Do we really need all the skincare products professionals claim we need?

[ChampagneWorries]

I hate my skin. I have dark circles, lines round the eyes when i smile, spot issues etc…

So i have had numerous facials by a beautician who looked at my face and told me what my skin needs.

So the conclusion is I’m to …

• Pre Cleanse
• Cleanse
• Use a daily exfoliant
• Apply anti aging eye cream
• Toner
• Serum
• Moisturiser

All of the above twice a day. These are what a Dermalogica skin trained beautician as advised. All the products above are around £60 each.

I still get spots, redness, blemishes etc.

So i decided i would try an even more premium brand La Mer…

So i bought their cleanser - too harsh
Used their lifting contour serum (it was fine but i still got spots) its also really expensive
Used their eye cream that claimed to reduce dark circles - i didn't notice a difference.
Bought the creme la mer and soft moisturising cream ( they take a while to sink in)

I still have spots, blemishes, marks on my face etc..

So now i have bought La. Prairie Skin Cavier White eye and face cream.

This claims to reduce redness, dark circles, blemishes the lot…

Now i ve been using this a week and now i have sore areas on my face and my skin feels tight. Its extremely heavily fragranced.

Im 33, yet people often think im around 37. Dark circles run in the family.

My mum is very obsessed with not looking old and is always comparing herself to people her own age who she feels look alot older than they are. This obsession with not looking your age has really rubbed off on me over the years.

So do you all use toners, serums etc every day?

Im thinking of just using a cleaner and then moisturiser and thats it, will i regret it in years to come?

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

NotMyCat I've had a look at their website (code MVC gets your first monty free just pay £3.50 delivery, if anyone is looking too) and done their consultation however it's taking me straight to payment details before showing me their recommendation ... is that normal? Feels odd especially as it's a monthly thing.

Yes that's right, you can cancel/pause/skip very easily though I've been using it for over a year now and the change in my skin is ridiculous

I have a friend that founded a very prestigious skin care brand abroad. Obviously he recommends his regime, but it is based around spf. He told me that even if someone couldn’t justify the major expense of his stuff, cleanse thoroughly at night, and use spf, at least 50 every day. But even he says genes play a huge part.

Definitely agree with genes. My dad washes his face with whatever is nearby (head snd shoulders, shower gel, swarfega...) and puts moisturiser on if his skin is flaky (literally anything from Vaseline to foot cream)
I think he wore SPF in 1979...
he's 70, and looks around 50

@NotMyCat

Definitely agree with genes. My dad washes his face with whatever is nearby (head snd shoulders, shower gel, swarfega...) and puts moisturiser on if his skin is flaky (literally anything from Vaseline to foot cream) I think he wore SPF in 1979... he's 70, and looks around 50

Swarfega! I know that one too.

My dad used to use Persil in his bath. He too looked about 20 years younger than his age. Do you think they were on to something?

I don't know but I only use Vaseline non-greasy body lotions (I use it on face & hands too) and have smaĺl tubes of hand cream in my handbags & cars for easy availability.
I don't use anything else, no make up, nothing.

I'm 51 with pretty good skin.

I cleanse at night only. Vit C cleanser
I put moisturiser on in the morning - currently a face theory retinol one. Then a spf moisturiser.

At night I use a face oil, that I make myself. And a rose leave on face mask twice a week.
I did v little when I was younger.
It's mostly genes I think. My mum had great skin.

Thanks Cat. I'll have a ponder.

Also loving washing face with Persil

The only things you need to do are
SPF
Don’t smoke
Limit sugar
Acid tone.

I like Dermalogica, I use the Age Smart range. Buy Salon Size on ebay and save a bomb. Acid tone with this its transformed my skin P50 biologiquerechercheuk.co.uk/

@Feedingthebirds1 they might be!
He is very "face is a bit grubby" < looks under sink > "ah ha, this says removes dirt"
Er dad, that's fairy liquid, maybe not eh?

Do we really need all the skincare products professionals claim we need?

No, we don't.

It's the professionals' job to persuade us to buy the stuff, so of course they are going to say we need it all, and the more expensive the better.

I've always thought toners were bullshit. Some do smell and look nice in their bottles, but turns out you don't need them.

I think serums are absolute bullshit, too.

You don't need seven steps. Rest your skin. Drink water. Nivea blue tin is as much of a faff as Creme de la Mer to apply, works better, and a tiny fraction of the price.

Dark circles around the eyes are usually caused by not getting enough sleep.

I stopped using virtually all products when pregnant and my skin had never been better. I wash with water (20-30 seconds in the shower spent on my face) and towel dry gently to exfoliate. No moisturiser. If I wear make-up (occasionally) I clean with that micellar water stuff and put on an oil based serum and then have spots for a few days because my skin is pissed off with me

I have always been complimented on my skin and thought to be years younger than I am. I'm 50 in a couple of weeks.

Drink water. Drink more water after drinking alcohol. Eat a variety of fruit and vegetables and aim for the 10 a day. Good SPF if you're going to be out in the sun for more than a few minutes but make sure your skin can make Vit D too

So if by 'professional' you mean a nurse or doctor says 'use this on your skin for xx days' then I would follow that professional advice. If by 'professional' you mean someone without a health care or otherwise related to skin degree, who is professional by dint of making loads of money off of flogging the same few chemicals as everyone else in their pretty packaging - then no. Work out the minimum products you need and the minimum you can spend to feel happy with things (for instance I use a premium serum that seems to work better than cheaper brands and do not begrudge the price).

I use the following

AM
Simple age defy Face wash
Simple Protect 'N' Glow Radiance Booster SPF30
Cetaphil spf moisturiser

PM
Simple age defy face wash
Decleor rose damascene micellar water
Decleor rose damascene serum
Decleor rose damascene night balm

I have psoriasis on my face and very dry skin and it’s never been better than when using the above.

I’ve tried things for dark circles but nothing works.

@milkyaqua

I've always thought toners were bullshit. Some do smell and look nice in their bottles, but turns out you don't need them.

I think serums are absolute bullshit, too.

You don't need seven steps. Rest your skin. Drink water. Nivea blue tin is as much of a faff as Creme de la Mer to apply, works better, and a tiny fraction of the price.

This is what I mean by scornful.

I never wear make up, I drink plenty of water, eat fruit and veg AND exercise.

None of that will prevent my skin getting spotty at certain points in my cycle whereas a salicylic acid WILL help prevent them, and lessen their appearance.

It’s not all bullshit if you have the correct ingredients for your concerns.

It’s not all bullshit if you have the correct ingredients for your concerns.

Yes, but the question is what level of concerns really require fancy products and what proportion of women with no major skin concerns or with mild skin concerns are actually genuinely benefitting from the shedloads of money they're spending on fancy products? And what proportion of expensive skin care products really have ingredients which make a difference to genuine skin problems, rather than just having a posh brand name, pretty packaging, a nice smell and celebrity ambassadors?

My skin is down to hormones and no matter how much water, sleep or good food I get it doesn’t help because acne is hormonal. I use dermalogica and nip and fab salicylic acid range. I have pcos Aswell so my skin flares up. I use a cleanser, serum and moisturiser when I can be bothered if not it’s a micellar water and serum. Find out what works wonders for your skin and stick to it .

Since I was about 13 I've used Valderma antibacterial soap to wash my face, and then a basic moisturiser, e.g. Oil of Ulay (showing my age lol). Always had good skin, but I only wear make up if I'm going out and I don't drink much. I also don't smoke.
I'm turning 40 in a few months and I've noticed my face was feeling rougher so I now use:
AM- Valderma soap, REN Ready Steady Glow AHA tonic, La Roche Posay Anthelios Age Correct moisturiser spf50 (Boots have this one on offer at the mo).
PM- same soap, no.7 Protect and Perfect night cream. Also Skinceuticals 0.3% retinol 3 nights a week.
The difference has been great after just a couple of weeks, my skin is brighter, soft and smooth and my dark patches around my eyes and mouth are less noticeable.

This is what I mean by scornful.

I am sorry if I've offended you by considering toners bullshit. It is not only my opinion, but most of the beauty experts, dermatologists, and industry insiders, etc etc, who have come out and said they are an unnecessary phase in a skincare routine, but put it more politely I guess.

I would not consider a salicylic acid product a 'toner' per se, anyway. When I say toners, I mean traditional toners - not ones with active ingredients. That's a whole other level of stuff that I have never messed with, so can't comment on, but that seems to be the holy grail on here.

I have used all the major French brands and while I adore the scent and texture and performance of Dior, Guerlaine, Clarins, and Lancome particularly for my skin care, Nivea or L'Oreal creams are also more than adequate. Their serums, as I have said, are to me, pointless bullshit.

My skin was much like yours and it only improved when I stopped using lots of products. I apply olive oil with a few drops of caster oil then remove with a hot face cloth each evening, then apply moisturizer after washing with water each morning. I use a simple moisturizer with natural rose oil. In summer I apply spf on top. That’s it. I get compliments on how good my skin is for my age.

Big bottle of cetaphil face wash
Big bottle of cetaphil face and body moisturiser
SPF

I switched to these 5 years ago when my skin suddenly went really sensitive and haven't used anything else since.

@ChampagneWorries

I hate my skin. I have dark circles, lines round the eyes when i smile, spot issues etc…

So i have had numerous facials by a beautician who looked at my face and told me what my skin needs.

So the conclusion is I’m to …

• Pre Cleanse
• Cleanse
• Use a daily exfoliant
• Apply anti aging eye cream
• Toner
• Serum
• Moisturiser

All of the above twice a day. These are what a Dermalogica skin trained beautician as advised. All the products above are around £60 each.

I still get spots, redness, blemishes etc.

So i decided i would try an even more premium brand La Mer…

So i bought their cleanser - too harsh
Used their lifting contour serum (it was fine but i still got spots) its also really expensive
Used their eye cream that claimed to reduce dark circles - i didn't notice a difference.
Bought the creme la mer and soft moisturising cream ( they take a while to sink in)

I still have spots, blemishes, marks on my face etc..

So now i have bought La. Prairie Skin Cavier White eye and face cream.

This claims to reduce redness, dark circles, blemishes the lot…

Now i ve been using this a week and now i have sore areas on my face and my skin feels tight. Its extremely heavily fragranced.

Im 33, yet people often think im around 37. Dark circles run in the family.

My mum is very obsessed with not looking old and is always comparing herself to people her own age who she feels look alot older than they are. This obsession with not looking your age has really rubbed off on me over the years.

So do you all use toners, serums etc every day?

Im thinking of just using a cleaner and then moisturiser and thats it, will i regret it in years to come?

The consultant, any skincare consultant, has a vested interest in recommend a skincare regime involving a lot of products. While some expensive brands are good, skincare needn't be expensive. And besides, products only do so much, skin is largely down to genes, diet & hydration, lifestyle and one's hormones.

You also don't need to be doing that kind of regime twice a day. Cleansing properly at night, in the morning, pressing a damp flannel to your face to freshen your skin followed by toning, serum and/or a facial oil/moisturiser and SPF will suffice.

Eye cream does very little other than cost money. However, what is does do is encourage you to apply it in a certain way. I have never used s dedicated eye cream but do lightly tap rather than rub whatever oil or moisturiser into my skin. Eye cream does little to eradicate lines around your eyes, redness or dark circles. A quick daily facial massage can help to reduce puffiness - see Youtube for examples.

Your skin doesn't sound happy, in fact it is showing you it isn't happy. It feels tight because you are stripping it of all its natural oils twice a day. Time to rethink and go back to basics - in the evening, use a nice creamy cleanser or oily balm to cleanse which is removed with a hot flannel (buy a stash of flannels and use a clean one AM and PM), a gentle toner and then a facial oil or moisturise, followed by SPF. In the morning, water/flannel followed by cleanse, tone and facial oil or moisturiser. Use a specialist facial exfoliator a few times a week. When your skin feels less tight, then if you fancy it, then it is time to start trying things like acid toners, retinol and others. But for now, strip your routine back to a minimum.

Looking after one's skin is entirely personal to oneself and what works for one might not work for someone else, so there is obviously some trial and error. As much as I am loathe to recommend Caroline Hirons, read her cheat sheets about skincare routines as they do provide a good outline. Additionally, when my skin was temperamental and prone to outbreaks, oil cleansing totally cleared it within a few months and I haven't had a spot since. But this wasn't a quick fix, and it got worse before it cleared up.

I only wash with a gentle cleanser and use Nivea moisturiser (with sunscreen as I live in NZ) - neither of them expensive. I think what you put into your body is more important than what you slather on your skin.

@yamadori

Dark circles around the eyes are usually caused by not getting enough sleep.

not necessarily true. some people have dark circles under eyes regardless of amount of sleep. I had them since I was a kid, so did my sister and so did every female on my mum's side. I used to sleep very well until I had my first pg.

The cost of creme de la met to make is £5 the rest is branding. Save your money and go to a dermatologist!!