Skin and hair care that actually does something?

Everyone's skin is different. It's also worth mentioning that clear skin does not necessarily equate to "good" skin when it comes to that sort of stuff. People that spend time and money on facial cleansers amd and exfoliating products are seeking to get the absolute best skin possible.

My nose in particular is super fucky with acne unless I use my aloe exfoliating cream. It's the only stuff I use though.

I just wash my mouth when I eat greasy shit and use body wash on my face in the shower.

There are skin care products that really do make a difference....

They are not the cheaper brands on the market because they actually have a lot of research behind them and use ingredients that the cheaper ones.

My wife uses Artistry and now swears by it. She was introduced to it after she met me; and she did not believe how much of a difference it made (I understand that they have several product lines for different ages of people and different skin types - I'm clearly not that knowledgeable).

I do recall that one product cost over $300 for less than 2 fluid ounces. She said that fundamentally changed her problem areas for the better such that those areas could be maintained after several months in a great condition with just her normal skin care routine.

So yes, there are products that really work. I believe that you will only find them in the upper end cosmetic lines (none of which are low cost).

She also uses the shampoo from the same supplier (I believe Amway) - and says its as good or better than the most expensive salon shampoos and conditioners she has every tried - at a fraction of their cost.

I've certainly got no complaints about how her hair looks - it's fantastic.

She also takes a Nutrilite vitamin for Hair, Skin, and Nails. I suspect that's part of her overall success in looking so great. Here again Nutilite is not cheap. But, I've heard from a number of people that the Nutrilite vitamins actually produce changes that they notice that many other brands do not. I understand that Nutrilie has always focused on delivering vitamines and supplements in such a way that the body actually can absorbe and use them effectively (bioavailabilty). Most vitamin and supplement companies don't care about bioavailability - just get the stuff into the pill. It's not their problem if your body cannot effectively absorb it.

I've got a personal story on how Nutrilite Vitamin C was at least 3 times more bioavailable than a number of commercial over the counter brands (I never found another brand that was even close). I learned that after developing a food allergy to one of the ingredients in the Nutrilite Vitamin C (and it has to do with how excess vitamin C changes the color of your urine - so you know that you have saturated your body with Vitamin C).

I hope that helps.

Everyone's skin and hair is different, and therefore requires/does best with different care. What works great for one skin/hair type is not necessary or won't work at all for another.

I usually strive for "less is more" and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but some things do make a difference. Of course, there are things that are just clever marketing as well, but like I said, certain skin/hair types have different needs.

For my skin, it seems to be happiest with just some warm water and ivory soap (though I use very little soap on my face). I never used a moisturizer up until the past year or so, but find it helps during the colder months when my skin feels drier than usual, though it can be a bit too much during the warmer months when my skin is usually oily. I tried using a facial cleanser for sensitive skin once and it irritated my skin, so I've stuck with the water and ivory soap since I'm not interested in spending $$$ trying to find the perfect product when I have a system that my sensitive skin seems to agree with.

My hair is unfortunately a bit trickier, since it is curly. After years of trying multiple types of shampoos and conditioners, I think I've finally found a brand I like, and I also use leave-in conditioner and a little bit of argan oil right after getting out of the shower. This is the difference between soft, shiny, manageable hair and an untameable ball of frizz for me.

Yoooo actually ugly.

I sleep with sudocream on my face most nights, gets rid of spots and red patches. I’ve never seen this technique recommended and it might only work because I’m very pale.

I tried various face washes as a teenager and noticed no difference.

I use vaseline and olive oil for my dry skin.