To think my expensive anti ageing night cream is GIVING me wrinkles?!

[PeasinPod1]

Would love to see if I am mad to think this, but recently splashed out on a Clarins anti ageing night cream and eye cream. Eye cream, fine. But since using the face cream for a few weeks, Ives noticed now fairly deep set wrinkles by my mouth that are definitely more prominent/visible/there than they were before 2 weeks ago. I've also come out with some spots on my cheeks where usually I don't really get any spots.

I'm 33 and usually have good, clear and pretty unlined skin. I am pregnant and sleeping pretty badly at the moment if that has any link to my skin?! My skin routine until now has been beyond simple but worked for me- facial cleanser soap followed by good old Nivea in the white tub used as moisturiser.

Shall I keep using the night cream or stop & admit defeat? Any other tips welcome.

At 33 you are too young to need an anti-aging cream, you just need a cream with a good SPF.

'I use no make-up, Simple wash and moisturiser and nothing else.'

You do know there's nothing particularly simple or natural about Simple products? People really seem to fall for the name.

'Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Panthenol, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Methylparaben, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-39, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocamide MEA, Laureth-10, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Anthemis Nobilis Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Propylparaben, Pantolactone, Glycerin'

'the more cosmetics you use the worse your skiing gets - whether that is make-up or skin care.'

I definitely have not noticed this.

I think the No 7 range Protect and Perfect really works. Really rejuvenates the skin - definitely reduces lines and reduces blemishes.

I was a bit of a devote of Creme de la Mer, but am now a total convert to something I have found works (for me) just as well......

......Astral. At about a tenth of the price.

As I get older I'm finding high end creams with lots of "tech" actually irritate my skin and traditional creams such as Nivea blue, Astral and Ponds Cold cream actually work a hell of a lot better.

My grandmother had beautiful skin and when I asked my mum what she used to use.....Astral was the answer :-)

My point, squoosh was that it wasn't expensive. Simple is its name - I haven't been 'taken in' by anything!
To all the others a it 'atheist' - damn autocorrect! A pocket atheist would be great though.

Nivea is just sweet smelling petroleum.

i use cocnout oil on my face at night and drink cucumber juice everyday and take msm and multivit. Works for me

Also bigging up the Astral, I use that and REN glycolic mask once a week. Slather on the Astral at night, really thickly, it makes a difference. I've been through all the high-end creams, and at 41, they're the only two that have made a difference.

'the more cosmetics you use the worse your skiing gets - whether that is make-up or skin care.'

Good job I'm not the alpine sort then!

My great Gran used Nivea original all of her life and had fabulous skin all the way upto the age of 84.
I sometimes use it as a night cream as it's a bit heavy for me in the day as I have oily skin (thank god! the lady at clinique once told me to stop whining about that fact....apparently I'll wrinkle slower because of it)
Agree with a previous poster - The Cien from Lidl is really good.
As a quick fix - I sometimes use haemorrhoid cream under/around my eyes to plump out the skin there but only after a really heavy night or too many early mornings.
My face really shows it when I'm dehydrated and sleep deprived. So for me keeping that in check works better than creams really.

I wonder what the ingredients are in the stuff that the OP has been using? I find products with AHA and BHA can make my skin look a bit dry in the short term, which makes it look more wrinkly. It could easily have those in, if it's billed as an anti aging moisturiser.

Loving the typos btw!

OP I am 39 and have used the Boots No7 serum for years. My skin loves it. I regularly get told that I look much younger. Other than the serum I only use very simple moisturiser (I have very dry and sensitive skin).

About a year ago I started making my own moisturiser from high quality oils (avocado, rosehip, camellia mostly) using emulsifying wax, and it's great! My skin loves the stuff, it absorbs very well and there are no petrochemical products in there. Plus, it's a fun thing to make on a Sunday afternoon. (Yes, I lead a sad, boring life.)

'Simple is its name - I haven't been 'taken in' by anything!'

Sure, sure. I believe you........

Some of these face creams are pretty damn crafty.

as mentioned, only retinol has been shown to make a difference, and it is tiny. possible side effects too. If a cream brings you out in spots, stop using it. No cream is essential but if you like it and can afford it, buy some.

you'll get wrinkles if you don't die soon enough. Eat properly, don't smoke, wear sunscreen, choose right parents. Never smiling will also reduce wrinkles but miserable faces look a decade older so your call.

What's your issue, squoosh? I think it's fairly clear from both my posts I'm talking about cost. I also said I don't really use cosmetics and think they are all a bit rubbish for your skin. Why do you insist on knowing what I believe about Simple? Is it important to you that you are more intelligent/savvy/whatever than I am? Personally I don't really care about the intelligence of random internet people. Just as well, I think.

Hormonal changes, sleep and what you eat have the biggest effect on skin condition. The spots you've got are probably down to the moisturiser though. There might be an ingredient you haven't used before that your skin reacts to. Any fine lines or signs of 'aging' at 33 will either be your lack of sleep or hormones. Avoid sugar like the plague and drink lots of water.

Vitamin A should be avoided during pregnancy.

Do not use anything containing retinoids when pregnant.

Gylcolic acid should also be avoided along with benzoyl peroxide and I'd swerve salycylic acid too personally although I'm not 100% on what the guidelines for that one are.

Doubt you were going to use any of that but thought it shouldvjevpiibyed out given what some other posters are recommending.

*should be pointed out

Oils and a serum that is aimed at dehydrated skin is your best bet for sudden fine lines, along with avoiding sugar etc.

Just read the ingredients list on the serums carefully before buying.