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 you've left it a bit late to start now

Depends. Everyone has different skin. Everyone’s skin reacts to products differently. I just threw out a very expensive face wash that I tried for the first time because it was making me break out. I have more success with a particular bar soap so I’ll go back to that. Some expensive products are better for me but may not work for you. You just have to stick with what works. Until your hormones shift and everything goes wonky.

I’m in my 40s and have been through many phases of buying expensive creams, serums etc. I have never EVER gotten into the routine of washing off makeup before bed - I’m with Dolly Parton on this one - who knows if you might be woken up in the middle of the night and have to be seen in public .
That said, I only wear a light tinted moisturiser, concealer and mascara. I think less faffing and washing off oils twice a day the better.
I now look at what’s in the expensive serums and cleansers and find cheaper but similar well-reviewed products on Amazon. My skin is good with only a few smile lines.
However, I think what made the difference is Botox one every 1-2years only, which has stopped frown and smile lines becoming so ingrained. Creams wouldn’t be able to do that.

I'm in my early 30s and naturally have dry, flaky skin on my forehead and around my nose. It gets worse during winter. This year, it's been much worse than usual - it actually looked like dandruff on my head which was very embarrassing. I purchased a £100 medik8 set but it didn't do much to help. By chance, while picking up some Nivea stuff for my husband, I happened to glance at another product and thought I'd give it a go. I put it on morning and night and after just 2 days my skin looked amazing - the dry patches were completely gone and my skin looked healthy and hydrated! Anyway, I've kept it up and will do for the rest of my life probably. The product? Vaseline.

It depends on what your targeting.

I have hyperpigmentation so I treat that by using Azalic acid (urgh spelling!) niacin amide and retinol and mineral sunscreen (
colour science or Murad skin defence).

Without the treatment, I would be doing:

CeraVe facial wash
Simple oil cleanser ( as a wear water resistant mineral sunscreen)
Retinol
Moisturiser (like Paula's choice Omega 3 complex but again it's good for hyperpigmentation)
Sunscreen

If you want to target anti ageing then retinol is your friend.

Eat well and drink a lot of water for starters.

I’ve recently started a consistent skincare routine and can now confidently go without foundation because my skin looks so good! Most of the products I use are The Ordinary or Superdrug’s own brand. Also snail mucin

Wow! I have never even heard of most of this stuff. So I made a list and will see how things go.

I do cleanse my skin, and I have a Facetheory oil free moisturiser that I use after I wash my hair (the only time it ever felt dry) but now it does feel much less oily than it used too. It looked pretty good until the pandemic (and that’s when other stuff went really wrong for me, too). I almost never go out in the sun, and if I do I wear embarrassing hats and sunscreen, so I think that’s why it’s been ok. I don’t wear make-up and rarely do more than glance in the mirror, so it was quite a shock to smile at myself the other day! I struggle with maintaining routines at the best of times, so a five step skincare is never going to be for me, but I definitely need to change things at least a little. The tight feeling you get when your skin is dry annoys me, so moisturising is something I can easily stick to. (It’s most likely menopausal, but I don’t have periods, so it’s hard to know)

I really appreciate the skin-care crash course - it’s been an eye opener, for sure!

You absolutely do need a skincare routine. Keep it as simple as you wish but you have to have something. One thing though - sunscreen is one of the best inventions of man kind. Find a good facial wash, a good toning serum and moisturizer.

My mum told me from a young age to always cleanse and moisturise. She said it didn't have to be expensive, but to always do it. She has had tines when she could afford more expensive stuff and times when even Nivea was a luxury, but at 84 years old her skin is wonderful. I have been using cleanser and moisturiser daily since my teens, sometimes cheap, sometimes pricey, but now I am in my 60's I often get compliments on my skin. Genetics obviously plays a part, but my nan and my mum's sisters were/are of the opinion that soap and water is sufficient. My nan was in her late 80's when she died and my aunts are now late 70's and sadly, their skin look every day of their age.

It's all genetics, good eating, sun cream and water.

My mum doesn't have any lines to talk about at 82. Nor do me my siblings, all 55+

@Chewchewaboogie

I have found my holy grail skin care Trouble is it is too expensive . ( sunday riley vit c, charoltte tilbury magic cream, trinny bff with sunfactor in it. Night sunday rikey luna oil and good genes and ant moisture cream. ) so its good to hear you can get cheaper stuff. Good luck op on finding cheap n good products .( i just need to try.to find same!)

The trinny is not an adequate spf