may need more products on top to counter the other symptoms.