To wonder if ‘skincare’ is worth it?

[Eeksteek]

I’ve never really bothered. It seems like more faff than I can be arsed with and my skin seems to be indifferent to what I put on it. I have PCOS, and for most of my adult life I’ve been on Dianette (great skin), keto (great skin!) or had acne (icky skin, but the carbs taste good!)

Just lately, though my skin feels drier (hurrah, I might be able to look at a carb and not break out in boils!) and there’s no denying I’m solidly in my mid-forties and starting to look a bit crinkly around edges. I’m clueless though, is it really worth slathering yourself in expensive gloop? I don’t aspire to look like a teenager, and I don’t wear make up unless I’m going out out (lone parent, so that’s once or twice a year, then!) but I don’t want to look like an haggard old witch either!

Should I start with something? And what? Do you really get what you pay for? How can those little pots of gloop possibly be worth spending so much on? Gin’s loads cheaper - probably wouldn’t to do much for my skin, but it’s more fun and I’m sooo cynical about ‘beauty products’. There’s no way of knowing if you’d have aged well anyway!

(No judgement on people who enjoy spending time on their appearance or their skin. I’m lazy and irreverent, and you probably look loads better than I do. All self care is good, as far as I’m concerned!)

I think mostly it’s genetics. I used coconut oil, on skin and hair. Massively cheap and natural.

It depends what you mean by "skin care". My skin looks and feels better if I take my makeup off at night, put moisturiser on etc. I don't buy anything expensive, but it definitely feels better for it.

It doesn’t need to be expensive though. Even a basic cleanse, moisturise and SPF will improve your skin. It’s generally good to then add in at least one active ingredient. Companies like the ordinary and the inkey list make highly rated products at very affordable prices (£5-£12 on average) and they really do make a difference. I started skincare about 2 years ago when coming off the pill brought my acne back with a vengeance and I can honestly say I look better now (almost 30) than I did when I was 25.

@Sunnyday321

Can I ask - What brand sunscreen do people recommend ?

I am obsessed with Cetaphil daily defence moisturiser SPF50+. A lot of people say your SPF should be separate from your moisturiser but I a) found that too expensive and b) found that lots of SPF exacerbated my acne. I’ve been using this for about 18 months every morning without fail and I think it’s fabulous. It’s about £15 a tube and lasts about 5 weeks

I do buy mid range skin care (Paulas Choice) but I think it is genetics, diet and sun exposure which make the biggest difference. Hydrated skin comes from the inside so plenty of water, not too much booze and a good diet are key. Then it's keeping out of the sun, shading your face with a hat and a good SPF.

Surprised no one has mentioned regular exercise, it definitely helps keen skin healthy! As other pp have said, water abd good diet are also really important.
Personally I just wash my face with warm water, apply the Aldi moisturiser with SPF in the day and Aldi night cream before bed. I never wear any makeup except mascara and eyeliner.
I'm 34 this year so my skins still fairly decent, I'll get back to you in a few years, haha

Retinol (medik8), spf 50 everyday, decent gel type moisturiser and changing from a cleanser to a cleansing balm (Elemis) have changed my skin forever for the better. I don’t bother with anything else other than adding in the buffet serum from the Ordinary in winter too. The Caroline Hirons book is helpful if you’re looking for specific advice

I definitely think a small skincare routine is worth it, but I don't think an extensive 10-step one is. It also really doesnt need to be expensive, it's all about the ingredients and brands like The Ordinary have fantastic products that last ages and make your skin look great, and its quite cheap!
I use a La Roche Posay cleanser that costs about €15 but lasts me about 6 months, some niacinimide from The Ordinary as I have oily skin, then two moisturisers (one oil-control one for the day and one heavier one for the night, both around €12). In summer I use an SPF as well as the above and I also have an exfoliator from The Ordinary. I think the total is about €50-€55 but I only need to top up the moisturisers about every 3-4 months, the niacinimide every 7 months, the cleanser every 6 months and one SPF a year. Takes me 5 mins in the morning and 5 mins in the evening. It's worth it!

Drink water, get some sunlight but with proper skin protection, and watch what you eat.

Moisturiser, a serum and some witch hazel are the keys for me. Taking off makeup properly is an absolute priority.

So for me, it’s gentle wash in the morning- just a cheapie one, followed by serum and then make up. Evenings are cleanser to remove make up, and night moisturiser. Witch hazel to treat spots as they appear.

Once you get into the routine it’s easy.

@Clarabe1

I visited a dermatologist for my dodgy acne prone skin and I was prescribed roaccutane. That’s a thread on its own but interestingly she told me that all skin needs is a half decent cream to lock water in - water is the real moisturiser! Expensive brands are a marketing ploy because nothing actually penetrates the skin. The most important thing is to wear sunscreen daily and to drink plenty of water.

This. Find a good, perfume free emollient and sunscreen. Retinol at night, if need be.

Just to add skin dryness (in mid-40s) can be a sign of peri-menopause. Check your symptoms at this site.

www.balance-menopause.com/

Of course they do - they want to sell you stuff

I am talking about recommendations to use simple products available from most supermarkets like CeraVe cleanser, and some similarly basic and cheap moisturiser, and an SPF - not any special dermatologist products. They make no money in recommending basic skincare.

I have always thought that expensive skincare is probably only worth it when you have a problem: acne or unusually sensitive skin for example.

For the majority of people whose skin falls within a normal range I think just cleansing and moisturising and using sunblock covers it.

I’m pretty sure that adding retinol and hyaluronic and CBD etc is pretty marginal. Very little of this has been clinically proven. You’re basically paying to keep the marketing people in jobs.

I am someone who looks after their skin but I don't spend huge amounts on it.

A proper face SPF is a must. Not just in a moisturiser.

I also use retinol.

I wash and gently exfoliate my face everyday.

I also do face yoga which takes me 20 mins a day (I do it whilst watching the tv in the evening).

I'm 41 and my skin looks good for my age.

Is it really true that fake tan ages you? Fuck I’ve used dove gradual tan on my face for years

My father was a dermatologist. His main tip was having luck in inheritance and landing good genes, then avoiding too much sunshine. Spf in creams only lasts around a few hours at most, and same goes for make up. Face creams are not magical. Beyond that, any basic moisturiser is all one needs. The rest is entirely marketing.
Being brown (me) or black (dad) also really, really helps. We have built in sunscreen. I am over 50 now and have good skin, mainly thanks to melanin and a fairly easy life.

You don't need to bother with stuff that apparently gets rid of wrinkles. Getting wrinkles is part of getting old, some people get them worse than others. Most in my family are fairly lucky and we seem to age slower. Unless you want to start injecting yourself with botox, there's not much you can do about that.

The best thing you can use is either sunscreen or a moisturiser with spf in it. I've actually found one that doesn't make my face oily! I love it, usually they all make my face oily. Or maybe it's the toner I use before it, who knows. My face without anything done turns oily quite quickly.

Oh, to add: Aldi skincare range is v cheap and is excellent.

Johanna Lumley famously avoids expensive skincare and just uses Astral cream which is about a tenner a pot.

I cleanse and moisturise in the morning then apply sunscreen twice a day. I havent really been wearing make up during covid, just mascara, but i do take it off in the evening if i do wear it. And lots of drinking water.

Johanna Lumley is glam,
Gorgeous and v slim but I wouldn't say her skin is good.

She smokes so it really doesn't matter what she puts on her skin it won't help much.

I like mecca to save face sunscreen

Johanna Lumley is glam,
Gorgeous and v slim but I wouldn't say her skin is good.

For 75 it looks damned good to me!

Joanna Lumley is 75 and her skin is amazing for her age!!!