I would like to know what your routine is in general, but I'm also specifically curious about what products you use, if you use them, and what the rationale is behind each product.
I have used, and considered continuing using a BHA (also AHA?) liquid exfoliant (I have read that it shouldn't be used at the same time as retinol due to PH requirements, ie use it in the morning and retinol in the evening) (I previously used Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, but I no longer because I have lost trust in Paula's Choice overall due to their borderline false advertising regarding their retinol product [1]), but I am unsure of what a good product would be, and the rationale behind it. I have also heard about Vitamin E, though I've never used it.
In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. I can do a thousand now. After I remove the ice pack, I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower, I use a water activated gel cleanser. Then a honey almond body scrub. And on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub. Then apply an herb mint facial mask, which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
Unless I actually have mud or dirt on my face, it only gets cleaned with water in the shower. Dove soap bar for rest. Pure aloe vera (or as close as possible) applied to the face to help with dryness when needed.
Morning: Check that it's still there and keeping my body unified
Noon: Check that it's still there and keeping my body unified
Afternoon: Check that it's still there and keeping my body unified
Evening: Check that it's still there and keeping my body unified. Sometimes I shower before bed.
In other words: I don't really have one, and it seems to be working
I'll probably kidnap some women, put them in a hole, and give them daily supplies of food and skincare products. It puts the lotion in its skin, or else it gets the hose again.
Men, it's okay to care about your skin. It's not feminine, it's human. If your answer to this question was 'I shower' or something else snarky you may want to consider looking up simple skincare routines for people your age and skin type. Just a tiny bit of attention to your skin can do so much for not just for how it looks and feels now, but for the difference it can make compounded through the years. Of enough soapboxing.
This ~30 lady's routine:
I use a non alcohol toner in the morning followed by Kiehl's moisturizer.
In the evening I use a daily enzyme face wash, hyaluronic acid serum, and the daily moisturizer.
I rarely see the sun, I never wear makeup. When I did those things woooo boy were there more steps.
PSA consider using a daily SPF moisturizer. I promise it doesn't feel like that crappy beach sun block. Give it a try, skin cancer is no joke. Fuck I'm on my soapbox again.
That is my answer, though. I shower in lukewarm water and a little bit of dilute Castile soap where needed, and wear wide-brimmed hats in the sun. I get compliments on my skin softness, people guess that I'm 10 years younger. Honestly, it seems to me that a good half of people's elaborate skin-care routines are just trying to undo the damage caused by the other half. Our skin is really remarkable in taking care of itself, if you let it.
This has to be genetic, though - my mom's skin was so bad, and mine was bad until I started taking care of it; and my husband's routine was yours - he started taking care of it when he started to look a lot older than me.
But there is no rule, you should do whatever you are most comfortable with.
Men, it's okay to care about your skin. It's not feminine, it's human.
I find the "feminine" premise of this argument silly. So what if it is feminine? Is there something inherently wrong with femininity? It's one thing to simply be somewhere on the spectrum of femininity and masculinity, but it's another to fear that position and to force another based on one's insecurity of the perceptions of others.
I’m going to get reamed on here for too many products and spending way too much money but I’m an aging female in a very superficial location, so please forgive me! And marketing clearly works on me…
Morning:
Cetaphil cleanser, with just hands. I wouldn’t scrub your face with a wash cloth, sounds too harsh.
Skinceuticals Phloretin (it’s a high end vitamin C serum)- this one has really evened out my skin tone and apparently protects from further sun damage.
Before upcoming lotions I mist with water or Caudalie grape water spray-helps lock in moisture with the lotions
Alastin Restorative Skin Complex serum-my dermatologist recommended this one, he also sells it..no idea how much it has individually helped or not
Kiehls avocado eye cream
Dieux instant angel gel cream
Little bit of La Roche Posay cicaplast under eyes
Supergoop mineral matte spf 40 sunscreen
Evening:
Double cleanse-start with Neutrogena sesame seed oil on dry face-I’ve only been doing this about a month and it’s my favorite (and cheapest) thing now-removes makeup and oil or dirt from the day really well and it’s really hydrating. Then lightly wash with cetaphil cleanser.
Alastin Restorative Skin Complex
Dr Dennis Grossman retinol eye cream
Skinceuticals a.g.e Interruptor lotion
Aklief- this is a prescription tretinoin derivative and I don’t use it every day
Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Repair
La Roche Posay cicaplast lightly under eye
On my chest I use Timeless vitamin c (a good dupe for the Skinceuticals Phloretin) in the morning and then the Dieux InstantAngel cream. Also been using some leftover skinceuticals HA Immerse there that didn’t work well on my face.
Body I do a messy mixture of Gold Bond Retinol body lotion mixed with a vitamin E oil and water nightly
I’m still sort of figuring it out and would love to eliminate stuff but I’m not sure what. It’s ever-evolving. Admittedly I spend WAY too much money on this, but fuck it, I can and it makes me feel good. Also this stuff (at least some of it) has totally transformed my skin for the better. So maybe some of it is a waste but some of it definitely works
Yo it's good to take care of your skin, and it's good to do things that make you feel good. I used to do an intense Korean skincare routine but since COVID I don't really leave home so I've cut it down to almost three steps. Easy peasy if you never see the sun and don't wear makeup nor have a medical condition.
I am gonna have to check some of these out though. I can't out-hermit age lol
Oh yeah, age will catch up on you quick! And I’m in a very sunny/outdoor activity area so I really have to be vigilant about taking care of my skin. The Korean skincare sounds interesting but I have no idea where to start
You use too many products, no way that can be good for your skin.
Even showering every day is imo unnecessary, once every other day or once a week is good enough if the only thing you did was sitting in an office all day. And if you do shower that often, most of the time you should only use water, not any other products.
I really don't understand the current trend of using an extreme amount of products on your skin, to the poiint of calling it a "routine".
I agree with you about showering every day but you really should use at bare minimum a cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen.
The first gets dirt and grime and the world off your face, the second replenishes the moisture in your skin, and the last protects your skin. Pretty simple.
Adding in an active like an AHA or tretinoin is only if you have problems (acne would be an example but there are other issues) or if you care about anti-aging.
Some people have like 20 step routines and more and I think THAT is excessive and sometimes can irritate skin more. I once when down the rabbit hole of too many products and had horrible rebound issues because of it.
I used to have bad acne until I found a routine similar to OPs and the right combination of skincare can dramatically improve your skin. For health reasons mostly but healthy skin looks better too.
I'm not trying to attack you, I just ask that you don't knock it just because you've never tried it. Maybe you were genetically blessed to not need anything except water and bar soap. Lucky you! I'm envious , truly.
But some people need extra help or just like to pamper their skin. Taking special care of your hygiene isn't something to dig on someone about, or say it's not healthy when you're not well versed in the world of skincare.
I agree with the sunscreen, although I wouldn't use it if I wasn't planning to stay out in the sun for long, but that's about it for an average person. Your body is supposed to hydrate itself, and getting dirt and grime off is the function of a shower.
I'm sure not everybody's skin hydrates itself enough so they would probably need to use a moisturizer, sure, but that doesn't mean everybody should do it all the time.
Same for acne, that's a case where it makes sense to use some products because your skin is clearly failing to maintain itself, but again that doesn't mean you should do the same thing if you don't have such issues.
It's because people have been using these products since childhood and they don't think about it anymore.
I agree with you personally. I don't use any products and my skin smells very good. And first thing people say when I say that is "people don't tell me I smell bad", because they can't imagine that someone can actually smell good without using any products.
That and effective marketing campaigns, especially using influencers. It's Dutch but a local TV show recently had a good section about it, https://youtu.be/Ey8yvF6m5AU?t=1
You use too many products, no way that can be good for your skin. Even showering every day is imo unnecessary, once every other day or once a week is good enough if the only thing you did was sitting in an office all day. And if you do shower that often, most of the time you should only use water, not any other products.
Are you only here to spread negativity, or do you have any proof behind your claims? I'm not interested in opinions.
I think this is one of those cases where the burden of proof is on the person using the products, not on the one not using them. Your post is basically an advertising campaign for several of these products.
You do realize your body is supposed to maintain itself right? Of course some people will actually need some stuff because their body doesn't do it well enough, but if your body doesn't have actual problems there is no need to use any of these products.
Why don't you go and read scientific papers if you are not interested in opinions and claims?
Humans beings like to exchange ideas and experiences with eachother without being forced to show scientific evidence. Maybe you don't, which is fine, but maybe not tell others what to discuss then?
This is not a scientific journal, if you haven't noticed and picked the wrong url...
I've always been lucky and my skin is pretty bulletproof, I could probably just about wash my face with acetone and shave with a broken beer bottle and be none the worse for it.
I shower, normally every day but occasionally skip a day or two due to weather, lack of motivation, and how much I've been sweating, with Dr Bronners Peppermint soap and a washcloth.
I like Dr Bronners because it's the best I've found at stripping the wax out of my moustache. I also find the mint to be nice and refreshing, especially after a hot day. It's also nice that its organic, fair trade, etc. and since it can be used for pretty much everything I like it for backpacking (I tend to go unscented for that purpose, but if I intend to brush my teeth with it mint in the way to go, still a bit gross and soapy tasting, don't exactly recommend it but it does the trick in a pinch)
If we want to count it as skincare, though it's more hair care I suppose, my moustache wax of choice is Firehouse Wacky Tacky
I shave my head with a double edge safety razor, I like Feather blades. I lather up with whatever bar of soap smells good to me when I bought it and looks like it will fit in my shaving bowl, right now I think I'm using Dr Squatch Bay Rum because they sold it in the checkout line of ace hardware and the line was moving slow one day leaving me with nothing much to do to entertain myself but stiff some soaps.
Sometimes, instead, I splash on some lectric shave and use a foil shaver on my head.
Then I splash on some aftershave. I used to rotate through the usual drug store brands- Brut, Pinaud Clubman, Aqua Velva, and Old Spice, but then I met my wife and it turns out she really likes me in Old Spice, so I don't switch it up too often anymore. I do tend to get a bottle of cheap bay rum to use over the summer though.
I use whatever beard oil or balm smells good to me when I run out and find myself needing more. I honestly couldn't even tell you what brand I have kicking around currently, I use it pretty infrequently, mostly when I'm dressing up and feel like my beard could use a little extra taming and shininess. I tend to like woodsy scents like cedar.
When my hands feel a little dry and cracked, which isn't a very common issue for me, I use Duke Cannon Bloody Knuckles balm. Again, I'm pretty sure that was an impulse buy from the checkout line of a hardware store or something, but I think it works pretty well. My wife probably uses it more than I do and she has an actual skincare routine so I guess she agrees.
And for deodorant, I again like old spice. It works for me, and I've used it pretty consistently since I was in about 4th or 5th grade when we had a basic sex-ed/some-of-you-stink-so-use-deodorant-please assembly where they handed out a small stick of it to all the guyse Again, apparently my wife likes old spice so that worked out well, and I can usually find a 2-pack of it at most grocery stores and such that is probably the best value in the deodorant aisle.
I have atopical dermatitis so besides the good old showering and applying shampoo twice, once to get the hair clean and the second time to keep the product there while I clean the rest of my body, I use some speficic products concerning the affliction.
For the shower, I use a highly moisturizing gel from the local store combined with one that's supposed to be special for the skin that costs 20 times as much, and Blue Cap as a shampoo recommended by my hairdresser to help with dry scalp.
I usually shave in the shower with hot water so I don't really need any aftershave cream but I have one for when I dry shave.
Besides that, I have some local moisturizing cream to be used occasionally when the skin dries too much, and the occasional cortisone paste for eyelids and specific body parts that like to specially dry and have bad reactions.
When I feel specially oily (which is almost never because yay atopical dermatitis) I tend to buy some natural exfoliant shower gels and then apply moisturizing cream afterward to "replace" bad body oil with good cream oil I guess xD.
I've never really been able to leave my zits alone, if i see one and don't pop it i can't stop thinking about it. So yeah i've been popping my zits into napkins since always and it's kinda fine, it wouldn' be fine if i got more though.
I have read that it shouldn’t be used at the same time as retinol due to PH requirements
You can use a chemical exfoliant and a retinoid in the same routine. You don't have to worry about pH once the product is on your skin and absorbed. One concern is just that both can be pretty irritating, so using them together might be overly harsh on your skin. Maybe start slowly introducing them one at a time until you're ready, and always see how your skin is reacting. If you decide to exfoliate in the morning, keep in mind that AHAs make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen becomes extra important.
I have also heard about Vitamin E, though I’ve never used it.
Your CeraVe Moisturizing Cream contains tocopherol, so you're already using it. I don't think you need to seek out a separate product.
Wash face with body wash that has honey, olive oil, dead sea minerals. Don't put much effort into it but it's the body wash I found doesn't irritate my skin.
I shower every other day, use a regular unscented bar soap (actually labeled soap, not “wash” or “cleanser”) every time with a focus on pits and junk. Wet hair but only shampoo once or twice a week. Morning and evening just splash the face with mildly warm water and hit the towel to dry. About as often as shampoo I’ll use a face cleanser in the shower too, cetaphil daily whatever, it’s just to help tackle my greasy face from poor diet.
I use Neutrogena soap on my face and occasionally a pore strip on my nose followed by one of those noxzema cleaning pads with salicylic acid to help shrink the pores.
I also have some blotting paper in my backpack incase things get uncomfortable during the day.
I'd do more but I honestly can't be bothered. Just the bare minimum to keep the acne and face oils at bay.
Oh and a beard trimmer. I don't shave because I I don't like the burn. Plus when I do get acne it really sucks to shave over.
Cleanse and moisturise twice daily, applying SPF 50 in the mornings and using scrub once every third day. If it's a really special occasion and I'm doing a full face of makeup I'll use bb cream.
For the body:
I just wash it with sorbolene. If I'm epilating my legs or have done so recently I might go over them with one of those exfoliating scrubber thingos and apply lotion once I've dried off.
I look 5-7 years younger than my brother who is only a year older than me. I don't do a lot other than washing my face and wearing moisturizer/sunscreen. Some men treat their leather boots better than their own skin, weird to me but I guess it's macho to not take care of yourself.
Liquid Neutrogena followed by Aveeno moisturizer in the shower.
Stridex pad periodically throughout the day if my face starts to feel oily.
I used to have a whole shave routine that included Proraso and Old Spice, but the ritual started feeling less zen and more like a chore so I don't really do it much anymore.
Morning - rinse with water, apply Kose sunscreen, maybe a mattefying primer if I don't have time to wait for the sunscreen to sink in.
Evening- wash with Cetaphil cleanser and a microfiber cloth, maybe use a toner if I feel like it, purito calming moisturizer then a small amount of tretinoin. Maybe sometimes add in snail mucin if I'm extra dry.
Used to have bad hormonal cystic acne but some meds and tret have totally fixed it.
Up until my late 20's, I had very oily skin. I think I might need to change a few things because I am still oily but I do feel some skin dryness from time to time.
In the AM...
Wet my face with warm water.
Clinique All About Clean Soap - face wash - I used this after trying a few others. I like this ok. I might revisit the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. I don't remember why I stopped using it.
Rinse off with warm water. Blot face with towel.
Thayer's Witch Hazel - toner - When I got the Clinique face wash, I got the three step set. It came with a toner that they called "Clarifying Lotion" and I hated it. I actually read it and it contains alcohol so I stopped using it. (Some "lotion"!) I saw that one of the ingredients in the toner was witch hazel, and it looks like it's good by itself, so I just roll with that now. Just put some on a cotton round and gently apply it to the whole face. I use it because it makes my skin feel nice. I occasionally skip this step.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - facial lotion - I've tried so many facial lotions and they usually cause acne for me. Including Cetaphil. I love this stuff. This is good by itself when I'm oily. When I'm a bit dryer, though...
Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly - facial lotion - I put this on when my normal moisturizer isn't enough. I put it on after the other stuff sinks in.
I use SPF after that. I either use Clinique City Block or the SPF included in my foundation if I'm wearing it. I want to get back into Korean sunscreen but I haven't looked into it. I use what's on hand for skin not on my face. The City Block is meh but it's by far the least unpleasant feeling on my face.
If I am feeling extra lazy, I just cleanse my face with micellar water and moisturize. The micellar water I use is Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, pink cap.
In the PM...
If I'm wearing makeup, I remove it with micellar water or Clinique Take the Day Off makeup remover, depending on what I put on that day.
I wash my face, use toner. Then...
Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter - serum - I've tried this because I want to get rid of some of these dark spots on my face. I'm going to finish this bottle and not re-buy this though.
I moisturize when I'm done.
If I'm feeling lazy, I do the same micellar water and moisture deal like in the morning.
For the rest of my body, I use Gold Bond Diabetic Body Lotion, and I use Mediheal hand cream for my hands. I also apply witch hazel to irritated skin. If I have an irritated spot that would take over a week to resolve itself, using witch hazel makes it heal in just a day or two.
I used to use Stridex pads because I would get pimples often until my mid-20's or so. I stopped using them. They were good but I haven't found the need to use them any more.
I used to use Ole Henriksen Truth Serum at night. I stopped during the pandemic due to... Well I wasn't feeling great at that time. I liked the serum, though.
I was thinking of researching what I can do for my dark spots and pitting from acne from years ago. I was going to look at Paula's Choice, but now looking at your link I am reconsidering.
How is the tretinion treating you? Is it worth getting a script for it? If you're American, was it difficult to get? I hear it is really good for many skin concerns and might help with the ones I'm looking to treat.
My kids say I use the 40 potions essential to a woman over 40.
Night:
Shower, and either body oil applied with damp washcloth to "dry off" and seal in moisture, or body lotion, lately the LaRoche Posay skin barrier one.
Then face: toner (lately Iunik gel toner, but it varies), serum (also varies, right now a skin004 b vitamin one) and Tretinoin 0.1
Morning:
No body anything.
Face: rinse, gentle toner (lately a centella water), prescription estrogen cream, and sunscreen - Iunic centella sunscreen is absolute magic in a tube.
So basically active stuff at night and calming protective stuff in the day, and my skin in my 50s is better than at any time before.
Shower daily. Sugar scrub weekly. Jojobo oil as needed on whole body. Moisturizer on joints and feet as needed. Cream/ointment a minute after moisturizer to seal it in a little more.
I try to take care of it a bit, though I know a more routine routine would be better just difficult for me.
Shower & soap (savon de Marseille) with a washcloth thingy that is not too soft. Natural deodorant (pierre d'alun). End of the process.
Unless one should also consider making faces in front of the mirror part of the daily routine, say while one is shaving or brushing one's teeth? Asking for a friend that, quite obviously, is not as adult and as serious as I am.
Real Marseille soap (savon de Marseille, as we say here in France) is a great 100% natural soap that is not agressive to the skin. But beware if you try to buy some, as there is a vast majority of cheap knock-off edit: that aren't Marseille soap at all.
I try to use lotion with SPF 30 every day, and I use retinol a few times a week. I've thought about adding topical vitamin C in as well. I don't have a strong preference for any specific brand.
You're using too many products. All skincare products are loaded with microplastics and hormone disruptors. The body wants lots of natural sunlight and exercise and vitamin D. The liver stores vitamin A for years and vitamin D for months so you don't need to supplement daily but adjust the dose. Try washing yourself with just water and using a natural soap only as needed.
The liver stores vitamin A for years and vitamin D for months so you don’t need to supplement daily but adjust the dose.
Do note that there is a difference between dietary/systemic vitamin A, and topical vitamin A (there are also different types of vitamin A [2]) — one is ingested, and, thus, metabolized in the gut, and the other is absorbed directly into the skin. Dietary vitamin A, is used by the body for the skin [1.1], but topical retinol provides a greater concentration (more targeted) to the skin cells [1.2], and allows one more control over the dosage [1.3].
Vitamin A through food is very important for skin healing, as it helps modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. It also comes with a lot of antioxidants that target free radicals and protect the skin from damage, which is why it’s an essential vitamin to have in your diet.
It’s a targeted solution that can help reduce pigmentation, boost skin hydration, and support cellular turnover.
[...] you have more control over the dosage [of Vitamin A applied to the skin].
Vitamin A, as a broader term, encompasses a family of compounds known as retinoids, including retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinoic acid. Each of these has different strengths and modes of action on the skin. Therefore, replacing retinol with another form of vitamin A may not yield the same results.