aesthetic doesn't always mean good
As a victim of the Korean skincare wave of the late 2010s and beyond, I have fallen into the various aesthetic traps set forth by beauty brands claiming the answer to my problem-prone skin lies in pristinely packaged serums and masks. This is not to say Korean or expensive skincare isn't effective (I credit more than a fair share of my current routine to Korean skincare diligence), but rather that the aesthetic draw of their products leads people to believe they are more effective than drugstore products (in my case, US drugstore products), especially those of us dealing with skin conditions like eczema.
I had severe eczema as a kid (I still have it now), and made frequent trips to the dermatologist to be prescribed various creams and ointments for my various rashes and ailments. As the late 2010s and my teenage years rolled around, however, I began to feel ashamed of my glaringly medical skincare products. A skincare routine prescribed by a doctor is apparently not as aesthetic as a voluntary skincare routine. At the same time, women online and in my real life began glamorizing their skincare routines with expensive serums and face washes. Suddenly, the color of the bottle of my face wash with was an indicator of my femininity (and hygiene). Over the course of four years or so, I tried a slew of expensive skincare, but found that no matter how many products I added into my routine, my skin wasn't getting any clearer. If anything, it was getting worse. I got so caught up in trying to fit in with aesthetic trends that I neglected my skin and its needs. After years of searching, I discovered that my skin thrived with a few unaesthetic, drugstore products from brands I had been led to believe were less effective because they were affordable.
My advice is, if you're struggling with your skin even with an extensive skincare routine, the routine itself might be what's causing the issues. To start, strip down the routine to the essentials. All of the serums and essences marketed with claims of clearer, dewier skin can be accomplished with a few drugstore products targeting your specific skin type. Instead of trying to achieve glass skin with a serum, try to minimize sun spots and marks with a high-spf sunscreen. We want to preserve the good skin we have, not solve problems that don't exist or achieve an unrealistic beauty standard. I have two face washes (one for everyday and a harsher one for breakouts) an spf 50 sunscreen (from Eucerin for dry skin), an antimicrobial spray (in the place of toner for the morning and night, as well as after workouts), and a face cream from Aveeno. Skincare is most effective when your routine goes in order of the thinnest product to the thickest. In my case, the antimicrobial spray goes first (sprayed onto a cotton round), then my moisturizer, then sunscreen. At night, I cleanse with my face wash and spray again before showering, then apply face cream before bed.
Why am I telling you this? Well, I got tired of being victimized by pretty skincare. You might be too.
Try the drugstore stuff, it's not the prettiest, but it works, and that's all that matters.
ʚ ═══･୨ ꕤ ୧･═══ ɞ