I really enjoyed reading this, as reading the descriptions of your teenage self felt like reading my diary. I had a near-identical journey, down to the oil strips and Proactiv, but mine ended with an 8-month course of high-octane Accutane. I think that’s the experience that radicalized me. I had spent years diligently applying everything in sight, spending all my babysitting money; hours in the computer room researching ingredients and combing forums in search of the holy grail routine, only for this pill that required monthly blood tests and risked liver failure to be the cure (I wasn’t even supposed to really wash my face while I was on it — heresy).
It ended up curing my acne, but making my skin so sensitive that now I’m one of those people who can only use the gentle, unscented, chemical-free products or I turn pink and flaky, which spoils the fun of using a bunch of different stuff and maintaining an elaborate routine.
I feel pressure to “anti-age” for sure but right now (29) I feel like abstaining is conscientious objection from a world obsessed with female youth, so at least I can feel righteously indignant about my crows’ feet, I guess!
I almost wanted to skip reading the article and just comment "sunscreen is very important and included in almost all skincare rituals!" But I did read the article and this is very acknowledged. Re: toxins/etc., I do think one actual thing that happens in some skincare products are things like perfumes, that do make you feel better in the moment but can actually be worse for your skin.
My (late 50s) mother loves being randomly obsessed with a trendy health fad (essential oils, medical medium, special caveman shoes) which I used to mock, but I came to realise they’re effectively a vehicle for staying interested in keeping good health
I was skeptical in the past but I'm going to say skincare does work, because I never bothered with it in my 20s but in my 30s I was hit with horrible skin--dry, dull, flaky, rosacea. I was still too lazy to do much about it but when I got married I wanted to look my best. I started a skincare routine with some products the salesgirl at Sephora recommended and now at 35 I have the best skin of my life at a time when it should be getting steadily worse. I had forehead lines 5 years ago that are basically gone now.
The thing that's a scam is that you need a whole counter full of products. I use 3 things (cleanser, serum and moisturizer) and I bet only 1 or 2 of them are really effective but I don't want to experiment to figure out which one(s).
You're right. Life is ultimately a mystery. We'll never really know what one thing (s) contribute to improving our skin, or healing ourselves, or all other manner of results we may have. The point is, it gives us the illusions of control, which has it's benefits, to point.
Head, shoulders, face, and ass.
Face and ass!
Head, shoulders, face, and ass.
Face and ass!
I really enjoyed reading this, as reading the descriptions of your teenage self felt like reading my diary. I had a near-identical journey, down to the oil strips and Proactiv, but mine ended with an 8-month course of high-octane Accutane. I think that’s the experience that radicalized me. I had spent years diligently applying everything in sight, spending all my babysitting money; hours in the computer room researching ingredients and combing forums in search of the holy grail routine, only for this pill that required monthly blood tests and risked liver failure to be the cure (I wasn’t even supposed to really wash my face while I was on it — heresy).
It ended up curing my acne, but making my skin so sensitive that now I’m one of those people who can only use the gentle, unscented, chemical-free products or I turn pink and flaky, which spoils the fun of using a bunch of different stuff and maintaining an elaborate routine.
I feel pressure to “anti-age” for sure but right now (29) I feel like abstaining is conscientious objection from a world obsessed with female youth, so at least I can feel righteously indignant about my crows’ feet, I guess!
Thank you so much!! What a lovely comment!
I almost wanted to skip reading the article and just comment "sunscreen is very important and included in almost all skincare rituals!" But I did read the article and this is very acknowledged. Re: toxins/etc., I do think one actual thing that happens in some skincare products are things like perfumes, that do make you feel better in the moment but can actually be worse for your skin.
My (late 50s) mother loves being randomly obsessed with a trendy health fad (essential oils, medical medium, special caveman shoes) which I used to mock, but I came to realise they’re effectively a vehicle for staying interested in keeping good health
I was skeptical in the past but I'm going to say skincare does work, because I never bothered with it in my 20s but in my 30s I was hit with horrible skin--dry, dull, flaky, rosacea. I was still too lazy to do much about it but when I got married I wanted to look my best. I started a skincare routine with some products the salesgirl at Sephora recommended and now at 35 I have the best skin of my life at a time when it should be getting steadily worse. I had forehead lines 5 years ago that are basically gone now.
The thing that's a scam is that you need a whole counter full of products. I use 3 things (cleanser, serum and moisturizer) and I bet only 1 or 2 of them are really effective but I don't want to experiment to figure out which one(s).
You're right. Life is ultimately a mystery. We'll never really know what one thing (s) contribute to improving our skin, or healing ourselves, or all other manner of results we may have. The point is, it gives us the illusions of control, which has it's benefits, to point.