being frightened off the cost of skincare

[MrsKravitz]

Even when standing in front of regular brands in the supermarket? The cost of the "whole set" freaks me out. Is it false economy to buy any old cheap crap and will my face pay for it at the end?

What is toner, anyway?

OTHM

...or should that be 'ignorama'?

Toner is a myth from the 80s.

Cleanse, tone, and moisturise

I have dry, sensitive skin that is also prone to adult acne. I've tried everything - from expensive brands to olive oil. When my skin went particularly lizard-like during pregnancy, a friend suggested I try emulsifying ointment. It's basically paraffin and stops moisture getting out. It does feel quite greasy at first, but I find it absorbs well and I can put on my makeup on top. I also slather it on and use a hot muslin to wipe it off when I want to "wash" my face.

It's completely sorted me out - no more dry skin and irritation, and any spots have all but gone. (I'm guessing I was prone to irritation breakouts, I realise that some acne can only be treated with ABs etc.) Everyone's commented on how amazing my skin looks too. With my HVs blessing I also now use a bit on DD for her cradle cap/flaky skin and it works for her too.

A massive jar can be yours for around £3 and should last a year - you get it at pharmacy counters. I now look round all the beauty counters when I'm out shopping and am glad I never have to spend a fortune again!

I really don't believe that expensive skincare products have any effect whatsoever. The best things you can do for your skin are to protect it from the sun and keep your body hydrated.

My greasy yet patchily dry, spot-prone skin has been amazingly good since I stopped using facewash and just starting rinsing it with water in the mornings. Mind you, I am pregnant so will be interested to see whether things go to shit again once the baby's born (they did last time :(). I'm currently using Olay Complete Care moisturiser (around £6 from Boots) and it's great.

I was inspired by my nan's skincare routine, which is basically aqueous cream and water. She's in her 80s but looks at least ten years younger.

So no, I'm not a believer in expensive/faffy skincare, although should say that have never been in a position where I've either needed it (sensitive skin) or had the money to pursue it!

I use Burts Bees (mainly the serum) thats all.

It goes on for ages,and stays fresh...

Check the website because actually, all the products last, and turn out to be good value in the long run.

Oh,but I don't cleanse with the serum (obviously )

I always used to spend a fortune on creams, mosturisers etc. When I turned 40 my skin became more sensitive and I developed eczema (and asthma) :-( I started using E45 cream and it is wonderful. My skin feels and looks better than ever. Not a single wrinkle. I wouldn't use anything else.

I use clinique . I buy 2 products every 6 months that are approx £13 each when boots or debenhams have clinique 'bonus time' . Then you get about 6 small Iteams of scincare and makeup free. I never buy any other makeup. So for just over £50 per year I get all my scincare and makeup.

I have very sensitive, spot-prone skin. I have tried every lotion & potion going over the years but my skin has never been better since I just started using Dead Sea Minerals soap followed by Eucerin Dermo Gel.

Have been using the oil cleansing method for a year now and skin has been great.

Aldi skincare (lacura it's called). Costs pennies and fabulous.

Cetaphil to cleanse, rose water to tone ( it doesn't really "tone" that way a "toner" is meant to (i.e strip the shit out of your skin) but it's now a habit and it smells delicious), aqueous cream to moisturise. However, sunscreen every day without fail and no smoking are what I think makes a difference

i have very sensitive skin and if i used soap and water i would look like i daily had a chemical peel...i tried recently to see if anything had changed and looked like a lobster. and it HURT! So i can't stick to cheap skincare..however , expensive has not done it for me either..so now i'm more mid price and love Medihoney/Barefoot Botanicals/Kiehl's/ Not cheap but not pricey either, and they calm and moisturise but not heavily (as i'm quite oily)

I've never really used anything (except factor 50 in the summer as I burn like crazy). I don't like the feel of creams/oils on my face plus most of them smell nasty and are full of the most amazing crap. Plus if you look at the science behind their claims of efficacy it is very very iffy.

I've also noticed that the people who complained about their skin the most had a tendency to slap make up all over their face and then lots of products too. Given the ingredients list I'm not surprised their faces objected. Of course if you have a skin complaints (dh has psoriasis) then you need to treat it, but then generally using the products recommended by the dermatologist is best. When dd had extrema as a small child we were told to avoid anything scented or complex and that certainly made sense to me. I had a flare up of very itchy skin for a few months and what really made a difference was showing less often and moving to the simplest shower gel I could find.

I like Miggsie's recipe though. I used to make my own massage oil and use essential oils in the bath and in candles. I bet it smells lovely when you are making it too :)

My skin has been pretty good lately and all I'm using is the Simple moisturising face wash, and Aveeno cream. I got the Aveeno for my eczema and gave it a go when I'd run out of whatever else I was using and it's not too greasy but I don't get dry patches.
I also have a Simple face scrub that I use once a week or so.
The Aveeno isn't cheap, about £7.99 for 100ml, but is well worth it, unlike other expensive products I've always ended up chucking away.

It's also often on 3 for 2 at Boots.

Oooo Lots of tips, so here's mine - from a 47 yr old make up wearer, with dry skin..

Drink lots of water!

Remove make up with Boots Fragrance Free Moisturiser (for sensitive skin).

Weekly scrub with fine oatmeal mixed with water to make a paste, (cleanses and leaves your skin as soft as a babies bum), wash off with hot water, then cold.
Lastly open a Vitamin E oil capsule and apply.... job done

Miggsievery interested in your 'cream' recipe. Where do buy the ingredients from? Where can you get 'cosmetic wax', such as the beeswax, olive oil wax you mention?

A couple of people mentioned Cetaphil...is it really good? I've never seen it, I saw it mentioned in a magazine recently. Where can I buy it??

May have to up my game as hitting mid 40s. At moment a quick wet wipe [value range] and moisturise with Palmer's cocoa butter formula with factor 15. It is a body lotion but seems fine on my face and cheap. Bit of Tescos face powder and I'm off.
But... may have to reassess.

I use ByTerry Rose Gelee for moisturising and Clinique All About Eyes Serum.

For taking eye makeup off I use Estee Lauder and to cleanse I use Elemis Cleansing Melt.

My skin feels awful and tight if I used soap on it.