Creme de la mer fans need not apply...what is your budget beauty routine and recommendations?

[Aworryingtrend]

I am looking for recommendations as my skin is looking dry and dull at the moment. Currently I am using:

• Aapri facial scrub 1-2 times per week- I really like this as it is a 'grainy' exfoliator with lots of 'bits'. £2.99 in savers
  

• Botanics deep-pore cleansing mousse- I like the 'moussy' texture of this but am concerned it may be drying my skin. Approx £5 in Boots, they often do 3 for 2 offers
  

• L'oreal hydrafresh gel-cream moisturiser (the pale green one). This feels exactly like Clinique Moisture Surge moisturiser for a third of the price! £7ish in superdrug, they often do 'save 1/3' offers.
  

What cheaper products are you using and do you recommend them?

[FannyFifer]

Astral cream is one of my favourites.

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

Ponds ponds ponds, and I do like Astral too.

[Aworryingtrend]

I hadn't heard of that Fanny but just googled and it gets amazing reviews! What do you use it for?

I forgot to add my body moisturiser- Morrisons own cocoa butter body moisturiser- smells gorgeous and sinks in. only need to use it every 3 days. £1.49.

[CalamityKate]

Aldi Serum/Moisturisers. Superdrug Vitamin E moisturiser.

I've recently stopped "washing" my face, and am instead using cleansing milk with a hot flannel. My skin is in much better condition and I haven't had a spot since I started doing it.

[Aworryingtrend]

Calamity Kate I used Aldi moisturiser but I didn't gfet on with it at all- it felt like my face was burning and I had to wash it off! My skin can be sensitive though. Which cleansing milk do you use? And what do you do with it?

[Whenisitmysleepytime]

aqueous cream is fab. i use it in shower and also to shave my legs - no more dry legs. :)
i'm also trying it as a hand wash as my hands look about 90 at the minute!

[ruddynorah]

I do oil cleansing. Been doing it about 2yrs now. Skin never looked better. Costs nowt cos I just use oil from the kitchen.

[tulpe]

Simple skincare is great. Their deep pore cleanser works a treat and their foaming face wash and moisturiser are just as good.

[cosysocks]

oil cleansing fan here too. after alway having trouble with my skin since I started oil method it's been fab. Still get couple of pimples around period but thats it. All my dry patchy spotty skin has gone.

[titferbrains]

I think Liz earle products are good for the face - and they last well. I use cleanser and moisturiser. Haven't dared change moisturiser for years as I love hers so much.

[CalamityKate]

I'm using a cheapie Cleansing Milk from Tesco - it's by Derma and it's about £1.50.

Tell me more about oil cleansing....

[CalamityKate]

Oh and Trend - I just massage it into my skin and then wring out a flannel that's been soaked in hand-hot water, and wipe it off until the flannel comes clean.

[Aworryingtrend]

Thanks all, i have just been reading about the Oil Cleansing Method- thread here if anyone is interested.

I am really keen to do it but most of the people on the thread seem to have started doing itbecause they have very oily skin, whereas mine is dry/patchy/sensitive. Has anyone done OCM with this type of skin, and if so what type of oil did you use please?

[MaxSchreck]

I use a cople of drops of Bio-Oil at night instead of a cream/serum and it's lovely.

[Macaroona]

I have ry skin which gets spots - lovely.

I use a gentle scrub but use it daily. I like Nutrogena pink grapefruit one, it also smells absolutely yummy and not medicinal like most scrubs.

I find foaming cleansers far too drying.

I use Nivea on my face overnight, it is very thick but doesn't give me spots and I wake up with baby soft skin.

I do use Olay peptides moisturiser in the day though which is about £20, but I stock up when it's half price!

[Macaroona]

• dry skin

[cosysocks]

Aworry I started the oil method because of having dry patchy skin on my cheeks and chin but very oily forehead. I do the oil method once a week, hot water + steaming everyday and use olive oil to mosturise. Works a treat!

[Emo76]

I really like Simple products especially the face wash

[otchayaniye]

Oil cleansing (I use 50 castor oil the other 50 sunflower) but I use those cheapo flannels from Kids Ikea -- better than muslins and keep the heat of the water better.

Embryolisse cream from France or E45 or Oilatum Natural Repair.

Bicarb of soda as an exfoliator and general bath additive

Aspirin mask (not while pregnant)

Dye my own grey hair with 6 pct developer and Majirel 4 and 4.35 mixed together (bought from hair suppliers)

I save my money ofr expensive makeup and perfume

[GetOrf]

Oil cleansing, however I use that Waitorse baby bottom butter. Smear it on, wipe it off with a boiling hot cloth. It's great.

Cream: any old crap. It doesn't matter really. Vitamin E stuff from tesco or something.

[GetOrf]

I have very dry skin, which goes all patchy in winter. Oil cleanse with olive oil or baby bottom stuff works very well.

[allthefires]

My friend has sensitive skin and has recently changed to the m&s one in a green tube. Think she was using clinque or clarins before.

[sprinkles77]

Aqueous cream. Use instead of face wash (and all over instead of soap), then again as moisturiser. £5 max for 500ml. Also use to shave legs, instead of conditioner sometimes, on DS's dry skin. Baby oil to remove eye make up.

[Havingkittens]

Just for the record, grainy bitty scrubs are not very good for your skin. It's better to use something with finer, smoother particles or just use a fruit based peel like Pineapple, Guava or Lemon juice. Or, here's a shocker... use feminine wash with Lactic Acid, like Lactacyd, to wash your face! It's really mild and Lactic Acid is a really good exfoliant too without being harsh and scrubby on your skin. The sharp grains in a lot of exfoliating produts will just tear the skin causing damage and inflame any acne or sensitive areas.

RuddyNorah your logic amuses me...

"Costs nowt cos I just use oil from the kitchen."

Do you get your cooking oil for free then? Or do you have a magic oil tap in your kitchen?

I also like Ponds' Cold Cream followed by Witch Hazel as a toner Don't usually need to moisturise afterwards because the Cold Cream leaves quite an emollient feel.

[Havingkittens]

Oh and also you then use the Witch Hazel to diminish under eye bags, get rid of bruises, soothe & reduce spots, take of excess eye make up etc.

Glycerin & Rosewater lotion, which you can get in a lot of afro/asian beauty shops is very cheap and good for dry skin too.