Can you recommend skincare products - I have up to £80 to spend.

[TartyMcFarty]

I've decided to spend my birthday money on sorting my face out

Recently I briefly tried going without facial products as such, and just used Dove soap - cue spots behind the ears I'm pregnant and a bit spottier than usual, though my skin is never especially clear, and I have some dry bits too. Last time I was pregnant I asked. Clinique lady in Boots about the dryness though, AMD she said it wasn't dry, I just needed to exfoliate. I do once in a blue moon

So I thought I might buy a good cleanser and moisturer (toner isn't really necessary, right?) I'm also open to trying the oil-based cleansing meathods I've seen mentioned on here. Only thing is, they can't be so outrageously expensive rhat I can't afford to replace them when the birthday money's gone.

Any recommendations?

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser££
Eve Lom cleanser £££

Liz Earle do little kits that you can sample a range of products including hot cloth cleanser etc.

Or you can order a v small 30ml one from them to try.

is that £80 for one item or various?

Various really. I couldn't afford to replace if I spent £80 on one product.

What's your skin type? If you have oily skin, a toner makes a lot of difference. Or, if you wear make up every day, a toner is good for removing every last trace of it, after cleansing.

I really like La Roche Posay. Individual items are about £11 or £12 pounds.

I would choose a mid priced brand ( like La Roche Posay ) and get a cleanser, toner, moisturiser, and I'd include an eye cream too.

It's combination, quite prone to spots at the moment.

I second Liz Earle. I use their cleanser, moisturiser, toner, and a few other bits and bobs. They smell lovely and great on sensitive skin. I got a present of it a few years ago and haven't looked at anything else since.

I order it online and they always send a sample of something else which is lovely.

Biotherm its really good. they use a scanner to find out your skin type.

Clinique suits my combination skin and quite reasonably priced for a 'premium' brand. Clarins do some lovely products. Liz Earle is lovely too but sadly doesn't suit my skin.

I find Clinique a bit drying, but I may be using the wrong combo. Liz Earle sounds good - will have a little look.

I'd stick with cleanse, tone & moisturise, maybe adding a suncrean in the mornings.
Liz Earle is good and they have their cleanse & polish on offer at £9.50 at the moment.
I've been using Emma Hardie for the last few weeks and it's made a huge difference to my skin. It's more expensive than Liz Earle though - cleanser is around £30 as is the moisturiser.
Xx

• sun cream stupid phone!

Firstly, don't listen to anything the Clinique people say. I have incredibly sensitive dry skin, but based on my hair colour they said I should use one of their harshest products. I tried the samples they recommended, and also the mildest stuff they sell, and both nearly took my face off and resulted in the driest flkiest skin I have ever had.

I can tell you what to spend loads of money on, but quite possibly the best thing I have ever done to my skin is started using the oil cleansing method. Just google it and it will come up.

Dermalogica. It's fab. I already used this but try the jersey beauty company online for cheaper products than salons and get samples. Could go to a salon and see what they recommend then buy online cheaper. Active moist moisturiser and essential cleansing gel might suit you. Buy a gauze cloth as well the sort used with the eve lom, Liz Earle products,makes a huge difference when using any cleanser

Another vote for Liz Earle.
I have stupid skin - prone to nose blackheads and forehead spots but dry and sensitive on my cheeks.
Hot cloth cleanser, Instant Boost skin tonic and Skin Repair moisturiser are lovely, gentle effective products.
The cleanser and tonic last for ages - I usually replace the moisturiser 3 times for every 1 time of those, so although initial outlay is steepish it's not going to be frequent.
I have never been able to get on with Clinique - even their most gentle products I find too harsh.

I started using Liz Earle this year and i love it.
Its very reasonably priced, easy and simple, just the 3 basic elements.
The cleanser is on offer at £9.50 at the moment.

I really want to be brave enough to try oil cleansing, but I'm worried it'll make things worse. realhousewife, what has your experience been?

Liz Earle sounds appealing. The website's down at the moment, boo!

It's amazing. I have clearer skin now than I have ever had, and I only do it now and then. I used to have horrendous spots but wt my skin was very sensitive. I first used it when pg when my skin was a right mess and it cleared it up straightaway. Your skin glows after you do it.

I just use veg oil or olive oil, whatever is in the house. It diesn't make your skin oily at all, and the oil really penetrates and draws out dirt. Best thing is you can rub it into your eyelashes and get your mascara off at the same time and it won't sting your eyes.

In between I just use aqueous cream and water. Works just like most cleansers but no perfume etc to cause irritation and cheap as chips. Only other thing I do is use a moisturiser with SPF in the mornings. If you oil cleanse at night you don't need to moisturise. Ime you can do it every night with no Ill effects but it is just a bit of a faff, so I use aqueous if I cba.

I would suggest trying it once and do it properly like they explain on the website and see how you like it. I guarantee your skin will feel lush, like you've just had a facial, not oily at all.

And like I said just use any old oil, don't faff about trying to get castor oil!

I haven't tried much liz Earle, apart from her face scrub and it is the best one I have ever used. But apparently oil cleansing gets rid of old flaky dead skin cells so you shouldn't need to exfoliate with scrubs!

So with the oil cleansing method you just stick some olive oil on a cotton wool pad and rub over face?

link here

It is slightly more complicated than that, basically you warm oil in your hand, spend a while massaging it into your (dry) skin then get a hot flannel and lay it over your face for a bit, then gently wipe off, then repeat until all oily residue has gone. Leaves skin really clean but really supple, and you are not left with any oily residue either.

And fwiw I used to have oily skin, but I think all the harsh cleansers were making me produce more oil. My skin is never oily or shiny now.

God, sorry to hijack op! Didn't intend this to be a sales pitch for ocm!

Try the customer service line if you want to try LE. The no is 01983 813 913

Darphin started using the moisturiser and is very nice - also if you ever go to France on holiday you can get it cheaper in the pharmacies over there

Shu Uemura cleansing oil is ocm supercharged, it's about £26 and lasts ages. Clarins for moisturiser, they are good at recommending one suitable for you but possibly more ££ than you would be able to maintain. If you want toner, think about what it's for - I use one that has exfoliating chemicals and moisture, so as well as feeling refreshing it's actually doing something iyswim. Shu Uemura again but Clarins do an exfoliating toner.