Well, some of the more expensive face creams now have chemicals in them which 'give the appearance of vanishing fine lines' because the chemicals are like acid, they break down fatty deposits on the face. I think it's Retinol. I don't want that stuff on my skin.
I remember that feeling of Anne French cleanser on my teenage skin, thinking, this hurts! so it must be doing me good. My skin was so stripped of oils it shone like a supernova. But with it came patchy redness, flare ups, and psoriasis around my hairline. The psoriasis stopped completely once I stopped using skincare products.
Chemistry websites are better places to research skin care ingredients than the skincare manufacturers themselves.
My gran had velvety powdery clear skin and all she ever used was soap and water, and Atrixo cream if her face was too dry in winter. They weren't indoctrinated into buying products to make themselves less ugly, like our generations are.
I think if you notice a lot of older generations' facial skin (you'd have to be a bus person like me to sit near enough behind them to notice!) you'll see they mostly all have beautiful soft skin.
I stopped using products like cleansers and toners a few years ago and stuck to plain soap and water, but I do need a moisturiser.
If I had the wherewithal I'd even like to potion up some natural moisturisers like honey and a carrier oil or some such.
I'm convinced that the less chemicals we put on our skin the better.