Ah, the early 2000s—a time when low-rise jeans reigned supreme, frosted lips were a fashion statement, and our skincare routines were… questionable at best. If you’re a millennial, chances are you spent your teenage years scrubbing your face raw with St. Ives Apricot Scrub, spot-treating with actual toothpaste, and believing oil-free meant good skincare. And let’s not even get started on the overplucked eyebrows.

Now, here we are, older, wiser, and hopefully way more hydrated.Because we all know we weren't drinking ANNNNYYY water either! So let’s take a nostalgic (and slightly cringeworthy) stroll down memory lane and celebrate how far we’ve come in our skincare journeys.

Exhibit A: The St. Ives Apricot Scrub Era

If there were ever a product that defined millennial skincare, it was the infamous St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It sat proudly on our bathroom counters, promising us “glowing” skin while aggressively exfoliating our faces with crushed walnut shells. Who knew we were basically sandpapering off our moisture barrier in the name of smooth skin? I know I thought that redness was *peak* skincare perfection. 

Now, we whisper barrier repair like it’s a sacred chant while slathering ourselves in ceramides and hydrating toners. We’ve traded in that scratchy mess for gentle chemical exfoliants that actually work without making us look like a freshly peeled tomato. Growth!

DIY Disasters: Toothpaste, Rubbing Alcohol, and Other Crimes Against Skin

If a pimple dared to appear before homecoming or a MySpace profile pic update, we attacked it with the most dermatologically unsound methods possible. Toothpaste? Check. Rubbing alcohol? Of course. A baking soda and lemon juice face mask? Why not!

Today, we shudder at the thought of putting anything not formulated for skin on our faces. Instead of waging chemical warfare on our breakouts, we’re reaching for niacinamide, azelaic acid, and—dare I say it—hydration as a solution. Who would’ve thought being kind to our skin actually makes it behave?

The Oil-Free Obsession (Because We Were Terrified of Moisture)

For some reason, we spent most of our 20s convinced that any form of oil was the enemy. We stocked up on oil-free everything, stripping our skin dry and wondering why we still had breakouts. Little did we know, our poor faces were overproducing oil to compensate.

Fast forward to today, and facial oils, rich moisturizers, and waterless skincare are having a moment. We’re layering hydration like it’s our job and embracing a healthy, dewy glow—without suffocating our skin under five layers of matte foundation.

Makeup Over Skincare: The Full-Coverage Phase

Speaking of foundation, let’s have a moment of silence for all the years we relied on thick, cakey formulas to cover up our skin sins. Instead of treating our skin, we just… covered it. And because setting sprays weren’t a thing yet, by the end of the night, our foundation was either sliding off or patchy in all the wrong places.

Now? We’re all about skin-first beauty. The goal is to wear less makeup, not more, because a solid skincare routine means we don’t need to cover anything up. And if we do wear makeup, it’s lightweight, breathable, and (gasp) actually enhances our skin instead of suffocating it.

The Evolution: Serums, SPF, and Making Wiser Choices

So here we are, in our 30s and beyond, embracing skincare like it’s an investment (because it is). We understand that sunscreen is the ultimate anti-aging product, hydration is key, and serums filled with actives can do more for our skin than any quick fix ever could. 

We’ve learned that skincare isn’t about punishing our skin—it’s about taking care of it. We’re making smarter, cleaner choices, opting for high-quality, waterless formulations that nourish rather than strip. And instead of chasing the latest beauty trends, we’re focusing on what actually works for our unique skin needs. We are switching from even conventional (read: expensive) skincare to waterless, trusting, knowing, and demonstrating through our now smarter actions - that even more importantly water does not need to be the first ingredient in our skincare. 

So here’s to growth—both in life and in skincare. And if you still have a tube of St. Ives somewhere in your bathroom, consider this your sign to finally let it go. Your skin will thank you.