Which skincare to buy - help!

[Baluga]

I’m looking for some skincare advice as I’m totally lost (I’m usually a shower gel and body butter slapped on the face kinda gal)

My lovely Mil has offered to get me some skincare for my birthday. Don’t want her to spend more than £50, and I’m unsure whether to get one or 2 good full sized items or a set of minis to try.

My skin has been terrible lately, lots of hormonal spots but also it feels really dry and dull. I’m mid 30’s, what would you all recommend?

I would spend the MILs gift on a skin consultation and treatment with a good esthetician. Take their advice (but not their products) and then run to Superdrugs to stock up on their own brands which I'm very impressed with.

My routine is the following and I have dry skin prone to spots and dullness

Cleanser: CeraVe Hydrating Face Wash

Toner: Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic 5%

Serum: Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum

Moisturiser AM: NIVEA Face Cream Rich Moisturiser for Dry & Sensitive Skin SPF15 AM

Moisturiser PM: Superdrug Optimum Retinol Night Sleep Cream

I double up the SPF with a tinted moisturiser from No.7 and add a higher SPF when it's sunnier

@abstractprojection thanks very much for the advice. Sadly I’m disabled so can’t actually get anywhere to get a consultation, although that would be fab, I’d need to order online.

Didn’t think of own brands tbh but they sound good, do you find a serum helps with dry/dullness?

I’m a make up fiend and actually have quite a bit of high end stuff (thanks to dds) but I’m finding with my skin being this bad, then nothing is looking as good as it should. I definitely need a routine.

I don’t think that serum does anything magical although The Ordinary is a very good value range if you fancy trying some out, Buffet is recommended a lot. But it can add an extra layer of hydration and some extra ingredients, although how much these improve skin is debatable. So I do use one but I don’t spend a lot on it.

I absolutely love FaceTheory and they usually do great offers. There's a 365 day "better skin or your money back" guarantee too. So nothing to lose

I love the regenacalm serum, and the porebright for my weird hormonal skin. Both make a real difference and I keep rebuying. Rarely before did I find anything effective, including the ordinary products.