Get in the sea
‘There are so, SO many products that I would love to throw in the sea (metaphorical sea – remember the environment, people), and brands making them that I would give a good talking to. Whether they’re making unproven claims based on the latest buzzword bandwagon or just frightening you into trying to fix a problem you don’t have, the skincare industry is rife with repeat offenders. I’m not singling out any particular brands here, but these are the products that have no reason for being on our shelves. Not. A. One.
WIPES. They do not ‘clean’ your face. They are for emergencies only – real emergencies. If you have access to clean water, there is no emergency. They’re also atrocious for the environment. Remember: wipes are for fannies, flights and festivals only. And NEVER flush.
SHEET MASKS, aka ‘wipes with holes cut out for eyes’. Think of the environment, if nothing else. FOAMING FACE WASHES THAT CONTAIN SLS/SLES (sodium lauryl sulphate/sodium laureth sulfate) or, more specifically, anything that describes itself as giving you ‘squeaky clean’ skin. No part of your body should squeak. These products are too drying. Full stop.
MICELLAR WATERS. These are fine for removing eye make-up, or your entire face in an emergency with no access to water, but they’re not a one-stop shop for daily use and should be washed off. Use them as a first cleanse only.
MATTIFYING PRODUCTS. Unless you are a teenager and/or have oily skin, you do not need mattifying products. Healthy skin has a glow.
PORE OBSESSION. Stop. They are never as big as you think. Pores are not doors – they do not open and close. PRODUCTS SOLD WITH SCARE TACTICS.
Don’t buy products out of fear. Certain elements of the skincare industry spend their entire marketing budget telling customers what is not in their products, and why they should be scared of certain ingredients, as opposed to what their products will do for them. Skincare is safe.
SKINCARE FRIDGES. Fridges do nothing to enhance the efficacy of products. They are completely unnecessary. All over-the-counter products are tested for stability in extreme hot and cold environments before they are sent to market. However, if you like the feeling of something cool on your skin, go ahead – knock yourself out.