AIBU to spend more on skincare products?

[Nicebucket]

My colleagues and I were having a chat today about how much we spend on various things a month.

It was a lighthearted discussion, but I still ended up feeling a bit judged and shamed! Apparently, none of my other female colleagues spend as much as I do on skincare and things.

For starters, I have problem skin. You name it, I've had it. Eczema, Acne, pigmentation, allergies, vitiligo. Have them all. So I'm paranoid about what I put on my face, and frankly most things cause one issue or another to flare up.


I'm not a brand snob at all, and I prefer cheaper stuff if it suits my skin, but for some things, I find that I have to spend a bit more. Like for moisturisers and sunscreen for the face, I tried everything and Clinique was the only thing that didn't cause rashes and breakouts. And Clinique isn't cheap...

I have to cut back elsewhere, but I've always made the effort for my skin.

My colleagues (who have great skin) just didn't get it. I felt like I am precious about all this and they just didn't believe that Clinique was the only thing that suited my skin!

I know I shouldn't look for validation and in the end it's my money to spend, but I came away feeling really shamed.

Does anyone else on a moderate income (not rich at all) use higher end skincare or is it literally just me?

[SoThatHappened]

I use high end skincare. Clinique products and laura mercier foundation.

I find cheaper stuff is false economy. My foundation is over £30 but it is a massive 50ml tube and goes a long way so one tube will last 7-8 months.

It's your money, your skin needs its, ignore them.

[Pollyputhtekettleon]

I use water. It's really cheap. I actually have plenty of creme de La mer and sisley stuff in the cupboard but never bother. When I get a facial (once a year or so, I love being pampered) the therapist always says my skin is great and assumes I use moisturiser. I think beauty products ae quite frankly bullshit. Of course if you have skin problems then I understand trying to find a solution.

[DizzyNorthernBird]

If it works for you and makes you feel good then don't worry about it.

I love higher end products, dermalogica, l'occitane, origins, molten brown, Moroccan oil etc etc. I don't mind investiging a bit more because they feel good to use and last so much longer than cheap products. In fact the only product which I don't mind saving on is mascara....to me they all do the same job so I'm quite happy to stick with my favourite £5 Rimmel wand!

But then, I don't spend much on clothes so........

[Nicebucket]

I'm the same Dizzy,I don't spend much on clothes. I don't really shop for them that often tbh...

[BarbaraofSeville]

YANBU to use Clinique as long as it is affordable to you in that you aren't spending money that is needed for rent, bills, food, childrens activities etc.

You would be unreasonable to claim that it is necessary for everyone to buy Clinique or similar priced products because cheaper ones are rubbish.

It could be that there are cheap products out there that don't irritate your skin, but you just haven't found them yet. It is understandable from what you say that you want to stick with Clinique.

I am lucky that I have great skin and look much younger than my real age. The only products I ever use are Simple face wash, or the Aldi equivalent and whatever cheap moisturiser I see that contains sunscreen - again usually from Aldi, but have used Boots Botanics in the past.

Nothing else - I spend about a fiver a year on my 'skincare regime'. I never wear make up. Other people do. When a colleague had her car broken into while away on business, the cost of replacing her make up bag and contents was more than her laptop.

But horses for course. I pay £20 a year to use a cookbook indexing service. I have a couple of expensive hobbies that you can literally spend hundreds or thousands of pounds buying equipment for and doing. I have a gin collection.

As I said at the beginning, most people can look at other's spending and deem an aspect of it wasteful, but as long as it is affordable to them and they are not unfairly taking money from their partner or children who cares?

[HormonalHeap]

Who cares what anyone else does? What's right for one isn't going to be right for the other anyway. I've always used cheap face cream. Recently though dh has started buying me creme de la mer but it absorbs so well I don't need to use it every day so it lasts forever.

[Tartyflette]

Oooh Sorry to derail, but what's a cookbook indexing service it sounds like something I really need, fingers crossed--

[Highsteaks]

Are you on Facebook? There is a group on there called 'Mrs Gloss and the Goss' and it ls really great- definitely no judging or shaming on there, quite the opposite in fact!

Personally, I think a lot of expensive skincare is an absolute rip off, and apart from pixi glow tonic, everything I use is really cheap make up is another story. However, if it is working for you, the who cares what others think?

[BubsandMoo]

YANBU, your money, your priorities. As long as you're not getting into debt or going without basic necessities then tell other people to stuff off with their opinions on your life choices, you don't need to defend them .

[superbfairywren]

I think sometimes people want to show off about how little they spend on themselves, makes them feel better but seems a bit ridiculous. Im all for a bargain but we are all different and skincare especially is very personal. If you have found products you like I can entirely understand sticking with them. I have annoying reactive skin and don't like trying too many new things as am scared of reactions but have finally found an affordable regime for me. It's all about what's affordable for you. Skin is important!

[cantgonofurther]

I spend more on skincare and make up. It is what makes me feel confident as I have problem skin. I have tried both cheaper stuff and more expensive stuff.
I don't spend much on clothes at all.

[Mumberjack]

YANBU anyway, your money, your choice.

But I'm also guessing that your skincare choices have been a case of (often painful) trial and error based on your skin conditions, that other people might not be able to empathise with. The right skincare can do wonders for self confidence. It's like choosing certain frames for glasses, or a type of contact lenses.

[Nicebucket]

I've tried all the cheaper alternatives, believe me. There isn't a single drugstore brand I haven't tried. They didn't work for me, for some reason.

What works for me now is a combination of clinique and shiseido. I also use neotrogena where I can which is much cheaper

I definitely don't use rent/bills money for skincare!

Sometimes my mum is nice enough to treat me to a moisturiser.

[Nicebucket]

Mumberjack- you're right! The right skincare has done so much for my self confidence.

I also had a terrible combination skin. My nose would shine no matter how much I blotted and my cheeks would peel from dryness.

All that went away with the right products.

I still have problem skin, but it used to be much much worse

[JolseBaby]

I hate these competitive discussions, because you can't win. It's either a bid to out-do each other with how much you've spent on handbags/wine/facelifts, or a race to the bottom because you only spend tuppence a year on food/heating/jumpers.

I have sensitive and problematic skin. I have in the past spent very little on skincare - I now spend quite a lot.

You do not have to justify yourself or your choices to them

Everyone has different skin. Some lucky people will get by with just being able to use water. Some have to have specialist cleansers or the flare up, itching and pain are terrible. It's YOUR money and it's up to YOU how YOU spend it.

In the future I would avoid these types of conversations because they never end well. If you get drawn into one then I find a small laugh and 'Oh I'm pretty boring really, do very little. How about you ?' turns it around quite nicely. As the principle functions of these discussions is to show off, then asking someone what they do - thus giving them the opportunity to talk about themselves - usually works quite nicely.

There is a skincare topic in Style & Beauty - if you want to chat with like-minded souls then do it there, as you won't be judged!

[JolseBaby]

PS. I heart Shiseido, although my favourite product right now is a Korean brand.

[LostInMess]

YANBU. Some people don't realise how lucky they are not to have problem skin. I suffer badly from eczema and the only thing that stops mine breaking out is Liz Earle - even Clinique causes problems. Have tried cheaper brands as I'd love to spend less but end up throwing them out half way through as my skin reacts. False economy and very upsetting.

Nobody else's business but to my mind no different to the £9odd prescription charge I have to fork out for hydrocortisone cream to rectify problems. Prevention better than cure and this way am not costing the NHS.

[19lottie82]

Clinique isn't really that expensive compared to some others! And it's definitely not uncommon to spend that much, so I wouldn't worry about it

My favourite moisturiser is Keihls which is £24 for a small tub.

[pasturesgreen]

Yanbu, your money to spend however you see fit.

I've used Clinique for ages, have now switched to a specialist (cheaper) brand on dermatologist's advice as I have problem skin. Still spend about £150 a month on skincare+makeup, but then I don't spend much in other areas.

Don't be made to feel bad for spending your own money on stuff you love!

[Ememem84]

I spend on skincare. I use clarins I've tried other things but nothing works as well.

I save money in other areas.

[Bunbaker]

I agree with Mumberjack and Jolsebaby.

If it suits your skin then just keep on using those products. I am fortunate enough to have even tempered skin and am currently using Boots no 7 Protect and Perfect products, which to me is on the expensive side.

[Ememem84]

Ffs posted too soon.

If push came to shove and I needed to save more for something I'd ditch clarins. And would switch to a cheaper brand.

[Gowgirl]

I use Chanel.


Because I can

[ifyoulikepinacolada]

Yanbu so long as you can afford it! It's your money. And whether you need them or not, I prefer to spend my money on things that give me joy every day; if good skincare and makeup does that for you, then enjoy it. Life is short!

[JolseBaby]

Gowgirl I am currently hooked on the new Les Beiges Healthy Glow foundation.