Today, I want to share with you some things I learned about skincare – from skincare disasters. Here’s why… Harsh toners. No sunscreen. Rich moisturizers that made me breakout. Gosh, I was so harsh on my skin in my teen years! Thing is, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. My mum only washed her face with soap and water. If her skin were dry, maybe she’d use moisturizer, too.
None of the teen mags I read told me how important sunscreen was. They just promoted whatever product or technique was in at the time (and paid their bills). It took me years of trial and error to figure out how to take care of my skin. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:
1. It’s The Dose That Makes The Poison (Or The Elixir)
It’s not just about what ingredients are in a product. It’s about how much of them are in a product. Vitamin C is awesome. It fights free radicals and brightens your skin to boot. But, most brands just use the tiniest amount. Surprise, surprise, that’s not gonna do anything for you.
On the other hand, harmful ingredients aren’t that harmful in tiny doses. Take propylene glycol, for example. Yes, 100% propylene glycol is an antifreeze that can be very irritating. But in cosmetics, it’s used so sparingly, it won’t hurt you.
And before you start freaking out about “chemicals,” just remember: arsenic is natural. So’s poison ivy. “Natural” doesn’t mean safe and lab-made doesn’t mean bad. Half the time synthetic stuff is just more stable, more predictable, and doesn’t go off in two weeks.
Related: 7 Skincare Ingredients With An Undeserved Bad Reputation
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2. Packaging Matters
I’ve always been a sucker for pretty packaging. When I was younger, I often bought something on a whim just because it looked so cute. For makeup, that may be fine. But, when it comes to skincare practical is way more important than pretty. Some of the best ingredients, such as retinoids, antioxidants, and sunscreen actives, lose a bit of their effectiveness whenever they are exposed to light and air.
Watch out for droppers and clear bottles – especially for things like Vitamin C. Once that stuff hits light or air? Oxidation city. It turns brown, smells weird, and basically stops working. If you’re gonna spend the money on active ingredients, make sure the packaging doesn’t sabotage it. These days, if products don’t come in air-tight and opaque tubes and bottles, I leave them on the shelf.
Related: Why Jar Packaging Is A Waste Of Money
3. Stick With The Purpose Products Are Formulated For
Yes, there are exceptions to this rule. I often use hair conditioner as shaving cream. And, if I don’t like a face moisturizer, I’ll use it on my body. But I would never do the opposite. Why? Body creams usually have thicker textures that are ideal for the thicker skin of the body, but can cause breakouts on the face.
And don’t even get me started about using dishwashing liquid, or anything like that, as a body wash or shampoo. Yes, they all contain the same ingredients, but their concentrations in dishwashing stuff is much, much higher and could seriously irritate your skin. Concentration matters, remember?
Also: don’t use coconut oil meant for cooking as your face moisturizer. I don’t care how “pure” it is. Your pores do. Food-grade oils can be super comedogenic. Just because something’s edible doesn’t mean your skin wants to eat it. If it hasn’t been formulated for the skin, don’t put it there. Full stop.
4. Very Few Ingredients Can Penetrate Your Skin
Your skin isn’t there just cos. It does a very important job: it keeps stuff OUT of the body. And it does it very well. That’s why you still take a pill or have an injection when you’re sick. Getting something to get through the skin is hard. Yes, a few things do get through, under the right conditions. But skin doesn’t absorb as much stuff as we’re lead to believe these days.
And even when something gets through, it usually stays in the dead, superficial layers of the skin. They never reach the blood stream. And why should they be able to penetrate so deep into the body, anyway? Most ingredients work only when left on the skin. If UV filters penetrates skin, they wouldn’t provide any sun protection, would they?
But if your barrier’s messed up (like you went too hard on exfoliants or got sunburned) then yeah, more stuff can get in. Your skin basically loses its bouncer. That’s when even the stuff that’s usually fine can start causing drama. So yeah, keeping your barrier solid isn’t optional. It’s the whole game.
Related: Does Your Skin Really Absorb 60% Of What You Put On It?
5. You Don’t Need That Many Skincare Products
The 10 step Korean skincare routine may be all the rage now, but you don’t need to use so many products. If you’re on a budget, just stick to these 3 daily essentials. If your skin needs some extra help, you can always add a booster or toner later on.
Buying this or that product just because it’s popular or Allure said is a must is usually just a waste of money. Also more products mean more chances for irritation. If you’re layering 8 different serums, how do you even know what’s working and what’s causing that new breakout? Keep it simple.
Listen to your skin. Figure out what’s upsetting it and what ingredients can fix its woes. Choose products accordingly. Done. Now both your skin and your wallet are happy.
Related: 5 Unnecessary Skincare Products You Shouldn’t Waste Any Money On
What’s One Thing You’d Tell Your Younger Self About Skincare?
Sunscreen. Every. Single. Day. I don’t care if it’s cloudy. I don’t care if you’re not “going outside.” If there’s light, there’s UV. All the serums and creams in the world won’t help if you’re letting the sun undo it all every day. SPF is the best anti-aging product you will ever own. Don’t wait until your 30s to realize that.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need a cabinet full of serums. You don’t need to fear “chemicals.” And you definitely don’t need to follow whatever TikTok trend is popping off this week. Skincare is about understanding your skin, knowing what it needs, and choosing products that deliver. Save your money. Protect your barrier. And wear the damn sunscreen.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
