Lux Skincare Doubts

Hi guys ,

Maybe it’s just that time of year that it’s winter, Christmas is over, the credit card bills will soon be hitting us and we have the lovely January to look forward to. Or the fact that i’m 40 and not 25 but that’s another story!

I first got into skincare seriously (although always had a basic skincare routine ) at about age 35, when I started to focus a lot less on make up and more on quality skincare. Since moving countries, I have been in heaven with all the medical grade skincare brands and other luxury brands that were not easy to have access to before. I absolutely love trying new skincare products, watching the skincare experts on youtube etc However… I then caught myself in the mirror today , while just wanting to apply my lipstick, a glance in my old school MAC compact powder that I’ve done many times this week. And i was thinking wow who is that person ?! Is that ME?! I was not expecting this reaction or scrutinisation of my looks suddenly out of no where.

I spend a fortune on skincare. I use the ‘best’ brands that I love. I love the routine, the experience of applying the various texture, I enjoy finding out more information on retinols and vitamin c’s, I read lots of reviews , watch the youtube videos and it’s something i really enjoy! But I am spending so much money here - which I can afford as such , but I also have 2 young kids so could this money be put to better use as dare I say… I DONT THINK ANY OF IF IS DOING ANYTHING. Am i and others my age, duped into believing anti aging products work when they … don’t. Let me start by saying I realise that skincare alone can’t make me look 25 again. But i have products that are specifically for (they say on the product ) : dark circles, and I still have them. Fine lines- i still have them and only botox has ever worked there. I have products specifically called firming and tightening - my lower face is getting so loose!! I have anti aging neck creams that promise to firm and tone . Nope i don’t see it. Sure i see hydration and a smoothing moisturising effect but this moisture could be achieved by Cerave…

Most of my products I love are from Revision skincare, Skinceuticals , Allies of Skin , etc. Some Valmont and other similar brands. I love them. But they are telling me they are working on all my issues and I just don’t see it- my sun spots haven’t been lightened by the 200 dollar vitamin c and my lower face hasn’t firmed up in any noticeable way , despite using these products religiously for over 5 years. And beyond then I still had a good skincare routine just lower priced brands.

If someone told me that if I could only choose to buy one thing for the rest of my life and that one thing only i would choose skincare - over bags, shoes, clothes, accessories etc I love it all that much . I know i’m very loyal to ‘skincare’ - but apart from taking a LOT of my money what’s it actually doing for in return ? All these fancy luxe brands are filling my bathroom cabinets but do i really look any younger than the next woman my age who uses a standard face wash and face cream from cerave ?

Do I face up to that to continue knowing none of it is actually making me look younger, as it advertises to as ‘anti aging’ and ‘anti dark spot’ and the list continues.

IPL worked on my sun spots. Botox works on lines. What’s skincare doing for me other than layering (and probably over loading my skin) with all these serums and creams and oils and chemicals within them all being mixed in my face each day like a soup and just being left there to ‘do its thing’ …

I have tried so many expensive high end brands of eye creams, and serums and creams and have been so consistent that I feel i should look a lot better than i do. I should be able to say ‘i love this eye cream as it really helps to soften my fine lines’ I have read others say this in some product reviews. But i have never felt this way personally. So i say i just love the product for the scent (most are actually unscented nowadays so i couldn’t even say this!) , the experience , the hydration …the glow ? (which will go if i wash this off) but these products are hundreds of dollars … EACH.

Does anyone else feel this way? Are skincare brand owners just laughing at us all all the way to the bank ..?