Do I really need to use anything other than water to wash my face?
October 15, 2017 12:14 PM Subscribe
I don't understand what all the facial products are for. (Toner? What *is* toner?) I wash my face with water, and moisturise with Aveeno if I feel it needs it. That's all. Would it really improve my skin if I used actual products? I don't have acne, but I sometimes get spots, and my skin is always a bit bumpy - I think they might be like little blackheads (not always black though), just little lumps with fat in, not infected or sore.
I think the answer to this can depend heavily on whether or not you wear makeup.
posted by juliplease at 12:25 PM on October 15, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by juliplease at 12:25 PM on October 15, 2017 [6 favorites]
I have rosacea and have been instructed to only use soap on my face if there's dirt or makeup on it. The dermatologist strongly advised against makeup.
Like you, I use soap and (knock off, usually) aveeno.
Too long; didn't read: ask a professional dermatologist. Don't ask at the makeup counter, they want to sell you makeup AND cleanser. We (on the internet) don't have the same skin as you, and aren't qualified to make suggestions for what your skin needs.
posted by bilabial at 12:35 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Like you, I use soap and (knock off, usually) aveeno.
Too long; didn't read: ask a professional dermatologist. Don't ask at the makeup counter, they want to sell you makeup AND cleanser. We (on the internet) don't have the same skin as you, and aren't qualified to make suggestions for what your skin needs.
posted by bilabial at 12:35 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: jbenben, would that be the difference between face (getting attention) and other body parts (not getting it)? I wonder if some of the difference could be due to sun exposure or just being a different skin type?
And when we're talking about cleaning gunk out of pores - OK, point taken, but does that apply even on days when I don't wear any makeup?
How would you exfoliate facial skin anyway? Mine's quite sensitive, so I wouldn't want to be scrubbing it...
posted by tangerine_poppies at 12:36 PM on October 15, 2017
And when we're talking about cleaning gunk out of pores - OK, point taken, but does that apply even on days when I don't wear any makeup?
How would you exfoliate facial skin anyway? Mine's quite sensitive, so I wouldn't want to be scrubbing it...
posted by tangerine_poppies at 12:36 PM on October 15, 2017
i use a gentle cleaner every morning with a spinning brush thing i got from ulta for cheap - i think it was less than $20 with a coupon (i liked the concept of the clarisonic, but i was not gonna spend $200). my acne has gotten better, and my skin looks and feels better. i don't use toner, but i'm going to start (it helps take off dead skin and cleans stuff outta your pores). i also wear sunscreen every single day, which has also made a lot of difference.
i tell people my age (which i don't care about, the telling people), and they never believe me. they skew me about 10 years younger. i'd be lying if i didn't say it was kinda nice to hear.
posted by koroshiya at 12:36 PM on October 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
i tell people my age (which i don't care about, the telling people), and they never believe me. they skew me about 10 years younger. i'd be lying if i didn't say it was kinda nice to hear.
posted by koroshiya at 12:36 PM on October 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
The point of cleanser is that it has some sort of surfactant in it, like the soap you would use to wash the rest of your skin. Many people find that their facial skin doesn't behave the same way that the skin on the rest of their body does, so they use facial-specific cleansers rather than body wash or soap.
Toner is mostly meant for people who have particularly oily or acne-prone skin and need more than just cleanser to remove residue from their skin. It's also often medicated (with salicylic acid) to help heal or prevent blemishes.
I think the answer to this can depend heavily on whether or not you wear makeup.
It can depend on that, but not necessarily. People who don't wear makeup but have oily/blemish/blackhead-prone skin sometimes need a bit more than water. Opting out of wearing makeup doesn't mean that people don't have skincare needs, although some non-makeup-wearing folks treat this as gospel.
posted by blerghamot at 12:40 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Toner is mostly meant for people who have particularly oily or acne-prone skin and need more than just cleanser to remove residue from their skin. It's also often medicated (with salicylic acid) to help heal or prevent blemishes.
I think the answer to this can depend heavily on whether or not you wear makeup.
It can depend on that, but not necessarily. People who don't wear makeup but have oily/blemish/blackhead-prone skin sometimes need a bit more than water. Opting out of wearing makeup doesn't mean that people don't have skincare needs, although some non-makeup-wearing folks treat this as gospel.
posted by blerghamot at 12:40 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
> And when we're talking about cleaning gunk out of pores - OK, point taken, but does that apply even on days when I don't wear any makeup?
yep. air is dirty. your hands are dirty. clothes you put next to your face pick stuff up. it's like washing your hands - you don't put makeup on your hands, but you touch stuff and stuff touches you.
> How would you exfoliate facial skin anyway? Mine's quite sensitive, so I wouldn't want to be scrubbing it...
the circular brush i have comes in sensitive. you can also put some gentle cleanser (i use philosophy purity made simple) on a microfiber cloth and do it that way. try to work gently and in circles - scrubbing your face causes irritation. act like you're washing a baby's face if that helps pressure-wise. you're trying to clean and pamper, not sandblast.
posted by koroshiya at 12:40 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
yep. air is dirty. your hands are dirty. clothes you put next to your face pick stuff up. it's like washing your hands - you don't put makeup on your hands, but you touch stuff and stuff touches you.
> How would you exfoliate facial skin anyway? Mine's quite sensitive, so I wouldn't want to be scrubbing it...
the circular brush i have comes in sensitive. you can also put some gentle cleanser (i use philosophy purity made simple) on a microfiber cloth and do it that way. try to work gently and in circles - scrubbing your face causes irritation. act like you're washing a baby's face if that helps pressure-wise. you're trying to clean and pamper, not sandblast.
posted by koroshiya at 12:40 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
I splash my face in the shower and dry it on my bath towel. That's my regimen. My face gets hideously uncomfortably tight and dry if I put anything on it other than water, so I don't. I think the condition of a person's skin is entirely genetic, and I seem to have lucked out in that one small way. Sounds like you did, too. Why waste money and time?
posted by Don Pepino at 12:45 PM on October 15, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 12:45 PM on October 15, 2017 [8 favorites]
I wear makeup sometimes and sometimes I don't. I have never had very oily skin but I am likely to get a blemish if I fail to wash my face for more than a day. Water washes have never sufficed for me to avoid breakouts, but I am trying to cut down on the number of harsh detergents I use in my life in general.
After reading through some posts on reddit's r/skincare, I tried Neutrogena's Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser and I prefer it to using nothing. I don't use it all the time but I find that when I do, I have to moisturize less than I used to.
That said, if using nothing worked for me, that is aboslutely what I would do.
posted by juliplease at 12:46 PM on October 15, 2017
After reading through some posts on reddit's r/skincare, I tried Neutrogena's Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser and I prefer it to using nothing. I don't use it all the time but I find that when I do, I have to moisturize less than I used to.
That said, if using nothing worked for me, that is aboslutely what I would do.
posted by juliplease at 12:46 PM on October 15, 2017
I think you're in the U.K., so I'll recommend exactly what I'm using: Simple oil cleanser applied to my face, gently washed off with a muslin cloth. (Muslin from an Aldi baby special.) My skin is sensitive, dry, and prone to eczema, and using this morning and night (as well as moisturising) has it much calmer and clearer than it's been in a while. All my makeup (or sweat, sun cream, air pollution, etc on non-makeup days) is actually off every day.
posted by carbide at 12:50 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by carbide at 12:50 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
There are chemical exfoliators if you find physical exfoliation too harsh- in fact, many recommend them over physical exfoliators. Here's an into the gloss article on the difference, and the /r/skincareaddiction recommendation list.
posted by perplexion at 12:50 PM on October 15, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by perplexion at 12:50 PM on October 15, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don’t use a circular brush because I subscribe to the “moisture barrier” philosophy of skin, which says never use anything harsh or abraisive on your face on a daily basis. I use micellar water to remove makeup and impurities, and moisturize every day and before bed. My skin has never looked better. That said, if your pores are getting larger or bothering you, you might want to introduce a proper cleanser into the mix. Just a gentle one.
I also occasionally use very gentle masks and chemical exfoliants (expensive ones, unfortunately, but usually in sample form). They are usually in the form of creams or moisturizers rather than cleansers. I have several Sunday Riley products and hear good things about Drunk Elephant.
posted by stoneandstar at 12:51 PM on October 15, 2017 [3 favorites]
I also occasionally use very gentle masks and chemical exfoliants (expensive ones, unfortunately, but usually in sample form). They are usually in the form of creams or moisturizers rather than cleansers. I have several Sunday Riley products and hear good things about Drunk Elephant.
posted by stoneandstar at 12:51 PM on October 15, 2017 [3 favorites]
as you can see by the incredibly wide variety of answers, there absolutely is not One Correct Answer to your question, and you can feel free to ignore anyone who tells you otherwise. you need to try out a bunch of different things and figure out which works best for you. i've tried skin/hair care things aggressively mentioned here that gave me gross and unpleasant skin reactions and i now steer away from things that people tend to get super evangelical about being the only possible solution.
as an aside, many doctors have told me that the best thing you can do for your face skin long-term is to wear sunblock every single day. if you're doing that you should probably wash with something more than just plain water as in my experience most sunblocks are disgustingly greasy and pore cloggy.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:06 PM on October 15, 2017 [10 favorites]
as an aside, many doctors have told me that the best thing you can do for your face skin long-term is to wear sunblock every single day. if you're doing that you should probably wash with something more than just plain water as in my experience most sunblocks are disgustingly greasy and pore cloggy.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:06 PM on October 15, 2017 [10 favorites]
In my experience, no. I wash my face with nothing but water and I get compliments on my skin allllll the time. In fact, if I ever get soap or cleanser on my face I break out within 24 hours.
I also don’t wear makeup at all, though, and I’m sure water would not be enough to actually clean it off.
posted by lydhre at 1:10 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
I also don’t wear makeup at all, though, and I’m sure water would not be enough to actually clean it off.
posted by lydhre at 1:10 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
Pore size is simply a function of aging. Now, a pore stuffed full of oxidized sebum can certainly be more noticeable than one that is not. So I'm not saying there's no cosmetic benefit to cleansers, ever. But the idea that exfoliation has anything to do with actual pore size? Dream, myth, fable.
(Chemical exfoliation exposes fresher skin cells and some forms may also stimulate some structure-formation beneath the skin. Many people find this cosmetically preferable also. It's just...nothing to do with pores, really. And basically NONE of this has demonstrated long-term effects, either from doing or not doing it. You want to do something good for your skin's long-term appearance in your 20s, use sunblock properly and don't smoke. Whether you exfoliate or whatever back then? Not relevant to how it will look when you're in your 40s.)
posted by praemunire at 1:14 PM on October 15, 2017 [11 favorites]
(Chemical exfoliation exposes fresher skin cells and some forms may also stimulate some structure-formation beneath the skin. Many people find this cosmetically preferable also. It's just...nothing to do with pores, really. And basically NONE of this has demonstrated long-term effects, either from doing or not doing it. You want to do something good for your skin's long-term appearance in your 20s, use sunblock properly and don't smoke. Whether you exfoliate or whatever back then? Not relevant to how it will look when you're in your 40s.)
posted by praemunire at 1:14 PM on October 15, 2017 [11 favorites]
This covers the purpose of each type of common facial care product and the reasons you might want to use them (including which ingredients do what). There are a lot more tips here.
posted by neushoorn at 1:16 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by neushoorn at 1:16 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
I stopped using products when I was around 35. My breakouts stopped completely. I’m now 41 and have no plans to change this, ever. I guess there are maybe some people with specific problem skin that might benefit from some extra stuff but in general I feel like all the complicated chemicals they try to convince you are necessary are a huge waste of money.
posted by something something at 1:17 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by something something at 1:17 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm going to do the obligatory clutching of pearls here - what about SUNSCREEN? You should 100% be wearing sunscreen every day. Sun damage can very much exacerbate the size of pores, and you need to remove it with a cleanser at the end of the day.
Will skincare products improve the texture of your skin? Absolutely. Do you need to use them? You do you, but you really should be using sunscreen on a daily basis.
posted by nerdfish at 1:31 PM on October 15, 2017 [8 favorites]
Will skincare products improve the texture of your skin? Absolutely. Do you need to use them? You do you, but you really should be using sunscreen on a daily basis.
posted by nerdfish at 1:31 PM on October 15, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm 49, I do not wear makeup, I've never had the patience for anything that could reasonably be called a skin care regimen, so I'm another of those who uses nothing but water every day... and people tell me that I look younger than I am, and that my skin looks good.
If my skin feels unpleasantly dry (which happens rarely) I spread some coconut oil over my face after showering, leave it on for an hour or so and then use a tissue to remove what's left over. That's all.
I most certainly do not use sun screen on a daily basis. Sue me.
If what you are doing is working for you, there is no reason to change.
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:34 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
If my skin feels unpleasantly dry (which happens rarely) I spread some coconut oil over my face after showering, leave it on for an hour or so and then use a tissue to remove what's left over. That's all.
I most certainly do not use sun screen on a daily basis. Sue me.
If what you are doing is working for you, there is no reason to change.
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:34 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Pore size is simply a function of aging.
Also genetics. Some people have less visible pores just in general, though everyone's get more visible as they are and their skin gets less elastic. Weight gain and loss, as well as hydration/humidity and stress also have a lot do do with your skin's day to day appearance. I only wash my face with water, do not wear makeup, and wash it with soap in the shower like everything else. I use moisturizer (just cheapie drug store kind) and am pretty serious about sunscreen especially in the summer months. Just lucky, really, for me there's very little skill in it.
posted by jessamyn at 1:35 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also genetics. Some people have less visible pores just in general, though everyone's get more visible as they are and their skin gets less elastic. Weight gain and loss, as well as hydration/humidity and stress also have a lot do do with your skin's day to day appearance. I only wash my face with water, do not wear makeup, and wash it with soap in the shower like everything else. I use moisturizer (just cheapie drug store kind) and am pretty serious about sunscreen especially in the summer months. Just lucky, really, for me there's very little skill in it.
posted by jessamyn at 1:35 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
I didn’t use anything to cleanse my face on no-makeup days until I started wearing sunscreen daily. Now I use face wash to remove sunscreen residue, which tends to give me spots. Daily sunscreen use has made a huge difference in my skin: summer used to mean a constant mini sunburn.
posted by third word on a random page at 1:40 PM on October 15, 2017
posted by third word on a random page at 1:40 PM on October 15, 2017
To follow up on Nerdfish's suggestion to always wear facial sunscreen (yes-even in winter), wearing sunscreen necessitates washing your face with a cleanser that can remove it, often oil-based.
Besides fighting wrinkles and discoloration, sunscreen...you know...protects you from cancer. This is cumulative--it'd be the kind of little melanomas that crop up on your forehead, nose, etc, late in life.
There's no reason to change a routine that's working for you, yes--but you actually can't predict the cumulative effects of not using sunscreen now, so a sunscreen-less routine may not be working as much as one thinks it is.
Also, toner is pretty versatile and is certainly not always medicated or intended for oily and acne-prone skin. There are different sorts of toners. Some are hydrating, some are balancing and cleansing and better used pre-exfoliation. Micellar water is a nice medium (but it won't always take off your sunscreen, or even your makeup).
If you like cleansing with water, you may like some of the milder/more homeopathic routines like Dr. Hauschka or Weleda. If Hauschka weren't so insanely expensive I'd definitely still use it.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 1:43 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Besides fighting wrinkles and discoloration, sunscreen...you know...protects you from cancer. This is cumulative--it'd be the kind of little melanomas that crop up on your forehead, nose, etc, late in life.
There's no reason to change a routine that's working for you, yes--but you actually can't predict the cumulative effects of not using sunscreen now, so a sunscreen-less routine may not be working as much as one thinks it is.
Also, toner is pretty versatile and is certainly not always medicated or intended for oily and acne-prone skin. There are different sorts of toners. Some are hydrating, some are balancing and cleansing and better used pre-exfoliation. Micellar water is a nice medium (but it won't always take off your sunscreen, or even your makeup).
If you like cleansing with water, you may like some of the milder/more homeopathic routines like Dr. Hauschka or Weleda. If Hauschka weren't so insanely expensive I'd definitely still use it.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 1:43 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Ah, I know I ought to wear sunscreen! I don't because:
* when it was summer, I tried to decide which one to use, couldn't figure out if I ought to get one that blocked infrared light too, so didn't get one at all. I also balked at the cost, if applying as frequently as I should! I'm also not going outside as much as I should be.
* now it's autumn. British winter = not that much sunshine.
* I've never burned - my skin tone is olivey. I guess that makes it *seem* less urgent.
posted by tangerine_poppies at 1:57 PM on October 15, 2017
* when it was summer, I tried to decide which one to use, couldn't figure out if I ought to get one that blocked infrared light too, so didn't get one at all. I also balked at the cost, if applying as frequently as I should! I'm also not going outside as much as I should be.
* now it's autumn. British winter = not that much sunshine.
* I've never burned - my skin tone is olivey. I guess that makes it *seem* less urgent.
posted by tangerine_poppies at 1:57 PM on October 15, 2017
I use the oil cleansing method. I like that it’s super cheap, I don’t support the military-industrial-cosmetics-goop-complex, and it doesn’t lead to the vicious circle of dry/oily skin I’ve had with other methods. It even removes my tinted sunscreen. What’s not to like?
posted by The Toad at 2:20 PM on October 15, 2017
posted by The Toad at 2:20 PM on October 15, 2017
now it's autumn. British winter = not that much sunshine -- it's actually not about how much sunshine there is. UV rays still exist in the fall and winter. There's a pretty big difference between sunscreen for the face and for body. It's rarely used to keep you from outright burning. You can actually get a heck of a lot of sun exposure from, say, sitting by a bright window.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 2:23 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 2:23 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
The fact you're asking this question indicates that you're curious about skincare. If you are, the link to Paula's Choice Neushoorn posted is great - you definitely don't have to use Paula's Choice products to follow it, but they are excellent if you choose to. If you're genuinely not interested in using skincare products then, again, you do you, you don't need an Internet stranger's permission to wash your face with water if that's what you like doing.
Regular chemical exfoliation will make your skin feel much smoother and softer, but well-formulated chemical exfoliants can be tricky to find. Paula's Choice BHA liquid is a widely recommended classic for a reason. Splash a little into your palms and press into skin after cleansing. I've also had good results trialling The Ordinary's very affordable Glycolic Toner, which I use on a cotton pad immediately after cleansing (usually before the PC BHA).
Chemical exfoliants will make your skin more photosensitive - yes, even in the UK.* Japanese sunscreens are so much more affordable and pleasant to wear than many other sunscreens, and are now readily available via Amazon. It takes a teaspoon to adequately cover your face. If you're going to experiment with chemical exfoliants (and, if you're interested, you should! They can make a genuinely remarkable difference to your skin) then you really should be using a sunscreen daily.
And if you wear sunscreen, you should be using an actual cleanser to wash your face. Preferably two. An oil cleanser is massaged onto dry skin, then rinsed off with water, and they're now super easy to find in shops and quite affordable. They can leave a slight residue, so follow with a regular water soluble cleanser. Switching to double cleansing was a real revelation to me - it got unimaginable amounts of crud off my face without drying or stripping, and I double cleanse even when I've just been mooching around the house all day with a layer of sunscreen on.
Do you have to do any of this? No. Is it kind of fun, harmless self care? Yes. Can it make your skin feel better? Absolutely. Is talking about skincare on the Internet kind of like kicking a hornets nest of opinion? For sure.
* I also live in the UK but still wear SPF50 daily on my Fitzpatrick I skin. They invented vitamin D supplements for a reason.
posted by nerdfish at 2:23 PM on October 15, 2017 [6 favorites]
Regular chemical exfoliation will make your skin feel much smoother and softer, but well-formulated chemical exfoliants can be tricky to find. Paula's Choice BHA liquid is a widely recommended classic for a reason. Splash a little into your palms and press into skin after cleansing. I've also had good results trialling The Ordinary's very affordable Glycolic Toner, which I use on a cotton pad immediately after cleansing (usually before the PC BHA).
Chemical exfoliants will make your skin more photosensitive - yes, even in the UK.* Japanese sunscreens are so much more affordable and pleasant to wear than many other sunscreens, and are now readily available via Amazon. It takes a teaspoon to adequately cover your face. If you're going to experiment with chemical exfoliants (and, if you're interested, you should! They can make a genuinely remarkable difference to your skin) then you really should be using a sunscreen daily.
And if you wear sunscreen, you should be using an actual cleanser to wash your face. Preferably two. An oil cleanser is massaged onto dry skin, then rinsed off with water, and they're now super easy to find in shops and quite affordable. They can leave a slight residue, so follow with a regular water soluble cleanser. Switching to double cleansing was a real revelation to me - it got unimaginable amounts of crud off my face without drying or stripping, and I double cleanse even when I've just been mooching around the house all day with a layer of sunscreen on.
Do you have to do any of this? No. Is it kind of fun, harmless self care? Yes. Can it make your skin feel better? Absolutely. Is talking about skincare on the Internet kind of like kicking a hornets nest of opinion? For sure.
* I also live in the UK but still wear SPF50 daily on my Fitzpatrick I skin. They invented vitamin D supplements for a reason.
posted by nerdfish at 2:23 PM on October 15, 2017 [6 favorites]
If you wear a sunscreen you need to wash your face every day with a some sort of cleanser. Soap is't great for skin as it leaves a residue. You need to remove your sunscreen because if it's a chemical sunscreen it works (very simplified) by soaking into your skin & the chemicals taking the damage that would happen to your skin instead. You need to wash off the old to put on the new to ensure maximum effectiveness if nothing else. If you use a mineral sunscreen you need to wash it off to remove the old product to ensure an even coverage.
You don't have to use other products, your skin is your skin treat it however you like. But seriously the minimum I would recommend for anyone is a gentle foaming cleanser, (not everyone needs a clarisonic) some sort of moisturiser at night (I'd go with something like Cera Ve PM, just because it contains more of the goodies that have been scientifically proven to help your skin like ceramides & peptides than a lot of stuff out there) and a good sunscreen. I like Australian botanicals mineral one as it's amazing under makeup and love love love some of the japanese ones, but whatever it is get a broadspectrum one & apply in the quantities directed on the label.
From what you say about your skin, I really think you'd find chemical exfoliants useful. If you're looking to up your game a little then a chemical exfoliate, but I don't recommend those to someone not fussy about sunscreen as they can make skin more sun sensitive. If you go that route a company called "The Ordinary" has a huge range of them to try at really good price points so you can experiment. Remember when starting out just use lower strength products in small does & space uses a few days apart until your skin get's used to it. Glycolic or latic acid products are the most gentle type of AHA out there & a good place to start.
posted by wwax at 2:47 PM on October 15, 2017
You don't have to use other products, your skin is your skin treat it however you like. But seriously the minimum I would recommend for anyone is a gentle foaming cleanser, (not everyone needs a clarisonic) some sort of moisturiser at night (I'd go with something like Cera Ve PM, just because it contains more of the goodies that have been scientifically proven to help your skin like ceramides & peptides than a lot of stuff out there) and a good sunscreen. I like Australian botanicals mineral one as it's amazing under makeup and love love love some of the japanese ones, but whatever it is get a broadspectrum one & apply in the quantities directed on the label.
From what you say about your skin, I really think you'd find chemical exfoliants useful. If you're looking to up your game a little then a chemical exfoliate, but I don't recommend those to someone not fussy about sunscreen as they can make skin more sun sensitive. If you go that route a company called "The Ordinary" has a huge range of them to try at really good price points so you can experiment. Remember when starting out just use lower strength products in small does & space uses a few days apart until your skin get's used to it. Glycolic or latic acid products are the most gentle type of AHA out there & a good place to start.
posted by wwax at 2:47 PM on October 15, 2017
just little lumps with fat in
That's dead skin cells, hair, and oil, not fat. It's one reason to exfoliate, so your pores don't fill up with gunk and grow skin over.
I have rosacea and limited patience, and have found it easiest to just use the basic Paula's Choice Recovery products: cleanser, toner (it's a follow-up to cleanser), their 2% BHA (chemical exfoliant, generally considered preferable to physical exfoliation which can cause permanent damage), and the Replenishing Moisturizer. I use various versions of Japanese or Korean sunscreen, currently this one has been the one I've liked best.
The thing about skincare is that you do get a little bit of immediate and near-future payoff, but it's a long game until you really see the results of lack of care. Sun damage builds up every day until one day you start noticing in photographs that you have a V of redder skin on your neck and chest, sometimes dotted with small white scars, and eventually you start seeing it in the mirror when you've just gotten out of the shower, and on the sides of your face. That damage was done ten, twenty years ago. You'll end up with thickened skin on your cheeks and nose - the upward-facing planes - first, and spidery veins, and then maybe skin cancer. It's years too late at that point to prevent it, or even slow it down.
But yes, even if you don't wear makeup or sunscreen, your face skin functions differently than your arm or foot skin and is producing a lot of oil and is exposed to air and dust. Just like you still need to clean your hair and scalp periodically even if you don't wear hair product, you should wash your face routinely to get the dirt off.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:54 PM on October 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's dead skin cells, hair, and oil, not fat. It's one reason to exfoliate, so your pores don't fill up with gunk and grow skin over.
I have rosacea and limited patience, and have found it easiest to just use the basic Paula's Choice Recovery products: cleanser, toner (it's a follow-up to cleanser), their 2% BHA (chemical exfoliant, generally considered preferable to physical exfoliation which can cause permanent damage), and the Replenishing Moisturizer. I use various versions of Japanese or Korean sunscreen, currently this one has been the one I've liked best.
The thing about skincare is that you do get a little bit of immediate and near-future payoff, but it's a long game until you really see the results of lack of care. Sun damage builds up every day until one day you start noticing in photographs that you have a V of redder skin on your neck and chest, sometimes dotted with small white scars, and eventually you start seeing it in the mirror when you've just gotten out of the shower, and on the sides of your face. That damage was done ten, twenty years ago. You'll end up with thickened skin on your cheeks and nose - the upward-facing planes - first, and spidery veins, and then maybe skin cancer. It's years too late at that point to prevent it, or even slow it down.
But yes, even if you don't wear makeup or sunscreen, your face skin functions differently than your arm or foot skin and is producing a lot of oil and is exposed to air and dust. Just like you still need to clean your hair and scalp periodically even if you don't wear hair product, you should wash your face routinely to get the dirt off.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:54 PM on October 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
Correction to my answer: I use only water and averno. NO SOAP, unless I've smeared grease or something on my face.
No. Soap. Ugh. I should get in the habit of reading before I press post.
posted by bilabial at 3:32 PM on October 15, 2017
No. Soap. Ugh. I should get in the habit of reading before I press post.
posted by bilabial at 3:32 PM on October 15, 2017
Wash with Salicylic acid or Benzoyl Peroxide to decrease blackheads. Cleanse with finger pads. No aggressive exfoliating needed since harsh scrubs seem to irritate and inflame further. Sunscreen for day. That’s it. Try Neutrogena or Cerave products. Easy.
posted by loveandhappiness at 3:44 PM on October 15, 2017
posted by loveandhappiness at 3:44 PM on October 15, 2017
I have great skin and went from literally using nothing but water, to nothing but cleanser, sunscreen and water, to cleanser and exfoliants and vitamin c and retinol.
My skin was good but I turned 30 and thought I should start wearing sunscreen, so I did. Washed my face at night to remove it. Noticed zero difference in the quality of my skin and was super pale. So I added in AHA exfoliation and vitamin c serum - noticed a difference within a week. I glow like a lightbulb. I'm hooked.
If this is all boring or not worth it to you then by all means continue on with water!!
posted by pintapicasso at 4:17 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
My skin was good but I turned 30 and thought I should start wearing sunscreen, so I did. Washed my face at night to remove it. Noticed zero difference in the quality of my skin and was super pale. So I added in AHA exfoliation and vitamin c serum - noticed a difference within a week. I glow like a lightbulb. I'm hooked.
If this is all boring or not worth it to you then by all means continue on with water!!
posted by pintapicasso at 4:17 PM on October 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
I also balked at the cost,
I buy Vichy Ideal Soleil bare skin feel face and body, spf 60. A 150 ml bottle costs $30 Canadian. I use it only on my face, nearly every day. It lasts about a year. It lasts so long that I want it to run out. This is $2.50 per month. I don't presume to know your financial situation but I suspect it is not prohibitive for you. This is a fancy expensive brand of sunscreen, far cheaper brands exist. Just get thee to a drugstore and stop avoiding sunscreen. Also I am black, your skin colour is no excuse. Also not being outside is no excuse unless you spend all day in a windowless room. If you don't believe me remember that the truck driver was inside his truck, not outdoors.
Yes you should wash your face with more than just water for the same reason you should wash your laundry with more than just water. It gets dirty. You don't have to do it every day but you should do it sometimes.
You can use a non-stripping, neutral Ph, fragrance free cleanser if you are worried.
Although my impression is that r/skincareddiction has gone downhill, the FAQ I have linked there should answer most of your questions about skincare basics (including "what is toner"!).
Skincare is super fun! You can get as deep into it or not as you please, but you can almost definitely improve the texture of your skin with a bit of effort.
posted by windykites at 5:49 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
I buy Vichy Ideal Soleil bare skin feel face and body, spf 60. A 150 ml bottle costs $30 Canadian. I use it only on my face, nearly every day. It lasts about a year. It lasts so long that I want it to run out. This is $2.50 per month. I don't presume to know your financial situation but I suspect it is not prohibitive for you. This is a fancy expensive brand of sunscreen, far cheaper brands exist. Just get thee to a drugstore and stop avoiding sunscreen. Also I am black, your skin colour is no excuse. Also not being outside is no excuse unless you spend all day in a windowless room. If you don't believe me remember that the truck driver was inside his truck, not outdoors.
Yes you should wash your face with more than just water for the same reason you should wash your laundry with more than just water. It gets dirty. You don't have to do it every day but you should do it sometimes.
You can use a non-stripping, neutral Ph, fragrance free cleanser if you are worried.
Although my impression is that r/skincareddiction has gone downhill, the FAQ I have linked there should answer most of your questions about skincare basics (including "what is toner"!).
Skincare is super fun! You can get as deep into it or not as you please, but you can almost definitely improve the texture of your skin with a bit of effort.
posted by windykites at 5:49 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you want to learn more about taking care of your skin check out r/AsianBeauty. It's about Asian skincare routines. You can make a routine as simple or complex as you want and address what skin issues you have. The community is really supportive and knowledgeable so you can ask in the daily help thread or look in the sidebar or blogs like Snow White and the Asian Pear or Fifty Shades of Snail for product recommendations.
posted by starlybri at 6:19 PM on October 15, 2017
posted by starlybri at 6:19 PM on October 15, 2017
Do you want to get rid of the bumps, or are you happy with your complexion as is?
posted by kapers at 6:24 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kapers at 6:24 PM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
The best health my skin (and hair) have ever been in was in my early 20s when I did an Outward Bound course and didn't shower or really wash for 23 days. My skin was perfect, my hair was perfect.
There's something to be said for letting nature take its course, but there are also many reasons to not. Find what works for you and then do that.
posted by bendy at 2:19 AM on October 16, 2017
There's something to be said for letting nature take its course, but there are also many reasons to not. Find what works for you and then do that.
posted by bendy at 2:19 AM on October 16, 2017
Those bumps sound like 'closed comedones.'
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 7:43 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 7:43 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you are interested in trying to get rid of them (the closed comedones), I can definitely recommend an Asian skincare routine, which is the only thing that ever helped with mine. They are usually referred to as 'CCs,' in case you look into it.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 7:45 AM on October 16, 2017
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 7:45 AM on October 16, 2017
Response by poster: kapers: yes, I *would* like to get rid of the bumps and have glowy smooth skin, if it seemed achievable :)
posted by tangerine_poppies at 8:46 AM on October 16, 2017
posted by tangerine_poppies at 8:46 AM on October 16, 2017
as you can see by the incredibly wide variety of answers, there absolutely is not One Correct Answer to your question, and you can feel free to ignore anyone who tells you otherwise.
Seconding this. I've seen a lot of people in here saying that scrubbing your facial skin is the worst thing ever, but for me, it's the only thing that actually works. However, that is becuase I am especially prone to clogging pores, and a bit of a heavier hand on the exfoliation is what keeps that at bay.
It's a trial-and-error thing, unfortunately.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:49 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seconding this. I've seen a lot of people in here saying that scrubbing your facial skin is the worst thing ever, but for me, it's the only thing that actually works. However, that is becuase I am especially prone to clogging pores, and a bit of a heavier hand on the exfoliation is what keeps that at bay.
It's a trial-and-error thing, unfortunately.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:49 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
if you're only using water to cleanse your face now, i HIGHLY recommend micellar water. i use it most mornings/evenings, unless i take a shower in which case i'll use the cosrx low-ph morning cleanser and/or the glossier jelly cleanser (which is suuuuper gentle). micellar water just feels like regular water - squirt some onto a cotton pad and swipe all over your face. it takes off wayyyy more gunk than you'd expect, and is pretty great at removing makeup as well. you can even get micellar water face wipes for extra ease of use.
in terms of exfoliation, chemical is by far the easiest. the ordinary makes excellent skincare stuff and it's all cheap. i have their azelaic acid suspension which i use most nights and it's great for helping my skin feel smooth and even out the tone. they don't have a whole lot of info about how/why to use their formulas on their website, so i'd recommend googling anything there to get a sense of how/why to use it.
also heartily joining in on others' recommendations for asian skincare lines. cosrx makes all my favorite stuff. the low-ph morning cleanser is excellent and gentle, the snail mucus essence (i know) is super soothing and moisturizing, the summer pore minish serum makes my skin look and feel great, and the oil-free ultra moisturizing lotion with birch sap is perfect for combo skin.
also, i definitely recommend checking out comedian kath barbadoro's tumblr about skincare (and makeup) - she explains things very simply and in a super engaging way
posted by burgerrr at 11:07 AM on October 16, 2017
in terms of exfoliation, chemical is by far the easiest. the ordinary makes excellent skincare stuff and it's all cheap. i have their azelaic acid suspension which i use most nights and it's great for helping my skin feel smooth and even out the tone. they don't have a whole lot of info about how/why to use their formulas on their website, so i'd recommend googling anything there to get a sense of how/why to use it.
also heartily joining in on others' recommendations for asian skincare lines. cosrx makes all my favorite stuff. the low-ph morning cleanser is excellent and gentle, the snail mucus essence (i know) is super soothing and moisturizing, the summer pore minish serum makes my skin look and feel great, and the oil-free ultra moisturizing lotion with birch sap is perfect for combo skin.
also, i definitely recommend checking out comedian kath barbadoro's tumblr about skincare (and makeup) - she explains things very simply and in a super engaging way
posted by burgerrr at 11:07 AM on October 16, 2017
I wash my face before bed because I don't wash my pillowcases every day. In that sense, washing my face is an apology for essentially wearing the same clothes on my face for eight hours at a time for a week before I wash them. I'm a very oily person, and I live where it's very sunny = I wear sunscreen every day, and I live where it's very dusty for much of the year. By the end of the day my face feels gross, and I don't want that grossness to transfer to my sheets.
That said, I don't wear makeup and I don't understand most products beyond the marketing and moneymaking tools they are. I use a gentle non-soap cleanser that my dermatologist recommended and that's it.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 7:31 PM on October 16, 2017
That said, I don't wear makeup and I don't understand most products beyond the marketing and moneymaking tools they are. I use a gentle non-soap cleanser that my dermatologist recommended and that's it.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 7:31 PM on October 16, 2017
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Yes, use actual cleansers. Do this just because as you get older, pore size makes you look older. Cleaning the gunk out of your pores helps. Do it for future you.
posted by jbenben at 12:21 PM on October 15, 2017 [5 favorites]