Minimal skincare routine

[dayslikethese1]

I am trying to cut way back on products as I have been too swayed by various marketing claims and most products seem to do next to nothing. I also want to save money and space and cut back on packaging by having less things.

Has anyone managed to find a minimal skincare routine that works? Which brands do you like? I am so confused with all the millions of skincare things these days I want to strip it right back. I am thinking cleanser, moisturiser and SPF is probably all I really need (what do people think)?

I am 32 and have normal (ish) skin with some redness and occasional dry patches, large pores on cheeks and forehead and oily forehead if that helps (maybe that's more combination?)

Someone help me, I'm fed up of being told I need 30 different products! There has to be a simpler way, if I could find a few products that work well for that would be so much better.

Cleanser, moisturiser and SPF is all you need, and it's important to get these right. There are other things that can help, but there best added once you have the fundamentals down.

What products do you currently have?

I have a cleansing balm and a daily moisturiser which has SPF in. I also have a richer nightime one. I have a clay mask that I do occasionally when I feel like I need some extra help. I have micellar water for when I need to remove make-up. I also have toner though I barely use it and still don't really understand what it does. All my products are Lidl/Superdrug own brand as that is my budget mainly though I might be persuaded to spend a bit more on a moisturiser for example if it was extra good (hard to tell beforehand is the problem).

I think I maybe just need to cut out everything extra from my bathroom that's not really working for me and stick to a few. I have tried a few other bits like glycolic peels and so on and they don't seem to help anything (was trying to fix my giant pores but didn't seem to help). Skincare seems so complicated now (what are all these different serums?!) and I always think I'll have time to sort it out but the reality is I have no patience for long routines.

I used to use more products but ruined my skin using Alpha H Liquid Gold. It seemed to totally disrupt the surface of my skin and took months to settle.

I have finally settled on using Cetaphil to remove makeup and cleanse followed by Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. That's it. Occasionally I use Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Cleanser as a mask but I've used that for years and I know it suits my skin. I'm very wary of new products now.

I’ve just had to do exactly the same and cut down on products as my skin was a mess. The more steps I added the worse it got. I’m using the Sukin range from boots/Holland and Barrett and what a difference in just a week. I oil cleanse using sweet almond oil then use Sukin charcoal face wash and toner then either the day or night cream. I also use the biore water spf 50 stuff that was recommended on here which is fab. I was using Pixi glow, all sorts of potions from the ordinary and some booster serums from Superdrug. My skin is nice and glows now after a week of going back to basics xx

I have spent a FORTUNE on skin care over the years,probably running into thousands

Best thing ever is CeraVe hydrating wash and cream in a tube. It's miraculous stuff. I bang on about it all the time. I'm convinced all the other stuff had stripped back my skin barrier as I had rosacea and dry skin and these days my skin has completely changed and is just 'normal.'

I've scaled back hugely recently. I used to be a total skincare obsessive and used all sorts of 'active' ingredients- retinol, glycolic, vitamin c etc. I realised it was all really irritating my skin which is not too bad but quite hormonally reactive.

I reluctantly went down to garnier micellar water to remove majority of make up followed by cerave cleansing gel and a flannel in the evening and just a wet flannel in the morning. To moisturise I only use a touch of la Roche posay toleraine light. After a couple of weeks my skin calmed right down and now looks the best it has in a long time and I'm saving a fortune without all the lotions and potions!

Make up is more minimal as a result too- bare minerals tinted moisturiser which has spf with a touch of nars concealer as required. x

Same, I’m trying to stick to a few products and keep it all quite simple. I double cleanse at night followed by the Boots N7 serum and a Sukin moisturiser. Quick wash with just water in the morning, followed by the H&B hyaluronic and vit c serum and then an SPF50 with some tinted BB cream mixed in. No need for foundation as that little bit of coverage seems enough. But I think it takes about a month to see how your skin really reacts to a product so who knows, maybe this is doing nothing for me.

I am tempted to try Cerave but my skin loves Liz Earle cleanse and polish and that removes eye make up also and its just one step with a moisturiser afterwards.

CeraVe wash is just one step and will do eye make up too.

CeraVe hydrating face wash is my holy grail too! Although the CeraVe fomaing wash is recommended for oily skin.

To the OP, I would skip the toner, masks and acids

Toners are unnecessary, could be irritating and/or drying if it contains fragrance or alcohol. Clay masks are drying. Acids can be irritating. Once the redness is reduced, maybe consider a gentler alternative to glycolic acid such as The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA.

My skincare routine is extremely minimal because I am just too lazy for anything else. It seems to work though - my skin is currently the best it's ever been, and I've battled acne, eczema, dry, flaky patches and a bunch of other stuff over the years.

I wash using cetaphil (which I know has its haters, but works well for me), and I moisturise with Avene Hydrance UV Riche (which is SPF 30) That's it.

That's interesting so many mention Cerave. I've heard good things about them previously as well so may try their face wash when I need a new one. I do like experimenting with new things sometimes but want to avoid irritation. I'm still unsure about this AHA/BHA thing. I seem to be getting some kind of early 30s teenage skin thing going on a bit atm so thought perhaps a BHA might help.

I use simple face wash (£3) followed by a good dollop of doublebase or e45 .
Am 50'this year and love my skin .

Those who use the Cerave hydrating cleanser, does it get all makeup off without a cloth/cotton wool? I'm trying to ditch my cotton wool habit and would appreciate if anyone can clarify.

I just smoosh some soapy water over my face in the bath..

Occasionally might swipe a bit of fancy facial over it if I can be bothered!

• facial oil

Those who use the Cerave hydrating cleanser, does it get all makeup off without a cloth/cotton wool? I'm trying to ditch my cotton wool habit and would appreciate if anyone can clarify

You'd have to use a face cloth if not cotton wool although I can't imagine that ,how else would you remove it?

I find that CeraVe works just using my hands like any face wash, with care to be gentle around the eyes, although I don't use a lot of make-up just tinted moisturiser, mascara and brow gel. I've tested my skin afterwards with a wipe and it was clean.

If I do a full makeup I'll use eye makeup remover and a cotton pad and/or a cleansing wipe beforehand.

Every day's a school day I had no idea people used a face wash with just hands and rinsing! When people say they use face washes I just always presumed they removed them with a flannel/muslin.

I use CeraVe hydrating wash with just my hands... I'm too lazy to be washing muslins and flannels all the time it works fine - just splash water and gently rub. It gets rid of my (minimal, non waterproof) makeup and I don't think there's any residue.

Well, what does "works" mean to you? A routine that makes you clean? Just wash with soap and water :)

@Popuppippa I swear blind alpha H liquid gold gave me rosacea! The skin around my temples has been sensitised ever since I used it 2-3 years ago!

OP I’ve found Superdrug simply pure hydrating serum really helpful, plus cerave SA wash. I definitely have better skin when keeping it simple (and avoiding dairy)

My face would fall off if I used soap on my face

I have rosacea if I don’t keep my skin in check. It’s dry and sensitive. I have completely stripped back products and my skin is the best it’s been in 20 years.
Daytime:
Avene anti redness cream with spf
Night:
Avene extremely gentle cleanser
Almond oil (ktc normally 99p for a massive bottle)
Done
It’s probably not great for anti ageing as no peels/retinoids but it keeps my skin calm and pretty hydrated.