Hands up ladies, don’t be shy! Do you have a skincare graveyard?
When I was whisked away by Olay during their whirlwind blogger event in Sydney 2 weeks ago, during the evening presentation, we were told about this thing called a “skincare graveyard”. Basically, what this is, is that far dark corner of your room or your house, where you toss all the skincare products that don’t work for you, for whatever reason. Perhaps you aren’t seeing the results that are promised, or perhaps it’s giving you an adverse reaction.
It is that place where skincare products go to die, to put it morbidly. According to a Facebook poll run by Olay, 63 million claimed to have this skincare graveyard and it made me morbidly curious. Do you have one too? After all, we know that not every product works for us and I know that many of us are skincare junkies! 😀
I maybe in a slightly different position, seeing as to how I do try different products from time to time in the name of blogging. Up to 2 years ago, I’d be the one at the back of the room, waving my hand high in the air when asked if I might have a graveyard of skincare items that don’t work for me.
In the past year, this graveyard has been significantly reduced. I don’t consign too many products to this graveyard any longer, because I am now more in tune with my skin and its needs, so I pick and choose my products accordingly. What this means of course, is that I waste less and what I also learned is that while my skin tolerates and enjoys using prestige or luxury skincare, some just do not work, and sometimes an affordable option works out better. 2 luxury brands in particular are SK-II anything, and La Mer creams which will explain why you don’t see me talk about them. My skin doesn’t take well to La Prairie either so that is a large chunk of prestige brands out of my trial zone – whew! 😉
Olay’s research says that many women are spending more on prestige brands and products (to the tune of US$16 million! 😯 ) in the hope of better quality products and better results and then being disappointed hence the expensive skincare graveyard. While I agree to an extent (I too have had spectactular failures in the prestige skincare department, some of which are found here) I also disagree because I have also found some prestige skincare that work very well for my skin (depending on how “prestige” is defined, my fave skincare aren’t always budget). Of course, if there is an affordable alternative, it’s preferable, but it isn’t always the case.
Back in the day before I’d even started blogging, I used to spend quite a lot on skincare. I was the one who believed that using a whole range of products from one brand will serve my skin well, and I was that one who also believed that skin needs to “purge” before it gets better. Bah, all that’s false! I actually found solace in Olay Total Effects cream for years before I started experimenting again. I wasn’t asked to say that BTW, I do really like Olay Total Effects moisturiser and said so back in 2008! 😀
For myself, the reason I send products off to die in the skincare graveyard is because:-
- they break me out
- they don’t show any promised results
- they give my skin an adverse result
- I don’t like the textures or smell
- they aren’t as efficient as other products I use
What do I do with these products then? Ah, what I have also learned through the years is that we are all individuals and therefore what fails to work for me can work for someone else. So, every few months, I drag out my bag of discarded items and let friends, family or family friends pick out what they want. A lot of money is in there (a lot of them mine, because I do buy a lot of stuff too) but I’d rather it goes to someone who’d use it rather than be tossed out in the trash.
Do you have a skincare product graveyard and why do they end up there? Do prestige/expensive skincare disappoint you?
For me I don’t deny having very high hopes for expensive skincare. After all, when we pay for a product, we expect to see results and in the case of a pricey product, better results. But the fact is also, that it isn’t always the case. So come on, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this 😉
Paris B
Norlin says
YES I do have a skincare graveyard. Now I simply give it away to close friends…or…Mr. C. Yes I’m mean like that but hey, he’s not fussy and as long as it has no “feminine” scents, he usually doesn’t mind using them.
Paris B says
Hey, so long as they don’t waste away in the graveyard, it’s all good! And good on Mr. C for helping use up the creams and potions! 😀
hazard says
Two products that are currently in my skincare graveyard is The Body Shop Vitamin C Serum and Nivea Pure & Natural moisturizer. I bought the Vitamin C serum after reading a blogger’s excellent review on it, and Nivea… well, thanks to Kate Middleton!
Both products caused my skin to breakout! It surprised me though as I was always under the impression that Body Shop products are usually ‘safe’ products, and given the paraben-free status of Nivea Pure and Natural, I thought my skin would react well to it. But it turns out quite the opposite.
I’m guessing that my skin’s not agreeable to the Vitamin C is just too high on silicone content (plus I hated the orangey smells-like-car-air-freshener smell). As to the Nivea Pure & Natural mosturizer, that one still baffles me.
Paris B says
I used to like the TBS Vitamin C Serum but I think they’ve reformulated it and after using a few bottles of it, I moved on. There’s just too much silicone in there to be honest. I haven’t tried the Nivea but it’s good to know. Still, we just never know how our skin might react to the most innocuous of ingredients. Sometimes, it could be the best product in the world but still breaks us out.
espenine says
Why do all the mums of the above commentors have such resilient skin?? They seem to be able handle any skincare products! I wish my skin can grow to be like that when I become a mum in future, haha.
I find that it helps not to keep up too much with blogs because all the raves about the wonders of a certain skincare product is sure to make me buy them too! However, I am often disappointed with the results on my own skin which is sensitive, easily irritated and highly acne prone.
I have learnt to chill out on skincare and keep using what works instead of throwing money into a skincare graveyard!
Paris B says
I think it’s a Mum thing HAHA! 😀 Not reading too many blogs is also a good thing. I’m more sceptical about skincare products so I’m less likely to be tempted to try unless it’s a product that a friend recommends, or a product that someone with similar skintype raves about. Either way, I think knowing our own skin is more important because I’ve learned that just because it’s highly raved doesn’t make it the best product out there. It could just mean it’s the product with a big budget behind it 😛
Tine @ Beautyholics Anonymous says
Ah the skincare graveyard. Of course I have one. The first graveyard is my chest of drawers. The next graveyard is the bin 😛 Now their “graveyard” is the rest of my body. Arms, legs, abdomen, boobs. It seems wasteful to slather eye cream on my boobs but hey, it beats the bin 😛
Paris B says
LOL! Good idea slathering them all over the body. Why should only our faces have all the fun eh? 😉
lisa says
At one point of my life, i was obsessed with skincare, hence, i did once accumulate a “skincare graveyard”. Nowadays, i have other mini graveyards….lipsticks and body oils particularly. I rarely finish these within two years. Once, i find any product starts to smell weird, i just throw it away. And ahem, gadgets graveyard? Don’t get me started on the clarisonic etc…etc…
Paris B says
haha I hear ya re: lipstick and body oils! I’m quite good about body oils now. I only buy if I manage to finish one so that means I haven’t bought any in a while 😛 Oh and yes, gadget graveyard. Man! What does one do with old phones, cameras, Clarisonic eh? 😛
melanie says
I have a stash of unused skincare and makeup. I never really thought of it as a graveyard until now but it totally is. I tend to put things away to use later, such as a cream I bought in the winter but it’s too light so I’ll put it away till summer. It never sees the light of day again. I was stuffing them in the cabinet over my toilet but just last weekend I tossed about half of it. It felt so good to clear out the space in the cabinet. I don’t have much makeup but I’m trying to replace all the stuff with high levels of zinc since I’m allergic.
Paris B says
Clearing out unused skincare is so cathartic and also reminds us just how much we have spent on products that may not have suited us at all. Helps us understand our skin better so we don’t make the same mistakes again. I’m glad where I live, I don’t have to switch skincare according to seasons or my graveyard might be even bigger! LOL!
Jennifer says
Haha, this is a very catchy one 🙂 I don’t have a skincare graveyard because I almost always try to make them work…if they don’t, I will discard them or give them away. Plus the fact that I read numerous reviews before I purchase so that might help reduce the misfits. It is fun to read what the rest of the ladies feel about this graveyard subject and I resonate with some of them. Thank you for this great post.
Paris B says
So disciplined! For myself, the minute I see a bump appear, out the cream goes. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200 😛 Reading reviews and experiences before indulging does help, I’ll agree. But yet, there’s always that element of “What if…” right? LOL Yeah maybe it’s just me 😛