Reasonably priced miracle skincare

[babynugget]

Help me please. I'm mid late thirties and have been neglecting my skin. It's always been rubbish but previously I was a high end skincare junkie. I've used it all Decleor, Elemis, you name it. With those products I was usually able to maintain a reasonable complexion. I'm on a much tighter budget nowadays and my skin needs an overhaul. I still remove Make up every night using Nivea Micellar water and I'm using Elizabeth Arden moisturiser (cheap when bought in bulk at Costco) but my skin looks tired and slack with terrible pores and tone. Are there any cheap wonder products out there that I haven't heard of, please, that will make my skin fantastic. Probably need to start thinking about eye creams too.

lots of water and a glycolic cream. I get one from iherb for about $20.

it wasn't the creams, it was your youth. Not that you are old now!

there are no wonder products, there are plenty of expensive scams and cheap scams. You don't need eye creams, you don't need any creams except sunscreen.

I'm much older and not that wrinkled, and have never done any skincare beyond washing and suncream. I've never smoked, but beyond that I just chose the right parents.

eat properly, get enough sleep, don't be stressed - the last may be easier said than done.

Water , sleep & limit toxins.

No magic potions exist.

Not what I wanted to hear people!! But I know I know - you are all so right. So give up the wine and partying or resign myself to rubbish skin? I'll need to give this some thought....in the meantime if anyone has found anything that works I'd still be interested

Hi OP, you need a proper cleanser. Step away from the micellar water! I use micellar water for removing lipstick and sometimes eye make up, and for fixing eyeliner that's gone too smudgy etc but it really doesn't clean your face properly.

Hot cloth cleansing has been one of the best things I have ever done for my skin. You don't need a posh cleanser, just one that suits your skin type. If you like, you can use the same cleanser for both cleanses, or use a cream cleanser first and an oil afterwards. There's been tons of discussions on here about how to HCC but let me know if you need info.

Acid toning - also changed my skin massively for the better. I have dry and dehydrated skin and I use Nip & Fab glycolic pads - about a tenner in Boots / Superdrug. I use them every other evening and my skin is loads less flaky and much more glowy.

A facial oil also makes a difference for me - currently using Boots Botanics Facial Oil (about a tenner) every evening

If you have dry skin, Astral is a brilliant night cream

I do agree with everyone else though that what you put in your body is at least as important as what you put on your face. Sorry !

My skin has improved hugely after discovering glycolic cleansing fix from Nip and Fab. Saw it recommended here and am seriously impressed!

In the evening I use micellar water to remove make up and then the Nip and Fab. I also use Boots P&P serum followed by night cream (Olay).

Agree lots of water and less alcohol helps too (although my nightly glass of wine has been totally essential after coping with the kids over the summer holidays!!)

This nip and fab stuff..... I've been using the no needle fix serum for a few days (bought it ages ago. Yet another impulse buy I'm determined to use now) but it feels quite harsh and has a chemical smell that reminds me of germolene.

I have normal skin. Occasionally a bit dry in winter. I'm noticing age related chin wrinkles lately so would these glycolic things help or are they pretty harsh and more suited to oily or very dry skin?

I rate the Nip+Fab glycolic acid pads too - in fact, I'd go so far as to say they are a game changer. Like Lottapianos, I'd say hot cloth cleansing has made a dramatic difference to my skin (I use Clinique's Take The Day Off cleansing balm) and then I use the Nip+Fab pads twice a week. Yes, they can feel harsh (I get some stinging) but then it is acid! But the results are good. I certainly wouldn't use them every day.

I've also done the rounds with premium skincare but had to cut back recently and on a whim bought the Body Shop's camomile silky cleansing oil (apply to dry skin and remove with wet flannel) and the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet moisturiser... My skin has never been better! Well worth a punt. Think you'd be looking at £23 for both.

I think the rule with acid toning is : stinging / tingling = good, burning = bad

Definitely double cleanse if you wear make up. Micellar water is not sufficient. If you acid tone you will also need to hydrate afterwards (rose water, via e etc sprays) then a good moisturiser. Could do oils and serums budget depending. Body shop definitely has some good lines and often has a good percentage off!

Definitely double cleanse, or at least use a balm cleanser to thoroughly cleanse the skin. If you are using an spf as part of your routine you will need to double cleanse.

I would definitely incorporate acids into your routine, you'll probably be pretty amazed at how fast your skin improves. You haven't said what type of skin you have. You mention pores, if it is oily and you have clogged pores try a BHA (salicylic acid) to unclog the pores. Nip and fab do pads of these as well, I use Cosrx. For glycolic I use Pixi glow tonic which I love, really brightens and tightens. You can use the BHA and AHA on the same day (bha first, 20 min wait then aha). You will need to use sunscreen if you use AHA.
Also, alpha h do a fantastic AHA product called Liquid Gold which is used as a once or twice weekly treatment. You can get it on QVC. I haven't met anyone who doesn't love it, it's one of those cult beauty products that really works.

I always used to use Eve Lom but since having DS my budget is smaller and I've switched to B. which is Superdrug's own label. I really rate their Micellar oil and water for cleansing, their B. replenished facial oil and their day cream. They are often on offer too is good.

Double cleansing, drinking loads of water, Bravura acids and using a serum instead of a moisturiser. They're my long-term tips because after a few months of this routine and my skin has never been so lovely.

Body Shop Oils of Life facial oil. It's £28, so certainly the most expensive item in my skincare routine, but it lasts a while. My skin is noticeably more glowy and soft-looking for it.

Hot cloth cleansing gave me broken veins on my nose. I look like a raging alcoholic without concealer.
Love the nip and fab glycolic pads. Love Una Brennan superficialist cleansing oil from boots, feels nourishing and leaves my skin so clean.

I have nip and fab exfoliate fix serum stuff that I've used a coupe of times. Do you just leave it on or are you supposed to wash it off? As it's always left a weird texture on my skin.

I've had a mixture of cheap and expensive skin care over the years

I'm 40 and for the last two years I've used very basic things and my skin has not looked this healthy since I was about 30

Sensitive face wash from simply pure range, about £2 at Superdrug
Nip Fab glycolic pads once a day, when they are on offer for about £8
Superdrug 3 in 1 serum moisturiser, about £3 again from Superdrug

Don't even use the moisturiser every day as the glycolic pads really help my skin. Before this it was dry as anything, prone to reacting ri products and getting little outbreaks. I was using high street stuff, Origins, Dermalogica, all sorts.

I also stopped using foundation, my skin didn't like it and it took me years to realise it. I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser.

Honestly. Sometimes skin needs much less than you think.

I'm late 30s and I swear I've finally hit teenage skin. I'm greasy and spotty. I used to be dry. I am trying out cetaphil for oily skin on a recommendation and tbf, I'm not as oily now as I'd normally be. But my last'fix' which ,y skin got used to was clarins. I need something good for oily old skin that occasionally dries out.

Agree with hot cloth cleansing suggestion - I use Eve Lom as it suits my skin but plenty of budget friendly alternatives advisable available, including Superdrug Vitamin E. I now swear by their B. range. Good night and day cream and serum. Often half price so once I found what suited me,I stock up when on offer. They do age ranges though I doubt it matters which one you use.

I do absolutely swear by the Eve Lom cleanser though I use cheap ikea proper flannels to scrub off and use the tiniest amount of product so though expensive it lasts AGES.

Thanks everyone - sounds like acids and oils are the way forward for me. I've never used acids so definitely worth a try. I've used some Nip + Fab body products before and was really impressed so keen to give some of those a try. I'm away for the weekend so off to find the nearest Superdrug or Boots and get started. I have also upped my water intake as of yesterday.

XiCi I'm not really sure what skin type I have. I've always thought combination - possibly veering more towards dry nowadays?

Dig out the Korean beauty threads and enjoy a whole new world of amazing skin at affordable prices.

I like the acid pads from clearasil (recommended on here I think)
I find the glycerin and rose water from Boots traditional skincare range very softening and I am so glad I found La Roche Posay - the gel wash (£11) was a miracle! I had a red vein thing going on and getting bigger and since using the gel wash its shrunk!
I now use most of their range, including the facial sunscreen - skin has never been better giving up sugar might help me further though