Take a look at your bathroom cabinet right now.
You know, the one where you keep all your skincare products. What do you see? There’s probably a vitamin C serum that irritated your skin, but you keep it just in case, a 50 dollar jade roller you used 3 times, a $65 moisturizer you bought because a stranger online said it gives them glass skin, a peptide serum that does nothing but everyone talks about them so it’s there, etc. All those products used to be money, and now they’re just sitting there.
You open the cabinet, feel overwhelmed (and a bit guilty) over all the stuff you have, and you shut it back.
It should have been self-care, and it should have been relaxing because that’s how TikTok makes it look. Now, not only is it a money pit, but it also feels like a second job because you need 40 minutes every single night just to do your skincare.
So why are you doing it?
What’s Behind This Shift Away From Fast Beauty
So what happened there?
Why do you have all this stuff, and why does your skincare routine look nothing like the vibey, relaxing one you see on social media? It’s simple, really. The reason why you’ve piled all this stuff is because of a good selling technique. You’ve first been sold a problem, then a solution, then a solution to the solution.
Glass skin is a marketing trick, as is skin without texture, as are 50-year-olds who look like they’re 30 without plastic surgery. It’s all a lie.
Social media only made it worse.
You’re constantly bombarded with videos of women with seemingly perfect skin applying one product after another until their 10-step routine is done. If you’re not doing it, you’re behind, and you’re not taking care of yourself.
But reality is starting to peek through because, as we all know, fast beauty simply isn’t sustainable. There’s absolutely no way everyone’s skin will do well while suffocating under 10 layers of products, especially if many of them are active.
So what you end up with is a ruined skin barrier stripped of everything it needs, and dry, red patches all over your face.
And can we talk about how confused everyone is these days?
What are you even supposed to use? This person says vitamin C is a must, that one there says retinol is more important, then a third one chimes in saying you need both, but you can’t use them together. You have no idea who to trust, so you buy everything and hope it works out. Oh, and while we’re on the subject of buying, the financial side to this is also completely unsustainable.
Even if you stick to the affordable brands like The Ordinary, you’re still looking at a 3-figure expense because there’s so much stuff you feel like you need.
Luckily, there’s another side to this mess.
People have started to pay more attention because they’ve seen brands and institutions break promises and outright lie. This kind of skepticism has actually gone way beyond beauty, thanks to how easy it is to spread information nowadays.
Just look at cases like the recent Diocese of Saginaw abuse claims, and you’ll get the picture. When you have your trust broken at such a level – I mean, who do you trust if not the priest? – you (naturally) start to question absolutely everything you see; and brands are no exception here.
Of course, if you want to stick to beauty, there’s plenty of material here, as well.
Remember Youthphoria and their infamous pitch black foundation shade or GLYF’s red cross logo?
It’s been repeatedly proven that these kinds of things tend to stick with you.
And naturally, after a while, you just can’t help but question everything you see in ads (e.g., what brands say).
What ‘Slow Beauty’ Looks Like in Practice
Here’s how to make all of this work for you:
Fewer Products With a Clear Purpose
One small shelf is all you need for a slow beauty routine.
When it comes to the products every good skincare routine contains, it’s the basics – cleanser, moisturizer, SPF, and perhaps one targeted serum for a specific concern. No, you don’t need an astringent or a milky toner. You don’t need sheet masks or eye patches.
A simple routine means you have something in place that’s easy to stick to and that actually does something for your skin.
Longer Rituals Instead of Quick Fixes
Fast beauty is a chore because you have 10 steps to complete, and you have to wait between them because all layers need to soak into the skin. So instead of wasting your time like that, use 2 or 3 products, and take your time.
And once you’re done, that’s it. 15 minutes max and you’re ready to move on with your day.
Looking at the Ingredients Instead of Falling for the Hype
Ingredient lists are so incredibly important because what good is a ‘glass skin serum’ if it has denatured alcohol in the 3rd place? Be familiar with the active ingredients you’re using and why you’re using them.
Go for something that’s been thoroughly tested. DEFINITELY don’t waste your money on some ingredients that promise overnight results simply because you saw a catchy ad on Instagram or YouTube.
Buy Less and Use More
The simplest way to go about this is to first finish a product before buying one. And if you need motivation, just Google’project pan.’ Don’t buy backups and don’t fall for what influencers swear by.’ Most of them are being paid to say what they’re saying anyway.
The result is more money in your bank account, less waste from packaging, fewer bottles to recycle, and probably better-looking skin.
So, What Did We Learn From All This?
To be clear, slow beauty has NOTHING to do with caring less for your skin and well-being in general. The point is to be conscious of what you’re putting on your skin and why, as opposed to impulse buying every product that goes viral.
That being said, if you enjoy your 7 or 10-step skincare routine and it works for you, by all means, continue on with it.
But if it feels like a chore and you’re not really seeing the results you thought you would, it’s time to step back and reconsider the way you see skincare and beauty overall.
