Affordable effective skincare - does it exist?

[overweightcat]

I'm late 20s and up until now my skincare routine has been pretty non existent, cheap Neutrogena face wash and superdrug own face moisturisers (under £5 each) - its really not cutting it, I'm noticing saginess, texture, redness around nose and smile lines and generally not feeling so great about my skin.

I'm determined to get a complete new skincare routine together with some anti ageing products in there and would love some tips and advice as I'm feeling overwhelmed with the amount of products out there..

So far in my basket I have: SPF 50 for my face and a rose quartz roller to help depuff in the mornings

• I have the ordinary aha bha peeling solution which I've used in the past but just not kept up with it so will start using it again.

I would really love some serums , retinol and recommendations for creams and products that really work but don't break the bank as I can't afford to keep repurchasing £££s worth of products every couple of months - also a cleanser/face wash.

Could anyone point me in the right direction? / Recommend products that work?

Just follow dr Sam buntings Advice (Dermatologist London based). She has website and does YouTube videos. (Also American dr gray but Her videos can be a bit too long for me). Dr bunting has her own product range, which are fantastic and relatively inexpensive but if you scroll through her information, (especially before her own products were developed) she has recommendations for high street/less expensive options for skincare.
Basically - use non-comedogenic products eg cerave range, la Roche posay, Avene. A simple cleanser, avoid physical/scrubbing exfoliation - things like salicylic acid and glycolic acid instead, add in a retinoid and always use sunscreen (she recommends several though her own is great).
Other things to consider are highlighted by the videos and blogs etc.

I was almost out of the Clarins facial oil that I've been using for years and couldn't be arsed to schlep into the nearest big town to buy some more.

I spotted Waitrose own brand facial oil when I was shopping and picked up a bottle, I think it was only about £5, and it's fantastic. I've got enlarged pores because my skin is old and dry and it's made a huge difference. I bought some of the serum from the same range, and that's really good too.

The Ordinary. Just try it, it will change your life. £5-ish for a bottle with a dropper that will last you months. Their website gives advice as to which products you should use

Also, I can recommend Paula’s choice and the ordinary products and all of dr buntings

LRP, dermatica, and Beautypie.

You don't need anything expensive at all, unless you really like the packaging or smell of something specific.

Dermatica is £20 a prescription and you can choose any time between a month and 2 months. I get one prescription of tretinoin every 2 months which works out at £10 a month plus postage. It's the gold standard in anti aging, all the expensive brands can't even compete!

@Shortandsweet20

Liz Earle is affordable. They do a taster trio set in boots, you get the cleanser, toner and moisturiser and I really like them! Also the ordinary is affordable!

Caroline Hirons has just released a skin care book which I'd recommend! I've learnt a lot from reading it.

That books is total rubbish.

Get on insta and follow proper dermatologists - Dr Natalia Spierings is great

@Unchartedsea

Just follow dr Sam buntings Advice (Dermatologist London based). She has website and does YouTube videos. (Also American dr gray but Her videos can be a bit too long for me). Dr bunting has her own product range, which are fantastic and relatively inexpensive but if you scroll through her information, (especially before her own products were developed) she has recommendations for high street/less expensive options for skincare. Basically - use non-comedogenic products eg cerave range, la Roche posay, Avene. A simple cleanser, avoid physical/scrubbing exfoliation - things like salicylic acid and glycolic acid instead, add in a retinoid and always use sunscreen (she recommends several though her own is great). Other things to consider are highlighted by the videos and blogs etc.

Second this

Wow thank you for all the replies. I'm really tempted to go with Face theory... with all the recommendations I went on their website and did a test. Not going with the SPF they recommended as I ordered the la Roche posay one.

I have a face wash - c4
Clarifying cleanser - C2
Moisturiser/whip - amil-c M5
In my basket.

It hasn't recommended a retinol of any sort though - should I add one? Is the face theory one good?

@Fuschia657

The Ordinary. Just try it, it will change your life. £5-ish for a bottle with a dropper that will last you months. Their website gives advice as to which products you should use

I absolutely love The Ordinary

I use FaceTheory serum, the regenacalm one. It's marvellous!

Stick some in your basket!

How old are you and what is your skin type?

You should look at acid toners and serums.

I use various toners and serums that include: glycolic, hyaluronic (sp?), azeliac, salacilic (again no idea of spelling!), niacinimide, vit c. And then night time retinol products.

My theory for skin care is that what you put in your body is more important than what you put on your skin.

I love No7, and they often go on 3 for 2 at boots.

It's less the product more the routine. Get a gel or balm cleanser followed by a cream cleanser (an Aldi one will do), acid toner (again, Aldi do these), moisturiser/treatment. Come back in a month and update us on your skin. If it doesn't work people can recommend alternative products to you.

I cleanse, then use:
The ord niacinamide
Prescription azelaic acid - easy to get an online prescription and it's cheaper and more effective than otc
Beauty pie vit c
Moisturise
Spf

Similar for night but prescription tretinoin instead of spf

The ordinary, face theory and cerave

I would definitely say double cleansing makes a difference -regardless of brand of product.

Dermatica and spf50.

Came on to recommend Face Theory too. I've been using the spf 25 day cream, the night cream and the eye cream for a month now and the difference in my skin is unreal.

I’ve been using a foaming cleanser, enzyme exfoliator and clay mask by Botanical Lab which you can get in Tesco. It’s done wonders for my eczema and oily/spotty patches from wearing masks. I’ve also been using the Nivea naturals moisturiser and it’s lovely. I also only wear BB cream and concealer, not foundation.

I know it’s been said 1000 times over but....water, water, water. And try not be down about smile lines, it means you’ve been smiling

Agree with MrsSchrute the Aldi Lacura Caviar creams, both day and night, are fabulous.
Lidl also do one but only sometimes. It's the Cien with myramaze.

I think The Ordinary changed the game for budget skincare.

I normally buy from brands such as Kiehls, but I have replaced some of my products for TO’s stuff.

I use Clinique city block 40 spf because other SPF 25 brands don’t protect my skin well enough - but beauty pie have recently brought out a 50 one so may try that next,

I also eat lots of good fats (Fish, avocado, nuts, oils)and drink 3l of water a day and take a skin, hair and nail vitamin supplement.

You have already got one of the main things in your basket, which is spf 50 face cream. This is the MAIN thing you can do to prevent premature ageing of the skin, and I mean wearing it every day, even on overcast or cloudy days. It is the UVA rays which primarily cause ageing, and they are there every day regardless of the weather.
The next best thing you can do is use retinol, or even better, retin A (which is not the same as retinol). I'm not sure where you are but if it's the UK retin A is hard to get for cosmetic reasons and you may have to see a private dermatologist or order it online from abroad. Just remember that retin A is VERY strong. You have to start with the lowest concentration, and only use it sparingly, maybe even buffer it with a plain moisturising cream such as Cerave until your skin gets used to it, then gradually move up the strengths. It does cause redness and peeling at first in some people which can last for a good while, but you will see results if you are consistent with it. In fact retin A is one of the only things proven to change skin at a cellular level and promote the production of collagen. It does make your skin susceptible to the sun so a high factor sunscreen is essential while using retin A (tretinoin).
Retinol is okay, its just not as strong as Retin A and won't give you as good results.
Other good stuff is glycolic acid toners and peels, you can look into them, but don't overdo the exfoliation or your skin can become dry and sore.
Vitamin C serums are good and can help patches of hyperpigmentation.
A good basic moisturiser with hyaluronic acid (try the cerave range, they have all good simple skin ingredients) is also good to have on hand when your skin just needs moisture (which it will if you use Retin A).
Hope some of this helps.

"The next best thing you can do is use retinol, or even better, retin A (which is not the same as retinol). I'm not sure where you are but if it's the UK retin A is hard to get for cosmetic reasons and you may have to see a private dermatologist or order it online from abroad. "

Retin-A is the brand name for Tretinoin which is easily got hold of in the UK from Dermatica online