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 also rate the Sanctuary stuff - their brightening day cream is great. You can trial it also as boots sell the miniatures for £2.50. I took some on hols and it did the job nicely.

Oh and also, Dr Hauschka (spelling?!) don't recommend using a night cream all the time - I stopped for a while and have to say that I do need some a few times a week but certanly not every night. I may live to regret this when i am 70 and you can get a ruler in to measure my wrinkles but ..

Yet another vote for Aldi here!

I've started to use Eucarin wrinkle filler the new one with Hyalauronic (?) acid. It's £25 so no, not cheap but Boots always have 3 for 2 or buy one get one half price on. Smells lovely, and at the moment seems to work.

Having said that, I was using the Olay Regenerist 3 Point Serum. Really good stuff. NOT THE CREAM, THE SERUM. I used to buy from Amazon at half price. It was the "real thing" too.

Nivea brings me out in spots too. I enjoyed this

Buy a silk pillowcase off amazon.

It doesn't absorb moisture like cotton, plus you don't wake up with a crease on your face anymore. Love mine, I take it on holiday with me.

I so wanted aldi stuff to work for me ... But I hated it. The Q10 day cream smelt overpowering and it stung, and my skin isn't particularly sensitive. Couldn't wait to wash it off.

Nivea Q10 with spf 15 works for me - picked up two for £12 in boots last week. :)

When I'm skint I use the Avon ones that come in tubs.

I've started using soap and glory recently, after using clinique mostly. My face had become really dry/ flakey/ red/ spot prone over the last year, and I was struggling to get anything to help. However, the soap and glory seems to be working out well. And it is often on 3 for 2 in boots.

"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'."

see, that's the problem! I only use expensive skin care, but have never bought anything from the "counters". I'm a bargain hunter - online (strawberrynet, feelunique, lookfantastic etc etc all have excellent deals sometimes), QVC deals, a friend working for a tax-free shop who can share her discounts etc. Especially if you don't need to stick to one special cream only, but are flexible and willing to try whatever is on offer.

Another one here for Aldi.

I was obsessed with expensive creams and potions but the budget was, and still is, incredibly tight, so had to look else where. Off the back of many Aldi q10 cream recommendations I bought it and have never looked back.

You don't need loads so a jar of it goes a long way.
It's a great base for makeup.
It doesn't leave a horrible greasy film on your face.
Absorbs really quickly.
Smells lush.
AND it is so cheap inexpensive!

You just can't go wrong. Buy it, if you don't like it you haven't wasted loads of money.

Personally if we ever have money to burn again I would continue using this cream.

Rosehip oil!

I'm finding the whole essential oils instead of face cream is working brilliantly for me & much cheaper.

another La Roche Posay/Avene/Vichy fan here - it's often in the 3 for 2 offers in Boots, so really not expensive, very good for sensitive skin and it's consistently recommended by dermatologists. Also, if it's good enough for French women...

Neither can I.

I've been using the Simple Anti-Aging daycream with SPF which is OK - ran out this morning. Don't know that it does much for my wrinkles, but don't know if much will.

I have today received the Garnier Ultralift 14 day trial so I will do that - and watch this thread for in a couple of weeks time when I set out to buy something.

I've recently started buying moisturiser, eye cream and night cream from Avon, and they have good offers on them (think about £8 off per pot) in the current campaign. I used to love good face cream Clarins, Guerlain but can't justify £50 a pot with childcare to pay for now.

I didn't like Olay and these Avon ones are just a step up from Olay and work really well for me and have decent SPFs which was always important for me. So long as you have a decent rep who collects the brochures and turns up with the stuff, it's really good and has lots of good reviews. Not perfumed or stingy either, although the eye cream can make your eyes water because of the sun protection in it.

yes Avon are very good. I also like Olay's lotion extra firming for over 40's. I have used Neutrogena with an SPF. i sometimes use serums underneath.

Liz Earle's moisturiser is good but no SPF.

I do still buy Clarins but use vouchers plus my dd works in a certain store part time and I get some discount which takes the prices down but it won't last forever.

I do find the quality creams last longer though and you need less and are not as heavy.

Avon Anew. I have always been an expensive face creams kinda gal and now I am nearly divorced it is not an option.

About a month ago I decided to try Avon 50+ range - they do different ones for 30+, and 40+ and 60+ too. It is AMAZING! I got the day, night and eye cream for £20 quid in an offer. I cant get over how good it is. I am weird about the smell of creams too and hate the smell of cheap ones. These smell lovely.

I've always been a great believer that all these creams are basically the same and that you're just paying for the packaging... If I was rolling in cash I'd go for Clarins (smells lovely, and a little goes a long way) but frankly I'm not, so I go for whatever night cream's on offer (No 7 / Simple / Nivea / Oil of Olay) plus Oil of Olay original fluid for the morning. I'm now 40 and people have always told me I have great skin and look younger than my years... no matter which of these I've been using.

That said I always invest in a proper cleanser. I think that's the secret. I've got a Dermalogica one that's brilliant - doesn't dry my skin out at all and lasts for years. Much cheaper than using the cheap stuff as well.