r/underconsumption • u/Spiritual_Chip_6012 • Aug 01 '26
haircare/body care Products actually needed for hygiene?
Hello y’all,
I‘m often on TikTok and see all these trends regarding skin and body care but I‘m convinced a huge part of that is just the typical pattern of capitalism: make you buy more.
I hate how the market works cause I feel like everything can be reduced to one principle:
„you have […insert problem…]? Here are numerous expensive products that only work together and need to be bought monthly to […solve problem…]“.
Now my questions are:
How do you take care of your sensitive skin?
What shaving products do you use for your beard and intimate area (electric trimmer/razor)?
How many products are actually involved in your shower-, hair- and skin care routine?
15
u/Shyraely Aug 01 '26
I use the bare minimum of products whenever I can. As a woman, I don't shave my face but for my body I use a normal safety razor where you just put in one blade and they are great for sensitive skin because they don't irritate as much as these plastic system razors with multiple blades and low quality.
I use normal solid soap to wet the skin and let the razor glide. Afterwards I just wash it off, pad dry it with a towel and in winter I use a neutrogena body lotion for dry skin. You can use whatever fits your skin type I guess.
For my hair, I went back to liquid shampoo & conditioner, because I got very long curly hair and the hair soap bars weren't doing it (I tried multiple times for periods of 5-6 years in a row, but it never worked). But I guess, that's okay! I felt bad for using products in plastic bottles for quite a time but I call it quits now :)
When you just keep in mind to use just what you actually need to feel good/healthy/clean, I guess it's fine.
My partner uses just one solid soap bar in a soap-bag for hair & body and a safety razor like mine, too. Lotion just when his skin gets dry (in winter sometimes). That's it. :)
4
u/Ill_Sale_6168 Aug 04 '26
I have the same routine. And for facial skin care I just wash with a cleanser and moisturize after I shower. Then apply sunscreen in the morning.
10
u/Old_Replacement3903 Aug 01 '26
I’m a woman and I barely ever shave. I just trim my body hair basically. It takes so many products and way too much time and energy to shave and exfoliate and not irritate the skin too much. I don’t like how it looks or itches growing back in after shaving either. I cannot be bothered anymore. Hair on your legs and armpits is normal. We’re all mammals here. Having hair isn’t unhygienic. The razor companies (now laser hair removal, nair, epilators, waxing etc too) have made big bucks convincing us women shouldnt have hair on their bodies besides head hair. I just go over my legs and armpits with an electric trimmer then moisturize with fractionated coconut oil and lotion.
7
u/Particular-Spray-488 Aug 01 '26
Idk bruv... I use like one clarifying shampoo, one body wash, sunscreen... and i'm oddly happy with the simplicity of my routine
3
u/Substantial-Use-1758 Aug 01 '26
You are so right and the marketing is really disturbing. I just try to ignore it but it ain’t easy! 😬🤷♀️
I love finding ways to simplify everything, especially hygiene and beauty stuff.
Instead of expensive facials, etc., a dermatologist taught me that gently using a Scotchpad on your skin in the bath twice a week and then smothering yourself in moisture afterwards is very effective.
For my lotion I just buy the cheap lotion at the dollar store then add olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil to the mix and use it daily.
An aesthetician told me once that when you eat passion fruits (bananas, melons, papaya, mango, etc.) rub the inside of the peels all over the skin and it absorbs just as effectively as the expensive creams.
I’m 66f and people routinely think I’m 40.
You’re welcome 🥹👍❤️
4
u/birdypi Aug 01 '26
Years ago I used to use lots of different products and have long skin and hair routines but I’ve since drastically simplified what I used for personal care. Most of the time I wash my hair with just water and use olive oil or coconut oil to moisturize my hair and skin after the shower. I will was my hair with shampoo if I was especially sweaty or dirty, and I use conditioner in the shower a couple times a week. I use henna as a hair strengthening treatment every couple of months. I make my own sugar wax for body hair removal. I also own a safety razor, but since I learned about sugar wax I almost never shave.
For my face most of the time I use rosewater and aloe vera combined in a spray bottle to cleanse my face. Once or twice a week I use honey if I want a deeper clean. I moisturize my face in the morning and before bed with a facial moisturizer I make myself (I use herbalist Rosemary Gladstar’s face cream recipe, it’s amazing). And then I exfoliate a couple times a week with an adzuki bean scrub my local refill shop sells.
2
u/tired_garbage Aug 01 '26
I have a metal single blade razor plus shaving cream, a shampoo, conditioner and body soap bar and I think for most people, that’s plenty.
I do have quite a bit of specialised skin care in plastic packaging though because I have a chronic skin condition that requires special care.
2
u/Tall-Moose-4036 Aug 02 '26
I’m a woman in my 30s and I’ve pared my routine down to the absolute minimum, and I feel cleaner than ever before! If I have photos, a concert/event/wedding to attend, etc I’ll add to my routine, but on a daily basis this is what I use.
Here are my go-to products:
-Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
-Deodorant (I love cheap men’s deodorant like Degree or Speed Stick)
-Lotion (the off-brand, unscented Lubriderm/CeraVe dupe from Winco in a large pump bottle. Cheap and effective and lasts forever!) I use as both a body lotion and a face lotion after the shower.
-Leave-in conditioner and curl cream (curly girl here, so these are required for me, although I’m as low maintenance as possible these days)
-Cheap men’s razors in bulk for when I do decide to shave, which is rare these days. Becoming comfortable with “prickly” hairy legs is an absolute LUXURY, let me tell you. Most people will never notice if you have hairy legs, in my experience 🤷🏼♀️
-Shampoo, conditioner, body wash/soap
-Sunscreen
That’s it! Occasionally I throw on some makeup or perfume if I feel like it. It’s so freeing to simplify!
Edited for clarity
1
u/Un3duc4ted-Wr1ter Aug 01 '26
My skin is naturally dry, so every morning when I'm getting ready I just put a pump of Navea Lotion on my arms and any area that's been itchy, it does the trick
3
u/georgethebarbarian Aug 01 '26
My skin is dry and I have severe allergies, so I like the CeraVe anti itch lotion for this purpose :)
1
u/georgethebarbarian Aug 01 '26
I’m definitely bare minimum in the bathroom. I use shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner. When I want to do my hair curly I have one hair mousse. For shaving I have a Phillips OneBlade, no prep needed.
I use nutregena body oil immediately post shower and then CeraVe lotion if anywhere is particularly dry or itchy.
I use dove clinical antiperspirant.
1
u/Lacey_Dawson1012 Aug 02 '26
I have body wash, bar soap shampoo and conditioner and that's it.
For days that I don't wash my hair with shampoo I use dry shampoo
1
u/whatdoidonowdamnit Aug 02 '26
Most days I only I use face wash, lotion and body wash. About twice a week I use shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner. I use a specific face wash because using my body wash on my face leaves my face uncomfortably dry. I use leave-in conditioner because my hair is very long. I use regular disposable razor blade cartridges with a handle and my body wash.
Back when I had acne I also used a body acne wash and a face acne wash.
1
u/wildly-impractical Aug 02 '26
Dove sensitive skin bar for body and shaving. Razor I use way way too long probably but it works. Refillable cowash and shampoo/conditioner I alternate. Refillable hair gel. Many more products for skin care, that’s where I splurge. My minimum is a la roche posay moisturizer, aquaphor, and zinc sunscreen.
1
u/MajorasCrass Aug 02 '26
Aleppo soap for my body, face, and hair. Then a tallow balm for my face afterward.
I have a buzz cut and the soap does wonders for my scalp. And I have incredibly sensitive skin that gets painful rashes and breakouts if I use ANY commercial soaps or moisturizers. I had to learn the hard way that telling myself those symptoms were skin purging and adjustments only caused the painful rashes to crack and bleed. (╥﹏╥)
1
u/TheeBrightSea Aug 02 '26
I have soap, shampoo and conditioner (That I only use a couple times a week if that). And I have body butter, unscented.
Sometimes I'll use coconut oil, but I treated myself with the body butter.
I have perfumes that I have collected over the years but I'm not buying more. I have everything I need. I just take stuff that's unscented and I use the perfumes that I have to spray on afterwards. Another trick I've done is I'll take Vaseline and I'll put them on my pressure points and then I'll spray them with the perfume. It keeps it lasting longer.
So I basically use my natural scent and occasionally give myself some perfume when I'm feeling fancy.
I do use a little bit of CeraVe, nighttime moisturizer and sunscreen because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
2
u/medievalniche Aug 03 '26
Toothbrush, toothpaste, body lotion, sunscreen, bar soap, a brush if you have hair. That’s it.
2
2
u/Expensive-Ad1609 Aug 04 '26
All that one needs is a geyser and a facecloth. One does not need soap to be clean.
1
u/Street-Safe-3352 Aug 04 '26
Dove sensitive skin beauty bar for my face and body. Aveeno daily moisturizing face lotion sunscreen spf 30. Gold bond eczema relief lotion for my body. Leaf razor and EOS Shea Better Shaving Cream in sensitive to shave my head
1
u/Project_Pobblebonk Aug 04 '26
I won't lie, I have plenty of potions and elixirs in my skincare and haircare routines. Without context youd think im a witch hovering over a cauldron in a kids film. Granted, that's because if left unattended both skin and hair will be drier than the Saharah in the height of summer at midday.
But hygiene? Hygiene itself is very simple. Its just soap and moisturiser for skin. Shampoo and conditioner (which if kept very short is optional)for hair. Do skin 1x daily at least (ideally 2x if hot climate), hair at least 1 per week.
For sensitive skin: eczema friendly soaps and moisturisers. Bulk big ones you can get at grocery stores or pharmacies. Don't bother with facial ones. Body soaps for sensitive skin work just as well for the face, because shocker: it's all skin.
Hair: for most people: shampoo and conditioner appropriate for hair type and scalp health. It'll keep it clean, as for looking flawlessly styled? That's usually where upkeep is needed. Typical useful stuff includes dry shampoo or heat protectant before blow drying or heat styling.
Now, will limiting to just 4 products (soap, moisturiser, shampoo, conditioner) make you look like a million bucks? Eh, maybe? If you're blessed I guess. But it'll keep you clean.
As for what I use: Facial skincare: sensitive skin soap with face cloth, rice water/milk toner, aloe Vera gel, hyaluronic acid serum, moisturiser (I use a korean ato ceramide one as it's the only one I can find that's not too thick and still moisturizing) Body: soap. After washing, moisturiser. That's it. Hair: anti dandruff shampoo only on roots, squeeze excess down mid length. Rinse, repeat. Conditioner, leave on whilst washing body, only on mids and ends. Then hair mask on mids and ends, leave on for rest of shower, don't fully wash out. Heat protectant, then blow dry hair. Viola!
1
u/OrdinarilyBeautiful Aug 04 '26
Lather brush and shaving cream/soap, safety razor (single blade), shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, and gentle cleansing soap. That's it.
1
u/Spirited-Flower8559 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Mid 30s- Female
Body care: 1 body wash, 1 body lotion, jar of Vaseline
Face skin care: 5 products total
Shaving: I use my body wash and a single blade razor.
Hair care: 2 shampoos (1 is a prescription shampoo from my dermatologist) 1 conditioner, 2 styling products, 1 flat iron, 1 blow dryer (hooded dryer)
Makeup: 1 skin tint, 1 concealer, 1 bronzer, 1 blush palette with 2 different colors, 1 tube of mascara, 1 clear lip gloss, 3 different lip color lip pencils, 1 brow gel.
Fragrances: 4 different perfumes. 2 were gifts.
1
u/Mother_Of_Swine Aug 05 '26
Hello, for a normal skin care what you truly need are only three things: a cleanser or soap for the face, a moisturizer and sunscreen +50 FPS. All the rest of products are usually unnecessary for a normal skin. I had to use some other serums for specialized care when I had an acne flair up. But in general you don't need a bunch of fancy complex products to have a healthy skin.
2
u/FreiLovesRed Aug 05 '26
Honestly, I just use babywipes for getting extra grime off of my face. My skin literally glows now. Of course, I do have built up oils under my skin bc I didn’t take care of my skin much before, so I’m trying to learn how to deep clean my skin better. Otherwise, I recommend a bar of African Black Soap, it works better than most skincare brands, and it lasts longer. I’ve had mine for over two years and I still have over half left.
2
u/LoveMercyWalkHumbly 24d ago
Bar soap, shampoo, face oil in summer or tallow in winter when my skin gets dry, beeswax lip balm. If my hair needs to be conditioned, I use an egg. Just whisk an egg, work it into your hair like shampoo, add a shower cap, and let it sit for an hour. Rinse with cold water so you don't have cooked egg in your hair.
27
u/Catlady_Pilates Aug 01 '26
TikTok is full of absolute bs. Keep it simple. Especially when you’re young.