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!?

I take more supplements now too, and I use interdental brushes, and a couple of extra products in my skincare routine. But, they’re all the result of either ageing, developing deficiencies, or being unexpectedly afflicted with a new condition. I don’t mind it, I need the additional maintenance although it’s not as extensive as yours.

7 steps sounds more extreme than it is in reality,

Make up melting balm
Cleanser
Toner
Azelaic acid
Nyacinamide
Moisturiser/Eye cream
Lip mask

Nothing wildly expensive, and doesn’t take a huge amount of time but it’s just very different to my own self 10 years ago

Gosh I am impressed OP! I have a quick shower or a bath, clean my teeth/floss go to bed. I take 1 vitamin tab a day with breakfast. But I don’t wear makeup or use face creams, nor do I take a load of supplements - plus they are expensive. I think life is as complicated as you make it!

Yeah mine has increased
I take a multi vitamin, iron, omega 3 and vitamin d in the morning with a glass of vitamin c fizzy stuff

interdental brushes and floss

somehow find myself thinking about fibre

I do skincare but I enjoy that bit. Flossing is made easier by watching YouTube while I do it!

I did this for a while and then couldn't maintain it so cut a lot of stuff out!
Now my face routine is senstive wash, serum, tretinoin, moisturiser.

My supplements are iron (morning, for energy), magnesium (night, for sleep).

That's much easier for me!

You should take vitamin d as well Oct - March

I did all that in my 10 years of IVF. Had the DDs, then chucked most of supplements except wellwoman max out, I try to get a walk every day, but I'm not that fussed any more if not, aim to eat around 1500 cal, and my skincare routine is neutrogena face wash and moisturiser. And guess what... nothing happened. Weight stable, blood pressure OK, blood tests within normal, save PCOS and my known autoimmune issue. I do think we get sold a lot of snake oil.

I wash my face once a day in the shower with the rest of my body with whatever shower gel is in there, wear sunscreen if it’s particularly sunny, take a multivitamin when I remember and brush and floss my teeth twice a day. That, vegetables and fresh air are about the only things I do from your very long list - my “routine” has been the same since I was a teenager 30+ years ago. I can’t be bothered with all the other faffing - I have sensory issues and so covering my skin in a dozen potions a day would be my idea of a nightmare.

I brush my teeth and use those little sticks. Wash my face in the shower once a day. Don't moisturise. Take vitamin d only. I do exercise. Don't think about i eat much but I'm a vegetarian so get plenty veg. That's about it.

I do teeth care and take Vitamins D that is it from your list I think

Me too.

I'm 50 and don't have a seven step routine. I take my make up off with wipes, use micellar water to get the rest off, and put moisturiser on. Today I wasn't wearing make up so just put moisturiser on after my shower this morning and didn't bother with anything this evening.

I've always done exericise and had to watch what I eat since I was 14 so that's nothing new either.

Another slacker here. I don't wear foundation (tinted moisturiser) but most of the time I am too knackered to cleanse so I just slap moisturiser on before bed (do give my teeth good scrub though).

I also buy vitamins but don't take them. Intention is there obviously.

I do drink a fair bit of water but like the a lot of others I can't see one iota of difference now than when I've gone through spells of using ridiculously expensive creams. Also find that toner totally dries my skin out.

I do all of that except the 7-step skin care routine (2 steps for me: tretinoin and moisturiser). Oh and I don’t floss every day, nor use mouthwash.

I actually enjoy it all, because I feel like I am taking care of myself and that builds self-esteem over time. When I put a scoop of collagen powder in my coffee in the morning, or add chia seeds when making porridge, I know it’s good for me and it’s genuinely a moment of micro-joy.

So my advice would be to reframe how you think about these habits, and see them as a form of self love (which they are).

I don't think you're supposed to use mouthwash after brushing your teeth though?

My understanding is that you should wait a minimum of 30 minutes.

Unless you are telling me that you spend half an hour moisturising and removing makeup?! 😳

I do some of this but pretty erratically. (Now 52)
skincare- def more than I ever did before- mornings I do eye cream, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen- evenings eye cream, retinol, face oil. Brush and floss twice a day.

I try to remember a multi vitamin but usually forget. Try to eat fruit and veg and protein but not as much as I should. Run maybe 1-2 x per week and strength train same but often skip. Not nearly as much as I should. I do think it works tho- people I know def look way younger at 50 than they did in my mums generation

You don't have to do any of that stuff except floss and brush teeth. My routine is floss, brush teeth, wash face with water and go to bed, enjoying all that lovely extra time I have to read my book because I don't waste it on 7 step skincare routines or other such nonsense.

I use mouthwash before brushing - floss, rinse with mouthwash, then brush.

Wait until you are older and you can add stuffing some HRT up your bits to aid your
genitourinary system as well 😂

My routine has stayed the same I've just upgraded the products over the years . Face wash is now a cleansing balm, cheap serum is now clarins double serum face and the eye one,moisturiser is nuxe face balm. I do a diy facial at home every other weekend with origins masks and thats it

When do you have time for everything else in life?

I started a skincare routine a month ago after being sick of looking at my grey skin. It has markedly improved. I've gone from only cleansing if I had make up on, to cleaning with Cetaphil SA cleanser, vit C serum and cerave night cream with peptides.

Then cleansing in the morning. It is astonishing how much better I look. So yes I think it works!

Op. I take probitoic, vitD/K2, fexofenadine every morning and then magnesium/Fexofenadine at night. Plus a lot of water.

All the seeds known to man. All the fruit and veg. I really really struggle with protein because I find it so tiring to eat all the time. Like I just can't get excited about protein again by the end of the day. So that tends to be front loaded in breakfast and lunch.

Also weights every other morning. I don't get all the steps but that's OK, I get some and I exercise. Plus yoga once a week on a Sunday when everyone is still asleep.

Plus a gazillion physio exercises for plantar fascitis, keeping my knees and hips strong.

DH watches TV, goes to bed. 😂

Oh yes and also lots and lots of kefir with my seeds!

Just remember how many people have jobs thanks to the products you buy.

Not everyone gets a Vit D deficiency in the winter.