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?

Im 53. When I was 11, so back in thec1970s before marketing hype took off, my nan took me off to the scincare counter in Woollies (different times!) . The nice lady showed me the classic cleanse, tone and moisturise routine - it was their cucumber for teens range. I've followed the same basic routine ever since.

I use what I think is a mid range brand, not one I see advertised, I get if from my local spa, which I visit every few months for a facial and back massage. Some of the products are expensive, but they last for months. I don't go out much, I don't drink, don't buy expensive clothes or handbags. Its my little bit of luxury, makes me feel good. Most people think I'm about 40.
Each to their own. I've seen threads here about people spending £100s on a handbag. I'd rather have a good face cream.

If you read NHS advice about washing hands, apparently soap when applied to hands and then put under running water the bugs float off. I apply the same to my soap and water routine. If you look at the science behind running a commercial laundry, believe me I know, soap floats the dirt off, but when you spin it in a rinse it descends again. Hence the complicated formulas to take the dirt away. Hand washing on the other hand is why you can use soap flakes.

I am ahem.... quite old and have pretty good skin. I use only oils ( rosehip and passion fruit oil, coconut too) I use 50 factor tinted sunblock. I mix up body butters and I use nice vegan soaps. I wash my face with said soap and take off make up with coconut oil.
I think skin creams are crap.

If you are one of those that like to partake in “a lovely long hot soak” let me tell you now, that any money you may spend on facial rejuvenation treatments will be a complete waste of money. Your body has only a certain amount of sebum at any one time and you will see it float away and vanish down the plughole with the bathwater.
Two women I know always finish the day with a lovely long hot soak. They both have faces like dried up riverbeds – and they both spend vast amounts on expensive cosmetics and facial treatments – that will never work. Common sense really.........

Belinda, who on earth gives their FACE a long old soak ....

I remember being in Boots a few years ago while she was looking for a new face cream. We perused the lengthy aisles for a while looking at all the different brands and types of creams suggested for her age..

Then she stopped suddenly and said "d'you know what.. its all a load of bollocks. If any of it worked I'd look 25"

I think the basic cleanse, tone and moisturise, use something with a good SPF and find whatever works for you is generally the best advice.

Am quite worried about the person who said they washed their face with shampoo, wonder how long their facial hair is now.

What if the person has issues with facial hair and body hair, generally. Your comment is below the belt.🙄

Well they shouldn't encourage it further by washing it with shampoo

even if you use essential oils, vegan soap or something you concoct yourself from a bucket of lard and some veg peelings - its still skincare

its like anything else, you pays your money and you make your choice

If you are one of those that like to partake in “a lovely long hot soak” let me tell you now, that any money you may spend on facial rejuvenation treatments will be a complete waste of money. Your body has only a certain amount of sebum at any one time and you will see it float away and vanish down the plughole with the bathwater.

Probably worse for your face, neck and décolletage to stand under a hot shower for 15 minutes .......

Hot showers like hot baths are not a great idea, 15 minutes is a very long time to shower surely?

Some people do spend ages under the shower!

It is telling that the people in the 'skincare is unnecessary' seem to think people only use it to look younger. You simply have no idea do you?

Would not be without my spf moisturiser for face, neck and decolletage. I like to use creams on my body in this weather also. But I do see the point about some of the crazily priced offerings from beauty companies.

Yep! Most creams on the market do sweet FA. Invest in microneedling instead - the results last up to 5 years...

Oh and SPF on your face. SPF is the only true anti-ageing cream..

I think that some men might need a bit of cheapo moisteriser if they perhaps work outdoors a lot, but having said that,men are not really bothered about such things, unless they are the youngie modern types, who buy into all the hype of men's stuff..

I think that's is more to do with women really wanting to look after their skin, a women's thing, always has been, always will be. But you don't need to buy into expensive miracle things, just simple old fashioned things,

men need sunscreen same as women do.

men are also not bombarded with photoshopped images of half-dead models and told that is the ideal. Most of us learn that it is not, but it is not easy when you are a kid or don't have the education or confidence to see through the lies.

More and more skincare is being targeted towards men & it's as it should be. More men should take care of it - I know plenty who have literally no routine besides shaving and washing their faces in the shower. See plenty of men with skin problems that could probably be alleviated with some care - sunscreen, moisturiser, spot treatment etc

I once dated a man 19 years younger than me. He had more wrinkles than me because he wore no sun protection ever and never used moisteriser.

I don't wear makeup daily, rarely for special occasions. Wash my face with only water, and use a SPF 50 sun cream in the Summer (happens to be a kids one as we all use it as a family). I'm a runner so get sweaty skin, very very occasional spot the week before my period but not every month. Honestly, I can't justify spending money on make up and moisturisers etc when money is tight...I'd rather spend it on my two young children.

When people are saying they just wash their face with soap and water... do you mean an actual bar of soap? That is so drying and will definitely contribute to earlier wrinkle formation (if you care). A simple, gentle cream cleanser (cerave or cetaphil perhaps) that doesn't cost the earth would do a much nicer job. I have super oily skin and the last thing I'd want to do is dry it out forcing my skin to make even more oil! All skin needs moisture.

All skin needs moisture.

absolutely no it does not - of course it doesn't, you have been totally lied to by the advertising companies, and you have swallowed it whole

it is just the dead outer layer that is constantly being replaced. Absolutely nothing you do to it will make the slightest difference within a day or two, as it will be a different layer by then!

So if you have done 50 years of a beauty routine, the first 49 years 364 days make no difference by this morning.