How many skincare products do you use?

[GingerbreadBaubles]

I just counted mine
2 cleansers
Toner
Acid toner
Serum
Moisturiser am
Moisturiser pm
Liquid gold
Plus a mask twice a week...

I cannot be the only one to have so many products?!

Do you have good skin Jane ? Cos my pet theory is that too much crap on your face just upsetsits natural balance. It's all pseudoscience bollocks imho.

Tinkly, I also eat well, drink minimal booze, stay out of the sun and wear SPF daily. The use of beauty products and a sensible approach to healthy living are not mutually exclusive.

jane you just add\ use one item at a time in addition to your normal routine, and this way you don't really spend much time in front of the mirror IYSWIM. Plus you try different products and use ones that fit your routine. I like to use creams with SPF in case I forget Suncream, which I often do with a little one opening everything in sight. Plus things that double up help too: in shower cleanser that is also a facial mask if left on for longer.

jane

My skin is relatively ok cos I don't put any crap on it. Use Simple wipes when needed and that's it!

Sorry tea don't even do one product on a regular basis cos i'd sooner stay in bed an extra minute!

Sleep is really good for your skin though

Lidl hand soap or bar soap, then Nivea original at night or Nivea Soft during the day. Skin is absolutely fine.

I keep seeing acid toner mentioned. What is the big deal with it? I CBA with toner and use a hot cloth cleanser then a face wash if I have been wearing make up. If I haven't worn make up I just use a face wash.
I also moisturise morning and evening.

Couldn't care less if people want to use nothing but I object to being told I put crap on my face
I had bad skin, acne and cystic spots. Routine takes maybe 5 mins am, 5 mins pm and I have happy skin

No 7 eye make up remover
Micellar water
Murad anti redness serum
Pore refining moisturiser
Cleanser with saly wotsit acid in the shower.

Only really had a "skincare regime" for a year, and had very damaged skin which I thought was beyond hope, but my goodness it's made a difference.

Good My boy had problems with his skin. He got a prescription from the doctor that worked wonders. No I wouldn't call that crap.

But lots of people pay good money for stuff that dries their faces out, then more money for stuff to put the moisture back in. Some of the lists of products on here are just ludicrous.

Anyway, I hope your skin settles down soon.

It's fine now. What I use works. I like beauty products, I love makeup and perfumes and lotions
Doesn't do my skin any harm

Current skin photo

How do I justify the time?

The same way I justify reading, watching TV, having a nap etc. I enjoy it.

It takes no more than 10 minutes. In the morning I wash my face and do the rest of the steps while doing other things. In the evening washing my face twice and applying retin takes minutes. What do you suggest I do in that time instead first thing in the morning and last thing at night which is so much more justifiable?

I have acne and I have only had one bad cystic spot since doing my new routine. I have never felt better. Antibiotics and spot treatments didn't do much, this new routine is.

My skin was really really bad when I didn't put 'crap' on it. It is much better now I put 'crap' on it.

Your skin looks amazing good I have too many scars to ever look that good.

Everyone's skin is different. Some people do well with a minimal routine and some don't. I don't. My skin has improved ten fold since discovering CH and proper routines. I enjoy doing my routine in the morning and evening. I like trying out new products. Like a PP said, some treat it as a hobby. It's where I spend my "me" money.

To be frank, the idea of a quick wipe and some Nivea blue pot or whatever makes me shudder, mostly because you are not actually cleaning your face. You wouldn't just give the rest of your body a quick wipe and never actually wash, would you? I don't normally verbalise these thoughts because I think "each to their own", but I agree with PPs that I get a bit pissed off when people get judgy with those who like to spend time on their faces. If you don't need to, great, but some of us do!

Face gets 'washed' when I wash my hair ....and conditioned!

I've done soap and water routine (it helped to heal my perioral exzema without antibiotics and also helped me to get rid of adult acne), pharmacy skincare, and now in the past month a longer routine that involves acid pads as chemical exfoliants and quite a few different Korean products to boost hydration.

Soap & water were enough for okay skin and keeping acne and perioral at bay. Basic maintenance, if you will. But I've always struggled with how to stay hydrated without getting breakouts. Blue pot Nivea gives me spots, and so does hair conditioner.

Next, pharmacy products. Eucerin and La Roche Posay Effaclar products helped me further against my battle with acne. Not every product was a star performer but I love Eucerin 5% urea and Aquaphor and Effaclar AI and K. These helped me to prevent breakouts and flaking dryness. I also liked various zinc creams (Fissan, Cicaplast Baume B5), they helped to heal raw skin. And Bioderma Sensibio micellar water has helped to keep my skin clean and breakout free.

Finally, the complicated extra steps - glycolic acid, salicylates, gel-like creams, sheet and sleeping masks - have given me an amazing glow and have made me super happy with my skin. I used to have problem skin but I get compliments now!

I can fully understand that someone sees skincare as redundant and frivolous. I used to too However, probably the most important skincare step is sunscreen, so even if you are a soap and water girl, slap on some!

I use absolutely tons! I used to think my beauty regime was basic but I recently counted it all up and listed it for one of my blog posts, and I spend £260.00 a month on beauty! (includes trips to the hairdresser though).

There seems to be a cream for every part of the body/time of day/season. I was a bit shocked. My routine includes:

Clarins Cleanser
2 Clarins toners (one reviving, one normal)
Eye cream from Number 7
Day cream (Caudalie SPF20 at the moment)
Night Cream - Clarins
Intensive Night cream - Elizabeth Arden
Clarins Facial Oil
Clarins Double Serum
Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
Body lotion - Korres
Exfoliator - Espa
2 Masks - one Nuxe, one Number 7

I think that's it...

X

Annabella

I went for a (very pricey, non-brand) facial yesterday and the therapist told me I use too many products, and chop and change too much (all those samples...). Only thing I seem to be doing right is avoiding mineral oil and alcohol in products. She said cleanse, moisturise and SPF in the morning, gentle scrub cleanse, gentle retinol (I'm early 40s) and moisturise at night are all I need. Came home and looked at my bathroom cabinet feeling horrified at all the stuff I still have to use up....

minimuffin Do you think she meant too many products for you specifically, or was her general approach quite less is more?

I think she meant both. She said we are bombarded with so much conflicting information about our skin that is actually quite complicated even for her as a skincare specialist to grapple with, that consumers get confused. I have sensitive skin and she said I'm chucking too much at it. I need to pick products I like (not necessarily from same range) and then stick to them for a while so that they can work rather than swapping around. Makes some sense - much as I love Caroline Hirons blog, her thing of using different products daily depending how your skin feels has never felt right, instinctively, for me. So even though I use a lot of stuff, I use e.g. the same cleanser and toner every night until the bottle has run out, then I change brands. All v confusing. Going to try Pai skincare once my current stuff has run out - all very gentle and good for rosacea apparently.

If you're sensitive I think that's good advice. I guess the nice thing about an independent facialist is that they're under no obligation to flog a lot of products. Skin care is different for everyone. Whatever works for you.

I wear make-up on non-work days.

I have 2-3 wash off cleansers for in the shower ( A Soap& Glory, a Superdrug one and a GoodThings one)

Moisturisers - Gatineau, Aldi, Boots No7.
Serum- Philosophy in the brown bottle
A couple of gels (SBC) Vit E , Vit C, Collagen
Eye serum (Boots Time Delay in a rolly ball tube, an eye gel from my Boots Advent calender which I like and will buy ful size)

Philosophy Purity, Good Things manuka to cleanse off make-up
No7 eyemake up remover or Drama Clean
Micellar water (Soap and Glory) for no make-up days

No particular pattern to what I use, more a "Hmmm, my skin needs......" choice

I'm 49 next month, no skin issues, only a few crows feet when I smile.

Someone thought I was late 20s t'other day (might just be overkind or might just need to go to that well known opticians on the highstreet)