Every year, the skincare market grows a little bigger. According to the online statistics portal Statista, it would have generated 144 billion USD$ in 2022 and is expected to reach 186 billion USD$ in 2028. Among the revenues generated by beauty and care products, skincare represents the second largest segment after personal hygiene products. Given the multitude of products available, how do you choose the right one? On a trip to the Irish chain Primark, skincare expert Nathalie O’Neill selected four beauty products that she considers completely useless. She made a TikTok video of it where she is followed by more than 636,000 people.
1/ The retinol sheet mask
“Retinol is becoming very popular on social media, so I imagine a lot of people are drawn to this mask. Don’t waste your money on single-use retinol products because you have to use it consistently for months to get any benefit,” explains Nathalie O’Neill. According to her, single use could on the contrary have a harmful effect on the skin.
On the other hand, there is good evidence that in the long term, retinol is effective in limiting the signs of aging without causing major irritation. In a study published in the April 2024 issue of Journal of Drugs in Dermatologyresearchers found significant improvements in all signs of photoaging in participants who used bioactive retinol, starting as early as week four.
« Retinol works through several mechanisms to combat the signs of skin aging.explains New York dermatologist Carmen Castilla to Vogue US in an article on the subject. For example, it can increase collagen production and improve the extracellular matrix of the dermis, which thins with age. A healthy extracellular matrix works synergistically with collagen to give skin luminosity and strength. To improve the appearance of skin, both must function properly.
His colleague, Dr. Brendan Camp, recommends Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum. This gentle, lightweight gel uses a proprietary retinol blend that, to improve firmness and reduce the appearance of crepey skin and wrinkles, includes bakuchiol, a natural extract similar to retinol, derived from the seeds of babchi, a plant used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. “, he explains. This serum would even be gentle enough to be used on the eyelids as well.
2/ The anti-cellulite roller
For Nathalie O’Neill, this object is designed solely for the purpose to “take advantage of people’s insecurity”. “Cellulite is normal, everyone has it and one thing is for sure, this product will not get rid of it for £1.50, otherwise we would all have it and no one would have cellulite anymore.”
As a reminder, cellulite appears when fat cells located under the skin push against the connective tissue. This causes dimpling. Unfortunately, it is impossible to eliminate it completely. However, one of the most recommended techniques to reduce it is palpation and rolling. This great classic of physiotherapy helps to soften tissues, reduce the “orange peel” appearance and release fat from fat cells. It can be performed on the thighs, knees, hips, buttocks and/or arms, if necessary. Start by massaging the area with a suitable oil for 5-10 minutes, then take a fold of skin between the thumbs and index fingers of both hands and roll it in one direction then the other. Be careful: it should not hurt!
3/ Vitamin C cleansing wipes
If you use a cleanser after using the wipes, the vitamin C will be immediately removed. “It’s also not a good idea to use vitamin C and perfume on your entire eyelids, a very sensitive part of your face,” assure Nathalie O’Neill.
4/ Facial cleansing brushes
Also completely useless according to the beauty expert are plastic facial cleansing brushes that “seem to have made a comeback since the 90s.” They will not be more effective than your hands at cleaning your face and could also “If you have acne, it can spread bacteria to the rest of your face.” These brushes could also be susceptible to accumulating bacteria between uses.
Source: www.topsante.com
