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.

I massage coconut oil on my face to remove makeup then wipe with a damp facecloth. I then use a thin layer of coconut oil to moisturise.
That’s it!
My t-zone is no longer oily and my skin looks hydrated and balanced.

I’m convinced using oils is the best thing for all skin types. Most skin products seem to strip natural oil away.

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 don't use flannels and cloths mostly because of concerns about bacteria and spots if you're not using a fresh one each day (I always wash my hands with soap before washing my face). Unless your gentle there can also be a pull to using a cloth.

I do take my time gently massaging the face wash onto my skin, then add a bit of water and massage, and then rinse. Rather then just apply and rinse. Around my eyes I use just middle fingers as they are gentlest.

I suppose it's because I would never wash my face in the shower as I only use tepid water. I have stacks of clean soft fleece flannels and put them in the wash after every use.

I wash my face once per day in the mornings with a bar of coal tar soap, using my hands. I moisturise with Boots face sun protector afterwards.

I very occasionally wear foundation which I remove with Simple micellar water at night (though I'm totally unconvinced about the benefits of this at all but it gets my foundation off alright).

That's all.

I also cut right back on diary

My skin has never looked so good since I was about 11.

@500BusStops

I had EXACTLY the same reaction to it. Flaking red rosacea on my cheeks and forehead for about 12 months. I posted on here about it asking for help with foundations to cover it.

I tried everything to clear it - La Roche Posay, Paulas Choice, assorted serums plus £££ spent on primers, foundations, CC creams. It was definitely caused by the Alpha H - I think it completely stripped the acid mantle from my skin. It was so sensitive and fragile when previously it had been strong and clear.

I did 2 weeks of Soolantra and switched to Cetaphil and I am back to having great skin again. Just a great deal poorer

I'm feeling this! I feel like by trying to buy so many cheap products I've ended up spending the same as I would have done on one decent thing that worked.

I am blackhead heavy and also have a really dry forehead so I'm probably going to need a few different things. I used that terrible garnier charcoal mask thing that was terrible - waste of money.

I'm looking at using some inner senses products - anyone got any experience with this brand?

Morning:
Sometimes wash face with water
The Ordinary moisturiser

Night:
The Ordinary cleanser
The Ordinary moisturiser
The Ordinary rose hip oil

Never do my forehead other than with cleanser, as it gets greasy easily if I use other products on it.
I have a fringe so I don't use makeup on it either, I just leave it be mostly.
My skin is super soft and i can definitely tell the difference from before I was using this.
I wear makeup, and before doing this skincare routine, I would have outbreaks everyday.
Now, my makeup doesn't affect my skin and I'm finding I actually wear less as I'm more confident due to no spots, and also less coverage needed.

It's so simple I have no excuse not to do it

Forgot to mention, it's not expensive at all either.

@jennie0412

Morning: Sometimes wash face with water The Ordinary moisturiser

Night:
The Ordinary cleanser
The Ordinary moisturiser
The Ordinary rose hip oil

Never do my forehead other than with cleanser, as it gets greasy easily if I use other products on it.
I have a fringe so I don't use makeup on it either, I just leave it be mostly.
My skin is super soft and i can definitely tell the difference from before I was using this.
I wear makeup, and before doing this skincare routine, I would have outbreaks everyday.
Now, my makeup doesn't affect my skin and I'm finding I actually wear less as I'm more confident due to no spots, and also less coverage needed.

It's so simple I have no excuse not to do it

@jennie0412 what brands do you use? I was looking at some inner senses stuff (innersenses.co.uk/collections/face-oils-1) but wasn't sure if they were the product types you were discussing? What does Face Oil do differently do moisturiser?

@jennie0412

Morning: Sometimes wash face with water The Ordinary moisturiser

Night:
The Ordinary cleanser
The Ordinary moisturiser
The Ordinary rose hip oil

Never do my forehead other than with cleanser, as it gets greasy easily if I use other products on it.
I have a fringe so I don't use makeup on it either, I just leave it be mostly.
My skin is super soft and i can definitely tell the difference from before I was using this.
I wear makeup, and before doing this skincare routine, I would have outbreaks everyday.
Now, my makeup doesn't affect my skin and I'm finding I actually wear less as I'm more confident due to no spots, and also less coverage needed.

It's so simple I have no excuse not to do it

@jennie0412 what brands do you use? I was looking at some inner senses stuff ( innersenses.co.uk/collections/face-oils-1 ) but wasn't sure if they were the product types you were discussing? What does Face Oil do differently do moisturiser?

@OneDayAtATime1305 I use the brand The Ordinary, they're really good, highly recommend! (www.beautybay.com/l/theordinary/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqYX6hI6j7QIVRhN7Ch1brA2aEAAYASAAEgJcS_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)

Rose hip oil just helps hydrate my skin and even out my skin tone, it doesn't sound like a huge thing but it really makes a big difference!

@jennie0412 I'll check it out - thank you!!

Cetaphil lotion works well for my combination skin and the Lrp toleriane cleanser. I am trying out retinol (TO) but using it once in 2/3 days as I do find it drying afterwards , skin feels right the next morning. I also mix drops of rosehip oil with my lotion at night. I do need to cut caffeine haven't managed to do that especially in winter.

Whatever you do, sunscreen is non negotiable

Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser
Pai Echium and Argan Gentle Eye Cream
Every so often Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant.
That’s it.

I have sensitive/oily type skin. My dermatologist recommends Keep it Simple and truly my skin has never been better! Cheap too

"Every day's a school daygrin I had no idea people used a face wash with just hands and rinsing!"

Really? You don't use a cloth to wash your hands do you?
I use a mitt in the shower, but if I'm at the gym or something I'm happy to just use my hands and shower gel.

@sofiaaaaaa

Whatever you do, sunscreen is non negotiable

What if you don't go out and don't sit by the window? (yes, my lockdown life is miserable).

I think if you don't use actives like acids and your job is indoors, then you're fine in the wintertime without it.

I work indoors and wear a mask all day so don't use SPF.

But in the summer I tend to wear it anyway, just because I don't want to get any pigmentation on the commute!

At the moment my routine is ridiculously short.

I literally take my make up off with Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm and a flannel, and slap on some CeraVe Cream.

Have an enormous pot of the CeraVe and it's definitely my best discovery of 2020. I have Nivea Soft as well but I actually prefer the CeraVe, it's absolutely LUSH.