Skin care

[Hyperfish808]

Is it hype? I am honestly astonished at the range of products and convoluted skincare routines my friends have. Do we seriously need this huge range of products? What do dermatologists say I wonder.

I have a basic wash off cleanser from Boots, rub off with a damp flannel and moisturiser. I have used the same basic cheap one since I was a teenager. My skin is perfectly fine. In fact it’s really good I think. (In my 50s) I just don’t have toner, serum, separate eye cream etc etc.

I really don’t think we need all this stuff.

I use 100% organic, hand made plant based stuff. I absolutely love it and I know that it’s not putting any toxins or microplastics on me or into the watercourse.
https://www.madeforlifeorganics.com/
I think people can get sucked into all the different skin ‘technologies’. I’m pretty old school and believe good skin comes from plenty of water and a decent lifestyle and genetics.

It's a massive industry largely based around making people (women) feel they need to look a certain way, that ageing is bad, etc. Yes there are also some skin conditions which can really badly impact people's self esteem and confidence which different products can help with. You and your friends have different approaches. It would be boring if we were all the same.

I think a lot of things are hype, but certain products are not, and expensive doesn’t mean better quality or more effectiveness. From my 30’’s till I was 53, I used a facewash and basic moisturiser with 15spf and was frequently complimented on my good skin - then I bought a 10x magnifying mirror and was shocked when I saw how black the sebaceous filaments on the side of my nose looked.

I then started to read more about skincare, discovered salicylic acid, niacinamide, Argireline, Matrixyl, Tretinoin, separate 50spf to a basic moisturiser, and use each of these every day for the last 3 years. My skin is definitely better, the sebaceous filaments have gone, my pores may not have shrunk, but they do look far less obvious, and my wrinkles are much softer. I have a bad frown line and have used Botox in the past - the results I’ve had just from using these products are now at a stage that is comparable and at much less cost. Most of the things I use are from the Ordinary and my moisturiser is from Lidl.

Good skin can be genetic or from a really good diet and keeping out of the sun, but it can be helped.

SPF and retinol / tretinoin are not hype.

In my 60s now and only just started with any kind of routine. Always had good skin, and told I look younger, but definitely needing more help now. Have been using matrixyl, agireline, niacinamide, hyalauronic and azeliac acids, and tretinoin for a few years now and have definitely seen results. I feel I look my age, but the brightest, glowyest version of myself. But each to their own. No one should feel compelled to use anything unless they want to.

I rarely use toners, serums, masks or separate eye creams.

The most important four steps for me have always been a good cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen, and retinol or retinoid.

These for example, I find cover broad-spectrum use:

Ordinary squalane gentle cleanser
https://www.johnlewis.com/the-ordinary-squalane-cleanser/p6054128?size=50ml&srsltid=AfmBOor3fvzPTsJdrKs5BRllV8uOUu8McZfHVdMTVmIp-ixjbWxJqkRtDdk&gQT=1

Illiyoon korean hyaluronic moisturiser
https://koreabe.com/sv/products/illiyoon-hyaluronic-moisture-cream-100ml?srsltid=AfmBOoplyizvXyMLFDjEomDPrzdSA-4pNhiKOm23bNtu3yF1H_n0oFho0No

Heliocare SPF50 oil-free sunscreen
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heliocare-360%C2%B0-Sun-Protection-Oil-Free/dp/B00UYZ95F2/ref=asc_df_B00UYZ95F2?mcid=f68a9b1c9bc037a884ed0d7429bde5b4&hvocijid=9031159161014036373-B00UYZ95F2-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9031159161014036373&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-2281435179018&gad_source=1&th=1

Monderma tretinoin anti-ageing retinoid
https://www.monderma.co.uk/

Once you feel that your cleanser, moisturiser, SPF and night cream are optimised for your skin, I find it easier to experiment with serums, toners or even current trends like perhaps tallow and snail mucus.

I second tretinoin. I'm really bought into Monderma's. The tret seems to work better on my undereye shadows, pores and discolouration than other tret I've tried. I like that it has vitamin A (tret), B (niacinamide) and K (phylloquinone) and is vegan. It's two or three products in one.

A good SPF is often all you need. Moisturiser and other skincare serve as enhancements.