Do facial products make a difference? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do facial products make a difference?

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Once upon a time, I used Clinique's 3-step system, and flirted with various tonics, toners, serums, masks, creams, scrubs. I've long abandoned using these as a result of frequent traveling/commuting.

My current routine involves a microfiber face cloth, washing my face 2x/day, once with just water, and once with some soap. I use TJs sunscreen in the AM, and nothing at night. Once or twice a month I use a clay mask.

I don't really notice much difference between this low maintenance routine and ones where I used more product. Sebaceous filaments are always prominent and present, as are a few persistent blackheads.

My question: if you discovered beautiful, smooth skin along your beauty regimen journey, what did you do to achieve it? And is there anyone else who noticed minimal difference after largely abandoning product?

ETA: I look my age, and have neither terrible nor wonderful skin. A small bit of blackhead scarring and some wrinkles, but that's been the case for awhile. I also just started the daily sunscreen habit, and even succumbed to a wide-brim hat for walks.

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34 replies

Latest reply was from jenanded

Anonymous

I pretty much stick to the basics: (1) cleansing and (2) moisturizing (with sunscreen during the day). I use coconut oil and Trader Joe's facial cleanser at night, just water in the a.m. My serums and moisturizers are Olay Regenerist products. Nothing too fancy. Once in awhile I dip my toe in the toner/mask/exfoliation pool, but only sporadically. I think consistency is the key to good skin care. You have to do it every day for it to be effective, but the results are worth it.

Diana

Veteran

I've never been a user of product as a lot of them give me mild contact dermatitis and therefore make my skin red and itchy. I think I also have pretty thin, sensitive skin and so anything abrasive/harsh is really bad for it. I don't even really use a washcloth. I use Liquid Neutrogena face wash (a glycerin based wash) or whole foods 365 glycerin soap (which I also use for my body) and just splash water to wash it off, although I do blot dry with a towel.

I use the Olay sensitive spf15 facial lotion in the morning, nothing at night unless it's super dry, in which case I just use the olay again.

My skin is pretty good, although I do have the occasional breakout or blackhead. Honestly, my skin was best when I was on hormonal birth control pills.

I also don't use makeup except for mascara and very occasionally lipstick, and I never wear foundation... so I never have the need to really scrub anything off my face.

ETA: so to answer your question: For me, most facial products make my skin WORSE because they are too harsh. I think it depends on how sensitive your skin is though.

rachylou

Veteran

I do like my vitamin c cleanser, peptide cream, retinol cream and Biore strips - and a hydrating mask every now and then. But not daily. I think that's harsh to the skin.

Anonymous

I stick to a gentle cleanser and my Rx topical meds, as everything else I've tried has wreaked havoc on my sensitive skin. I have to be extremely careful with makeup, too. At least the Rx meds have cleared my face up and have kept it clear. You have no idea how bad it was before. Ugh!

Anonymous

I noticed a profound difference in my skin after I began using Avon Anew cream in my mid 30s. I am now 60 and use glycolic acid on my face, neck, chest twice a week. I also use a vitamin C serum two times a week. I constantly get complimented on my skin. No lines, wrinkles, or dark spots.

BTW, i think adding sunscreen to my routine helped immensely.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Sunscreen and Retin-A have an impact. I think the rest is more looks and comfort. (I really like facial oils in the winter.)

Anonymous

Yes, it absolutely makes a difference to me. I use a fair bit of product - different things on different days and time of day, and every time I decide to substitute my high end stuff for a drugstore version or go the simple route, I regret it. You are lucky to get away with just sunscreen - I'm pretty amazed! I have recently gone full on into the Prevage line, which is really expensive, but got good advice, plus a good cosmetician at Shoppers Drug Mart willing to give me extra little treats to make the expense worth my while. I think I have good skin, especially for the amount of sun exposure I get. I treat it very well, and hope it reflects that.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It ABSOLUTELY makes a HUGE difference. And will be back to comment.

Gaylene

Veteran

I think if your current regime is working for you, I'd stay with it. Despite the claims, nothing prevents aging--and, if you are lucky, you'll live long enough to gain a few wrinkles and lines regardless of what you smear on your face.

My skin care regime was similar to yours (sans the clay mask) until I reached my early sixties. Since I spent a lot of time outdoors, I was an early sunscreen adopter and I think it paid off for me since, at 67, I have very little wrinkling and a fairly smooth, even-toned complexion. My makeup routine was also pretty simple--mascara, eye pencil, a dab of concealer, and a lip gloss. All my products, along with a small bottle of shampoo, a brush, and a tube of hand cream, fit easilyinto a small pocket in a backpack or carryon.

In my early sixties, I did start using a glycolic acid lotion, a vitamin C serum, and a hyluronic cream. My skin didn't have a problem with these products and did appear brighter--at least to my eye, although Mr, G says he can't discern any difference. :). I like the feel and subtle scent of the products, and I can afford them, but I suspect the psychological benefits might outweigh any real difference. Whatever...it pleases me to use them so I'll continue for now.

Carla

Veteran

Like you, Clinique was my go to for years. Then the moisturizer started to feel too greasy and made my eyes water! I have different stuff in different kits (I have 2 gym bags on the go, and a drawer at home.) I like Aveno products, but have flings with other lines. Nothing really high end.

My skin looks best about an hour after a workout - when the redness recedes and it is plumped up, shiny, and clean fom a good sweat followed by a shower.

deb

Veteran

Yes, I was a Clinique user when they first came on the scene. Started retin A in my mid 30s then stopped because of other medical issues. I have always used moisturizer, even with oily skin. I am currently using -

Night

I double cleanse with Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Oil and any good cream cleanser.

First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads - This is a chemical exfoliator. Granules irritate my skin.

Glo By Dr Brandt - retinol cream

I use Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion day and night.

Morning

I only use a wash cloth and warm water in the morning, no cleanser followed by

Timeless Skin Care 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid - It is made on demand and because vitamin C decreases it's potency with age ( it turns yellow) must be use before the turn. This is a great product for the price and I highly recommend it.

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Serum.

Thistle

Veteran

I can't use much.

My skin is very sensitive, and I'm prone to fragrance based dermatitis. Almost anything I use must be fragrance free.

Many cleansers, masks or peels leave my skin red and itchy. Also allergies.

My dermatologist basically told me he's seen it more and more often. He gave some recommendations but I should really go back as my skin has changed post kids.

rachylou

Veteran

My grandma used the Clinique moisturizer and didn't have a wrinkle, I swear.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Some people win the genetic lottery, some don't. But skin care does help in my opinion.

I use Retin-A and a topical combination of an antibiotic benzoyl peroxide. With those I use a lot of moisturizer.
I've just started using this and I like it so far. Not cheap,
http://www.sephora.com/viz-100.....=products%

I'm trying to find new regular moisturizers. I think I'll try Aesop.
If anything hit up Sephora and ask for samples, or any department store. Get at least two of each product if you can to see how they really work.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Expensive moisturizers tend to smell delightful and feel lovely as you smooth them on your skin, but in my experience, they don't actually do anything much besides temporarily add a bit of moisture, which is something that a cheap tube of Cetaphil or CeraVe does just as well (if not better). So mostly I use the cheap stuff, but I do find that daily moisturizer makes my skin marginally nicer.

One thing that does work, I think, in terms of making you look a bit more youthful and radiant is Retin-A (tretonoin) cream. It increases cell turnover. I've noticed a slight difference since using it for this past year, although I'm also a year older, so I'm fighting against the clock, lol.

I dislike sunscreen but have been using it faithfully for at least a decade. It's one of the only things that works for preventing -- well, delaying -- wrinkles. Staying inside like a monk all the time would work even better, of course.

jenanded

Veteran

I have always used products on my skin. The ones I have been using for ages are Simplicite and they seem to make a good difference. Not that my skin is perfect by any means, but it is fairly cost efficient and my skin is in pretty good nick for how my skin plays. I find a lot of the commercial brands give me red itchy skin, oiliness, etc etc. I would give a lot more things up before I ever did my skin care range...

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

I wish I'd used sunscreen when I was young instead of baking in the sun, and all of my skin issues at this point in life are because of that. I use Olay Regenerist face wipes at night (or Philosophy Purity), and then Josie Maran light argan oil. I was a Clinique user for years, and it was a real revelation to me that I'd hit the point in life where oil was a *good thing. In the winter I use Clinique's Moisture Surge Mask, which I have discovered is gentler than either of their other two Moisture Surge products. I exfoliate with a wash cloth year round, and use either Clinique's 7-Day Scrub or Philosophy's MicroDelivery Exfoliating Wash or Olay Regenerist scrub weekly, and I haven't noticed any difference in results between them. My grandmother and mom both had lovely skin into their 80s and my grandmother used Ponds Cold Cream and my mom used Oil of Olay (and no sunscreen) so I think consistency in moisturizing is more important than how expensive the product is.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Yes, it makes a big difference, in my experience. My current regime for several years now has been Paula's Choice. My evening routine is cleanser, toner, exfoliant, serum, and moisturizer. Morning is simpler - toner, serum, moisturizer with SPF. A few years ago I had a bout of redness, dryness, and irritation that started out of nowhere and nothing worked to get rid of it until I tried this Paula's Choice stuff. My skin felt better overnight and healed over the next couple of weeks. The products are fragrance-free and kind to the skin.

Anonymous

I had a bad reaction to an Rx Retin-A cream prescribed by my dermatologist. My skin got so bad that it was peeling badly, and it was painful to wash my face.

Anonymous

I second Alexandra on the Paula's Choice products. I use quite a few of them for body care. The facial products are excellent, too.

jill58

Veteran

I too had a bad reaction to prescription Retin-A cream. I've always been very skeptical of products although I have been a daily user of moisturizer with sunscreen since my twenties.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Yup, it's true. Retin-A makes some people's skin freak out. But it's worth a try, because in terms of making the skin's collagen layer thicker, it's the only thing that has the science behind it. Other creams will temporarily plump up the skin, and be lovely to apply and non-irritating, but they don't make any structural changes -- they just temporarily (like, for a few hours) increase the skin's ability to retain moisture.

Moisturizers are important if your skin is prone to dryness or flakiness, though.

Gradfashionista, I am like you. I find a very minimal routine is just as good as a complicated one. The less I muck with my skin, the better. More than anything I rub on my face, you know what I think helps? Sleep! The myths about "beauty sleep" are actually true. Also, for me, stress = blemishes. Alcohol consumption (which seems to increase with increased stress, haha) definitely plays a role too, although drinking too much doesn't seem as terrible for my skin as inadequate sleep.

Another thing: when people talk about skin, I wonder if there's an element of opinion to it. I think people tend to get perfectionistic. Photoshopped or airbrushed media images don't help the situation. We have unrealistic expectations of how skin should look. Lots of people who think they have mediocre skin actually have very nice skin.

SandyG

Veteran

I'm also in the group for Retin-A skin woes. When I asked my very fair skinned dermatologist what she recommended for my skin it was only two products. The first is an Rx 30% vitamin C cream which she swore would not irritate my skin, because I was twitching thinking about my rosacea getting irritated with vitamin C. But it's gentle and my skin is brighter and more even in color in one month. The second is the skin supplement Helios Ultra. She uses both, has beautiful skin, and her hobby is ocean racing, so she has lots of sun and salt water exposure. She's currently sailing to Hawaii and back, so she's a really sporty dermatologist!

BrieN

Veteran

Well. If I ever get my mother-in-law to divulge her secrets I'll be sure to share them here. She has aged 5 years in the last 20. I have to imagine that there must be some needles or scalpels involved, but nothing you can pinpoint. She is fanatical about sunscreen, a wide brimmed SPF hat, and huge sunglasses every moment she steps outside, so there is one piece of advice for you.

As for me, Retin-A and a product called Calm, Cool and Corrected have cured my rosacea woes.

Gigi

Veteran

I have a friend who swears by Dr. Hauschka products. She started using them in her thirties and was so impressed that she became a salesperson for them. She has amazing skin. She looks like she is in her late thirties, but she is in her early fifties. I myself tried some of the Dr. H products, and I reacted to some of them (the Night Serum and the Cleansing Milk gave me acne). However, others seemed to be the only thing my sensitive skin could handle (the Melissa Cream and the Cleansing Cream). I had been using a glycolic cream before starting the Dr. H products, and I noticed a big difference with the glycolic cream. But I found that I could do without it once I started the Dr. H. So the Dr. H products must be doing some good stuff.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I second Alexandra and Xtabay on Paula's Choice products. I love them.

Deborah

Veteran

My personal view is that a good diet, drinking lots of water and enough sleep are great for our skin. I also believe it's important to cleanse and moisturise. I am actually trialing some skin care for a friend at the moment. I like it but I don't think it makes my skin look any better than my usual products. The only product I have found that really makes a visible difference is a bee venom product... made quite a difference and reduced the puffiness under my eyes.

Anonymous

Just adding -- the only thing I've ever done that actually resulted in favorable comments on my skin is I quit eating sugar. After about a month, the compliments started. Which eased the withdrawal pains!

anne

Veteran

I have never tried anything expensive. I just use nivea to moisturize and wash my face once a day in the shower. I bought some make up remover recently but haven't opened it.
I have pretty good skin but not from my efforts.

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