You’ve bought every bottle recommended to you on TikTok, and after hours of scrubbing, jade rolling, and two face masks (one to unclog pores, another for ‘glowy’ skin), you wake up to a rash and to see you look exactly the same. Is your routine working for you?
Looking after our skin is important not only for health reasons (such as wearing sunscreen), but it also makes us feel good. A bad skin day (or days) can affect our self-esteem and confidence. A survey found that 48% of individuals admitted that they feel self-conscious when experiencing a breakout. To counteract this effect, we buy products, often too many: ones for dark circles, redness, pimples, blackheads, dry or dull skin. But after scrubbing, wiping, and patting, we usually just end up making it worse… and then we feel worse.
Social media makes everyone a ‘skincare expert’
The morning shed trend has been going viral all across the internet for its absurd-looking presence; dressed in a chin strap, full-coverage face mask, heatless curlers, hair scarf, or bonnet – all on top of a detailed application of products. There are benefits to some of these elements; however, not all steps are necessary for everyone. Firstly, it’s time-consuming, and if you’re someone who rushes in the morning, it might not work for you. Secondly, you may not want or need these steps – some of us may go to bed with a face caked in Sudocrem and a messy bun, while others choose an elaborate get-up, and both options work!
Skincare sandwiching is a clever routine that layers products to lock in and retain moisture. It can definitely be beneficial, but you’ve got to know which products to use and how many to apply. The general guidance is to start with clean, damp skin, then apply a hyaluronic acid/ face toner before adding a moisturizer, such as a thick emollient or oil. It might not work for everyone; it might not work for everyone every day.
Why are we so obsessed with skincare?
Is it the consumer-based urge in us to buy every diverse item on the shelf? Is it the fear of looking older, looking in the mirror to realize months and years have passed, and you no longer have the dewy-skin, blemish-free skin of a child?
Skincare routines can be nice, a self-care ritual where we say: “I’m looking after myself physically. This is what I do to calm myself down and shed today’s dirty-makeup mask.” Some people may have a long routine so they can feel and say they have it together – anyone who has time and skin-based priorities must be able to admit this to themselves.
But watch out! It can quickly become excessive and toxic—the cupboard filled with products barely used or never opened, the time you spend reapplying, watching Instagram reels, researching jade rollers, endless face masks piling up. Before you know it, you’re waking up an hour early after going to bed an hour late—all because of a long-winded routine and mournful analysis of your skin.
Yes, taking care of your skin is important, and yes, it is nice to indulge yourself or do a little bit extra when you’ve got an important event coming up, but at the same time, you (we, I, all of us!) need balance.
Beware of buying too many products
Step into any beauty or pharmaceutical store, and the shelves are lined with a multitude of different products, all promising different things, all promising to make your skin glossy, tight, bright, and clear. Then, what happens? You get overwhelmed and pick up various bottles – this for your pimples, that for your dermatitis, this will get rid of your under-eyes; one for your blackheads too! But you might not need all of them, and all of them may not help your skin the way you want it to.
What you might not realize, too, is that a lot of products have the same properties. So, you may be buying three items, thinking they’re entirely different when they’re not. For example, glycolic acid and a face scrub are both exfoliants working to do the same thing. Checking ingredients and uses like this can not only save you money and space but also help your skin as well by not overwhelming it with too many active ingredients.
Stop for a minute and think (research, even). Your bank account and skin will thank you!
Why you may be breaking out
We all want glowy skin, and many of us will do anything to get that. But sometimes, messing with things too much can only make the problem worse.
Excessive skin care, whether it’s too many products or overusing a particular item, can lead to:
- Red irritated skin
- Breakouts
- Dry/peeling skin
- Itchy skin
- Burning
These conditions are usually dependent on your skin type and the items used (such as an exfoliate) or thick moisturizers and oils.
Leave your skin be. Sometimes it just needs to be left alone and sometimes you need to go back to the basics. It is okay to leave your routine behind for a few days if you have a bad flare-up. Let your body heal itself.
If you think you’ve overdone it and are experiencing breakouts, professional dermatologist Dr. Carina Woodruff says, “Dial it back down to the essentials.” A cleanser and moisturizer – and sunscreen too, of course.
Not good for you, not good for the planet
Excessive skin care can impact someplace other than your face: the world. Every year, 120 billion pieces of beauty packaging are thrown away globally. You might not think about it, but every bottle you buy or face-mask pack piles up alongside millions of other people’s products. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy them- just be mindful about how many or how often you purchase them.
There are lots of great ways you can help the Earth and care for your skin:
- Refillable Products: Instead of purchasing a new bottle or tub every time you run out, you can get refillable products that you can top up whenever you need.
- Water-Less Options: Saving water can help the environment and us in so many ways (reducing drought, protecting ecosystems, i.e.), so why not reduce the H2O you use and opt for alternatives?
- Solid Soap and Shampoo: Bars of soap and shampoo are an easy, affordable swap that can cut your use of plastic by so much. They also take up less space, so you can save room on your shelves.
- Reusable Cloths: Forget make-up wipes and cotton pads. You can get reusable clothes that won’t be thrown away after one use. And, they’ll save you money in the long run – just don’t forget to wash them!
Building the right routine for you
What is your skin like? Point out common problems you have with your skin. It might be dry patches, acne, oily skin, or a combination of multiple things. Then, research what is best for those problems. Certified dermatologists or skin care specialists are the best people to listen to because they’ve heard the same problems from loads of other people.
Dr Carina Woodruff gives some advice based on the skin type you may have:
- For acne-prone skin: “Avoid occlusive emollients which contain Vaseline petroleum, or heavy oils (such as coconut oil) as they can clog up pores. Exfoliants may seem like a good idea, but can further irritate inflamed skin.”
- For dry/flaky skin: What you should and shouldn’t use depends on the cause: “If you have dry or flaky skin due to eczema or mature skin, you should avoid harsh actives like potent retinoids, physical scrubs, and alcohol-based toners or astringents.” Carina suggests you use thicker emollients such as balms or ointments.
If your dry skin is from seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff (yes, skin dandruff is a thing!) The problem is excessive sebum production. It’s recommended that you avoid heavy moisturisers and oils – instead, use cleaners with anti-inflammatory effects, ones which contain sulphur or salicylic acid.
- For oil-prone skin: Don’t rule out moisturizers entirely; instead, opt for lighter creams like gel-based moisturizers or lotions.
Your skin, your choice
Not everything will work for you, even if you’ve gotten recommendations from others with the same problem – it can just be a process of trial and error sometimes. Don’t be fooled by influencers with seemingly perfect skin who advertise countless products. You don’t need to spend thousands on skin care to have beautiful skin.
“…focus on the things that we know translate to results – a great cleanser, sunscreen, moisturizer.”
Carina Woodruff
Taking care of your skin is important – it makes you look and feel good! But you do not need to follow every trend or combine every product. Create a personalized routine that works for you, your skin type, and your lifestyle. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
