Are You Using Too Many Products?

Maybe it's time to cut back

Hello, Gorgeous!

While I love using products that help me look or feel better, I frequently have to remind myself not to use every single thing every single time.

Maybe this is a good time for a reminder to take stock of our beauty and grooming routines.

Hair care: do care

My friend Carly has fantastic hair. Some might say she’s obsessed with keeping her blonde bob classic, super shiny, and swingy. She also pays for pricey haircuts and uses only the best (read—most expensive) hair care products.

Carly and I met for lunch recently, and I was surprised that her hair looked less than perfect. And tbh, she kvetched about her coif throughout our meal. Not wanting to make her feel self-conscious while she was out and about, I waited for one of our catch-up calls to ask about her hair care routine. The list was extensive. She expressed frustration that her hair didn’t look the way it once did. Well, past a certain age, no one’s hair does. I was honest with her. Too many products weighed down Carly’s hair, and it showed. I suggested cutting out a few products or moving them away from her daily rotation. I also advised buying the light version of some products and limiting deep conditioning to once weekly.

We met up again last week, and Carly’s hair looked incredible. She’d cut out a few extra styling products and applied those she still used in tiny amounts instead of overly generously.

Don’t use everything all at once

There’s a takeaway in this story.

My friend took great care of her hair, but it didn’t look great anymore. She focused so much on products that she stopped noticing the condition of her hair. Although it was moisturized and protected from heat-styling devices, it looked a bit greasy and had lost its bounce.

Whether you use hair oil and serum every day or two types of eye cream twice daily, you can probably reduce your product list or eliminate steps in your routine. If you’re unsure what to cut out, try the elimination diet model. Try skipping a product for a few days and see if you notice any visible difference.

I don’t use retinol-based products every day, and I’ve been moving away from full eyeshadow daily. While it’s fun to apply, it’s time-consuming and not really necessary. I’ll let you know if my pared-down routine lasts.

How about you? Are you ready to cut out a few products daily, or do you stick with your routine because it works? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss.

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋