Anti ageing products that 'do what they say on the tin'.

[Girlsbrigadewashorrible]

I'm going shopping just for me next week and want to choose a new serum or similar. I have been using Clarins Double Concentrate for three months and really like it as it I find it's lovely under my foundation. I'm not sure I'm seeing any actual improvement in my skin though. I am nearly 50 and feel that I need a product which is more refining or exfoliating to liven up my tired complexion. I don't mind paying a similar price to Clarins if it works, but am equally happy to hear about cheaper alternatives that are good. All advice gratetfully received.

Can anyone recommend specifics for foundations that are 'tinted,sheer,luminous'. I still have an oily nose and worry that I'll end up looking like I've dipped my face in chip fat!

I'm keen to try the Rodial products. They have them at QVC so I'll order there because then at least I can try them out for up to 30 days and get a refund if I don't get on with them.
QVC have several products listed - which are the ones to try?

I haven't tried the Neals Yard Intense, but I do very much like the Frankincense Nourishing Cream. It was reformulated recently though, and I haven't tried the new formula.

Re foundations - I have liked products from Rimmel, Max Factor, Bourjois, Maybelline, Cover Girl and M&S. They all have variations of the luminous look. L'Oreal has too but I have found they go a bit orangey on my fair skin. Right now I am using very little because I am in an Austrslian summer but soon I will probably go back to a Max Factor.

mcgilly, thank you, I love recommendations from the less expensive brands! I'll have a mooch round a few testers when I'm next at the very large Boots in the Trafford Centre.

Fushi's Rosehip oil is the best one I have found so far!
Also using the oil cleansing method at night to cleanse your skin is brilliant, effective and gentle

Honestly these threads cost me a fortune !

Botox, efas, retin a & good SPF. This will change your life

GinSoakedBitchyPony you're welcome, mooching around testers is so much fun and will get you a better result than buying pricey stuff from home!

GinSoakedBitchyPony - I'm also wary of the new formula of the frankincense cream.

I have always loved Neal's Yard Frankincense and am about to try the intense which I have heard amazing things about.

L'Occitane Divine range is another one, though I'm not keen on the smell.

I had a look at the Rodial website ... eye watering prices!!!!

Me too, GirlsBrigade!

At that price I'll go straight for the botox!

Can the retin A users give a linky as to where you get it from please?

I am such a sheep.

Rodial sometimes pops up in TKMaxx.

Just make sure whatever of these creams you buy (and lots of the plant ones don't) contain sun protection.

And wear big sunglasses.

I buy retin a off eBay, it comes from the Far East usually.

I just choose a seller with high feedback. You've got to follow the instructions to the letter though. No slapping it on & then going under a sun bed.

Retin a from e bay. Serums and oils improve condition but do nothing for wrinkles. I'm not quite at the Botox stage but I will be right there when needed.

The Neal's yard frank intense is fabulous, I am a consultant for neals yard in the usa (so not looking for customers here!) and it was the results from the frank intense that made me want to work for them.

What strengths of the retin a do i buy from Ebay there are so many choices. I am pretty fair with a little redness on nose and chin, will this make it worse. I remember when i lived in the stares in the 1900's everybody used to use it , cannot believe its still around.

0.025%, thin layer only half an hour after cleansing. Wear sunscreen everyday, proper sunscreen, & don't use any other exfoliants ie face scrub or salycilic acid.

QVC sell Rodial.

I don't rate Clarins at all - too perfumed and the range is vast and complicated.

The best you can do is use a sun block 365 days of the year, SPF25+ - I swear by City Block- Clinique which is use over serum and moisturiser and under foundation.

Nothing will get rid of lines already there except surgery, fillers and botox, or cosmetics that contain AHA and retinol that might makes the wrinkles slightly less deep.

Most skin care is smoke and mirrors and selling a dream.

Lifestyle, diet, no sun, no booze, little sugar- exercise in fresh air- that's the way to go, and lots of 'good'fats in your diet.

I've gone right off clarins. I still use beauty flash balm, but the creams just don't do anything for me any more. And yes - too perfumed.

So much to think about! I'm really hoping to simplify my routine (such as it is). At the moment I'm using Liz Earle C +P, Clarins serum, any old eye cream and a cheapish SPF moisturiser on my neck area, which is dry and crepey. My facial skin is combination and doesn't like product overload. Also, I find that too many 'layers' of product result in pilling. Ideally, I'd like a light weight moisturiser with a decent spf for my face, an eye cream (as eye area is really dry), and a good serum/oil whatever to use at nighttime.

Deviating a bit from my original post, but can anyone also recommend a spf moisturiser? I have tried Clinique city block but it didn't sit well under my foundation. Thanks guys!

I found my skin wrinkly after we moved house and the heating is on here all the time, my cheeks were actually wrinkly smiling

My friend gave me some dermalogica cleanser and exfoiator, my god it is amazing but I'm not convinced by the moisturiser at all. Ideally would like the heals yard frankincense intense but have bought so much this month it may be a couple of months before I can splash out on it.

As for spf under makeup this is good, I work outside and wear this every day, it doesn't make my eyes water which is quite common I find with anything with spf but it doesn't let any sun through either so I don't wear it at the weekend, otherwise I would have a pale face and brown arms ! It's £15.75 from Waitrose, boots seem to only sell it over the counter.

Anyway I used l'oreal collagen de crease as a cheap alternative before I splash out and it actually has improved my skin loads, it sinks in but you vp an tell it's cheap and full of chemicals. I'm just using it as a stop gap whilst I can't afford the neals yard cream.

The dermalogica definitely got rid of some deep creases near my eyes and forehead.

So, would those of you use it say retin A has more of an effect than a glycolic etc peel?

I did the 30% sizzle thingy on the MN thread 2 yrs back and it definitely smoothed my face, and made me more glowy, but didn't do anything to the number 11s and the crows feet. (I am 49 and though people say I look younger, I'm well aware I can no longer pass for a 30 yr old)

I slop Astral on my neck and have to say it's the least wrinkly bit of me.