Getting older is getting very expensive!

[JMAngel1]

Anyone else feel like this?
I’ve always been high maintenance since my teens but in the last year or so, the list of what I need to keep me looking well presented and feeling “normal” seems to be getting longer.

This morning I’ve just placed orders for what I now consider essentials - plumping serum, vaginal moisturiser, hair dye, neck and chest cream, hair styling cream, 4 different supplements and progesterone cream. I’m 48 and my budget seems to be going more and more on these types of products and there is less and less for clothes and pretty things like make up.

At this age I thought I would be shopping at Jaegar and John Lewis and buying Bobbi Brown or Charlotte Tilbury. Instead I have to buy from eBay and Primark and most of my makeup is MUA or NYX.
Anyone else feel like this?

I used to work on a beauty/fragrance counter in my teens and I used to serve a woman in her 80s who looked like she was in her 50s(!). Her skin was amazing. She told me she had a tough life but no matter what was going on, she'd always apply cheap & cheerful Astral cream on her chest, neck, face and hands every night. She told me wrinkly hands and neck give away a person's age, so best to focus on them. She also said plenty of water and a positive attitude keeps you looking/appearing younger.

Astral was ahead of it's day.. 🌺

@Wagsandclaws: your skin looks great. Really glowy. Congrats on your weight loss too.

I'm dying to try tear trough fillers.....I've also considered a threadlift but not sure if that'd be worth the money.

I am late 50s. I use Aldi day & night creams and Lidl's serum on face & neck. I also use Simple eye cream. I use body lotion after showers and before bed, usually stuff I have been gifted but E45 moisture lotion (in the pump bottle not the tube) is my go to in the summer - better than any after sun I've used.
I started using these products after they had beaten more expensive ones in various awards. Ican't believe I'd have any better results using more expensive products.
I'm no beauty but my skin doesn't look my age.

Im 46 and use coconut oil and blue nivea on my face and neck.

The only thing letting me down are the dark circles.

If anyone can recommend a great eye cream!

I use cheap products and vitamin c and boots retinol. I look healthy for 50 but lately im feeling so bored and longing for sun holidays, getting pissed on cosmopolitans and nargaritas. I look healthy but that cost me too many nights in not smoking! Lockdown is probably good for my liver/skin but my joie de vivre needs a cigarette and a gin n tonic and a chat

@Wagsandclaws you look great.
I find putting on makeup quite meditative. I slip in to a trance where im not thinking about work or teens or money and im just blending 😍

@ageingdisgracefully I'll put a photo of before my tear trough fillers on and after. Please excuse the bruising on my forehead as i had Botox at the same time. No make up on in either after photos.

The 5 stone weight loss gave me a saggy neck - I have had a thread lift for that- before and after pics of that too. I'm due to have it done again next month.

I highly recommend both procedures - I feel like I look the best I ever have right now.

Tear troughs ...

that is AMAZING... you look fantastic 🌺

There is no evidence @JMAngel1 that using different creams for part of your face makes any difference- read what Sally Hughes says on this. It's all just marketing. You can use face cream around your eyes and on your neck and chest.

I tried the Prai neck cream and it's no better than Olay Regenerist 3 point, for half the price on Amazon.

TBH I spend my money on food rather than creams and supplements.

I eat a lot of avocado, salmon, almonds , green veg and fruit. And avoid sugar as far as possible.

I'm all for anyone using Botox or subtle fillers if that's what someone fancies but they need to be done by a very good doctor not a hairdresser or beautician as the risks are too high in the wrong hands.

I use one type of moisturiser- swapped Clinique @£45 for Olay @£15 and it's just as good. Use a good E Lauder sun block £39, Bobbi Brown make up, but nothing else in terms of skin care. I don't have any wrinkles and am in my 60s. I used sun block from age 35 when I had a skin issue and was told to use sun block during treatment, and have carried on since.

@DesignerDesigner couldn't agree more, too many unlicensed people practicing facial aesthetics.

I use a fully qualified and practising GP and I honestly can't fault him. If you are going to do it use someone who is 'Save Face' accredited.

Thanks for the heads up, @Wagsandclaws

Vaginal moisturiser?

What the fuck?

@ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets

Vaginal moisturiser?

What the fuck?

Probably (given her age) OP is suffering from vaginal atrophy. So dryness, thinning of vaginal walls and vulval tissue (funnily enough just waiting to pick up my prescription because if I snag my vulva with a finger nail it bleeds). Worst case scenario you end up with adhesions - the walls of your vag stick together and fuse. Menopause is a bitch for some women.

So yes it's a thing, yes you do need treatment - but proper, medically prescribed treatment, not over-the-counter stuff with no active ingredient in it.

I wish could wear any old moisturiser. I've got really temperamental skin so have spent a lifetime having to chop and change moisturisers, cleansers etc PITA.

I love my short and sweet skincare regime at the end of the day. It's relaxing.

I have been entertaining the idea of buying more expensive skincare the last few days but you have all convinced me not to bother.

I do however apply Boots retinol every other night, it's too strong for me to apply nightly and I really have seen a difference; smoother, clearer, brighter skin so I'm happy with the ingredients and price of that one. I did buy it when it was on offer. I used about 3 offers together so got 3 for a steal so thank god it actually works.

I always buy the M&S beauty advent calendar (they're not doing it this year sadly) and end up using most of the products in there at some point. They do great summer beauty boxes too, which again have lots of products which tend to suit me. So both of these combined give me a great mix of products to use cheaply all year till the next one along side a couple of other items I buy separately of course.

Forgot to say I'm 50 and no wrinkles as yet but I know they're coming so want to pre-empt that from happening as much as possible

Boots Retinol?

www.boots.com/no7-advanced-retinol-1-5-percent-complex-night-concentrate-10273192

boots retinol

Thanks @JacobReesMogadishu.

I've got Retinol but bought from abroad. I get confused about the percentages.

I haven't tried the Boots one, think it's quite new. But it's expensive compared to The Ordinary one.

Yes it can get very confusing @ageingdisgracefully I just did a bit of research over the years and lucked out with one that actually gave practically instant results at a great price point whether on offer or not. It made me realise that some products do work and are worth the money which I'm delighted about.

Maybe once I actually do get wrinkles I'll look at what can help with those when the time comes if they bother me.

@JacobReesMogadishu I've used the ordinary one and it's crap did nothing whatsoever. Most of their other products didnt agree with my temperamental skin either, and I tried out quite a few. It was the TO Retinoid Granactive 2%.

How can you have no wrinkles at 50? 😮. How does that work? I hear it said a lot on Mumsnet and I’m always so confused. No crows feet around the eyes? No horizontal lines on the forehead or neck?

I've had faint lines on my forehead since I was about 8 but they're just normal to me as they're practically invisible. I had spots as a teen and flushed red cheeks all my life so have always worn foundation or tinted moisturiser which has always had an spf in it so I guess that had something to do with it.

Because I've always worked I've always worn makeup to work to appear professional and kempt. My neck, chin and décolletage are all line free too.

I have been slightly overweight the last 10 years which I'm convinced also has something to do with it. I was a really heavy smoker for years and used to drink a fair old bit on a regular basis. I gave up smoking 15 years ago and don't drink as often these days so yes I'm surprised I dont have more lines too.