I love skincare. It's part of my job and something I genuinely enjoy talking about outside of work, but there's a lot of marketing (especially recently) that can lead us to believe that a product is better for us than it is. So I thought, inspired by this article, that I would give you some things to look out for if your interested in building a routine but don't know how to separate the gold from the dirt.
1. Ingredients. The general rule is that the more expensive a product is, the higher the concentration of active ingredients. There are definitely some exceptions to this, The Ordinary is an example of a no-nonsense brand that gives people affordable access to often high-end ingredients. There are also 'luxury' products that rely on a gimmick rather than the effects their products give (hello, Glam Glow). The majority of budget facial washes contain soaps which will strip the acid mantle off the skin, leaving it exposed to harmful bacteria before it can rebuild. Also avoid products containing a high percentage of alcohols, glitter (can't believe that had to be included), and don't just put every acid you've ever heard of on your face.
2. The packaging scam. How much can a pretty bottle rack up the price? Turns out it's a lot. The biggest criminals of this are make up companies that try to expand their brand into skincare, you end up with some gorgeous packaging, a lovely smell, and a whole load of crap inside. Alternatively, two products could have almost the same ingredients but ones packaged better, therefore costing considerably more. The best way to avoid falling for this is to follow my first tip and read the ingredients, rather than pick up the best looking thing you see.
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| The mask is from The Body Shop and has a stupidly long name |
3. Just too much stuff. Day cream, night cream, two cleansers, eye cream, serum, oils, toner, exfoliator and masque. Did I miss anything? Using everything in one go means you don't know whats working for you, or when having an adverse reaction you don't know what isn't working for you. All these products have their benefits but its best to build your way up to a full routine. Find out what your skins actually needs, and what it is you like to use.
The most important thing is to know your skin.The idea of skincare is to bring balance to skin that can be oily, dry, or sensitised.So when in doubt strip it back, use only cleanser and moisturiser before adding other products back in gradually.
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