Are you somebody who spends a sizeable amount of money on cosmetics and haircare? Are they your shopping triggers? If you happen to answer these questions in the affirmative, here are two possibilities. Either you like taking care of your skin and hair, or you think that the secret of perfectly clean and clear glowing skin and long healthy hair are expensive cosmetic products.
Whichever holds true for you, here is a truth bomb alert – you don’t need every skincare and haircare product that sits on your bathroom shelf. From toners, sheet masks, and powdered facewash, to head massagers, and face serums, the market is filled with products that not everybody needs. They are only needed by brands to suck the money out of your pocket.
But that’s not what we are saying, leading dermatologists second that. So, today in this blog post, we will be listing down several self-care products you don’t necessarily need.
Toners
The CTM routine – cleansing, toning and moisturising, that’s the skincare holy grail for most women out there. While cleansers and moisturisers are crucial for skincare, you don’t really need toners.
Let’s be honest here, most toners contain alcohol that can irritate the skin. Moreover, they were originally formulated to balance the PH level of the skin and remove soap scum when lye-based soap was clubbed with hard water to leave a sticky residue. But now as most cleansers maintain the PH balance and don’t leave a residue, you don’t need a toner anymore.
Scalp massagers
If you got fingers, you are sorted. Scalp massagers are new in trend and you can see numerous influencers using it in their haircare routine. It has been claimed that these massagers help stimulate hair growth. So, to clear the air, it’s not the hair massagers but hair massaging that stimulates hair growth and hair thickness. A scalp massage with hair oil can increase hair thickness by elongating the hair follicle and inducing them to produce thicker hair.
Scalp massagers are just tools for hair massaging. You can do a hair massage with your fingers. All you need to do is massage in circular motions for 5-7 mins. Scalp massagers are new in town, people used their fingers for hair massages before, and it just worked fine. You don’t really need a hair massager.
Sheet masks
Sheet masks are a rage in the beauty world. But the question is, are they worth it? Not really. Sheet masks are popular not because they are a game-changer, but because they are convenient and easy to use. A sheet mask just saves you the effort of preparing a regular face mask. However, it can leave you super hydrated. But, just so you know hydration can be achieved by increasing your water intake.
Sheet masks are just one-time use, and one sheet mask can cost somewhere around 80 – 100 bucks, which can be expensive and pointless if it doesn’t give you results.
Not to mention, sheet masks are not at all environmentally friendly. They are packaged individually in foil or plastic, creating significant waste. It is predicted that the sheet mask market can generate 3.2 billion units of waste by 2025. Aren’t these numbers startling? As someone who utilises the earth’s resources, it is pivotal to rethink the environmental impact of our choices.
Different day cream and night cream
Do you have a regular moisturiser? If yes, it will do. You do not need to buy a day cream and night cream separately. Moisturizing is an essential part of a skincare routine, so if you are doing that, you are good to go. Some people prefer using a day cream because of the SPF content in them, but just so you know simply relying on it is not adequate. You need proper sunscreen to protect your skin from pigmentation and ageing. Therefore, there is no point in buying a separate day cream and night cream.
Face wipes
We all like simple, quick things, we like taking shortcuts, don’t we? Probably why we spend money on face wipes. Just so you know, you can end up doing more harm than good when you are using face wipes. Most face wipes contain alcohol and drying chemicals.
Not to mention, they just clean the upper layer of dirt and oil; if not that, they just move them around your face, blocking your pores and ultimately leaving your skin layered with bacteria and irritants.
It’s always better to wash your face than to rely on face wipes. A good idea would be to keep paper soaps with you. They are easy to carry and convenient to use.
The bottom line
A basic skincare routine can go a long way. The best and most effective products don’t have to create a hole in your pocket. The real deal lies in what you feed your body. If you are fit and fine and consume a nutritious diet, most of your skincare worries will resolve. Hence, avoid buying the products listed above and put your money and time to better use.
