What skincare products are and aren’t worth your money is completely subjective because everything doesn’t work for everybody, so if you like it? We love it. However, there are a few things that are completely pointless when it comes to achieving your skincare goals.
And if you really want to go there, more than a few products and ingredients that have been popular in the last 10 years are downright ineffective and even harmful.
So while it’s nice to hop on board with every seemingly awesome trend, it’s time to take a second look at what you’re investing in. Here are 3 types of skincare products that aren’t really worth all that money you’re spending on them.
Facial Scrubs
One of the biggest lies we’ve been told about skincare is that face scrubs should be a staple in our weekly routines. I don’t care if it’s made with sugar, salt, walnut seeds, or fresh sand from the beach—physical exfoliants are not worth using on your face.
Now, we’re not telling you to throw out that face scrub because we’re mean and don’t want you to have nice things. Rather, it’s the fact that physical exfoliants like face scrubs are far too abrasive to use on the very sensitive, easily damaged skin on your face.
Don’t believe us? St. Ives faced a whole lawsuit because their Apricot Scrub was allegedly creating microscopic tears on the skin, leaving the user vulnerable to infections. While this lawsuit only targeted them, there are actually a whole bunch of products with similar ingredients that may do this very same thing.
And is that really worth it? Not one bit.
Instead, do your research and go for safe, effective chemical exfoliants—like products formulated with glycolic and salicylic acids—and save yourself the trouble.
Sheet Masks
In recent years, sheet masks have exploded in popularity because they’re a quick, inexpensive way to get all of the benefits of a spa-quality facial in a single paper mask. This sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Well, it’s all a big fat lie!
Okay, that was a tad bit dramatic. Sheet masks aren’t totally useless. They’re a pretty good tool for when you want to feel extra nourished and cared for on self-care days. But as far as actual skincare benefits are concerned, sheet masks don’t really do much.
The effective ingredients tend to soak into the paper and not your skin; most sheet masks can only be used once which means regular use can get pretty expensive; and not to mention that most are made from synthetic fibres that are horrible for the environment.
Now is a $5 sustainable sheet mask made with goodies like glycerin and hyaluronic acid worth the splurge on a once-a-week self care day? Absolutely! But if you’re looking to really solve your skincare woes with this method, go ahead and skip.
Floral Waters
Floral waters have increased in popularity over the years because why not? Water infused with real flowers or flower extracts is a natural way to soothe and tone the skin. However, is it really worth the investment of money and time? Meh, maybe.
Floral waters like rose and lavender water certainly do a good job at calming and refreshing the skin, but if we’re really being honest, a good face wash and moisturizer can do that, too. In short, if your skin routine is solid, floral waters are both pointless and redundant.
Now, we’re not knocking the trend! We think it’s super useful for self-care and pampering purposes. However, it’s not a necessary addition to your skincare routine if you’re truly looking for an all-natural option that is worth your coin.
