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?

YANBU. I have never put ANYthing on my skin, and don't look a day older than I am - 4 or 5 years younger actually (on a good day!)

And I am ahem middle aged.

It isn't true that men tend to have better skin, it's just they don't focus on it as much/have pressure from media or other men to look better and people aren't scrutinizing them as much so it's not as noticeable, or at least more accepted/hidden due to facial hair etc.

I do think a lot of skincare is all talk though, and overcomplicated, when really a lot of female skin issues are hormone related and therefore can't be very well treated just topically.

Morning:

Double cleanse
Toner
Serum
Tiny, tiny bit of moisturiser

Evening:

Double cleanse
Toner
Overnight glycolic peel

On Fridays I use a charcoal face mask. On Wednesdays and Sundays I use a tea tree face mask and then an overnight Kiehls Midnight Recovery serum and an avocado face mask.

It’s a five minute routine morning and evening with money I can comfortably afford. And honestly, I look terrific - better than I ever have. And that’s had a knock on effect - I’m eating better, I don’t need makeup anymore and I have more confidence.

That’s more than worth it. I’m 35 but routinely told I look like I’m in my late 20s. I relish ageing, but I want to look good doing it.

My granny told my Mother always keep your face out of the sun, wear a hat. Her moisturiser was home made from lard which was boiled three times in water skimmed each time then some rose water added. She had fab skin. .. My Mother wore Ponds cold cream day and night, stayed out of the sun and had fab skin. I keep my face out of the sun, thats what bronzer is for. Use spf moisturiser and have good skin.... Now of course it could just be in the genes..

Some people's skin (usually more oily/ prone to spots/ acne?) does need more care from products.

Mine is low maintainence. It tends to go dry so benefits from a basic moisturiser when necessary, but eczema on my face in my teens, triggered by stage make-up means that I've never worn make-up regularly and always kept to a minimal routine.

There is more pressure on women to look pristine, and more tolerance of mens' faults. I wish DH would slap on a bit of moisturiser at times when he's looking dry and flaky, but he's very resistant to things like that (I'd find my skin irritated and uncomfortable in that condition).

Nothing wrong with supplying your skin with what it needs, but there is a huge amount of advertising ploughed into promoting products with fancy ingedients and prices that many people don't need.

I'm on the fence. But I have worked out what my skin needs and whenever I try something different breakout party happening here folks. bring Liquor .

I've used expensive stuff. I've used mid cost stuff.

What has always calmed my skin down and made it look clear is Castor Oil/Olive oil and Jojoba oil [C+O in the morning/C+O+J] at night.
Clear skin. No.. mind, it's not wrinkle free skin. Im early-mid 50's. I'm not supposed to be wrinkle free

Ohh and Stay out of the Sun, wear 50+ block and wear Biggggg Floppy hats.

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants Thank You for mentioning that book. Found a PDF of it. will read later

www.alaalsayid.com/ebooks/The-Beauty-Myth-Naomi-Wolf.pdf

((((Hugs))))

only in western countries. In Asia mens beauty is as big a business as women’s and that trend is slowly coming westward.

It depends. I have acne and have to use products with benzoyl peroxide...if I don’t, my acne gets severe. So skin care for me, because I have a condition, is important.

In regards to the majority of the population who have normal skin, I agree that’s its a pile of rubbish. Obviously, makeup plays a part but as long as you remove it with a gentle soap, I’m pretty much it doesn’t matter which one

TalkinPeace - more like TalkinShite

Dinosaursandtea - ha ha haaaar - you relish ageing, at 35. Come back at 45 and say the same thing. Betcha you'll have changed your tune.

I just couldn’t be bothered!

I’m 40 and most people would guess I’m around 30. I’ve never ever used anything on my face.
I just think it’s all down to a good dose of luck. Luckily I have great skin so don’t need anything.

Totally agree-i remember buying a load of clearasil&simple products as a 12yr old..my dad(Maltese)said (after seeing my'routine''develop over a few weeks) you know thats all bollocks-it feeds insecurities/marketing blahblah&use products'..i told him to shut up&felt insulted..it was only when i got into my20's ran out of my moisturiser/cleansers whilst overseas that i started using coconut oil-literally for cleansing(on a warm wet flannel)&in bath&after shower..like the local women did who all had great skin/hair..Dad knew best i reckon..30 yrs later im virtually wrinkle free,zero stretchmarks after a huge10lb+ baby and years living in a really hot,arid environment. Give it a go!

Best skin care is to not smoke, not drink and stay out of the sun. While a few people have problems that antibiotics can clear up, the rest is mainly marketing. Soap and water can clean up most make up. The rest tends to be unesscesary.

But routines can make people feel good. For some people they become rituals that give them a time to relax and transition from the stress of a day time personae into the zen of bedtime. Not everything is on the surface. Having said that, personally I’d rather just brush my teeth and read MN and save my pennies for something better.

Blimey! Is this thread full of trolls?
Skin moisturises itself; people that smoke, drink buckets of alcohol and wash with toilet cleaners and still look 21? Really?
Unless, you live the perfect life in temperate moist climate there’s no way in hell, skin will moisturise itself. Just a ride on the tube or on the bus in any city and your skin is filthy. You’ll need to wash it and you do what after that, order it to moisturise itself?
And for those that do fuckall and look 20 years younger; you are either very young, you have a lot of extra fat padding that stretches the wrinkles or you’re are beyond blessed.
People can claim bullshit about using soap and prayers but it’s usually the countries that had a long history of decent skincare that have the best skin. Look at Far East. It’s not the genes why you pass 50 year old Koreans for 30, it’s their skincare regime.

I think if you can get away with using nothing you are incredibly lucky. I myself can’t, I have to use Cetaphil, Vichy moisturiser and Duac (which contains benzoyl peroxide). I’ve had 30 years of extremely oily skin and acne. Skin is currently best it’s ever been (but not perfect enough for me to go without foundation comfortably). I drink loads of water, stay out of the sun and try to eat well (but often slip up).

I started this thread because it struck me how much it’s thrown in women’s faces that we need to spend spend spend and buy more all the time. The Korean skincare routine using ten things every day. Before that the trend was French pharmacy stuff. And I wondered if by constantly faffing about trying all these new ‘wonder’ products it actually just empties our pockets and does fuck all, because then a new trend comes.

And I say that as someone who has struggled with acne and horrible oily skin for 20 odd years

I’d have thought someone who struggled with bad skin would understand. No one wants festering sores on their face, not men nor women, and both sexes spend loads trying to fix it.

The bit of soap and water crowd have naturally good skin, stop suggesting otherwise and be glad you don’t have major problems! It’s not going to work for the rest of us, so don’t be so smug.

Women simply have it worse with hormones and makeup; but shaving daily is like a daily exfoliation, so men tend to have fresher looking skin. Or a beard that hides all sins.

But if you actually research ingredients and ignore marketing, you can have an effective skincare routine without spending loads. Retin-A and Vitamin C serums are powerfully effective at anti-ageing, and both can be had on the cheap, especially if you DIY your vitamin C. Sunscreen is essential. All day every day, you must have good quality sunscreen; even in winter and on cloudy days.

Go on any skincare forum and you’ll find skincare can be cheap as long as you do your research and refrain from buying on a whim.

Jars of posh creams are pretty ineffective though and just a waste of money.

To clarify, I’ve spent hours on the reddit forum, on Hirons before that, and on others. And I’ve spent hundreds on stuff they recommend. It either makes things worse or does nothing.

It’s not the genes why you pass 50 year old Koreans for 30, it’s their skincare regime.

Asian and black skin breaks down more slowly than white skin, so it is in the genes to certain extent. Also aren't the Koreans world leaders in cosmetic surgery?

Sleep, exercise, diet and stress levels are just as important as skincare. And even then, sunscreen and moisturiser is all the average person needs.

Agree - i developed bad skin in my 30s and tried everything, the more I used the worse it got.

Now all I do is make sure I take off my makeup at the end of the day (one product), simply wash my face on days I've had none on and use a moisturiser.

I exfoliate now and again (every few weeks) otherwise my skin dries out and I get spot breakouts.

That's it.

I have rosacea and I’ve found less is more with my skin. So I just wash my face with mild soap and then moisturise and / or sunscreen. If I was plastering on serums and night cream, eye cream etc twice a day, I’d break out horribly. I very rarely wear makeup, so I don’t have to worry about removing it.

Most of the Korean plastic surgery is to alter their features to look more westernised not to have face lifts. Your comment is random.
I’ve had a nose job, it made my nose smaller, it didn’t made my wrinkles go away.

I do hate this attitude. The insination that managing my acne is a silly indulgence is really nasty.