Previously, skincare meant washing one’s face with cleaning soap and water, and making use of some chilly cream that belonged to at least one’s mom. Identical to all the pieces else, skincare has developed as nicely. Now, taking good care of the pores and skin means utilizing cleansers, toners, serums, acids, oils, retinols, sunscreen, and extra.
Skincare is now not about simply private hygiene. It’s develop into a way of life, an endorsement, and for a lot of ladies, a type of self-care. There was a dramatic rise in ladies and younger women adopting skincare routines. As soon as thought-about a luxurious, it’s now a part of on a regular basis life for hundreds of thousands worldwide. From youngsters experimenting with glow-up merchandise to adults investing in anti-aging merchandise — everybody appears obsessive about skincare.
Outdated-school glow vs Gen Z glass pores and skin
We spoke to a couple moms and their daughters to see what skincare meant for our moms and what it means to ladies at this time.
Aasia Aslam, 57, stated, “I’ve by no means utilized something in my life. Once we used to scrub our faces, it was with cleaning soap, and that too possibly as soon as per week. We by no means cared sufficient about our pores and skin to even take into consideration skincare.”
Though her daughter, Atiqa Aslam, 27, in contrast to her, appears to handle her pores and skin very nicely.
“I wash my face with a face wash each morning, and if I am going out, I by no means go away with out sunscreen. At evening, I cleanse my face completely after which normally use a Niacinamide serum.
“Today, I’m additionally fascinated by getting laser therapies for my facial hair,” she stated.
Skincare isn’t confined to simply merchandise; now, totally different procedures like laser, hydra-facials, carbon peel, micro-needling, glowing drips, Botox, fillers, and lots of extra are additionally up for grabs at this time.
Masooma Bashir, 26, believes facial hair development amongst ladies has develop into fairly frequent resulting from hormonal imbalance.
“I didn’t have a lot facial hair, however nonetheless, I made a decision to mess with my face, primarily as a result of on the time I may afford it, so I went forward and bought Laser facial hair removing accomplished… After that, I used to be getting hyperpigmentation on the edges of my face, so I went for a carbon peel.
“It made completely no distinction for me, although they are saying you solely discover outcomes after three or 4 periods, and other than that, I just lately began utilizing a brightening serum.
“In any other case, I solely apply hyaluronic acid on my face. Most significantly, I by no means skip sunscreen and moisturiser, and I additionally used a Niacinamide serum for some time, which gave me good outcomes.”
Alternatively, her mom, Saima Bashir, 56, instructed us, “We had been naturally stunning, we didn’t want it.”
“We used to play in filth all day, but nothing occurred to our pores and skin, and again then, there have been solely house cures — like making use of Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth), or utilizing Tibet Snow cream.”
She recollects that the one “make-up” she had was Tibet Snow and a Medora lipstick.
“There was additionally an outdated cream referred to as Seven Days. It was quite common in households.
“Other than that, there was the blue tin of Nivea cream, and naturally, conventional cures like cleaning with uncooked milk, or rubbing tomato on the pores and skin.
“That was the whole lot of our skincare routine, nothing extra.”
From serums to laser therapies, at this time’s skincare is a full-time dedication for a lot of ladies like Samra Khalid, 31, who doesn’t take any probabilities with regards to her pores and skin.
“Within the mornings, I exploit a 20% vitamin C serum, and on prime of that, sunscreen.
“I used to make use of an area sunscreen earlier than, however now I’m utilizing a Korean one.
“In the meantime, at evening, I apply 0.5% retinol, however earlier, I had used 0.5% retinol blended with shea butter [of some local brand].
“Retinol reacts otherwise on each pores and skin sort, so I’ve now shifted to pure 0.5% retinol, however for those who’re a newbie, you must begin with 0.2% so you possibly can see how your pores and skin responds. I’m at present at 0.5%, and I’ll proceed utilizing it till I end this container — then I’ll transfer on to the 1% model.”
“At evening she makes use of an oil-to-milk cleanser, adopted by one other cleaning gel, and eventually the retinol,” Samra stated.
Her mom, Yasmeen Khalid, 59, by no means actually cared about these items.
Blame it on the algorithm
Social media has performed its half in turning a easy washing and moisturising routine into an elaborate seven- to ten-step ritual. Earlier than you commit to those routines, take into account that they will push you in direction of chapter, as a result of they’re so glowingly costly.
Native skincare manufacturers are additionally moving into the market on the pace of sunshine, together with a lot of these claiming to be promoting natural merchandise. There was just a few manufacturers available in the market earlier than, now, although, there are lots of of skincare manufacturers attempting to persuade clients that “their merchandise are the answer to all pores and skin issues”.
As per the Statista’s 2025 knowledge, the Pores and skin Care market is projected to generate a income of $198.35 billion worldwide. It’s anticipated to expertise an annual development fee of three.53% (CAGR 2025-2030).
However it’s true, advertising and marketing campaigns have gotten so persuasive that ladies discover it arduous to withstand the urge to click on “purchase now”. The remaining push comes from flash gross sales, bundle offers, and influencer low cost codes. No matter these manufacturers are doing to lure individuals in, it’s working. On the identical time, many influencers and celebrities have launched their very own skincare traces. Seeing nicely maintained, glowing celebrities and influencers share their skincare routine, ladies are tempted to comply with the identical, in hopes to get comparable glow.
Okay-beauty takeover
Any dialogue on skincare is incomplete with out mentioning Korean skincare, and the craze of glass pores and skin. Lately, Korean magnificence manufacturers have made a strong entry into Pakistan’s skincare market. Okay-beauty’s promise of “glass pores and skin” has captivated younger customers who binge on each Okay-dramas and Okay-skincare opinions. Social media influencers have fuelled the development, raving about revolutionary formulation, cute packaging, and multi-step routines.
In a rustic the place “honest pores and skin tone” nonetheless quietly dictates the definition of magnificence, Korean skincare has develop into the brand new fairy godmother, promising each mother-in-law’s dream of a daughter-in-law with flawless, honest, glass pores and skin straight out of a Okay-drama.
With e-commerce making these imports only a click on away, Korean skincare is now not an occasional splurge; as an alternative, it’s rapidly turning into a staple on Pakistani vanities.
The unstated strain
Sadly, all this skincare chaos has created an undue strain on ladies to all the time look good, all the time comply with the development, and look nicely maintained, specifically on those that are unable to afford it.
Rabia Anum, an entrepreneurial journalist who runs her personal salon, additionally shared the identical view. “Again within the day, ladies did all the pieces with what they’d at house. I’ve seen my grandmother utilizing beetroot for cheeks and lips.
“And so they didn’t have this fixed strain to look stunning.
“It’s our personal self-perceived emotion that ladies look stunning solely once they seem extra ‘girly,’ and extra ‘female’. There’s this unstated label {that a} girl has to look a sure strategy to be thought-about one.”
She defined that nowadays ladies drink extra water, go on walks, and train, all within the title of skincare. That is one thing anybody may handle. “Whereas those that can afford have gotten a full lineup, ten-step routines for the morning and one other dozen for the evening.”
She agreed that this has develop into an enormous strain, not simply on ladies but additionally on males, as a result of if a person’s companion is well-maintained, gifted, and appears like a “excellent queen,” he inevitably feels the strain to maintain up alongside along with her.
But when a lady’s complexion or pores and skin tone doesn’t match at this time’s so-called “magnificence requirements,” then neglect about marriage, most individuals gained’t even need to be mates with you.
“The opposite day, a lady instructed me that she was one of many brightest and most gifted college students in her class, but nobody interacted along with her, merely due to her pores and skin tone,” Rabia added.
In case you ever wonder if you want a 12-step skincare routine, the reply is… by all means if it makes you content and glad. But when it provides to your anxiousness and frustration due to how costly the merchandise are, then keep pure. You don’t have to be a part of this endless competitors.
