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Original poster

Looking younger with zero skincare?

205 replies

ZforZebra · 01/04/2023 08:23

I was in the line in a crowded restroom. At the sinks were a group of 3 women, all friends I presumed as they were chatting while washing their hands. One commented that the moisturizer the other had recommended was great and she was really seeing a difference in her skin. The third piped up that she “never used anything but soap and water and still looked ten years younger” than the other two. The thing is…she absolutely didn’t. She actually looked considerably older (assuming they were all the same age). I often see women on MN saying they look 10 years younger than women who have basic (cleanser, moisturizer, maybe SPF) skincare routines. In real life everyone I’ve seen who claims to only use water and soap does not look younger than their age, most look about their age or older. Has anyone seen someone in real life (not MN) who really does look 10+ years younger and uses no skincare products?

OP posts:
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mrsfennel · 01/04/2023 08:25

I honestly dont know as I often see women with good skin but dont know about what they use.

But I think if you dont use SPF it is very unlikely you are going to look younger than your age.

You dont need expensive products in my opinion but products and SPF do work.

Original poster
ZforZebra · 01/04/2023 08:32

That is my experience too. All the women with amazing skin I’ve asked use different products at different price points, but all incorporate cleanser, moisturizer and definitely SPF at a minimum.

OP posts:
Pawtucketbrew · 01/04/2023 08:36

I'm that person. Everyone says I look ten years younger (not a brag as relevant to the question). When they ask about my skincare routine I say I don't have one as really I don't. Just use a basic moisturizer in the morning but not a specific one.

I think it's a mix of good genes plus i have quite a plump face which I think reduces wrinkles.

Pawtucketbrew · 01/04/2023 08:37

I always use suncream in the summer and my foundation has an spf of 15.

BansheeofInisherin · 01/04/2023 08:39

Yes..Many in my family. But we are Asian which possibly makes a difference. My mum looks about 10 years younger than she is. She uses soap and Nivea.

I think I look fine but I use tret, and any cheap ordinary face wash and moisturiser.

devildeepbluesea · 01/04/2023 08:39

I think it’s 99% down to genetics and no amount of Le Roche Posay will change that.

Ive tried it all and it’s all bollocks. The only think I’ve noticed makes a shred of difference is taking marine collagen. And IMO the difference isn’t worth the cost.

CamoFlamingo · 01/04/2023 08:41

I'm still half asleep so hopefully my reply will make sense but I think genetics and smoking/sun exposure are bigger factors. So maybe someone who happens to look younger anyway because of genetics is less likely to bother with skincare because they feel they don't need it. I work with a lady in her 50s with very plump youthful skin who doesn't do skincare but apparently her mother also has good skin. But the others I know who don't bother look their age or older as you say. Tbh i think a lot of people are delusional about what age they look and most people look around about their age anyway.

Original poster
ZforZebra · 01/04/2023 08:43

So from responses so far everyone who looks younger uses something at a minimum whether it’s moisturizer or SPF, which makes sense. I know plenty of women (my mum included) who only use cleanser and moisturizer and not much else. What I’m wondering about is the women who use absolutely nothing. Literally water and (any) soap. Or the ones I’ve seen on MN who use only water and no soap at all but somehow look 10 years younger. Has anyone met a person like this?

OP posts:
Original poster
ZforZebra · 01/04/2023 08:45

@CamoFlamingo I think I agree…me thinking/saying I look 10 years younger is different than a stranger objectively thinking it.

OP posts:
BansheeofInisherin · 01/04/2023 08:48

My MIL and my granny only use soap and water. They look fine to me. Both grew up in poverty and did not have access to beauty products. When they finally did they couldn't be arsed.

adriftabroad · 01/04/2023 08:49

I think stress and diet and water and sleep are key.
Moisturiser and SPF.

But agree. Everyone looks their age. Just better and healthier or not.

TheOGCCL · 01/04/2023 08:52

I think there’s maybe something to be said for overdoing skincare with lots of layers and serums, sometimes if I have a night off my skin looks good. Skin cycling worth looking into.

Otherwise I agree with pps that a lot of it is genetics. I’ve looked after my skin carefully for years but it looks no better than my peers (one of whom uses the dreaded St Ives facial scrub) as I have bad genes and a long face. However if I hadn’t been diligent I’m sure it would look much worse.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 01/04/2023 08:52

One thing I would say, a good spf helps. But when I did it more and I’ve got a friend who does it lots, yoga really helps, my friend who does yoga smokes too!

Rebel2 · 01/04/2023 08:53

Yes but male - my dad genuinely looks in his early 60s, and he's 73
He doesn't use SPF, moisturiser etc but being pale he's a sun avoider which helps

xPaz · 01/04/2023 08:56

I agree it's largely genetics. But also diet. I think some of my relatives inherited good genes but they are a bit fond of alcohol, sugar and cigarettes, so they look their age.

I have always been careful, of the sun, I go easy on alcohol, always eaten ''good fats'' such as walnuts and avocados, and yet, I look 52. I look like a 52 year old with good skin and this has been said to me but I don't think I look 10 years younger, or even 5. 3?! lol.

I roll my eyes at posters who post about passing for a woman ten years younger. Why can they not just say, I'm happy with how I've aged so far.

CamoFlamingo · 01/04/2023 08:58

@TheOGCCL Why is St Ives dreaded - have i missed something? 😂 I used to use that when I was a lot younger but they changed the scent and I didn't like it anymore.

Usernamen · 01/04/2023 09:00

90% of S&B say they look 10 years younger. But I think it’s because of an outdated view of what someone in their 40s or 50s actually looks like, rather than a straight lie (I hope!)

xPaz · 01/04/2023 09:05

Yes, they don't feel like an old lady. And their impression of an older woman was formed between 40 and 50 years ago.

I think fifty something women fifty years ago were aiming to look respectable, appropriate, polished, stylish perhaps but they weren't trying to look fashionable or attractive. (I don't think? Maybe, but it wasn't a priority).

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 01/04/2023 09:08

Usernamen · 01/04/2023 09:00

90% of S&B say they look 10 years younger. But I think it’s because of an outdated view of what someone in their 40s or 50s actually looks like, rather than a straight lie (I hope!)

I’ve been told I look 10-15 years younger. I’m 51.

I do use retinol and the odd serum but it’s more about a good spf for me.

I was looking into tret but can’t be bothered finding the right strength.

My daytime moisturiser is either Boots vitamin C or boots unvented and night one currently Lidl Q10. I don’t use my serums as much as I should.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 01/04/2023 09:08

Boots unscented.

ModeratelyBetter · 01/04/2023 09:11

My mum really looked good for her age. At least ten years younger, but sometimes more. I didn't inherit this and people always thought we were sister 🤣. She died in her fifties and I was in my twenties so thirty year age gap.

Her skin care was one cheap brand of moisturiser and sometimes fake tan. That was it. I got my dad's genes 🙄

CamoFlamingo · 01/04/2023 09:12

I roll my eyes at posters who post about passing for a woman ten years younger. Why can they not just say, I'm happy with how I've aged so far.

I think people tell others they look younger to be polite and also that a lot of people don't really know what ageing looks like anymore because of improvement to skincare, diet, healthcare, more people working indoors etc so we all probably look younger than we would have if we were born several generations ago.
Lastly I think people sometime don't look properly. I'm really petite (4'11 and size 8) and dress casually and get a lot of comments about looking in my 20s but I am positive that facially I look like someone in their 30s. I have fine lines and loss of facial volume so there's no delusion on my part. Honestly I kind of envy the delusion, it must be nice in a way 😂

ModeratelyBetter · 01/04/2023 09:12

She also sunbathed regularly without sun cream and drank heavily. She looked great but she did pass away young. Obviously I'd have preferred her to be wrinkly and alive

xPaz · 01/04/2023 09:12

Mary Portas talked about ''forever forty'' dress style.

The difference in how the age groups dress is narrowing, in my opinion! Obviously teenagers would object to that assertion, but the vast majority of them are wearing jeans and tops and some kind of trainer.

Usernamen · 01/04/2023 09:19

Just because someone tells you you look 10 years younger, it doesn’t make it fact.

Other people may have an equally outdated view of what middle age looks like. They could be trying to flatter you. Some people just naturally react with “oh you don’t look X years old!” when they’re told someone’s age.

Having said all that, if thinking you look 10 years younger makes you feel good and more confident, then crack on! Life’s too short 😁