AIBU to think it’s ridiculous how much ‘extra stuff’ has been added to the average routine!

[TheGirlWhoLived]

So a decade ago I used to wipe off my make-up with a 3-in-1 wipe, pop on some cheap moisturiser and brush my teeth. That’s it, that was the extent of my night time routine.

Now I’m late 30’s and suddenly I brush, floss and use mouthwash. Apply a 7-step cleansing/toning/treatment/moisturising skincare plan, use bio oil and tightening creams, take various supplements (including biotin, turmeric, collagen, magnesium, apple cider vinegar, ashwaganda, cod liver oil, b12, k2, d3 ETC) - all before getting into bed.

This doesn’t even include the daytime additions of gut healthy seeds, low upf,7 fruit and veg, 10,000 steps, strength training, yoga for flexibility, fresh air, 30 different plants, kombucha, kefir and whatever else I’m meant to do to stave off illness, it’s exhausting!

Please tell me everyone’s routine has been embellished in the last decade or have I just been taken in by all this extra rubbish!?

You are being completely unreasonable to do all of that and take all of those supplements!

But then so am I, because I do the same 😩

Yanbu its too much

I'm just extremely impressed, OP... and more than a little ashamed that I can barely force myself to wash my face! I bet you look great!

I don't do any of this shit 😂. Never have

Just eat plenty of fruit & veg, meat/carb/dairy in moderation & plenty of water

Do you feel any better/healthier for it?

Completely agree

And you notice it’s mostly women doing all this, men are still on the old school version

So we’re either going to end up with women who look and feel 20 years younger than the same age men, or there won’t be much difference in the end and we’ll all have wasted our time and money

Neither of these is a great outcome tbh

I'm the same age as you and I (usually) wash my face, (always) brush and floss my teeth, use mouthwash, and then on the odd occasion that I remember (maybe twice a week) put some moisturiser on.
I genuinely think that the more stuff you put on the more your skin protests - obv aside from topical medication etc

Wash face with soap and water, brush teeth, Aldi night cream.

mid 40s and do not have a multi step face routine or take any supplements. I wear make up perhaps one day out of seven. Try to eat as much fruit and veg as I can, drink a shit load of water and exercise regularly. I use a nice facial SPF 50 and buy expensive cleanser and cheap moisturiser that get used intermittently. If it's not bringing joy, don't do it!

...and I don't really do any of the other stuff you mentioned, except for walk lots (don't have a car) and eat vegetables (lifelong veggie). Oh and kombucha because it's good for when you fancy an alcoholic drink but it's, for example, a Tuesday.

Of your list, I do think I should do yoga though and I've heard that core strength stuff will genuinely improve life as you age. Can't say I see most of the other stuff actually having much impact. Maybe I am lazy though.

I think I do about a tenth of your routine. I try to eat ok, stay active, etc but not so different from when I was young and I’m 50 now. I take a multivitamin and collagen though.

I wash my face with simple facial wash, put moisturiser on, sometimes serum and eye cream if I remember. My make up is similar too, albeit different brands.

people do talk about health a lot and there are always new trends like protein obsession. I can’t keep up tbh!

I have same routine as at 20s. But I have nicer stuff and more choices. That's it.
As in, I have more than 1 moisturiser and choose depending on what smell I fancy, if any, and how dry/not dry my skin is.
So more options tather than more steps.
Dh uses soap and waterand nothing else of course😂🙄 .....
I don't see fermented food and lots of veg and fruit, more raw ingredients than upf as special. I grew up with not much money in EE but with big garden....
Edit to add. I take supplment because I actually have deficiency and needed extra joint supprt on and off since childhood, so I thorw in cheao multivitamin for good measure

people do talk about health a lot and there are always new trends like protein obsession. I can’t keep up tbh!
I LOVE theprotein obsession. Why buy chicken skewers for few quid when one can spend double on chicken skwwers because they have how much protein it has on front of packaging😂

I wash at night with Aldi facial cleanser, apply a vitamin c and peptide serum, followed by cerave moisturiser.

In the morning it's Aldi facial cleanser in the shower, followed by cerave moisturiser and spf30 sunscreen.

In my 30s I used a moisturiser with spf30 daily after a gentle cleanser (can't remember which one).

Sunscreen is really, really important.

I just brush but use a sonic brush.
Supplements are creatine, collagen, saffron extract, fish oil, multivitamin
Face care is Skin and Me daily doser plus a moisturiser
If I go out I wear spf 50

Nah, I just piss, clean my teeth and go to bed. On the rare occasions I wear make up I take it off with a Simple wipe. One tub of Nivea lasts me at least 3 years. I look 10 years younger than my age - no brag, I’m not good looking at all, just genetically have always looked younger and still do at 50. All the creams, treatments, supplements etc are mainly for making you feel better, but if they’re not doing that then stop for a while and see if it makes any difference. But own your choice either way. No one’s making you do it. It’s your body and your time. I’d rather have longer in bed.

I just use soap and water. Bit of sunscreen.

Skin looks epic.

Only time it looked awful was when I tried using various fancy products

@TheGirlWhoLived do you think it makes a difference?

That seems like an awful lot

Obviously taking care of your teeth is basic hygiene

I am careful with my skin, but that means cleansing and moisturising
Not a seven step routine that seems far too much unless you actually enjoy it? I think taking collagen internally has been proven to be nonsense but if you feel it's making a difference great

Yes, I'm careful about what I eat and I put seeds on my porridge because I like them

You take all those supplements before bed? What for?

I think supplements can really help with particular problems, but did you actually have any problems before you started this big regime? I take vitamin D in winter. I'll take a multivitamin some days otherwise.

Taking some of those before bed seems strange aren't they supposed to give you energy?

I do gym and yoga too, because I like it but you're talking like you have to do it

If you don't want to do it, don't do it

There was me feeling smug for remembering my multivitamin two days in a row

we really need the laugh emoji on this thread

I mean you choose to do it so yes yabu

@Huckleberries ideally you are meant to take the supplements at different points, I think the acv is before a big meal and the magnesium before bed. Not sure any of them are particularly for energy, although the b12 is for a deficiency 🤷🏻‍♀️ usually that’s when I remember though, I’m probably peeing most of them out 😁

I do feel better in myself - clearer skin, rosaceas under control, losing weight, excellent gut health (👌🏼) and generally FEEL healthier because I’m doing healthier things IYSWIM. Sometimes I just long for the simpler days of just getting in to bed though. If it try that I do lie there, scrolling rubbish and feeling guilty… and the blue light is no good for you before bed either!

Why don't you do it earlier in the evening rather then just as you're wanting to get into bed

I have 3 dc ranging from 5-15… also I procrastinate a lot

@TheGirlWhoLived well if you were feeling better, and it does sound like you are having some issues, then that's great

I'm a bit baffled by seven step skin care routine though. I do know women who do more complicated routine than I do, but they enjoy it.

i'm amazed that people have enough time to get anything done with all this though! I can see it would help people wind down before bed, but that must take at least an hour of winding down before bed! Me, I just like to go to bed as I'm usually very tired, especially on a gym day.