I can't afford posh face cream anymore

[Veggy]

Since my 20's I've always used good face cream - not super pricey but always Lancome, Clarins, Caudalie etc. Its always been my little bit of luxury. Good face cream and a good handbag! But now that i only work part time and have two kids I'm finding it harder to justify spending £100 pounds every few months on day cream, night cream, eye cream and serums etc from 'the counters'. So I've tried a couple of supermarket brands but it's just not the same is it!? Olay was like thick slop that smelt of old ladies. Nivea Visage smells good but is too rich and has caused a few pimples.
Any recommendations please - I'm in my very late 30's, olive skin which is dry in the winter, but more oily in the summer. I get about 5 minutes sleep a night and look like I've aged about a hundred years since I had kids so I need anti-wrinkle stuff.
And what about the cheaper organic ranges you can get in health food shops like Weleda or Green People? any of them worth a try?

I currently ty the lidl anti-wrinkle day cream with olive oil.
it's actually quite nice and about 2.50. quite rich, though, but most 'anti-wrinkle' ones are.

I also recommend the Aldi day and night creams. I'm going to try the serum when I go next week.

This might be just me but I was a clinique user and tried switching to Olay, Nivea etc and while it was cheaper by a long shot, it didn't last nearly as long. I never did decide whether I was using it differently - was I more liberal with the cheaper, for example - but when I realised my Clinique lasted way longer. I would buy say 3 tubs of new stuff when I'd have bought one of the other - so it was about cost equal.

The initial layout is the killer though.

Try aldi. Very good

weleda almond range also very nice and at around a tenner not too bad either. no spf, though.

I didnt like aldi. Some of the body shop ones are nice though.

I recommend the Aldi ones too, they are actually better than lots of the expensive creams, and I have tried many. The packaging doesn't look great, but the product really really works.

I've just discovered the Carrot Moisture Cream from The Body Shop - amazing stuff!

pure, natural oils can be an excellent substitute for posh creams. I buy argan oil for about £14 from Planet Organic and massage in a few drops whil skin damp, works wonders. I also find a lot of European pharmacy brands - Vichy and Eucerin in particular - as good or better than pricier brands, and much cheaper.

I too had to surrender my expensive face creams. Have been using aldi serum (get from eBay if you aren't near an aldi). Sali Hughes from the Guardian really rates serums. Then I use Nivea soft. My mum who in Jan told me I needed to sort my wrinkles out (I know, tsk), has said my skin now looks really good. I use bio-oil before bed, a teeny tiny drop.

Another vote for the Aldi creams, gave me a face like a baby's arse and then we moved away and don't have an Aldi nearby.

Going to give the Waitrose bottom butter a try.

Another vote for Aldi

I am a Dermalogica girl and I have just bought some of the Aldi serum. Good stuff! Also, vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) powder dissolved in hot water is amazing for skin. A £10 jar lasts me a year. It is the most significantly effective product that I have ever used.
And I have used Korner, 24/7 Freeze, Clarins, Clinique, Estée Lauder etc.

I think L'Oreal is a good bet, huge company, lots of research. Different ranges for age/skin type.

Even if you have a big budget you are wasting your time with an expensive, whistles and bells day cream. With a day cream you really need basic moisturising and SPF, so anything cheapish and from a reputable brand will do the job.

It's your night cream that you need to think about as when you are sleeping your cells are repairing themselves and the dermis is more permeable, so more chance of it actually having an effect.

I hasten to add I have no scientific training, this is what I have gleaned from years of magazine reading! This has also led me to be rather cynical about beauty writers' product recommendations, but I do pay attention to the products mentioned by dermatologists, which are consistently brands like La Roche Posay, Eucerin and the Olay Regenerist range, all of which are in the mid price range.

HTH

My mum in her 70s has used this from Avon ever since I was a kid. She looks about 10 years younger than her actual age.
avonshop.co.uk/product/skincare/moisturisers-and-creams/rich-moisture-nourishing-face-cream.html

French pharmacy brands are my favourites - Vichy, Bioderma, La Roche Posay.

Last 2 I used was Bioderma Hydrabio which is really nice - hydrating but still light. Using Vichy one now (cant remember name, flat silver tube). Really like it, my skin is really smooth

If you're keen on Lancome creams, you should try L'oreal, as they're owned by the same company and many reviews I've read seem to suggest the products are often identical except for fragrance.

I use L'oreal. I've recently tried the Aldi brand and have to say they're quite good. I know people are put off by how cheap the price is, but that doesn't mean the quality is bad. Far from it.

I also like French pharmacy brands. Nuxe is another good one and M&S stock it now.

I switched from Clarins to La Roche Posay Nutritic about 5 years ago on the advice of my dermatologist. It is perfect.

Aldi, I gave up on more expensive creams when I found this one. It's great.

I'm using Aldi Q10 anti wrinkle night cream for mature skin with Calcium (red lid) and it is fab. I put it on my neck as it's too rich for my face.

It has a great texture. It's the one on the right

Then I have wrinkle stop for around my eyes. I didnt have enough money for the serum too but I'm going to start putting it on my neck and chest.

I use the foundation, pressed powder and eyeshadow too.

I use liz earle for my face cream as I'm really prone to spots with anything else and you can often buy them new on ebay really cheaply.

If you go in Aldi, try the bodywash on the far right. Brilliant stuff. Just brilliant

Bodyshop online often have amazing discounts, 2 for 1 or 50% off. just wait till they do another mega offer.

Their vit E and wise woman stuff is very good.

At the moment I'm using a drop of Holland and Barrett wonder oil at night, followed by Boots Botanics Radiant Youth Replenishing Night Cream. I am waking up with smooth, soft non-greasy skin.

In the morning I use Neal's Yard Rose Day Cream which I got free with a magazine.

Aldi stuff is urgh - stingy and over-fragranced.

Joanna Lumley uses Astral face cream for years, its really nice (and just look at her lol)!