3 skincare products that are a waste of money and what to buy instead, according to a dermatologist
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- Dermatologist Dr. Mia Jing Gao said that you don't need to use a toner in your skincare routine.
- A cheap cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF are all you really need.
- LED face masks and collagen supplements are also a waste of money, Gao said.
The essentials can feel like they cost a bomb at the moment, whether it's rent, bills, or skincare products.
So it can feel like we're pouring money down the drain when we want to try out something new but don't know if it will work or suit our skin.
Insider asked Dr. Mia Jing Gao, a consultant dermatologist from London, UK, which skincare products aren't worth spending your hard-earned cash on, so you don't have to take the risk.
Collagen supplements
Collagen supplements can cost anywhere from $20 to $100 with brands claiming that they can help with healthy hair, skin, and nails, as well as providing joint and bone support, and anti-aging effects.
However, Gao said that collagen supplements don't work as well as some brands claim.
According to Harvard's "The Nutrition Source" website, studies into the effects of collagen supplements in humans are lacking, and some trials have found collagen improves joint mobility but not much more than that.
It said the research into collagen supplements is often funded by related industries, and so can't wholly be trusted.
Gao said the best anti-aging remedy is SPF. She said applying an SPF 50+ cream is the best way to protect your collagen; nothing else has the same effect.
LED facemasks
Madonna and are among the celebrities who have raved about LED therapy masks, with Kardashian calling them her "skin obsession" in 2020. Masks can cost hundreds of dollars, with manfucturers claiming they can do everything from boosting collagen and clearing acne to reducing redness.
But Gao said the treatment isn't worth the price and that there's not much evidence to back up these claims, and the studies that do exist are often only based on a small pool of people.
Gao said that if an anti-aging product that combats blemishes is what you're after, a retinoid is much better value.
Retinoids can vary in price and cost up to hundreds of dollars, Gao said, but cheaper ones, such as The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, are great value products that do the job.
They also make skin firmer and smoother, Gao said.
Toners
Another product that can be totally skipped from the cleansing routine, according to Gao, is toner.
"Most are alcoholic and actually irritate the skin," she said.
A cheap and easy skincare routine can be as simple as cleansing and moisturizing your face at night and cleansing and using an SPF product the next morning.
"That's really all you need," she said.
Dr. Gao added that the cleanser doesn't have to be expensive, either. Insider previously asked dermatologists to recommend their favorite cleansers for different skin types, with budget brand CeraVe emerging as a popular choice.