Most Skincare Products are Toxic
[ 9 min read ]
I used to sleep with my mum almost every night when I was a kid, especially during winter. It just felt nice and warm in bed when you had somebody to stick with. However, sometimes it bothered me to get in bed first when it was still cold inside, while my mum sat in front of the mirror doing her ordinary night routine with her beloved anti-aging cream.
I found the recent “Sephora kids” drama to be laughable, as some viral TikTok videos showed young teenagers busy buying anti-aging skincare for their daily routine that they believe will keep them forever young.
This trendy phenomenon brought out critical questions like “Why are people so determined to have a skincare routine that drains their time? Do they really work as they claim? Aren’t they just placebos or examples of wishful thinking?
The ancient quest for the fountain of youth
“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love.” — Sophia Loren (1934-present)
The idea of reversing one’s age dates back to the 16th century when Spanish voyagers were seeking a rumored elixir of youth in the Americas. But the first anti-aging recipe involving diet and lifestyle advice was given by German physician Christopher Hufeland in 1797.
This hunt for rejuvenation later turned into charlatanism, as a concoction mixed with mashed dog testicles that claimed to restore youth was commonly sold in Western countries in 1889.
