redundancy - need new low cost skin care

[pinkbraces]

I hope all you ladies can help me. My DH has recently been made redundant so we have to reduce our spending quite considerably. I have always used mid range skin care, Clinique, Clarins etc I also love Liz Earle cleanse and polish as well as her facial oil.

I am 47, and have quite good skin, I am almost anal about looking after my skin :) I have mainly combination skin with some dry areas, which tend to go in the spring. My main area of concern is my baggy, crepey eyes and lines around my eyeas.

Please can you give me your recommendations.

thanks

Quite honestly, I gave up on my daily skin care routine in my early 20s. I used to use Clinique and now use absolutely nothing. I am in my mid 30s and I think my skin looks pretty good.

From time to time, if my skin feels a little tight I will rub on some Waitrose body butter stuff or cheapo Nivea, but sparingly, and only once a week/once a fortnight or so.

Try French pharmacy brands like Avène or Bioderma. They are fabulously good quality and a lot cheaper than so-called "luxury" department store cosmetics.

I used Clinique 3 step for years but decided it was extravagant one I had DC.
I switched to Simple 'age resist' range (I am mid 30s) and I think my skin looks just as good as it ever did. In fact, I often get told I look youthful

Wait rose do an organic moisturiser for 4.99 in a glass tub with metal lid, is v good and would recommend.

I think the new Olay Aqua Physics night cream is comparable in texture, to the blue Clarins night cream. In fact I prefer it as I find the Clarins one stinks to high heaven and I can't sleep a bit strong.

I am now having wistful memories of how my bathroom used to look like a Clarins counter before I had children...

These days I use:

Simple wipes to take off make-up then a blob of Simple Eye Make-up remover cream on the same wipe to go over my eyes

Simple face wash to wash the residue of the wipe/ cream off and leave my skin clean

DAY: Simple protecting moisturiser SPF 10
NIGHT: L'Oreal Revitalift (which contains a topical retinoid, which is the stuff that actually works - it's the stuff in Boots Protect and Perfect)

I'm sorry I can't help you with an eye product because I don't use one myself.

My canny top tip though is to buy cheap aspirin, grind a few up, mix with a spot of water and rub onto your face like and exfoliant. Then leave it on for five-ten minutes like a mask before rinsing off. The grainy granules of exfoliate manually and the salycilic acid in the aspirin munch up dead skin cells. Very effective and costs pennies. Google "Aspirin Mask" - there's loads of into on the internet about it.

I like the Olay products.

Thanks for the tips I will peruse my nearest boots over the next couple of days, still after eye creams

I've previously used Aldi's face stuff after reading good reviews and I really liked it and it's very cheap. I'm pretty sure they do an eye cream, again great reviews, but i've not tried it yet.

I bought a Time Delay eye cream today with a Boots voucher - it was £8 but the voucher was for 5 ( my kind of shopping! ) It's very nice, I tried it earlier. The Garnier eye creams are good too - I like the one in the red tube.

I never, EvEr, EVER used anything but Clinique and Estee Lauder stuff. Got forced into the Avon camp after divorce (yes I know, it is sad but needs must) but... I am fascinated with their ANew range, my skin is much better since I switched to them.

They have a night cream (ANEw Reversalist) that is fantastic. The Clinical Eye Lift and Thermalift do exactly what they say... People often calculate my age between 5-10 years younger than I am.

Avon is a bit harsh for my stupidly reactive/sensitive skin but I have heard very good things about that range Maelstrom

Avon is bad all around, but ANew is different (now, I still don't take my creams out in public, but I am converted...)

If people ask I say that Estee Lauder's Equalizer is fantastic, which it is but I have not used in several years

I was made redundant 18 months ago and also had to reduce my skincare as a result.

I also vote for Simple Cleansers/Toners/Wipes.

For moisturisers and other creams I buy No 7.

My dermatologist recommended Oilatum cream with a sunscreen rather than a cosmetic moisturiser.

I use Castor Oil to cleanse my skin at the end of each day. It leaves your skin feeling lovely and soft and not greasy at all. It does clean it as well - better than my Dermalogica cleanser. I wouldn't use anything else now. It's worth a go as Castol Oil is only a couple of quid a bottle. If you can't find it in chemists, try health food stores.

Superdrug do a fantastic 'sensitive skin' range which is dirt cheap. Their moisturiser at £1.99 is excellent. It's usually found on the bottom shelf.

ilove how do you apply it, just wipe it on and off?

Maelstrom I think I will try that range, I know someone who does Avon so it will be easy enough.

thanks everyone :)

I agree Superdrug stuff is good - have used the Vit E range and also the new Naturals range - I order online (delivery is £3) as it's cheaper than driving to the local branch which is particularly scuzzy and I am then assured that the products are not tried out/unsullied by others...

If you like Liz's C and P - use Aveeno moisturiser and a muslin cloth in the same way. Works exactly the same if not better

OCM with castor oil and olive oil- i use mostly castor oil with a bit of oil for my greasy skin. i smooth it on, leave for 10 mins then take it off with a hot muslin (left on face for a few seconds till cool then wipe) I find I only have to do it once every two evenings, so very mum friendly. I take off my makeup every day with simple remover.