To think elaborate skincare is unnecessary, or will my face fall off with this routine?

[GreatBigYou]

All my friends of a similar age (40s) seem to use loads of different serums and potions, but I can never remember/be bothered too.

I just wash my face with a face wash (Superdrug one) and use moisturiser (currently Simple one) in the morning. I don't wear makeup usually so I don't do anything at night.

AIBU to think that everything else is a bit of a con that doesn't have any lasting impact? Or will I regret being laissez-faire when I'm in my 50s or 60s?

'I would be a good Roman' has cracked me up.

I should say I do use sunscreen, but only in the summer. I can't find one that I like the feel of on my skin so only tolerate it when it really feels necessary.

simpleskincarescience.com/tretinoin/

Try Korean / Japanese ! Much nicer

I've got good skin, very few lines for my age, and have never done anything more than a cheap moisturiser with spf. Simple facewash in a morning (or hand soap if it's a gentle one!).

Never worn foundation as I don't like the clogged up feeling.

My mum had lovely skin well into her 80's though and she only ever used soap and water.

I have never used sunscreen or moisturiser in my life. I'm late 50s, and really don't have many wrinkles at all.
And if/when I do get wrinkly, that's fine, because it's completely normal in old age.
All the money other people spend on skincare, I have spent on books, which seems to me to be a much better deal.

I wash my face then put moisturiser on. That’s it. I’m 42.

Might be a daft question but why do people use sunscreen in winter?

Thanks, where do I get them in the UK? Any brands you'd recommend?

I have awful skin, if I didn’t look after it I would have an oil slick of a t-zone, cracked cheeks and acne. I do have eczema, but it is fairly easy to manage.

AM
Rinse with water
pat dry
vitamin c serum
spray with water
hylauronic acid
moisturiser (i also use this as eye cream)
spf

PM
double cleanse
1 x per week chemical exfoliant
3 x per week tretinoin
Hylauronic acid
moisturiser
On nights I don’t use tret I will often slug with something like aquaphor, if I don’t do this I have eczema flare ups.

I’ve been told many a time how good my skin is, I’m early 60s - I’ve never smoked, I don’t drink alcohol, I eat masses of fruit and veg and good fats and drink water like it’s going out of fashion so those things could be contributing factors but I’ve always been a sucker for Clarins and two years ago swapped to Elemis and the results of that brand have been remarkable. I use the skin cleanser wash and a day and a night cream.

My mum had good skin and did use clarins when she thought about it god love her !

You do you OP.

It’s not really about whether skincare is “necessary” or not, because what exactly is necessary when it comes to our faces and our appearance?

Some never wear make up and wash with soap and water. Others have elaborate skincare and make up routines. Some don’t give a crap about wrinkles and ageing. Others start getting Botox in their 20s. There’s no right or wrong either way.

I am 40s. I don’t drink or smoke. I eat quite well and do a bit of exercise. I love skincare but don’t have the time. I have little interest in whether skin care works or not as I think most products are much of a muchness. I like smell, texture and packaging in a product. My skin has always been normal and I wash it with soap in the shower and then simple with spf15, hot cloth cleanse with L’Oréal age perfect and cerave in the evening. I like make up but hardly can be bothered to wear much. I don’t like foundation so never wear it. I’ve spent a good part of life by paying into expensive beauty promises and think a lot of it is a female tax and makes no difference to how you look. Lifestyle is what makes skin glow.

I work in skincare with dermatologists. Certain ingredients can make an enormous difference. Here are the ones I know of:

• tretinoin. The most effective retinoid and only available on prescription in the U.K. Is clinically proven over 40 years to work. Is expensive if you need to go and see a derm but is now available online via a consultation via brands such as Skin + Me and their new brand for midlife skin And Begin.
• spf. A must for the daytime. Factor 50+
• azalaic acid. The best acid I have used for skin texture. Available from the brands above.
• peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Great over the counter ingredients.
• other ingredients proven to repair DNA or enhance natural retinoic acid production such as Rejuve NAD or Novaretin

I mean each to their own and carry on using simple and soap and water but now I am hitting 50 I am making sure I keep up with the science. And it seems to be working.

I use sunscreen everyday, because studies have shown that UVA rays (which are present all year round, autumn and winter, rain or shine) are responsible for the vast majority of visible sun damage - i.e. premature skin ageing.

So I sort of see it as maintenance.

I think the whole world is obsessed with skincare and it's ridiculous. Just add this to your routine. Oh and this. And don't forget this.

Must have Christmas presents amongst my tween daughter and friends was expensive skincare brands which just saddens me.

This resonates.

@GreatBigYou, if you're happy with what you're doing, then continue. As someone with rosacea who would rather not wear make up much, I use quite a lot of different products and spend quite a lot of money. I daresay I could spend a lot less, but frankly, after years of scrimping and saving, I quite like being able to splurge on skincare.

I use:
Neutrogena smoothing face wash gel
Origins spot treatment on any blemishes (I'm 41 and still get actual zits during my period )
Caudalie physical scrub - I just bought this, after years of only using acids I decided I wanted to add this in instead of renewing the stingy acids!
Hada Labo hyaluronic acid lotion paired with a niacinimide and rose water spray - the HL has to be applied on damp skin and these two work nicely together. The spray was an impulse buy from TK Maxx, I'll just use water when it's used up
Kiehl's sunscreen during the day; Kiehl's sensitive retinol in the evening. I bloody love this stuff. Since I've been using it my skin as improved so much
If my skin is feeling like it needs a bit extra, I use some Smoom. It's a handmade, whipped cream made with (I think) shea butter. I love it.

I also like to use undereye patches and sheet masks, and when I'm feeling oily, I like a clay mask.

Basically, I enjoy taking care of my skin, it's not a burden or anything for me. I wouldn't recommend putting in all those steps if you're happy with what you're doing!

YesStyle is where I get all my Asian cosmetics and skincare. I like the Purito brand sunscreen, I have super sensitive eyes and western ones irritate - apart from the Kiehl's one which I will probably replace when it runs out. It's more expensive but much easier to source.

I work in skincare with dermatologists. Certain ingredients can make an enormous difference. Here are the ones I know of:

• tretinoin. The most effective retinoid and only available on prescription in the U.K. Is clinically proven over 40 years to work. Is expensive if you need to go and see a derm but is now available online via a consultation via brands such as Skin + Me and their new brand for midlife skin And Begin.
• spf. A must for the daytime. Factor 50+
• azalaic acid. The best acid I have used for skin texture. Available from the brands above.
• peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Great over the counter ingredients.
• other ingredients proven to repair DNA or enhance natural retinoic acid production such as Rejuve NAD or Novaretin

I mean each to their own and carry on using simple and soap and water but now I am hitting 50 I am making sure I keep up with the science. And it seems to be working.

I'm nearly 50 now and the biggest thing that shows in my face and those of my friends is the anger/sadness/happiness/contentment of their lives. I think if you can find a way to smile even when things are going badly then that is the way to get a good face in later life. I have not yet figured that out and it shows.

I saw a picture of Ian Hislop's wife online the other day and she has such a happy face. I think that is a great way to be at that sort of age. I'm certain people don't get it from having the right skin cream.

https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1342473/Ian-Hislop-wife-is-Ian-Hislop-still-married-Victoria-Hislop-Have-I-Got-News-for-You-BBC

Posters with DC who wear spf on their face everyday, do you apply it to your children everyday too? I just can't imagine having to pin them down every morning and afternoon for the twenty minutes of daylight they see in winter

I have my mother’s skin. I’m nearly 60, I use a Nivea magic bar every morning and evening and Nivea rose moisturiser once a day.

Years ago I used Anne French cleansing milk, loved it.

I am very lucky, my skin is soft and really quite wrinkle free.

No OP your face won't fall off, so an elaborate skincare regime is not strictly necessary but it really depends on your skin type/concerns/goals and environment.

Personally I love skin care and use multiple products on different days. BUT I have oily, acne prone skin and I live in the skin cancer capital of the world so slap on double layers of spf50 everyday.

A basic routine would include a cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen. This will keep your skin clean, healthy and protected so long as you don't have any other skin issues. Everyone is different do what works for you.

My 13 year old daughter applies factor 50+ spf every morning. I don’t have to ‘pin her down’. I just explained why it’s good for skin health.

Whatever works! 54 (just lol). For decades have not used cleanser, just steam cleaned face in shower then used Body Shop or Nivea spf moisturiser. Have occasionally used peel-off face packs, but only for the ASMR feeling lol. No regrets and no blemishes, especially since menopause :-)

You can get loads of face creams with SPF so that's an easy fix.

Evening: oil my makeup off, wash face, moisturise. Sometimes retinol, sometimes not
Day: wash retinol off if used. If not, apply a booster, moisturise with SPF, extra spf in summer. Repeat spf in day.

40, no wrinkles, no botox.

Always used skincare. My parents had loads of deep wrinkles at 40.

Its just part of the daily routine, just as body lotion is.