Picked up a few boring essentials from a pharmacy run and realized HALF my skincare frustration is not knowing what is actually helping!

Hi people

The haul was basically:

- sunscreen restock
- gentle cleanser
- basic moisturizer
- cotton pads
- a little notebook because my phone notes are a mess

I m trying to be more methodical this time. same lighting, same mirror, once a week check-in, and writing down stuff like redness, dry patches, breakouts, oiliness around my nose, that kind of thing. not trying to diagnose anything, just trying to stop changing 3 things at once and then guessing.

What i m curious about is how people here track skin changes in a way that's actually useful and not obsessive.

For example:
- do you take photos weekly or only when you change your routine?
- do you track by area of the face instead of overall?
- do you rate things with numbers or just short notes?
- how long do you usually give a routine before deciding it is or isn't working?
- any tips for making comparisons more consistent during winter vs summer, especially if you live somewhere in the Europe with huge seasonal swings?

My skin looks VERY different in central heating season compared with humid summer, so i feel like i keep blaming products for what is probably just weather. would love to hear how people in this sub do it, especially if you have found a simple system that helps you avoid impulse buying and constant routine switching.

Thanks!