AIBU?
To think skincare is a con
Hannahbsnana · 18/09/2022 21:55
i occasionally have a cup of tea and a natter with a woman who lives a few doors down from me. She’s 79 but quite young minded and totally on the ball. She also has pretty good skin.
We were moaning about the price of stuff in the shops a while back and I was telling her how much I spend on cleansers, toners. serums,, moisturisers etc. She said she’d never used anything of the sort - only suncream when she’d gone abroad. She washes her face with ‘soap and water’.
it got me thinking…..I’m getting on for 50 and have used skin products all my adult life and I’m pretty sure I look at least my age.
So I made a decision, I used up the last of my products and then didn’t replace any of them except my cleanser.
For the first week to ten days my face felt dry, especially after washing. But I persevered. It’s now been about 7 weeks. My skin no longer feels dry. I honestly believe it has balanced itself out and is producing iits own oils as required.
my skin is not suddenly amazing or anything.it’s no better than it was before when I was spending a fortune on products. But….it’s definitely no worse either!!
iI’ll carry on using suncream when needed, but other than that, I’m done. I’m going to save myself about £60 a month.
AIBU to think us women are being conned? Clever marketing and misogyny has made us terrified of not slathering chemicals on our mugs every day!
Am I being unreasonable?
AIBUYou have one vote. All votes are anonymous.
Calphurnia88 · 19/09/2022 09:42
Ponoka7 · 19/09/2022 08:41
I agree that it is largely genetics and lifestyle. A life with no alcohol and sun isn't one that I'd want to live. I'm 54 and if I stop using my elemis products I can see and feel the difference. I particularly see the difference if I don't use an under eye cream. I throw in different products from time to time, some help, some don't. I have always worn makeup, so had to cleanse. Microneedling, scrubs and home peels make the biggest difference.
Scrubs are terrible for your skin!
Many, many dermatologists agree on this.
Hannahbsnana · 19/09/2022 10:09
Really interesting to hear other people’s views on this.
I can’t help but feel (like a pp suggested) that each product in a range increases the need for another - cleansers stripping the skin of oil who ch needs replacing with a moisturiser…moisturiser overrides natural oil production and skin gets drier (other than straight after application…so we add on top ups like serums.
I think for people who have skin issues (eg acne) and rely on actives, it’s different. But for me, I’m gonna save my pennies and let my skin do it’s own thing. I’ve never used moisturiser on my arse and I’ve got no wrinkles there!!
Sun cream and soap for me from now on.
Jewel1968 · 19/09/2022 10:25
Dunno. I have used moisturizer since I was a teen. I have no wrinkles and am in my 50s. I do have battles with acne but that isn't a problem at the mo and hasn't been since using cerave liquid wash - couple of years. So I don't do all the serums and acids (have experimented but get lazy) but I do think moisturizer and sunscreen probably do make a difference but nothing fancy or expensive. But who knows.
PeloFondo · 19/09/2022 10:28
Firefin · 19/09/2022 07:56
Please don't use sunscreen in late autumn, winter (unless there is a huge blanket of snow and it's sunny), or early spring if you live in Britain.
There is a reason why rickets is on the rise again in Britain, and it's all to do with lack of exposure to sunlight - excessive clothing in some religious groups, lack of outside activities, especially for children, and the over-use of sunscreen are all contributing factors.
I take high dose vitamin D anyway as I'm deficient. Don't get enough time in the sun and my body sucks at making my own vitamin d
Crunchingleaf · 19/09/2022 10:30
Most products do absolutely nothing. The one thing that I think everyone should do is wear SPF. Coming up to my wedding recently I did use some expensive cleansers, serums and moisturiser and my skin definitely looks better. Less dull but I don’t look any younger. The reason I look younger then I am is due to genetics and not being a smoker. My granny is in her 80’s but you wouldn’t think it by looking at her. She looks younger then women over a decade younger then her and so few wrinkles. My mother is a smoker so she definitely looks older then she is.
Jewel1968 · 19/09/2022 14:18
Thought this was interesting www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/elderly-woman-neck-sunscreen-viral-photo-b2160789.html%3famp
KittyCatsby · 19/09/2022 14:21
I get my tret from Dermatica, I'm a newbie so can't post any miracle photos for anti aging , but I have a code that gives your first months for £2.90 and around 20% off for your 2nd. For disclosure I would get £5 off my next month's subscription
here it is. :
www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/V3WPNY
Aintnosupermum · 19/09/2022 14:28
My SIL uses nivea soft after washing with a bar of dove soap. Her skin looks great.
I have cystic acne. It’s under control at the moment using ridiculously expensive skincare. It’s about £900 a year. It works out cheaper than seeing the dermatologist 4 times a year.
The man at the expensive skincare counter kindly told me he thinks it’s because have a hormone imbalance. He then gave me the place to go for a full preventative care medical. He thinks I have insulin resistance and it’s affecting my hormone balance. I’m scheduled to go next month. I’m incentivized to save on my skincare!
Calphurnia88 · 19/09/2022 14:38
Adviceplease991 · 19/09/2022 14:25
I have a friend who is a dermatologist
she did a masters in this
essentially the evidence she found is spf / retinoids were the only things that help aging
nothing else
not even botox
it was rf microneedles that worked i think was the only procedure
My friend who works in skincare told me the exact same thing (also no smoking).
BryceQuinlanTheFirst · 19/09/2022 15:15
On these threads everyone claims to have no lines and have 90 year old parents who look 20 years younger, yet the style boards are filled with people wanting to improve their skin and look younger. In real life I rarely meet people who genuinely look incredible. Most people have pores, lines, pigmentation, rosasea, dry patches etc skin is textured.
I think you don't need any fancy products but having a good skincare routine can make you really glow.
washingbasketqueen · 19/09/2022 15:29
I'm 40 and my skin is the best it's ever been and I put it down to a good (expensive) skin routine, including retinol, hyleronic acid, vitamin c serum, salycic acid (once per week), cream balm cleanser and moisturiser. I also switched to a silk pillow case which I feel has been helpful.
housemaus · 19/09/2022 16:11
Soap is way too harsh on my skin. I use an oil cleanser to remove makeup, tret to treat my acne/scarring, and a good moisturiser, with oil in the winter when it's really dry. In the morning I use vit C and SPF.
My skin is finally under control - and I have tried everything, from no skincare to 10-step Korean routines. Without tret my skin is appalling, without moisturiser it's horrendously dry, and without SPF I can burn even on the greyest days because I'm see-through. So I don't think they're a con because I've seen the results!
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