To wonder why women buy into all this stuff?

[Pyjamaramadrama]

So I've been using the same £3 moisturiser that I have since I was 18. It's served me well but I decided that I need to invest in one with sunblock and thought I might go for a higher brand.

I went to Boots to the Clinique counter £39.99 was their cheapest moisturiser with spf and apparently I will also need primer, face wash, and I couldn't even get a sample to try before I buy.

I headed over to olay but was overwhelmed with the huge selection and ended up buying a £13 boots sanctuary moisturiser with spf. Realised when I got home it's perfumed so I'm not sure how well I will like it.

Looking online at the Clinique range there's absolutely loads of very expensive products that claim to reduce redness, reduce uneven skin tone, dark circles, I'm surprised they haven't just got an ugly face cream. There's also a million different make up products, my little make up bag looks really inadequate now.

Looking at the men's there's maybe 5 or 6 products.

Surely we don't need all this stuff? Dps face looks fine and all he does is splash it with water each day!

Yanbu op, there's too much of choice. But fair enough with DH and I he has about 5 face products and sticks to his routine religiously while I'm still using my body moisturizer as a two in one

You don't need it. I use 2/3 Clinique products which I like. The ones that promise miracles don't do anything.

Oh and the thick Nivea stuff that comes in a big blue plastic jar looks and does exactly the same as another eye-wateringly expensive moisturiser I probably can't refer to by name.

Good quality perfume is worth it.

Could you use a separate sunscreen?

I tend to use an olay one that has SPF15. I only buy it when it is half price though

www.boots.com/en/Olay-Essentials-Complete-Care-Day-Cream-For-Normal-to-Dry-Skin-SPF15-50ml_1066/ = this is the one I have just now. I normally buy it when it is only £5 because I am stingy

I use coconut oil. £6 for 500g.

I never go into boots unless I am looking for a present or specific SLS free product...which is always bloody hard to find.

And bear in mind I'm someone who has been castigated for suggesting dress sites a couple of times where the general consensus was they were far too expensive, so I'm not someone who is careful or parsimonious about non-necessities.

Yes but we women is dense. Coz we like pretty things. Glossy things. And can't read that only 24 out of 100 liked it or 3 out 100 used it.

While they buy it grows but agree real yawnsome

YANBU. i recently stopped putting all that crap on my face, i clean it at night with a warm flannel and normal soap in the morning, use a cheapo moisturiser and have tried not to wear make-up unless i'm off out.

my skin is lovely and glowing and no-where near as oily as it used to be. i've also stopped getting plukes.

I remain dubious on the daily sunscreen thing.

I get bad spots. (Bah, teenage spots aged 40) a few mins sun a day seems to sort it out. If I'm out in the sun I'll use protection, but every day even in winter?

Well my Son in law is nearly 30 and only uses Clinique, his peers do as well. Reps come into his very male workplace and give good value sets, when compared to Boots etc prices.

So it isn't "only women".

I love Elemis, I have a routine that I follow for special occasions and look younger/fresher/dewyer.

I tried Aldi, it was better than lots of more expensive products but not as good as Elemis.

I think often that Women's spending is often pulled apart, even if it's all advertising I would rather of given myself a boost by buying something than gambling etc, which many men indulge in.

At 46, I now want results though.

I am someone who definitely does buy into all that stuff. I'm not sure I believe in it as such, but I do enjoy trying new things and having long bath nights etc.

However, budget is not allowing for luxury at the moment so the SPF moisturiser I have gone for is the Simple one with SPF 30. It was only about a fiver and seems to be doing ok so far. Havent seen any other cheapo ones with as high an SPF as that.

Well, YANBU because no-one actually NEEDS it. But YABU because it is nothing to do with need, you buy into the feelgood factor, the image, the packaging, the gorgeous smells and textures of more expensive products, the whole buying experience at department stores. I use various Clarins products and I just love the brand, it's a tiny bit of heaven that gives me pleasure every day - but I don't kid myself that any of it actually works. I still look like shite!

I don't to any make up or products, nothing. I've saved a fortune over the years. I don't see why anyone bothers at all.

"Good quality perfume is worth it."

That's subjective, most perfumes smell weird on me.

Lidl's lasts and smells like Chanel, on me. Ghost suits me.

I've given tons away, I might as well be using air freshner/fly spray/soap.

I wanted to try a new moisturiser having used any old cheap stuff the last 30 years. Thought I'd better invest in a decent-ish one. I asked at the Clinique counter for some samples to be told that they don't do them anymore. But I could have a refund if it didn't suit. Pah.

I bought a big tub of Nivea

superdrug apparently has a buy one get one free on selected olay products

It wasn't meant to sound bad birds, just most of it seems to be aimed at women. I love shopping and nice stuff as much as the next person but it seemed a huge amount of money to spend on something that might not make much difference.

Sunblock always seems greasy so thought incorporating it with moisturiser might be better.

Gosh wish I'd just bought the Simple one now.

They do look all lovely and luxurious in the shop but I just don't believe that they're going to make my pasty face look suddenly wonderful.

Simple do moisturisers with SPF as well if that is the brand you usually use

Clinique skincare is awful- gave me severe dermatitis.
Its really harsh and they are only interested in selling .
I went back with the products and showed them my hugely swollen closed eyes and they gave me a full refund .

I do like their foundations though.

I have tried many cheapish high street brands and they don't cut it for me - why waste £10 time and time again ?
I use L'occitane now and its amazing- well worth the price and I use every last scrap .

They wouldn't make it if women didn't buy it.

I agree though, women have a lot of ridiculous stuff marketed at us.

Instead of Tylonal to take away menstrual cramps we're given Midol, which is basically just tylonal that makes you pee more.

Most skin problems could honestly be solved with generic cocoa butter.

I don't! Skin is all about the genes.

It is largely genetics, but you can still make improvements with products.

I think that the few women who say they don't bother with products, yet still look good, do have really good genetics, or haven't had skin damage through lifestyle/ hormonal etc factors, as much as other women.

I've sat in pubs and seen men run out repeatedly to the bookies, or throw money in a slot machine, that to me is proper knob head behaviour, not treating yourself at a makeup counter.

This is just about the only area of life where my gender generally shows more sense than yours, Birds. You get yourselves ripped off more than we do on potions and lotions for your skin.

No idea the Olay moisturiser mentioned up thread is also as fancy as I go.

Cheaper ones bring me out in spots, as does foundation, so I only do makeup for going out.

I can't get my head round fancy skin care products and perfume. If I'm given perfume I never remember to use it.

Even worse is the idea of paying some one to wax your legs, let alone your lady garden.

What are Bic razors for.

Women pay to have their nails done and their eyebrows threaded, it's all a total mystery.