What did our skin do before the days of Instagram? How were we able to curate the perfectly tailored routine to fix all of our skin’s issues and bring us the fountain of youth? Gone are the days of the “cleanse, tone, moisturize” movement and onto the 10 step skincare routines (that just so happen to change every evening).
Our wallets are emptying and our cabinets are getting fuller but what are we gaining from this #skincareaddiction phenomenon? Is this actually self care?
I try to remember my skincare routines before the days of Instagram. There was one cleanser, two toners, and a handful of oils/creams that I would rotate through. When I say a handful, I mean a handful! There were just a few products that I knew my skin loved. That actually sounds like a dream!
These days, my cabinets (and Alex drawers) are not only filled with makeup but they’re overflowing with skincare products. I’ve got the serums, essences, spot treatments, masks, hydrating toners, exfoliating toners, MOISTURIZERS! I could moisturize my entire apartment complex with the amount of creams I have in that top Alex drawer.
Of course, I LOVE skincare, but I sit back and think to myself, “how did this happen”?!
One (of the many) things that used to baffle me when I worked at Sephora was when a woman or man would come in looking for a skincare product and would simply ask “well, which is the best”? We’d start the skin type conversation and I’d try to get a feel for what it was that his or her skin needed. They simply wanted the number one sought after skincare product on the market. Fair enough. I’ve been there.
Skincare FOMO? Yeah. It’s a real thing. The latest and greatest product launches and we immediately feel as if we HAVE to have it on our top shelf. In my case, it’s moisturizers. I am on the constant search for the “perfect” moisturizer and as a result, I have an entire drawer full of barely used creams, lotions, and gels.
But guess what?
The perfect moisturizer doesn’t exist! It isn’t out there! Companies WANT you to think that the cream you are buying is full of only the best ingredients and will cure all of your skincare woes. And maybe it will….until you skin decides it doesn’t like the formula anymore or until the company discontinues it.
Then, the search continues.
So, why do we continue searching even after we’ve found a handful of products that our skin loves? I think the thrill of the chase is partially to blame. We love being on a mission to find our holy grails. The need for change can also play a huge role. Heck, I get sick of using the same toothpaste for too long let alone skincare.
With all of the skincare crazed junkies out there (myself included) I can only help but wonder, “am I truly making the best choices for my skin”?
I think back to 2017 where my skin was the worst it’s ever been. I was using DOZENS of different products and searching for the product that would “fix my face”. But what I didn’t realize was that I was essentially making my skin angrier and more sensitized with each cream I slathered on. So, how did I finally get my skin happy and back under my control? I completely stripped back my routine and stuck to less than a handful of curated products. I chose 2 cleansers (day and night), one toner, a serum, and a moisturizer. That.was.it. I alternated through SPF’s for daytime but the core of my skincare routine stayed exactly the same for months. And guess what happened?
My skin was calmer and clearer than I’d seen it in months. I finally had control of my skin again. I didn’t feel left out in the dark and I didn’t feel as if cosmetic companies had control. It truly was liberating.
I love learning about the science behind skincare and I also love the stories behind product creation. One of my favorite oils, Kora Organics Noni Glow Oil, has a beautiful story behind it. Miranda Kerr grew up in a small town in Australia and at the age of 13, her Grandma started giving her Noni Juice. Since then, Miranda drinks it everyday for vitality and health. She felt so passionately about this ingredient, and the benefits of using it internally and externally, that she included it in her line’s hero product, Noni Glow Face Oil. What a beautiful story! Therefore, each time I use that product, I think of the thoughtful process behind it. But is it possible to experience enjoyment from a skincare routine when you’re using different products every night, constantly trying to “use up what you have”, and still never being truly satisfied?
I think finding that “sweet spot” in the skincare routine can be simpler than we think. Instagram is an incredible place to find an endless supply of skincare inspiration and it IS possible to appreciate the photos and advice and continue using what already works for you. Imagine how great it would feel to entirely use up a product and then (and only then) give yourself the freedom to either purchase that same product or, (if you didn’t love it), try something new. The issue I see in today’s beauty world is that we are constantly buying and trying. We see a new serum launched at Sephora. We buy it. We try it. We don’t love it. We continue onto the next thing.
I believe that the skincare routine is a full sensorial experience. The textures, the smells, and the application are all part of the journey. It’s a beautiful process and there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying that process. I also think that as lovely and pampering as a skincare routine can be, at the end of the day, we need to remember that the skin is an organ. It is actually the largest organ in our bodies! Acne is a medical condition and rosacea cannot be cured with a peel off mask. Our grandmothers and great grandmothers did not grow up with a 10 step skincare routine (I mean, maybe they did if they were super bougie). I spoke to my Grandma the other day about her skincare routine. Do you want to know what she and her mother used on their faces?
Ponds Cold Cream.
Yep. Just good old Ponds Cold Cream. They used a bar of soap to cleanse and Ponds Cold Cream to moisturize. While I do NOT recommend that you try that exact routine, I do think there’s something to be said for the minimalistic approach. My great grandmother had gorgeous, healthy skin her entire life. Of course, genetics play a role in our skin’s conditions but I do think that keeping a simple and consistent routine is the most important step towards having your best skin. I’ll never forget when I used to work at Sephora and a brand rep asked my opinion on how to create the perfect skincare routine. I told her “I could choose a handful of nearly any of these products and as long as I stuck with them and didn’t try different products every night, my skin would be happy.”
And that is still my motto today. Find what works for your skin and try to stick to it. Appreciate the products that you’re using (unless they’re completely awful) and give them a chance. If you and your skin are happy then finish the product! Don’t rush out and buy a different serum because you’re bored and don’t add extra unnecessary steps to your routine “just because”.
Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on a “less is more” approach to skincare. And if you have a bathroom cupboard full of products, don’t you worry. I do, too LOL.
You are more than enough!
Love and light, Carrie xo
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