5 Unnecessary Skincare Products

Last Updated on June 14, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

• “Cleanse, tone, and moisturize.”
• “Don’t forget to buy a cream for your turkey neck, as well!”
• “Have you tried this mask? It’s a facial in a sheet!”

Geez, if you bought every skincare product out there, you’d need a separate room just to house your lotions and potions. And your skincare routine would take you one hour and a half! Good news. A lot of skincare products out there are gimmicks. They may come in handy once in a while but they are by no means staples to splurge on a daily basis. But, what deserves the boot? Here are 5 unnecessary skincare products you don’t need to invest in:

The Top 5 Unnecessary Skincare Products

#1: Toner

This is one product that refuses to go away. Did you know it was invented to remove the residue soaps left behind? Very handy when soap was all you had to wash your face. Thank goodness, those days are gone! So why are you still using toners?

• Some women use them to remove the traces of makeup their cleansers leave behind. But why not buy a better cleanser that takes off everything instead?
• Other women use them to restore their skin’s ph after cleansing. But, your skin already does that on its own. It’s smarter than toner.
• Some use them to shrink their pores but it doesn’t work. Nothing can shrink them.

So, why are you still using toners? I have no idea. I gave them the boot years ago and my skin hasn’t missed them one bit.  Ok, if your skin is dry and could do with the extra moisture, a hydrating toner could help. And if the rest of your skincare routine lacks antioxidants, you may want to add an antioxidants-rich toner.

Even so, why not get your hydrating or antioxidant fix from a serum? They contain higher concentrations of active ingredients so they’ll work better and faster. By the way, most toners aren’t like that. Most are just a mixture of alcohol sprinkled with alcohol infused in even more alcohol. They’re terribly drying and irritating. Stay away!

But I Have Acne-Prone Skin-Don’t I Need A Toner?

If you’ve got breakouts, chances are someone’s told you a toner is the key to “balancing” your skin. Spoiler: it’s not. Most toners aimed at acne are just alcohol-packed sting-fests that leave your face dry, tight, and still full of clogged pores.

What your skin actually needs is a BHA. That stands for beta hydroxy acid-aka salicylic acid. BHA dives into your pores, breaks down the gunk (oil, dead skin, leftover makeup), and clears things out from the inside. It’s oil-soluble, which means it can actually get into those oily little crevices and clean house.

Use it a few times a week in serum, moisturiser, exfoliant, or yes, even toner form (serum and exfoliant are my faves, they have a higher concentration of BHA than toner or moisturiser) and you’ll see way more progress than any drying “pore-refining” water ever gave you. You don’t need to tone. You need to unclog.

Best Picks:

• Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($90.00): Don’t let the name fool you. This exfoliant has both salicylic acid to unclog pores and glycolic acid to fade away the dark spots pimples sometimes leave behind. Available at Cult Beauty and SpaceNK.
• Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29.00): The cult exfoliant from the brand, it unlclogs pores and treats blackheads and acne. The texture’s a little sticky, but if you can take that, this is one of the best salicylic acid exfoliants out there. Available at Cult Beauty, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
• The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid (£9.99): A simple, no-frills salicylic acid exfoliant for people on a budget. Available at Cult Beauty and Sephora.

Related: Is Toner Really Necessary?

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#2: Neck Cream

Your neck needs some TLC, too. Just like your face, it’s exposed to the harsh winter winds and the unrelenting summer sun every day. Forget to take care of it and it’ll betray your real age sooner than you think. But you don’t need any special products for that.

Now, it’s true your neck skin is thinner and has fewer oil glands. Translation: it shows signs of aging a bit faster. But that doesn’t mean it needs its own overpriced jar of cream. Your neck needs what the rest of your face needs: a gentle cleanser, a bit of exfoliation (preferably with glycolic acid), an antioxidant-rich serum, a rich moisturizer and a mineral sunscreen.

So, as you apply your facial skincare routine as usual, take a few seconds to slather each product on your neck. You’ll see an amazing difference without shelling out any extra bucks.

Related: What Are The Best Antioxidant Rich Serums?

#3: Face mists

Face mists baffle me. I just don’t get the point of them. Ok, in summer, they’re refreshing. When you’re sweating buckets and your makeup is melting off your face, a quick spritz feels like heaven. I won’t lie: there’s something satisfying about that cool mist moment. But let’s be real: that’s not skincare. That’s temporary comfort.

And that comfort? It comes at a price. A price you’re paying for what’s essentially… water in a bottle. Maybe with a drop of aloe. Maybe with a sprinkle of rose water. But still, water. And your skin doesn’t exactly drink it in like a sponge. In fact, if there’s no humectant or occlusive layered on top, that moisture can actually evaporate and leave your skin drier than before. Yep, you’re paying to make your skin thirstier.

Brands try to make face mists sound like some magical hydration elixir – “revives tired skin!” “sets makeup!” “soothes irritation!” – but nine times out of ten, it’s just marketing fluff. If you want hydration, use a proper serum with hyaluronic acid or glycerin. If you want to set makeup, use a setting spray with ingredients that actually set something. And if your skin’s irritated? You need barrier-repairing ingredients, not scented spa water.

If you’re really addicted to these money suckers, go with the cheapest one you can find. You SO don’t want to splurge on this nonsense. Keep one in the fridge for those sweaty days if you must – but don’t expect it to be doing anything miraculous for your skin. It’s a moment of nice. Not a skincare essential.

#4: Anti-cellulite products

If these worked, I’d be the first to tell you to stock up, ladies. But, you already know the sad truth. Like me, you’ve tried your fair share. Like me, you saw ZERO results. Anti-cellulite products don’t work. Period.

Ok, if retinol is in there, they’ll smooth out the surface of the skin a bit. That’ll make your cellulite look less obvious. But, guess what? That bumpy skin’s still there. And it’s totally normal. Cellulite isn’t a disease or a blemish to get rid of at all costs. It’s something all women have. And that’s ok.

Related: Get Over It, Cellulite Is Normal!

#5: Facial Masks

I wouldn’t call facial masks useless. There’s nothing like them to perk up your skin before a special occasion. You’ve got a date, a wedding, a big meeting: you throw on a mask, feel fancy for 15 minutes, and voilà: a little extra glow. But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that glow is going to last.

I’m just saying, they’re not a necessity. Most masks don’t do half of what the packaging claims. That “infused with 15 antioxidants” promise? Usually a gimmick. The actual concentration of those ingredients is so low, you’re better off using a serum that’s built to deliver them in a meaningful dose. Most of the time, you’re either getting a hit of hydration (great if your skin’s feeling tight) or some oil-absorbing clay to mattify things for the day. That’s it.

And don’t even get me started on sheet masks. Yes, they’re fun. Yes, they make for a cute self-care moment. But they’re often soaked in heavily fragranced essence, wrapped in wasteful packaging, and cost way more than they’re worth for something that works for half an hour max.

If that’s what your skin needs in the moment – extra moisture, oil control, a bit of pampering – go for them. There’s no shame in enjoying a mask. Just don’t confuse them for long-term skincare solutions. They won’t fade dark spots. They won’t erase wrinkles. They won’t magically shrink your pores (nothing does). They’re more like a mood booster than a treatment.

So sure, throw one on, relax, scroll your phone, take a selfie with it if you want. Just be aware there’s only so much they can do – and 9 times out of 10, your everyday products are putting in way more work than that flashy little sachet ever will.

Related: What’s The Right Type Of Mask For Your Skin Type?

BONUS: Extra Unnecessary Skincare Products You Think You Need (But Don’t)

Unnecessary Skincare Product #6: Eye Cream

I know, I know. The skincare police say this is the holy grail of anti-aging. But here’s the deal: unless your face moisturizer is loaded with fragrance or strong actives like retinol (and even then, just avoid the eye area), it can do the job just fine. Eye creams are basically moisturizers in a smaller, more expensive jar.

Related: Are Eye Creams A Scam?

Unnecessary Skincare Product #7: Makeup Remover Wipes

These feel like the lazy girl’s best friend, but they’re more like your skin’s worst enemy. Most makeup wipes are soaked in harsh cleansing agents and preservatives that strip your skin barrier and leave behind residue. A good oil-based cleanser or micellar water followed by an actual cleanse will do the job way better and won’t leave your face feeling like sandpaper.

Wait, What About Essences? Do I Need One Of Those Too?

Short answer: only if your skincare routine is already working and you’re bored. Essences are kind of like toners mixed with serums that hydrate skin. Do they help a little? Sometimes. But if your serum and moisturizer are already doing their job, adding another step doesn’t suddenly supercharge your skin into glowing goddess mode.

What About Pore Strips? They Work, Right?

Ehhh… they do rip out gunk along with your skin’s protective barrier. Pore strips give that gross-yet-satisfying result that makes you feel like you’ve done something great. But spoiler alert: the blackheads come back fast. Because the root cause (oil buildup, dead skin cells, maybe a lack of exfoliation) isn’t being fixed. You’re just yoinking stuff from the surface like a band-aid fix. If anything, you’re making your pores look even bigger over time by constantly tugging at your skin. Use a BHA exfoliant instead. It goes into the pores and clears the junk without ripping your skin off.

Related: Why I DON’T use pore strips

Do You Need A Separate Night Cream?

Not really. This is just your regular moisturizer in a fancier jar labeled “night.” Unless it has specific actives like retinol or peptides that aren’t in your daytime routine, it’s just marketing. And even if it does? You can still use the same product day or night as long as you’re not adding something like retinol under a bright sun. Save your money and use one good cream that actually does something instead of two that do the same thing with different labels.

Related: Do Your Morning And Evening Moisturiser Must Be Different?

The Bottom Line On Unnecessary Skincare Products

The beauty industry thrives on FOMO. A new drop every month. Products for every half-inch of your face. But unless you love the ritual of it all (which is valid!), most of it is extra fluff wrapped in shiny packaging. Now you know what the top unnecessary skincare products are, stick with what works: cleanse, treat, moisturize, protect. Anything beyond that? Optional. Not essential. And definitely not worth rearranging your bathroom storage for.

Stop wasting your time and money on stuff that doesn’t work. Click on the image below to download “Skincare That Works” and finally get your best skin day – every day.