What have been your 'game changer' beauty products?

[frankietwospots]

I'm always keen to try out new beauty products but am fed up of spending good money on products that are a bit meh. What have been your real 'game changer' beauty products? Which products have really made a difference? For me, applying Estee Lauder Double Wear with the Real Techniques stippling brush was a lightbulb moment. I just wish I could replicate that experience with skincare products!

Ok so the cheat sheet has me intrigued, I've always had poor skin , allergic to soap. What sort of cleanser should I try? I'm guilty of the wet wipe & go

I also have a really annoying dry patch under my eye on my bags can anyone advise on that too?

I am having great results with the loreal laser renew products, a night serum and a day one too with a night cream too.

The most impactful products I think I have ever used are La Roche Posay Effaclar - transformed my persistently (10 years+) spotty skin and now I rarely even get a tiny blemish. Honestly life changing.

Things that I think are brilliant (but not as amazing as LRP Effaclar) are:

• Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadow. I use it every day - I put it on at 6.30am and it stays put until I remove it at night. Brilliant, and great value for money as it lasts ages.
• Clarins instant light concealer. The best I have ever used, and it stands up well to my stressed out dark circles.
• L'Occitane Shea butter hand cream - the best for dry, parched hands.
• Burt's Bees lip balm. Does the job better than any other I have tried.

This year I changed my routine having reached my mid forties . I take my makeup off (cleanse tone oil serum) when I get in after work and then cleanse again (cleanse tone oil serum night moisturiser) before I go to bed, which means I get a double evening dose of serum. Then a tone, lighter cream serum plus day moisturiser in the morning. Has really helped my skin both for lines, dehydration and breakouts. Using Dr Organic Rose Otto and Boots Botanics - both ranges have good prices so you can afford to be generous. I reckon it must be working cos my doctor (unprompted) recently said I looked mid thirties

Clinique's redness range has made a fantastic difference to my rosacia.

Clinique's redness range has made a fantastic difference to my rosacia.

AsIAm coconut cowash - have not used shampoo since I first bought a pot of this two years ago! My hair is so much healthier now.

LaBoob: it may be the wipes that are causing your dry patches. Try a cream cleanser (I recommend 9to5 by Lush) and a warm flannel.

Wait....rewind to near the start of this thread, facial razors???
Really? Are they a thing?

Must try that eyelid primer !
Getting my brows tinted and threaded has made such a difference to me.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (the green one, for blemishes)

An eye brow pencil (I have only just discovered these - I am 40)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation and Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation - which is much, much cheaper than EL but is good for lighter coverage in the summer.

LeBoob Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is really good and may work for your sensitive skin. I agree with the others about La Roche Posay too, fab range of products.

Thank you, I'll give them a try! Do lush still offer samples? I read Clinique don't but offer a returns policy?

Can someone set out (or link to) a regime using La Roche Posay Efflicar to clear acne probe skin, please? I keep hearing such good things about it and want to kick start a new skincare regime

TIA

Strivectin exfoliator scrub blew me away. Does a complete resurfacing job for £ 26 a big tube. Much better results than a dermobrasion facial even. I had a brown spongy mole on the side of my nose which seemed to spread and grow. I was considering getting laser treatment but I got this new exfoliator and in one session it completly removed it.

A lot of mine come via Sali Hughes in the Guardian, but most recently the Dior Glow Maximiser primer. Amazing stuff. Also, Clarins exfoliating toner, Superdrug's glycolic mask (so cheap) and an old staple, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair - spendy but my skin looks awful if I skip it/try out other things.

Mac eyebrow pencils
Essie Good to Go top coat

Hot cloth cleansing.

Also, a pint of water with a Berrocca in it - one a day for a week and I notice a difference.

Estée Lauder advanced night repair for me too! I love it and my skin looks much brighter and feels smoother since I've been using it. Carmex lip balm is another, and Mac eyeliners, they are lovely and smudgy with lots of pigment. The glittery/shimmer ones are lovely but my contact lenses don't like them so I have to stick to the 'plain' ones. Oh and clarins one step orange cleanser too. Ooh I do love a good product!

Based on this thread I'm going to try the urban decay primer.

@Judydreamsofhorses - tell me more about the Dior primer. I have it sitting in my basket ready to hit 'Buy'! I tried it on my hand today and it looks more like a highlighter. Do you mix it in with your foundation, or just apply first on its own?

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty you can get the kit to try out from boots, link below. I like their face wash and duo treatment that is in the kit.

effaclar.laroche-posay.co.uk/3-step-system

Vichy hydrating cream. Heaven in a little white pot.
and Dr. Haushka's hand cream.

"Even Better" clinique foundation + under primer

Vichy hydrating face cream. (Heaven in a little white pot)

and

Dr. Haushka's hand cream.

oops twice. Apologies.

Kevin Aucoin Curling mascara. Incredible stuff. It's a tubing mascara, goes on really well, separates, lengthens and curls lashes and DOES NOT SMUDGE. EVER. You remove it by rolling damp fingertips over the lashes. No black eyes in the morning. Best thing in my make up bag.

Thanks yazzy