Are You Wasting Money on Skincare? Experts Suggest Which Products You Can Skip to Save Money and Time
Your bathroom shelf may be full of products your skin doesn't need. Dermatologists explain what to ditch.
Restocking your skincare shelf can run hundreds of dollars, and dermatologists say plenty of those products are doing nothing for your face. Here’s the audit that puts cash back in your wallet.
What skincare products do dermatologists say to stop using?
Dermatologists flag eight common buys as a waste. The list covers sheet masks with actives, collagen creams, harsh exfoliators, pore strips, alcohol-based toners, cleansing wipes, astringents and pricey sunscreens.
Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical, told Huffpost that piling on cosmetic chemicals can damage the skin barrier and microbiome, worsening acne, rosacea and eczema. “Less is often more when it comes to skin care,” agreed Marisa Garshick, MD, who said a simple, consistent routine typically outperforms a complicated one.
Are sheet masks with active ingredients bad for your skin?
Yes. A plain hydrating mask is fine for an occasional glow, but masks loaded with retinol or other actives can irritate your face because the format traps the ingredient against the skin.
Shereene Idriss, MD, founder of Idriss Dermatology in Manhattan, told “The Mel Robbins Podcast” that “when you find a sheet mask with an active, like a retinol, this is a red flag,” because the delivery method does not match the ingredient. Dr. Garshick told Prevention that “combining strong actives, like retinol and chemical exfoliators, can overwhelm skin and lead to irritation or even chemical burns,” potentially weakening the barrier over time.
Do collagen creams actually work on your skin?
No. Topical collagen molecules are too large to penetrate your skin, so you’re paying a premium for a label claim the formula cannot deliver. A basic drugstore moisturizer hydrates just as well.
Dr. Idriss said one popular collagen gel is simply a hydrating cream. “The word ‘collagen’ on this moisturiser makes people think that it’s going to help them replenish their collagen,” she said. “But it’s a hydrating moisturiser. It’s not going to replenish your collagen.” Omar Ibrahimi, a Connecticut dermatologist, told Business Insider that collagen and elastin are large protein molecules that cannot reach the dermis from the outside.
Should you use pore strips, harsh exfoliators or alcohol-based toners?
Skip them. Dermatologists told New Beauty that scrubs, pore strips and alcohol-heavy toners strip the skin barrier and can make breakouts worse, so your money is funding damage.
Julie Russak, MD, called pore strips “definitely overhyped.” Dr. Westbay added that alcohol-based astringents strip lipids and can trigger a rebound in oil production that causes more acne.
Do you need expensive sunscreen or a separate makeup remover?
No on both counts. A drugstore SPF protects as well as a luxury one, and a solid cleanser already removes your makeup, so two line items can come off your receipt.
Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, told The Healthy that “expensive packaging doesn’t mean more protection.” Jennifer Kitchin, a dermatologist in New York, told Business Insider that “buying a separate makeup remover is a waste of money,” since a gentle cleanser lifts dirt, oil and makeup in one step.
Why do dermatologists warn against complicated skincare routines?
Because every extra product is money spent and another chance to wreck your skin barrier. A shorter, consistent routine checked by a pro beats stacking viral buys.
Kathleen Suozzi, MD, who teaches dermatology at Yale, told the New York Post that regimens “have become way overcomplicated.” Dr. Gohara warned Prevention that “social media isn’t skincare science, so if the trend sounds weird or extreme, it probably is.”
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