AIBU to feel overwhelmed by skincare routines becoming another pressure?

[GimmieABreakOr3]

I’m mid 30s - plastered all over my social media (Instagram & Facebook) seems to be a bombardment of 10 step skincare routines, everyone going on about what products they’re using, glass skin, Korean skincare, this serum, that serum, snail mucin, glycolic pads, salicylic pads, this moisturiser, that spf…

I just feel like it’s become another obsession for girls and women to fixate and obsess over. Do others agree?! If it’s not our weight, it’s how our pores, lines, skin texture. Enough already.

Surely anyone talking about their skincare regime is an influencer? No one is just wanging on about their skincare on line for free (please lord)?

I just ignore it all.

My face gets washed, Weleda moisturiser and suncream in the daytime. That's it. Better things to do with my time.

I absolutely love skincare and makeup and really enjoy both. But I don’t follow people I don’t know, so certainly not influencers being paid to promote lengthy routines.

in my 40s absolutely love skin care always have, my algorithm is full of this type of content. My mum always has looked after her skin, passed onto me and me to my daughter. Skincare doesn’t have to be expensive or a 10 step routine. I look after every part of my body including my skin. I love nothing more than the beauty board on here, likeminded women giving hints, tips & recommendations. OP don’t be overwhelmed by it, embrace it and just look at it as an extension of all the other good stuff you do to look after yourself 😊

Your OP doesn't make it sound obvious. You asked "AIBU to feel overwhelmed by skincare routines becoming another pressure?". That certainly sounds like you personally felt overwhelmed and pressured by seeing all these videos and an expectation to conform.

Personal responsibility is sorely lacking these days in so many people. The whole idea that we have choices and free will, and we can make our own decisions - none of this is revolutionary.

Whilst this is true, it’s still personal choice made by accepting personal responsibility for what we choose to buy.

Women and girls aren’t brainless robots.

Get a grip OP - advertising is not new. You're not obliged to buy anything.

Again, you’re missing the point. It was an observation I’d made….

Read Girls by Freya India. And delete Instagram.

It takes ten minutes max and makes your skin so much healthier.

Tbf, that was an AI generated title as I didn’t know what to put as a subject.

I notice not only influencers talking about their skincare, but quite a lot of ordinary every day folk. It was really just an observation I’d made online - another trend - commenting on pressures and fixations of girls and women. I just found it interesting and wanted to know what other people thought. I quite like skincare and looking after myself, but I literally have 3 or 4 products that I use, and I’m happy. Meanwhile, I see lots of people getting treatments and talking about their multi step routines.

I'm exactly the same. Just ignore all the shite. I do zero skin care. Look fine. I have been thinking of introducing a moisturiser but in reality I'm not sure if I can be arsed. So it's very easy to opt out.

I completely disagree. I don't do any of that and I don't look rubbish. Most people don't look better for having artificial bits glued to various parts of themselves, and other bits frozen.

She looks like she's clingfilmed herself.

Meanwhile, I see lots of people getting treatments and talking about their multi step routines.

Which they’re perfectly at liberty to do and enjoy.

Different choices 🤷‍♀️

This has turned into a bit of a pile on hasn't it?

I think your title makes it sounds like it is causing you MH issues which is why you are getting the responses you are getting.

That is the justification for snotty responses?! Very few people have given kind or caring posts regarding the OPs mental health. Most posts have the "stop being so silly" tone. Excellent if someone were to have poor mental health.

Not that is the case. The OP has repeated that she meant it as a talking point.

Anyway, i agree with the OP. It has entered the general consciousness in a way that some (not all obviously because we have different brains) will feel lacking and that they don't match up.

I saw an ad by a pharmacy skincare range aimed at early teens. The ad suggests multi-step skincare to improve self-esteem and take control of your world. These are old-fashioned bilboard ads. God knows what is on the kids social media.

Well. SPF yes. Hydration, well, I'm dubious about this too. Very very poor science behind all the focus on drinking litres of water every day. Drink if you're thirsty. Don't bother if you're not. Unless you are elderly or have a condition, that's all you need re hydration, thirst. It's a myth that you are already dehydrated if you are thirsty. You get most of your fluids from food. Tea and coffee is fine too.

I agree, it's everywhere!

I wash my face in the shower with the shampoo that drips on my face and that's it 🙈

I don't think anyone is reading your replies. They're just responding to the stupid AI title. That box is a menace.

The OP has repeated that she meant it as a talking point.

And we’re talking 🤷‍♀️

Disagreeing doesn’t mean piling on.

Thank you. I am not sure why people feel the need to pile on. To be perfectly honest, it’s not the first time I have experienced this on Mumsnet, and judging by people’s posts, it seems really sad that most of this is coming from 40-60 year old women!

People love getting on their high horse on this site, don’t they?

True 🙈 I shan’t use it again!

See, I’ve even read that too much tea and coffee is bad for hydration.

Yes agreed, but that’s something we cannot change