I met some people recently, and we got to talking about skincare. We were discussing various products like cleansing oils, serums and toners or lotions. I was mildly surprised (putting it mildly) when the consensus was that including cleansing, the most products the other ladies put on their faces was 3, maybe 4.
I sat there quietly counting in my head the number of products I use, and my brain shut down after 5. At any one time, I use at least 8 products, especially at night. Sometimes, its 9 if I’m doing a mask. I don’t know when was the last time I did 3 or 4 and left it at that.
So, I’m curious. Just how many products do you use in your skincare routine for day and night?
The picture above is what I’m using currently for my night time skincare routine. I double cleanse as a general rule so that’s 2 cleansers. I use a wipe off gel exfoliator thingy, a lotion or face spray, my pre-serum, a serum and then a moisturizer mixed with an oil. Some items may change in terms of brand, but my skin has benefited from this regime and as I’ve been doing this for quite a while now, I don’t intend to stop.
In the day, the list is markedly shorter. A face wash, a facial spray, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen. If I skip the serum, that’s 4 items already.
I’m not saying that less is more or that more is better. There are many schools of thought on this and I subscribe to none. I do what my skin likes and prefers and so long as my skin is happy, I’m happy too. I must say though that ever since I set up this sort of routine, I have been seeing better results on my skin. Does it take me longer? Not really. It never takes me more than a few seconds to pat or apply everything on in any case.
Someone with more problematic skin may benefit from using fewer products. We’re all different. But it would be interesting to know just how many is your optimum number 🙂
Your Say: How many products do you use as part of your daily skincare routine?
Paris B
Mee says
In comparison to some other commenters I think my list is quite short!
I use the same cleanser and toner for day and night time.
I also do some facial zoning (I don’t know how you call it^^), because my skin is oily on the forehead and normal on all the other parts of my face. So I always use the same gel for my T-Zone during night and day. For the rest I use a normal cream for the day. For the night I use a more moisturising product. But that’s it! (:
Actually I often feel quite bad when I buy so many products, because I often just don’t use them until they are empty and so it is partly wasted money. And I don’t know… I start to feel bad when I buy too much, that consumism, so I am trying to find the optimal products so that I don’t have to use many different products xD
Elaine says
I am brand-hopper for skincare as I liked to try new products..
Day
Shiseido White Lucent Cleanser
Lancaster Facial Scrub
Shiseido Senka Toner (blue cap)
Shiseido White Lucent Moisturizer
Clarins Sun block
Night
Shiseido White Lucent Cleanser
Avene Thermal Spray
White Formula Toner & Essence (from Taiwan)
Paula Choice 2% BHA Lotion
Dior Total Capture Cream, Eye Cream
OR
The Saem (Korea) Chaga White Serum, W Pearl Beam Cream, Spot Corrector
Kose Eye Cream
Weekly- Lush MoM mask or Origins Clear Improvement Mask, MBD sheet Masks
I had just bought The Saem products to try, and really like the light weight texture. It is also improving my skin & making it more luminuous. 🙂
Isabelle says
For my skin I use
Day:
Qv cleanser
Burt bees SPF 30 sunscreen
Night:
Coconut oil to remove eye & face makeup
Qv cleanser
Sukin rosehip oil OR kora organics soothing cream OR sukin facial moisturizer
🙂
Raquel M. says
I’ve had a similar talk with my friends the other day and I felt really cosmetic-junkie too x)
in the morning I use a gel cleanser, I tone, use an acne treatment, a pore-refining serum on both cheeks and then I moisturize and put on makeup.
at night I use a bi-phasic eye makeup remover, then a deep oil cleanser to remove the rest of the makeup, a gel cleanser, a toner, a pore-cleansing treatment, a face oil treatment to reduce sebum production throughtout the day, pore-refining serum on the cheeks, moisturize and then use a topic treatment to my active pimples… And OMG, that’s a lot! XD
Janice says
Hello
Morning:
Cleanser – Nature & Co
Toner – Nivea
Eye Cream – Marna (some jap brand)
Moisturizer – Laneige
Sunblock – Kanebo
Evening:
Cleanser – Bifesta Cleansing Water and Nature & co.
Toner – Nivea/Kose
Eye Cream – Marna
Moisturizer – Laneige
Mask – Kose White Mask/Laneige Sleeping Pack/Eumora Clay Soap
Do u think that by using so many products , it hinders the skin from “breathing”? coz i read somewhere, the blogger decided to go on a ‘skin detox’ or something, where she keeps just a very basic skin care routine.
Also, I tend to get those white bumps when i use certain products. Does this mean my skin isn’t suitable for that product, or my skin needs some time to get used to the product?
I have sensitive (and very thin) and dry skin. i’m not sure whether i should be moisturizing it (by using serums and oils etc) or should i just keep my skincare simple.
Paris B says
Usually, I find that breakouts or bumps on skin maybe attributed to products or lack of exfoliation. Only you will really know what works for you. As it stands, I think your skincare routine is already pretty basic and I don’t see how much more you can cut it down, compared to the other long lists out there! 🙂 Ultimately, only you will know what will work for your skin – if its a basic routine that works then so be it 🙂
Glendon says
Morning
La Roche Posay Thermal Spa Water
Yves Rocher Cure Solutions Serum or Prevage Anti-aging Serum
Prevage Day Lotion
Estee Lauder Matte Primer
Night
Intervene 3 in 1 Cleanser
Prevage Anti-aging Serum
Prevage Night Cream
Yvonne says
I used to have really dry and/or sensitive skin and so only kept to the normal cleanse, tone, moisturise and sunblock. But in the last 2 years I’ve been adding to my skincare regime, esp with the harsh winters here in NZ (and more recently the crappy office air since I’ve started working). So here goes –
Morning
1) Cetaphil daily cleanser
2) Body Shop’s Aloe Vera toner
3) Kiehls Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin Clearing Treatment (though it doesn’t seem to be terribly effective, so I might not repurchase when I’m done with my current tube)
4) Ego skin cream moisturiser (a God sent for people with sensitive skin)
5) Sunblock
Night
1) Shu Uemura cleanser (a must if I’m wearing make up)
2) Cetaphil daily cleanser (or St Ives exfoliating cleanser if it is exfoliating day)
3) L’Occitane’s Angelica face mask (on exfoliating days)
4) Hada Labo toner
5) Kiehl’s Line Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate (might try the midnight recovery after this – any suggestions?)
6) Pimple cream
7) Body Shop’s Hemp face protector/moisturiser
And just as a final question, in the comments, a lot of people seem to be using serums. Is there a particular age when I should start? I’m in my early 20s atm.
pol says
hurm mine is
day: facial cleanse(BRTC white soap)-toner(BRTC perfect calm)-hydrating serum(BRTC perfect calm)-pore tightener serum(skinfood)-moisturizer(BRTC white gel)-sunsreen(Loreal 50spf)-makeup..:D
Night:same as theday routine, but with addition face mask…:D
having the combination skin make me really frustrated to choose my product wisely and suit for me…