to think that spending a lot of money on face creams is pointless?

[MaMaLa321]

I'm in my 60s, and, for the last few years, have been spending a lot on face creams to try and keep wrinkles at bay (unsuccessfully). Like £50 a pot. My skin is ordinary, aging, skin.
At the beginning of lockdown I started using an all purpose cream that costs £7, and I don't honestly see any difference to the effects from the more expensive cream.
Do posters think it's worth buying expensive face creams?

Totally agree. I was persuaded by a friend to try Aldi's own face cream, which was 10x cheaper than my usual one. My skin was the exact same, in fact I actually think my make up sits nicer on the Aldi cream. I use loads of Aldi toiletries now, love them and save a small fortune.

I'm convinced that most (not all - some skins suit certain creams) of the time, you are paying for branding, packaging and psuedo-scientific claims that make no/minimal difference long term.

Absolutely not worth it. I've been using almond oil on mine, and it works just as well or even better than the expensive stuff I've forked out on over the years.

Depends on the cream, depends on what’s wrong with your skin - it won’t work miracles.

My skin is better now than in my 20s (I’m 42). I use products across the range based on the ingredients and how well they perform.

My cleansers are supermarket and expensive for 1st and 2nd respectively, my exfoliator is mid, serums and retinol high, moisturiser low.

It’s about understanding what your skin needs rather than just spending £50 on a cream.

I've always been obsessive about spf, and used supermarket moisturisers.

But lately, I looked at my 50 year old neck and thought oh dear. So now I'm doing a boots 1.5% retinol every second night and an elizabeth arden vitamin C capsule every other night. And I kid you not, it looks better.

The only think that keeps wrinkles at bay is genetics and staying out of the sun.

I have zero wrinkles. I’m mixed ethnicity, and all the women in my family look ridiculously young (my aunt is regularly mistaken for my DS7’s mum - she’s nearly 60). I baked myself I’m the sun when younger with minimal protection and look younger than many friends who were slavish with SPF.

They can be improved with retinol but if your base genes are saying you’ll be wrinkly not much you can do.

'It’s about understanding what your skin needs rather than just spending £50 on a cream.'

Absolutely right. Expensive does not necessarily mean 'better', it depends what suits your skin. It's well worth doing a bit of research e.g. watching some Nadine Baggott vids on YouTube about different active ingredients and what they're for. Shes really good for budget recommendations too

@KetoIFWinnie

I've always been obsessive about spf, and used supermarket moisturisers.

But lately, I looked at my 50 year old neck and thought oh dear. So now I'm doing a boots 1.5% retinol every second night and an elizabeth arden vitamin C capsule every other night. And I kid you not, it looks better.

Retinol and Vit C are amazing.

I’m currently using Beauty Pie ones but seriously can’t believe my skin - I can go completely makeup free without feeling self conscious.

Yes, you don't need to fall for every bit of marketing hype but I knew that those were two approaches that had been proven to have an effect. I need a cheaper vitamin C though. I tried the ordinary vitamin c ages ago and it STANG my face. Not sure if that is good, like, ooooh something's happening. Or if it's crazy to put something on your skin that is stinging it! Badly!

I must google beauty pie now, thanks!

If you have fairly well behaved skin, I don't really see the point in spending a lot of money. I do have some what I class expensive (La Rochay possay and Vichy) stuff I use when I have a breakout, but using them all the time doesn't work for me either. I have a variety of different price points for all my skin care/beauty/make up. If a product is good I'll buy it (within reason of course)

You've either got the genes to look young, or you don't. A cream isn't going to stop that.

@KetoIFWinnie

Yes, you don't need to fall for every bit of marketing hype but I knew that those were two approaches that had been proven to have an effect. I need a cheaper vitamin C though. I tried the ordinary vitamin c ages ago and it STANG my face. Not sure if that is good, like, ooooh something's happening. Or if it's crazy to put something on your skin that is stinging it! Badly!

I must google beauty pie now, thanks!

I think Beauty Pie is only worth it if you buy skincare, makeup, and body care regularly.

I do so for me it’s value for money but I can see it wouldn’t be for some.

As PPs have said I think it's knowing what you need. I wouldn't just spend £50 on "a face cream".
I'd be buying retinol for the wrinkles and vitamin C.
Cleanser that doesn't foam too much otherwise it's too stripping for me. Things like rose hip oil break me out like crazy so I stay away from them even though some people swear by them.

It's actually researching into what your skin needs and it's usually serums, moisturisers and a range of things not just a £50 face cream.

I would second using YouTube to try and do some research.

It's not about how much you spend, it's about what's in the product. Brands like the Ordinary or the Inky List sell proven active ingredients (like retinoids and AHA/ BHA) at reasonable prices.

But the best anti-ageing effects are achieved with your lifestyle. SPF 50 every day, good quality food, hydration, little alcohol.

I am 41, I know a few women my age who are starting to look older than they should. They are the ones who are out drinking often, eat a lot of fast-food / take aways and fry themselves to a crisp on sunbeds.

I'm not saying they shouldn't, they might not be bothered about their skin, and we live in a free country. I'm just saying that it doesn't help!

YANBU. The best moisturisers I've found for my skin are L'Oreal Revitalift. The SPF30 moisturiser actually leaves it better than the Clarins one I used to treat myself to, and I stock up when it's on offer at the supermarket (which is frequently lol). The night cream is good too.

Stuff with Retinol in leaves my face feeling dry and sore. Whether I'm just sensitive to it or whether it's not really suitable for old lady skin (I'm in my 60s), I don't know.

Anything with hyaluronic acid works a treat on me though. Boots now do their own-brand hyaluronic acid serum, it's really improved my enlarged pores and it's only a fiver!

yes, I tried retinol, and it made my face feel sore as well.
I now use Lavera, which makes me feel as though I've come full circle, because the first face cream I used was Nivea, which came in a similar flat round tin.

..and, as others say, I really notice the difference in my skin when I eat better and don't have much alcohol. And exercise more. It's remarkable how quickly a difference becomes apparent.

There are only certain products that are proven to work for anti ageing, improving skin texture and appearance, acne and other skin issues. Those are acids (salicylic, azeliac, glycolic, hyaluronic) and retinoids/retinols. Everything else you may as well use nivea, olay etc.

A smile is the best wrinkle cream you can get.

@KetoIFWinnie

Yes, you don't need to fall for every bit of marketing hype but I knew that those were two approaches that had been proven to have an effect. I need a cheaper vitamin C though. I tried the ordinary vitamin c ages ago and it STANG my face. Not sure if that is good, like, ooooh something's happening. Or if it's crazy to put something on your skin that is stinging it! Badly!

I must google beauty pie now, thanks!

@ketoifwinnie I had exactly the same problem and found if you mix the Ordinary vitamin C with an 'inert' serum (one that doesn't contain loads of active ingredients) then it doesn't sting or feel so gritty. I like the Superdrug Simply Pure Serums for this.

OP YANBU A lot of people throw money at skincare without thinking about the ingredients. Aldi skincare is amazing!

Agreed. I went through a phase after DC2 and I looked fucking shit and knackered of buying into the whole Caroline Hirons thing and buying loads of products. Only noticeable results was my bank balance being much lower. Skin looked worse, if anything. I reigned it in, simplified things massively and my skin looked much better.

I only wash it in the evenings, I wear SPF50 every day (rain or shine). Plus I use The Ordinary's retinoid thingy three times a week - this does seem to improve my skin (I ran out for the first 2.5 months of lockdown and my skin improved as soon as I started using it again). But that's it. So four products: gentle face wash (evenings only), Simple moisturiser (evenings only), SPF50 (every morning), retinoid thingy (3 x per week).

I'm mid-40s by the way...

I do agree that genetics is a huge factor. I keep my face out of the sun and wear sunscreen on it, but my mum doesn’t and she still looks ten years younger than she is. I’ve inherited her good skin and have no lines. I just use sunflower oil as a moisturiser and rose water or soap to take off the sunscreen. Cheap as chips.

Best things for your skin are not smoking, not drinking, not sunbathing, and eating a healthy diet.
Creams make very little difference.

There is an amazing UK skincare guru on YouTube called James Welsh who teaches really great skincare techniques - he says in many cases you don’t need a specific “night cream” if you know what your face needs - and often night creams are more expensive because they sound more luxurious !

YANBU. I’m a massive skincare nerd and I do spend more money where I think necessary but I cringe at the prices of some things that looking at the inci lists just do not justify the price.

It’s definitely about understanding what your skin needs as a PP said and where spending money will get you better results.

I think also a few people get to 40 or 50 and then start thinking about what anti ageing products they should start to use, when in reality it should start in your twenties at least, the most expensive creams in the world isn't going to undo damage of smoking, sunshine and alcohol, I've been using Dermalogica biolumin C serum, it's really made a difference to my skin, so there are some good products around, oh and I second The Ordinary products too, not expensive either.