can you recommend some face cleaning products? thanks! budget around £75

[Renovatinghouse]

That's all really. I wear mosturizer and makeup from Lancome and Clinique. I have good skin and almost never clean my face other than with shower soap but recently i got some black spots, so i'd like to buy cleaning and toner (dont know if this is t,he right name).

I would prefer cleaning wipes rather than lotion. Are they good?

Many thanks!!

[PlumSykes]

I love the Eve Lom cleanser, have tried lots, but always come back to that. Have a look at this Sali Hughes piece for the Guardian on Hot Cloth Cleansing-there's a video to go with it too.

[Renovatinghouse]

Sure! will report back in a week. : )

[Neena28]

Brilliant...be good to have an update to see what you think of them all.

[Renovatinghouse]

Thank you all. I bought the Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel (with marula oil) and the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening toner with tamarind and white nettle. There was a promotion in John Lewis so I got as gift three 30 ml bottles of eye makeup remover, extra firming night cream and the day illuminating cream.

And I got the muslin cloths from Liz Earle because they came in a very pretty package and were just there : )

Thanks for all the good advice and suggestions!

[TigerseyeMum]

For blackheads I'd recommend Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser. It has menthol in it so it tingles, but it's like having a facial - I use it a couple of times a week and it helps clear my skin and helps it look fresher.

I also use No7 hot cloth cleanser for day to day as its gentle and cheap (get the £5 voucher).

To take off makeup I use Dermalogica Precleanse which is an oil cleansing method and is amazing.

[ComtesseDeFrouFrou]

I really like the No 7 hot cloth cleanser - it's really creamy and smells nicer than some of the other cleansers I've tried.

I used to find the hot cloth method a faff but I really like it now as part of my bedtime routine - I find it quite calming at the end of the day. And my skin has been really good - pregnancy aside. My skin is dehydrated and I notice if I have been lax with the cleansing.

[dexter73]

Liz Earle is sold in Boots now too. I don't get on with it at all. I prefer the Boots Botanics range. I use the cleanser and toner and they are about £4 a bottle.

[Neena28]

Mrsmcgregor...I'm thrilled!!! I have used it for a good while now and as I said up thread and I think probably when I recommended it, it's one of Those products you get a fab result from, then slip from using, then think eurgh why do I look so dull and start again with.

A few things I'd like to add in relation to more recent posts... I make no claims that I think toner reduces pore size however it can have an exfoliating action (depending on the toners ingredients) and I think that this exfoliation and removal of the dead skin around the pores, reduces the size of the visible crater. Think of a volcano (yes it's dramatic but I can't think of another analogy), if the crater (caldera?!) is surrounding by ash and debris it becomes more dramatic looking, clear all that away and it seems slightly less cavernous. I have long suspected this is the case with how visible some people's pores are.

I have tried the dermaflannel...it doesn't suit me, other love it. The same with cleanse and polish. I believe that liz earles c and p did have an ingredient removed when the company was sold to Avon, maybe it was removed before that? I understood it to be a derivative of something (like a nut) that would possibly cause an allergic reaction. I know of a few people who haven't got on with it terribly well and I would describe their and my response as mildly allergic/reactive. Maybe this loss of ingredient has changed that?

I recommended qvc purely because as per posters up thread recommending samples, it is best practise to use something for a while to know whether it suits and whether it works for you. There aren't many brands that actually provide samples big enough to try for enough time to give a product a fair chance. Some brands are obviously better than others but qvc's policy does mean you can use something for a good fortnight and then decide with proper knowledge for you personally. A sachet or 15 ml sample is unlikely to give you that result.

Again some people love Clinique. I adore some of their products, other I actively hate. I have heard reliably that there step 2 toner is a very good substance for wiping down counters and removing stubborn grime. That is not something I wish to use on my skin. However some people feel they get excellent results and that's all anyone wants.

I actually use quite specific moisturisers and treatments. However I haven't used a granular scrub for a few years and feel my skin is better for it. Other products I also rate are elemis papaya enzyme peel and RENs glycolactic radiance mask for extra exfoliation. I use a tiny amount of astalift jelly aquarysta after the clarins toner, followed by a small amount of algenist multi perfecting pore corrector gel moisturiser. My skin suits this combo and it was a long process of trial and error for me.

I have tried hyraluron and didn't like it as much as the astalift so haven't bought it again. (A Caroline Hirons holy grail product)

Skin to me is mega important. I am very busy and occasionally stressed and my routine honestly only takes a few minutes...certainly less time than I spend on anything else I do daily, such as chores, work, kids homework aid and question answerer extraordinaire...out of those things I shall be left with my children and my skin!!!

[rockybalboa]

Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser. They sell it in John Lewis. Tis lovely, like giving yourself a facial every day!

[SingingSilver]

QVC the shopping channel, can be very addictive... www.qvcuk.com/?cookie=set

[SingingSilver]

Renovating Have you tried Visionnaire? They gave me a sample pot to try and I may like it even more than Genefique. Sadly I am too strapped for £75 serums lately, but it's on my wishlist.

[Renovatinghouse]

what's qvc? I need to find out!

[Renovatinghouse]

I also used the Lancôme Genefique (after the lady in the Lancome counter convinced me) and loved it. Need to buy it again. Now I have a double serum from Clarins that it's a bit too oily for me.

[MultumInParvo]

I like decleor wash off cleanser in the shower and clarins one step in the morning.

Also use decleor oil cleanser too, though more in the winter.

Damn qvc.

[GW297]

Another one recommending Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish,

[SingingSilver]

I have to agree, my basic skincare just wasn't doing it anymore, not since I passed 35.

Trying Lancome Genefique serum was almost a religious experience for me because my skin really did improve. But cheap home-made skincare recipes can be great too.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Cleanse and Polish for removing make-up.

In the shower I use Philosophy Microdelivery Wash (slightly gritty, salt I think)
or Elemis Cleansing Balm or Tri Enzyme Wash.
Gatineau Eye Make-Up remover (Floracil I think) but I don't like other Datineau skin care.

Today I bought the Superdrug cloth Cleanser (similar to Liz Earle) to take on holiday.

I'm 47 yo my skin is 'normal' and fairly well behaved.

[Renovatinghouse]

Thanks Lurking. I don't smoke or drink alcohol, but I eat too much (terribly overweight after baby) and don't use sunscreen as my skin is not fair. I come from the tropic : )

[scottishmummy]

It's not that simple
.ive tried all the boots,superdrug,etc they weren't as good
Believe me if no7 was as good as Lancôme I'd buy it
Sometimes you get what you pay fir,not aways mind.ive made doozey mistakes too

[lurkingaround]

This is probably not the advice you're looking for but I'm with Missbopeep. I've also spent a foolish fair fortune on the expensive and cheap and really can't see the difference. As long as it removes your make-up and cleans. A glycolic facial or some such exfoliating facial every so often is probably a lot more beneficial.
And toners. Fancy water or alcohol is all they are. Save your money. Remove your cleanser will warm water and a clean facecloth/muslin.
Eat well, limit alcohol, don't smoke, use sunscreen.

[scottishmummy]

Yes it's a fab blog,I'm new to it but loved it

[Renovatinghouse]

wow, great blog. Thanks for the recommendation!

[MrsMcGregor]

Oh, and my make-up is lasting most of the day (though in the morning I just wash with water, tone with Liz E and moisturise before make-up.

[BrandyAlexander]

I use a mixture. Liz Earle 4 times a week and at night but use each of the following once a week: kiehls pineapple and papaya facial scrub, kiehls ultra (moisturising?) facial cleanser and body shop oat and honey face mask.

[MrsMcGregor]

Neena28 . A couple pf weeks back I started a thread asking for toner recommendations..You recommended the Clarins Exfoliating Toner and linked to Caroline Hiron's blog. I did hesitate before buying the toner and was surprised it's such a small bottle but .... three nights of double cleansing (Lancôme Cream cleanser followed by Liz Earle C&P), followed by the Clarins Ex Toner, then a sample of a serum I got from Space NK and finally Lancôme Night Cream - and my skin looks soooo much better. No longer dull and yes, even the pores around my nose are less prominent. So thank you!

OP - yes, yes, yes to the double cleanse method. Can't really recommend products as the only new product I have purchased is the Clarins Exfoliating Toner (and it's really impressive this far) but will watch thread with interest.