All of us certainly have lived different lives, but there is one thing we probably have in common: cringey skincare routines from our past. Before entering esthetics school in 2018, I honestly did not know much about skincare and certainly had no idea regarding my skin type. I had more of a passion for makeup! As my knowledge and interests grew, I learned quickly that almost every product I owned fell in the list of skincare products you don’t need. So, let’s enter this journey together as we have some fun reacting to my old skincare routine!
*This post is not meant to shame any one on the products they use. As a skincare professional and educator, my job and passion is to help people find better products for their skin health. This is meant for fun and entertaining purposes. Be sure to check links throughout for some recommendations on getting started with a skincare routine.
Makeup Removers
I now have a consistent double cleansing routine using a cleansing balm or oil first, then a water based cleanser every night. But back in the day, I had no clue what a cleansing balm was, much less what they were used for. The worst part is that during this time, where I exclusively used makeup wipes and cotton rounds, I wore loads of makeup. I never truly knew how to remove it properly!
Yes To Cucumber Wipes
I was definitely an avid makeup wipe user. I would use 1-2 of these nightly to remove my makeup then follow with a cleanser. These always made my face red, but I continued to use them anyway. Tell me why?!
Garnier Micellar Water & Cotton Rounds
This is one of the products from my old skincare routine that I still stand by. A good micellar water works well to gently remove makeup without disrupting the skin barrier! I do cringe at the amount of cotton rounds I used though, as I have fully converted to reusable eco-rounds instead.
Cleansers
This is the category of skincare products that I remember all too vividly. I had several in my rotation from when I was 16-20 years old. Keep in mind, I was CONVINCED I had the oiliest skin ever. Was it ever really oily? The world may never know.
Clean and Clear Grapefruit Oil-free Acne Wash
Clean and Clear Morning Burst
Neutrogena Acne Stress Control
All three of these are definitely on that “do not buy” list curated from skincare pros and skin influencers alike. They are all potentially stripping to the skin barrier and too harsh for daily use. I recommend for any skin type to stay away from cleaners such as these and choose something gentle!
Exfoliants
I, along with many others, had no idea what a exfoliant was supposed to be for your face. I don’t actually despise all physical exfoliants, but I have a bad relationship with walnut bits being rubbed around my face. My poor skin! This is probably the most infamous skincare product to avoid.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub
The only thing I would still use this for would be a foot scrub. No skin type needs this specific product! Other physical exfoliants do their job without causing damage to the gentle facial skin.
Moisturizers
Maybe I didn’t cleanse every day or exfoliate properly, but I was always on top of my game with one thing: not enough moisturizer and NO SPF EVER. Like I said before, I was always so incredibly oily and wore tons of makeup, so I did not want my moisturizer to interfere with that.
Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturizer
Ponds Cold Cream
I used the Pond’s cold cream for sooo long after seeing it in my mom’s minimal beauty arsenal. It is definitely funny that I never realized its intended use for makeup removal. I always slathered it on and left it there, probably clogging all of the pores. The clean and clear moisturizer contains 0.5% salicylic acid and not enough hydrating ingredients to actually keep my barrier healthy. Even oily or acneic skin types would benefit more from a separate salicylic treatment and a gentle daily moisturizer.
Facial Sprays
I started using these due to all the hype surrounding them several years ago. They were pretty and affordable, so I figured it was a win-win. I probably went through a bottle a month of these! They contain too many dyes and fragrance for my liking when it comes to a facial mist. I prefer ones that have more skin soothing ingredients.
Mario Badescu Facial Sprays
Masks and Treatments
I definitely always had a love for face masks, but somehow the right one for me never did seem to enter my cart. I exclusively looked for pore-extracting, oil reducing, and clay mask options.
L`oreal Pure Clay Mask
I always used a tightening clay mask because I really only thought these kinds existed. I don’t believe this particular mask is that bad, but most people don’t need a clay option at all or as often as they think!
Biore Pore Strips
I also was obsessed with removing all of the “blackheads” on my nose. What I learned later, though, is that these pore strips are not actually removing black heads! It removes dead skin and oils right on the surface that can easily be swept away and cleansed from your normal routine. These can also be unnecessarily harsh from the adhesive.
Phew, okay, we are finally done reliving some dark times in my life. Seriously, where was the good skin-loving products and ingredients? I did not know them! My takeaway from this is to take your skin health seriously, even more than how it may look in the mirror. Skincare is a journey, and it may not always be pretty. No one product is a cure all for your skin! Similarly, not one particular product can ruin it. It takes time and consistency more than anything to get your skin balanced and healthy. I am fortunate enough to have learned so much that has helped me understand my skin. Be sure to always seek out a skin professional if you are struggling! Thanks so much for reading 🙂
Check out my Skincare 101 class to get started on the essentials of a routine!
Oh how fun this was to read!! Of course I used Ponds and Morning Burst! With your amazing help, I continue to feel good about my skincare routine. Thank you for all your help! 💜
So glad you enjoyed this fun post! Ponds was definitely a staple…I am glad you no longer use it LOL. Thanks for reading 🙂
😂 I laugh at myself for using the Neutrogena acne Stress control cleanser. Oops! We definitely learn from our past. Thankful for the knowledge and better skincare. Awesome blog post you created!
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Gosh I know! I really thought it was doing something for me hahaha. I am so thankful to have learned and we can continue to grow in our skincare knowledge! Thanks so much for reading 🙂