Skincare Products to Stop Using in Lubbock: What to Swap Instead
Skincare to stop using in Lubbock doesn't mean throwing out everything in your bathroom and starting over. Our estheticians would swap out a short list: makeup wipes as your nightly cleanse, alcohol-heavy astringents, too much exfoliation and choosing products for the price or packaging instead of what’s in them.
If you already have a product that's working fine for your skin, we're not going to tell you to waste it just because there may be something more effective out there. Sometimes the better move is to finish what you have, then make the switch when it's time to replace it.
Skincare doesn't need to get more expensive or complicated. This post is about figuring out what's worth keeping, what may be working against your skin, and what to use instead.
In Part 1, we talked about what our estheticians look for in skincare. Part 2 covered the order to apply it, and Part 3 broke down what each product type does. Now we're getting into the swaps our team would make and why.
Swap Makeup Wipes for a Gentle Cleanser at Night
Makeup wipes are convenient. There's no arguing with that. If you're traveling, leaving the gym, or somewhere without a sink, they can work in a pinch. We just wouldn't want them doing all the work every night.
Brayden Mitchell, Medical Esthetician, recommends “a gentle cleanser instead, especially when removing makeup at the end of the day.” In Part 1, she noted that wipes often don't fully cleanse the skin. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Kathryn Anderson adds that wipes often contain preservatives that can be harsh, and the rubbing they take can strip the skin barrier.
If convenience is the reason you reach for wipes, we carry travel sizes of some of our cleansers too. Toss one in your gym bag and you still get the convenience without making wipes your nightly routine.
At home, use a gentle cleanser and your fingertips. Your skin doesn't need to feel scrubbed or stripped to be clean.
Swap Alcohol-Heavy Astringents for a Gentler Step in Lubbock's Dry Climate
West Texas is already hard enough on your skin. Between the dry air, wind, and weather changing whenever it feels like it, your skin is already doing a lot of work to keep itself balanced.
So if you're using something harsh or alcohol-heavy because you're trying to “dry out” oily skin, you may be making the problem worse. Ella Grace Van Gundy, Esthetician and Laser Technician, puts it this way: strip too much away, and the skin can start producing even more oil to make up for what it lost.
The American Academy of Dermatology says harsh face washes can irritate the skin and trigger more oil production, and it recommends avoiding alcohol-based cleansers.
If you like using toner, go for a gentler, water-based option instead of trying to dry your skin out on purpose. And yes, oily skin still needs moisturizer too.
Over-Exfoliating, Harsh Scrubs and Too Many Actives
Sheena Klos, Founder and CIDESCO Certified Master Medical Esthetician, says many people think regular exfoliation is too aggressive. In her experience, the right exfoliant, used consistently, is what helps. The catch, as she pointed out in Part 1, is that exfoliants and actives used incorrectly or too strong can be “the thing causing issues.”
Exfoliation is a good thing. The problem starts when we assume more is better. Rubbing too hard, using stronger acids than your skin needs, or exfoliating too often can leave the skin red, irritated and chapped. Harvard Health recommends exfoliating two or three times a week at most, so the skin has time to repair in between.
Physical exfoliation still has a place in a good routine, as long as it's gentle. Harvard Health also notes that some abrasive scrubs can go too far and leave the skin irritated or inflamed. You want exfoliation to smooth the skin, not leave it feeling like you scrubbed it with sandpaper. That's why our team reaches for finer polishes like ZO Exfoliating Polish or Hale & Hush Refine Polish, both covered earlier in this series.
The same idea applies to stacking active products. If you're using several exfoliants, retinoids or stronger treatment products at once, bring that full list to your esthetician. Sometimes the fix is simplifying what you already have.
The swap here is one well-chosen exfoliant on a schedule your skin actually tolerates.
Buying for the Label Instead of the Ingredients in Lubbock
A pretty jar, a luxury price tag, or a well-known name can make a product feel like it must be better. That isn't always how skincare works.
In Sheena's experience, some department-store luxury lines can be expensive while relying heavily on ingredients that make the product feel nice without necessarily doing much for the skin itself. Her preference is to look at the active ingredients and what they're actually there to do. If you want to compare, our post on medical-grade skincare in Lubbock explains how ZO and SkinBetter differ.
Mayo Clinic notes, in its guidance on anti-aging creams, that a higher price doesn't always mean better results, and that results depend partly on the type and amount of active ingredients. Products sold as cosmetics also don't need FDA approval before they go on the market, so a label or price tag on its own doesn't tell you much.
Keep the products that are working for you, whatever they cost. Just don't let the label, the packaging or the price tag make the decision for you. Look at what's in it, what your skin actually needs, and whether it makes sense for your routine. If you're not sure, that's exactly what your esthetician is there for.
Common Questions About Skincare to Stop Using in Lubbock
Are makeup wipes ever okay?
Yes. They're fine in a pinch, especially when you're away from a sink. We just wouldn't make them your main way of cleansing every night.
Should I stop exfoliating?
No. Use the right product at a frequency your skin tolerates well. Harvard Health suggests two or three times a week at most.
Is expensive skincare a waste?
Not necessarily. Price alone doesn't tell you whether a product is going to work well for your skin. Look at the active ingredients and what the product is actually supposed to do.
What if I have oily skin?
Oily skin still needs to be treated gently. Harsh washes and alcohol-heavy products can irritate the skin, and moisturizer still matters even if you naturally produce more oil.
Bring Your Product Bag to The Spa
If your bathroom counter has turned into a lineup of products you're not sure about, bring them with you.
During a facial, your esthetician can help you sort through what you already own, what's worth finishing, what may need to be swapped, and how often you should actually be using everything.
You don't have to start over, and you don't need to buy a whole new routine just because something newer exists. Sometimes the best place to start is simply figuring out what you already have.
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The Spa by Sheena
8713 Milwaukee Ave Suite 200
Lubbock, TX 79424
By Chelsey Zahn,
Marketing & Analytics
The Spa by Sheena is a Med Spa serving Lubbock and West Texas. Clinical treatments are performed under the supervision of our medical director by our licensed team.
