vote please: expensive skincare - worth it, in your experience?

[Tutter]

and if so - which brand (and what's your skin like)?

Kittypickles post v. interesting.

I use Environ moisturisers recommended by a beauty therapist in my village who sells them...yes, I am easily led.

But I really like the Environ debut day cream (with vitamin A, I think). Its fragrance free which is a concession to naturalness I suppose.

I use Paul Penders cleanser (all natural ingredients and herbal etc) which i get from another lady in my village who I go to for reflexology.

I think I must be easily led but it does help keeping me out of department stores where the products just scream that they will change your life for the better.

And all that lovely (but totally unnecessary) packaging...

Use the "ordinary" Olay Total Effects in the cylindrical pot, SPF 15, - approx £15-£20 - but buy it when I have Boots vouchers or get extra adv card points so works out quite cheap. My skin is lovely and soft and I don't get spots. However, suspect that drinking 2l of water a day also has something to do with that....

i was firmly in the 'its a load of bull' camp.

even so, i'd buy lots of different things, partly coz i have the concentration span of a goldfish and partly because for some reason i think anything that works only does so for a bit, then you gotta change it to get the same effect. im like this with shampoos and stuff too.

where i got that little gem, i really dont know, but no-one lese has mantioned it on the whole thread so im beginning to think i made it up (and the concentration span issue is the only problem after all)

when choosing new products i pretend to believe the claims and be looking for the best product, but really im looking for the loveliest packaging and indulgent smells and whatnot.

HOWEVER a fiend told me i had to buy creme de la mer, esp now im Furty and aging will apparently begin in earnest from here on in (whatever)

and in a sulk with dp one day, i bought it. and LO and BEHOLD the magic of face cream a gazillion times more expensive than any i thought id ever buy. it really is amazing. i get to be a total slob now and 'forget' to wash my face at the end of the day... but as long as i do wash occasionally and use this creme de la wonderstuff after each time, i am more spiffingly beautiful than a sugar plum fairy.

who knew??

Dont use anything but a flannel and some hot water. If I wear make-up I use some remover if the flannel wont get it off.

All face creams make my skin sweat and my face feel like it has a lyer of lard on it!

I remember a scientist saying a few years ago that the only difference between a £2 face cream and a £30 one was £28.

I will say it again: a dermatologist will save you millions girls, they know what's best for your skin!

i'm not sure dermatologists over here would give that sort of advice...

why not? wouldn't they be able to tell you what state your skin is in and how to keep it healthy for as long as possible?

Dr Hauschka woman here, daily moisturiser, rose cream and eye cream, hand cream as well as sun lotion. It suits my dry skin in this very dry climate in Colorado. Yes I think it's worth it as funnily enough my wrinklies are less visible than they were. I think it's because I moisturise properly everyday.

well, i may be wrong, but i think they would see giving "beauty advice" as beneath them. not saying it wouldn't be a good idea to have such a consultation - i love the idea. would be utterly delighted to be wrong on this!

or you go to a cosmetic dermatologist - but that would be for botox and laser therapy rather than what is the best cream to use?

perhaps someone more knowledgeable will come along to settle the matter!

I use oil of olay and people say I look younger than I am

haven't read other posts but I use a Boots No. 7 night cream for 40+ dry skin. Can't remember the name but about 12 quid a pot. Its really nice on my skin - use it night and day. Its one of those 'tell the difference in 4 week' jobbies!!

The Chantecaille serum is fantastic, it is called Vital Essence, I use this at night (I will be 50 this year)(they also have a rosewater spray that is do die for), I use Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Serum in the daytime. I love Philosophy Purity Cleanser which I use day and night. My favorite eye cream is Dr. Brandt's lineless eye cream. I have an oily T-Zone so can't really use Creme De La Marbut it is fantastic to use for scarringI believe the original formula has been changed though. I have also used the Perricone line, it was very good and I also bought his book--very into Salmon and Acacai! Beauty from the inside out.

used to buy expensive products but for years now I get sebamed cream which is for sensitive skin. I don't have sensitive skin but I find products designed for sensitive skin can't do normal skin any harm. This is the range but can't see the cream I have on there:
sebamed

It's inexpensive, non-perfumed and works fine. I use it for day and night, cleanse with Nivea cleanser, no toner.

Think we need to report back in 15 years to hear whether we made the right decisions or not!

Estee lauder day cream is really nice and it lasts about 6 months. my theory is if it is nice to use at least i get around to puuting it on!

Just turned 34 and have never moisturised. Soap and water gal. However, after some VERY cutting remarks from my brother on said 34th birthday I decided it might be time to cream up. I was really thrilled when I found some nivea stuff in my bedside cabinet.(God knows where it came from) Used it religiously for about 3 weeks then my husband read the label and informed me it was foot cream. (Have to take my specs off to put it on you see) Well, at least I wont get a fungal infection on my face!

Isn't Nivea a bit too thick? I use it on my hands sometimes before going to bed but I'd find it hard going on my face - rubbing and pulling at the skin to get the cream to soak in a bit.

interesting stuff kittypickle! i feel i'd have to know more about it all to make it myself though.
i like to use ren products they feel clean...probably just a sucker for it all though... interested to know - does anyone check for animal involvement in all these products?

I have a tub of £150 stuff (moisturiser) - dh bought it back from Dubai where it was a bit cheaper than usual RRP.

Bugger all difference - if anything it is a bit heavy and makes my skin look shiny / greasy.

I prefer Oil of Olay!

I use Liz Earle's 'Cleanse & Polish' because I like to use water on my face, it isn't too expensive or too heavy and I also happen to like her moisturisers too. During the winter months though I will use anything and everything to help my dryness 0 L'Occitane, Nivea, E45 etc However, I really think it is all to do with your genes; my grandmother and mother had dry, liney skin and so do/will I!

Its worth trying QVC (no, dont laugh!) They do lots of well known brands, eg Liz Earle, Prescriptives, Decleor, Elemis, Philosophy (v. sweet gay bloke sells that) Gatineau and others. You can use it for a month and if you dont like the product you can send it back and get a refund, so just p&p lost. I like it as a way of trying something I might not have had the nerve to try otherwise. Got hooked on Elemis that way, sadly cant afford £75 on a regular basis for maine cream.

That would be marine cream!

I use a mix and match now of things that seem to work for my skin:

Clinique "Take The Day Off" cleansing balm (I use it with a damp muslin cloth, does eye make up too)

Cold water as a toner

Estee Lauder sunscreen (30spf)

Elemis pro collagen marine cream to moisturise (expensive - £75 for the small pot but I find it really good)

Olay night cream - the one in a purple pot with black lid - AMAZING stuff - have bought much more expensive ones but this stuff is brilliant

Demalogica daily microfoliant for exfoliating

Hi Scootergirl
I use bio oil on my face everyday, is that too much, you recommended it as a night oil? I have tried loads of expensive cream and they never seem to have good results long term. I think I have sensitive skin and Clinque and Dr Hanuska left me with a rash. Prada was excellent but I can't afford that on a daily basis. Has anyone tried Dermalogica, I have heard good things about it.