how much is too much?

[sheluvsvalencia]

my skincare routine (not specifically in order) contains 2 cleansers, 2 byoma toners, 1 glow recipe toner, 3 the ordinary serums, 1 glow recipe serum, 1 glow recipe moisturizer, 1 jlo serum, 1 tatcha moisturizer, 1 drunk elephant moisturizer, and 1 supergoop sunscreen

i genuinely just bought this all at one time thinking i would need it all, but can there be such thing as too much skincare? idk why i use so many of the same thing but just in different brands but i just buy everything i see online😭

or is there a certain amount of times you're supposed to use something a week?

[heartsmyface]

@sheluvsvalencia  Unless you’re doing a double cleanse with an oil cleanser first and then a more foamy one to cleanse the residue, two cleansers aren’t necessary.  I personally love double cleansing. 
I’m a huge fan of layering serums though that’s also not required.  If you were to choose one serum vitmain c is a great ingredient for it to contain.  It’s all about the process for me.  I tend to layer three or four thin serums which makes a full blown moisturizer unnecessary for myself.  There’s only so much your skin can absorb before products are just being wasted.  
You can absolutely use too much skincare and clog your skin up.  Too much skincare will also make it so your makeup slides off or doesn’t apply evenly.  Excess skincare rarely sits on your skin evenly.  It will pool in areas even if you can’t see it.  So if you’re layering skincare, be sure to blot your face five minutes after to remove any excess product.  Five minutes is ample time for your products to absorb properly. Anything that’s sitting on top after that isn’t going to absorb and will either evaporate or mix in with your makeup. 

[corn26]

Lol I think you went a bit overkill with your last purchase😂

You definitely don't need all those products in your routine. The only thing that you could benefit from having two of would be cleansers. If you wear makeup then you should use an balm/oil based cleanser and another that targets your needs (eg. dry/oily). 

You only need about 5 products in your routine: 2 cleansers, 2 serums, a moisturizer and sunscreen. Toners arent necessary, but I also enjoy them.. You could do with only using one, but if you have two then they should address different concerns and you should alternate them. 

It is important that you make sure you are not using conflicting products. Some actives can not be used together like retinol and AHA/BHA, so you need to alternate their use. Make sure that you follow the instructions on the label so you don't damage your skin. Also certain products are more powerful when used correctly so I'd suggest looking into that (eg. Retinol and Vitamin C). 

I suggest you check out some videos about skincare as well, Hyram and MixedMakeup on YouTube have some good information. 

[heartsmyface]

@corn26  You can definitely use ahas and retinol together as I do every night.  Both are exfoliating and you have to build up tolerance to retinol before using it every night.  If you are just starting out with retinol it is advised not to use it more than twice a week and to dilute it at first into another product.  Retinol is a product you should start with a weaker strength and alternate evenings with so you can get your skin used to the exfoliation and cellular turnover to avoid skin irritation and peeling.  Use it at night only as it is light sensitive.  Vitmain C is best used in the morning.   If it does cause irritation cica or blue tansy can be helpful to calm irritation.  
Always wear sunscreen when using any exfoliating product as your skin will become more photosensitive.  

[Guessgal]

Hi @sheluvsvalencia , I agree with @winniethepoohs below. Generally, you just need one of each type of product to create a full skincare routine. Especially for toner - the main purpose of toner is to tighten the pores after you cleanse your face so using 3 toners could be a bit repetitive. Some people use two serums if they are complementary or target distinct concerns, but I mainly use one serum so I can better discern if the product is working and also make it easier to narrow down if I experience any adverse reactions.

[CorgiMommy]

@Guessgal @sheluvsvalencia I agree. One of each product is enough. Too many is just a waste of time and money.  Glad to see you use a sunscreen as that is the most important product for great skin.

[winniethepoohs]

That’s wayyy to much you really only need cleanser and a moisturizer but since you have so much I suggest using one of your cleansers one toner one or two serums and one moisturizer.