November 11, 2025

Does Skincare Really Work? Why What You Do (and Don’t Do) Matters More Than You Think

When I was in my 20s, I had what I’d call “okay” skin. I didn’t really think about taking care of it - I just loved makeup. I’d save up for department store brands and remember one specific splurge: I spent over $400 at the Trish McEvoy counter, feeling so proud (and slightly guilty). But when it came to actual skincare, my routine was... sporadic at best.

If I managed to cleanse my face a few nights a week, that was a win. Toner? Occasionally, though, I had no idea why I was using it. Moisturizer? Usually, something from Clinique that I grabbed at the same counter where I bought my makeup.

Then one winter, on a business trip to Chicago, I remember my skin feeling so painfully dry and tight that I walked straight into a department store and begged the sales associate for anything that could help. She handed me a gel moisturizer that felt instantly soothing — it was like my skin finally drank a glass of water. But by midday, my face was flaking again, my foundation patchy and dull. That was my first clue that skincare isn’t about the “instant fix.”

Real skincare - the kind that preserves youthfulness and makes your skin actually glow - comes down to two things: consistency and the ingredients you feed your skin.

1. Cleansing: Start and End the Day Clean (But Not Stripped)

The first pillar of healthy skin is a good cleanse. Not the foamy, stripping kind that makes your skin feel squeaky-clean (that’s actually bad news), but a gentle cleanser with surfactants that protect your skin barrier - like Capryl/Caprylyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sucrose Cocoate, Coco Glucoside, or Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine.

Look for a pH around 5.5, which keeps your acid mantle balanced and your microbiome happy.

If your skin leans oily or you’re under 40, cleanse morning and night. For drier or more mature skin, a nightly cleanse may be enough - unless you’re waking up sweaty or after a workout.

Personally, I love using our Hibiscus Cleansing Scrub on mornings when I want a little extra radiance. I’ll layer our Sea Kelp AHA/BHA Glow Mask right on top for five minutes - it’s my “red carpet glow” hack. Light literally bounces off your skin after this combo.

2. Exfoliation: The Secret to Real Glow

For years, I didn’t understand exfoliation. When my facialist asked if I exfoliated, I’d answer, “What is that again?” I brought home scrubs and masks, but never used them consistently - which meant I was missing out on the foundation of real glow.

Our skin renews itself every 28 days, but that natural cycle slows with age. Dead skin cells build up, dullness sets in, and no serum or moisturizer can penetrate properly. That’s why exfoliation (2–3x a week) is essential.

Think of physical scrubs as a polish and chemical exfoliants (like AHA and BHA acids) as refiners that help dissolve dead cells, stimulate collagen, and even kill acne-causing bacteria. A mix of both - when done gently - keeps skin luminous and smooth.

And don’t overdo it! Over-exfoliation breaks the barrier you’re trying to protect.

3. Serums & Moisturizers: The Skin’s Daily Nutrition

For younger skin, a simple facial oil or light moisturizer may be enough. But as you age, serums become the powerhouse layer that actually changes the skin.

Here’s a general guide:

Dull skin? Look for Vitamin C and gentle AHA’s.
Wrinkles or loss of firmness? Reach for Hyaluronic Acid, plant-based retinol, and peptides.
Hyperpigmentation or melasma? Try Niacinamide, AHA’s, and brightening botanicals.

And please don’t fear oils. Even oily skin needs oil. When skin is deprived of it, it overproduces sebum to compensate. The key is choosing non-comedogenic, cold-pressed botanical oils.

That “gel moisturizer” I loved back in Chicago? It felt great for an hour, but because it lacked nourishing oils, my skin was thirstier than before. A balanced oil-water formula - like a true moisturizer - delivers both hydration and barrier support.

4. The Eyes Have It

As we enter our 30s, circulation slows, stress rises, and lack of sleep (hello, parenthood and deadlines) starts to show up under the eyes. A dedicated eye serum or cream can help hydrate delicate skin and target hooding, dark circles, or fine lines. It’s small but mighty - consistency here truly pays off.

5. SPF: The Non-Negotiable

If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: wear SPF and reapply till you die.

Sun damage isn’t just about burns - it accelerates dehydration, weakens collagen, and causes pigmentation. You might think your tan looks healthy, but beneath it lies inflammation and DNA damage.

Our skin is like a living ecosystem — it needs nourishment and protection. I always say, “feed your skin before and after the sun.”

Our Mineral SPF line was born from that philosophy. As my friend Jenny (an avid surfer) says, “I used to have dry, tight skin after every surf session because my SPF wasn’t doing its job. Meadow & Bark changed that. It’s skincare with protection.”

The Truth About Skincare and Youth Preservation

So - does skincare really work? Absolutely. But only when it’s rooted in quality ingredients and daily consistency. You can’t expect one product to undo years of neglect, but with time, care, and good formulation, your skin responds.

Hydrated, well-fed skin ages slower, glows brighter, and feels better.

Feed it botanicals. Feed it antioxidants. Feed it love.
Because when your skin is thriving, so are you.

🌿 Explore Meadow & Bark

✨ Shop the Hibiscus Cleansing Scrub
✨ Try the Sea Kelp Glow Mask
✨ P rotect with Mineral 45 SPF
✨ Feed your skin with our Botanical Serum

Written by:
Marisa Russell
Founder & Chief Alchemist, Meadow & Bark
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