To think skincare is a con

I don't use any skin care products whatsoever and never have. My skincare routine consists of washing in the shower then patting dry. At risk of sounding vain, my skin is pretty great.

I just use dove soap and water on my face , I am 58 and don't have one line on my face. I do use clarins face 50 factor in summer but that's it.
In my 30s I went through a phase of a spotty chin, discovered tea tree oil and never looked back.
Everyone is different.

Everyone saying SPF50 - which one do you recommend? There’s so much choice and I’ve noticed the mist ones now also available this summer. I know la roche posay is popular but any others people swear by?

I agree. With my skin less is most definitely more
I would not tolerate acids or retinol and I think it must alter the skin's natural balance
Dermabrasion is the modern term for washing with a flannel
It's personal choice of course, but even if I could afford expensive products, I wouldn't buy them

I try to use sunscreen but find it brings on my eczema around my eye area. Has anyone got a go to one ?

I watched a documentary about this not too long ago. It basically tested everything out and came to the conclusion that sunscreen is the most important thing to use because sun damage (even without going abroad) is the biggest cause of aging skin. That being said I did start using retinol and ceramide products as well as a skin oil and sunscreen during the day and I've noticed a huge difference in my skin and fine lines/texture/dryness etc since doing that. I think it's more about what you use and making sure the ingredients are actually beneficial. I also think a lot of it is also due to genetics. My granny only ever used ponds cold cream and had very few wrinkles even in her 80s. I think it's similar to stretch marks in that respect, it's a genetic disposition.

I love skin care. Serums, moisturizers, face masks. My skincare routine in the morning and at night is my biggest self care and it grounds me.
I have decent skin but I think my bone structure is what makes me "youthful looking." I am told I have a disney princess type face. I think that works in my favour, hopefully less cartoonish.

Interesting video from a dermatologist

He's not saying anything that most people on this thread, every single dermatologist ever asked the question and others (and people like Nadine Baggott, Sali Hughes and Caroline Hirons) say.
Don't look at products, look at ingredients, don't look at just the name of the ingredient, look at the % of ingredient.

He's right, but he's not suddenly discovered something nobody knows.

He's bloody irritating though.

The Garnier one is great and cheap as chips. About £4 at the moment (half price in various places because people mistakenly think they don't need it in winter so shops don't want it taking up shelf space- I had to order from Amazon because couldn't find it in even the big Boots)

Well aren't you just lovely. Thanks for that.

I just use Dove soap and water, clarins moisturiser in the winter ( only because other moisturisers irritate my eyes) and high factor sun cream. I have no beauty regime at all.

Say what?
Is it you in the video?
If so, you haven't just invented the wheel. If not, then your offence on his behalf is weird.
He says we need clean skin, hydrated skin, protected skin and (if we want, a vit C and a vit A)
Which most people who AGREE WITH HIM AND THE OP (including me) already know.

That’s fine if you have naturally good skin. I’m plagued by every type of skin lesion and bump you can imagine. I have just shitty skin. Topped off by a rare genetic disease that presents itself as weeping lesions around my neck and on my chest. It takes a lot of time, energy, money and products to get it looking even half decent.

This is pretty much me too. I remove make up from a night out with a simple face wash which lasts forever as I barely use it. I shower at night and wash with shower gel but splash my face with cold water in the morning. I use moisturiser after i have washed my face. I'm not fussy about what. People are surprised I'm in my 40s.

Genetics are against me, both of my parents have awful skin. I do use lotions and potions but try not to over complicate it.

I don't understand the superiority implication on these threads.... That if you just use a bar of soap and look 20 years younger than you are that this makes you superior.

I have a highly stressful life with a disabled child and I love the ritual of cleansing my face in the evening, applying serum and giving myself a massage. It's such a lovely part of my day. Many cultures have rituals around washing and self care. I don't drink, I don't go out much - if I choose to buy a £30 face oil that I adore and brings me pleasure, why am I a fool? This will last me two months of daily use. Cost per application is very low.

A £10 bottle of wine will be gone for many people in an evening.

Yes expensive skincare is bullshit OP. Imagine if you invested that £60 per month on self development or a pension.

I tried when I was young but was unable to use any of these expensive products as I have super reactive skin. I settled on olive oil cleansing in the evening, and a hot washcloth plus simple SPF moisturizer in the morning. I am now in my 50s and get compliments on my skin. Part of it may be genetic, and part that I do a lot of exercise that can make the complexion glow, but my cheapo regimen hasn’t been detrimental if you are considering simplifying.

Yes it's a rip off. I use soap and water or sometimes a simple cleanser, then:
-a.m m mix a bit of sun cream in with my make up (just regular cheap stuff designed for all over)

• Evening E45

Obviously it depends on why you are using it. My skin flakes if I don't moisturise and I have found some products that really help my rosecea. However I think a lot of ageing is genetics. I don't drink or smoke or sit in the sun but the reason I look ten years younger is genes. My mother doesn't look anywhere near her age and she did smoke and drink and my grandmother looked much younger too.

When I was 13 my Mum bought me Delph lemon cleanser, toner and moisturiser which I used every day until I was 17 when I started staying with my aunt a lot. I noticed that she looked very young for her 40 years and her skincare routine was using Simple Soap and water to wash her face morning and evening, and Nivea Lotion to moisturise. (the one in the 250ml blue bottle with white lid). I started doing the same. I am now 62 and people are surprised about that if I mention my age. I believe the condition of my skin is part of that. I still use the same routine now; except that I changed from Simple Soap to the Dove Bar for washing my face around 25 years ago. Istill use the same Nivea lotion to moisturise.
I feel much fresher after washing my face rather than using cleansers on it as well.
I use suncream when needed in summer only but stay out of thesun at the hottest part of the day.

This is my facial skin.

I agree with you.

I only wash my face with soap and water and don't use a moisturiser. My skin is not dry.

My skin is fine - I really don't look my age unless in harsh light.

I think genetics plays a much larger role in how you age than "products".

I have dry skin and soap - even unscented soap, and even Dove - dries the hell out of it and leaves it feeling tight and uncomfortable. There is no one size fits all when it comes to skin care.

The hard water we have and cheap soaps are both very drying, I almost never use water on my face. I don't use loads of products though, I use a Green people cleanser - lasts ages - and one of their moisturisers, I only buy them about once every 6 months. I don't wear make up.