Are expensive skincare products really worth it?

[midori1999]

I've usually used fairly cheap and cheerful skincare products (Nivea, L'oreal, Garnier etc) or soap and although never felt my skin was great, felt the products were OK.

A few times I have used Clinique and such and not noticed any difference, so stopped using them.

A few months ago I was invited to a Clarins evening and spent a fortune on a wash off cleanser, serum/oil thing to go under moisturiser, day cream, night cream, exfoliant, mask and beauty flash balm, all apparently correct for my skintype and used as directed. I initially, as expected, had a bit of a breakout, but noticed over time my skin was getting worse. I had patches of eczema on my face for the first time ever and very dry patches, plus very rough skin too. It was really awful.

Anyway, I then decided to use an old St Ives scrub I had hanging around a few times and Aveeno cream as moisturiser at night, just using the Clarins day cream in the mornings if I remembered. I have noticed a vast improvement.

Is it just me, or anyone else? If it is just me, why on earth have these products had such a bad effect? I don't have sensitive skin or anything, just bog standard combination skin.

They can but IME (and IYE too) price is absolutely no guarantee of success. I use OCM and rosewater which is a cheap as pies - wonderful for me...

St Ives scrub is the best thing for my skin. I love it.

I hate Clinique stuff, does nothing. The toner is ok, but in general, it's just bog standard.

Most of the stuff I use is the Boots own-brand cheapo range. It's totally fine.

I use mostly Clarins (did use Sisley which is really expensive before that but couldn't keep up with their prices) and, though 'mature', I do often get compliments on my skin and need little or no coverage.

But the state of my skin may well be just as much down to genetics or drinking lots of water, or Imedeen, or a face or figure thing (I'm far from slim!) as to exactly what products I put on it. Nevertheless, wouldn't personally want to go any cheaper than Clarins.

I use Dermalogica as I have very badly behaved skin at times.
Use whatever works for you! And you can afford.

I think it's more the product than the price that matters, and whether it suits your skin.

I have tried Clinique, Liz Earle and Clarins in the past and they made my skin much worse (I have mature-onset acne). I've used cheap supermarket products that have helped a little.

I'm currently using Proto-Col products (not cheap) and love them, they seem to be clearing my skin up a treat. So worth paying for IMO.

If you have excema I would recommend liz earle, I am totally converted to her dry skin moisturiser, hot cleanse and polish and now even love her mascara and tinted moisturiser.(you dont feel the mascara on your eyes - I have sensitive eyes too so only wear makeup on a Sat night out). I have sensitive skin/excema and used No 7 perfect and protect before but felt it was making my skin worse rather than better. The moisturiser seems to plump and sooth my skin.

Agree with sidge - I use some Clarins products (cleanser, toner, moisturiser) and some Simple (exfoliater, eye make up remover).

I think if you find the ingredients that suit your skin it doesn't matter what name is on the packaging.

Another one here who doesn't believe that you necessarily get a better product for your money by spending more.

I wonder though if your skin became overloaded by the sheer amount of product layers you were using? I know we are allegedly all in need of serum, primer, moisturiser, wrinkle buster etc etc but IME it is way too much for my skin. I have a Clarins Tri-active facial every 6 weeks and find them amazing. My skin glows for a week afterwards. However, last time I went I came home with a shed load of trial products but found using all of them daily (or per recommended use) was way too much for my skin. I now only use the day cream (the Multi Active range) and occasionally use the eye serum. Other than that, I use Balance Me facial wash and that's it.

Absolutely agree that it's the product not the price. I've used all sorts of things at different price points and it was only through trial and error that I found what worked. Clinique was always too harsh for me, Dermalogica kept my skin in check but didn't make it better, ditto Neutrogena and Chanel.

I also think it's quite hard to find products for oily skin that don't strip your skin and make the oil worse. It's only been through using Liz Earle and before that OCM that I realised my skin isn't actually that oily.

IME the only brand that's worth the money is Dr. Haushcka I use the cleanser which is lovely but as I have dry skin I prefer to use an Argan oil mix as a moisturiser; The big "names' spend more on advertising than their products.If you read the ingredients they are horrible. I totally agree you don't need all the stuff they recommend it;s only to make them more money ,

The Clinique 3-step is really harsh on skin I think, although I do love some of their other products including the Youth Surge anti-ageing night cream which is fabulous.

Clarins I have never got on with but I know people who love it.

I use some Elemis products which I love, but my toner and eye-makeup remover are Waitrose own brand and each cost less than £2 for a big bottle that lasts several months.

What you don't need to do is buy a whole range from one brand, that gets really expensive IMO.

Hi Ali

I think you are quite lucky as I have had disastrous results with Loreal. My skin responds better to Clarins.

whatever you are using, less is more. you basically just need to cleanse and nourish.
Most products now treat and moisturize in one.
Layer it on in a routine is expensive and just tires/overloads my skin in the medium/long run.

I found a simple cleanser +1 product is enough most of the time.
A drop of oil sometimes in the evening and the occasional oil deep cleanse are great as a replacement for deep moisture mask/gentle exfoliation.

In summer its usually cheap wash and expensive anti-oxidant serum in the evening with only spf in the morning.

in winter its usually a lush cleanser & toner and a simple good nourishing moisturizer. Nivea soft is great.

And a BB cream on top if you need to look made up or apply proper make up.

With expensive brands, you are paying for the marketing, packaging and 'mystique' (for want of a better word springing to mind) as well as the ingredients (which may be there in tiny amounts).

I think a simple regime, using only a few items is best - an effective cleanser and a moisturiser that suits you are perhaps all you need; remembering that in daytime an SPF is advisable.