Best mid-price brand skincare for mid/late 40s

[CheddarGorgeous]

I used to use Clinique and did like it. I just don't know if I can justify £60 for a moisturiser and £120 for a serum.

I've had a few years of random budget buys - Nivea, L'Oreal etc. and am underwhelmed.

My skin looks (to me) sagging, wrinkled and a bit rough.

Any advice on good buys in the £20-£30 price range? I have normal skin, probably some sun damage but no other major problems apart from age!

TIA

Korean skin care changed my skin......

I use La Roche Posay, REN or Dr Hauschka

All around £20-30, all very good IMO (better than Clinique)

@eve80 is that a brand or a method. A quick google mentioned a 10 step process and I could just be setting myself up to fail!

@Flatcokeisnojoke out of those three which would you recommend?

I like Eucerin. Its unsexy but good.

Have a look at Sali Hughes' best buys under £20 column than she does for the Guardian each year. I wouldn't say you have to be loyal to one brand for everything. I am currently using a squalane cleanser from The Ordinary, a toner from Clarins and a moisturiser from Lumene (Arctic Hydra Care). All are excellent and not super pricey.

I signed up to beauty pie just for the skin care. I only use a few items of make up from them.

I also use Moroccan black soap and aveeno cream. It’s making a difference.

Thanks @MarieLaveau . Eucarin has good reviews and seems a more sensible price than Clinique.

Thanks @alecguinnessgenuineclass I'm quite easily bamboozled and also easily tempted to just try loads of random stuff and waste money.

I just want to settle on a few products (mainly day moisturiser with spf, night moisturiser, maybe a serum, maybe even a toner). I'm not wearing any makeup in lockdown so not using any cleanser at the moment. I've also got loads of freebie eye creams which I never seem to notice working.

Cera ve cleanser in the shower each morning. Slap on a Superdrug serum eg niacinimide plus Super facialist moisturiser (from TK Maxx). In the evening in use the beauty pie Japan fusion cleanser and Saira skin facial oil. Works for me! The oil is the most expensive at c. £50 but a bottle has lasted me about 6 months and it smells divine. I’m now trying a cheaper facial oil from holland and Barrett (that I got in my advent calendar). It’s good but I miss the smell of the Saira skin one.

I never bother with eye creams. Personally I think they are a waste of effort and money.

I still cleanse morning and evening even if wearing no make up. You want to get excess moisturiser and general muck from the day off before you start again with night products

Thanks @Rainydays200. Does micellar water count?

Also, I swim daily in the sea so get goggle eyes and cold sea water on my face for 30 minutes or so. Probably not helping the whole visage

I honestly love La Roche Posay. Every time I move away from using it, I always end up returning.

I'd go with a prescription from Dermatica or Skin + Me, rather than a serum the prescription actives are the best and only thing proven to reverse sun damage (about £20 per month) they re-texture, and firm over time.

Then a decent SPF for your skin type (not moisturiser containing spf) I can recommend eclat , a balm/ oil cleanser (like Inkey List oat balm £10 lasts ages) to remove make up and spf followed by ordinary face wash suitable for your skin type. Then you will just need a moisturiser. Really though prescription skincare will make the biggest difference to your skin, that plus SPF is an investment.

How does one go about getting a prescription skin care thingy?

Also, the best oil cleanser in the world (and great at tackling make up) is the one by Super Facialist. It's usually on offer too, I've been using this for years now.

Japanese and Korean brands have some incredible products.

I swear by DHC cleansing oil and Hada Lobo hydrating lotion is very good for underneath a moisturiser. I use Olay tinted moisturiser or Body Shop vitamin E cream in the morning and currently have an Estée Lauder night cream which was a gift but always go back to Olay night cream, it just suits my skin.

https://www.lookfantastic.com/dhc-deep-cleansing-oil/11207442.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&variation=11207443&shoppingpid=503169&thgppcccampaign=71700000073533399&adtype=pla&productid=11207443&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0rSABhDlARIsAJtjfCcSRurGhk7pIdgrUcPPujkduyXbmmTIUd1GvxKnsN1cKkkeQqNGbQgaAtwHEALwwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.superdrug.com/Skin/Face-Skin-Care/Anti-Ageing-Face-Cream/Hada-Labo-Tokyo-Anti-Ageing-Super-Hydrator-150ml/p/795470

https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/face/moisturisers/vitamin-e-day-lotion-spf30/p/1058692?dskid=92700049362960718&utmmplacement=B%20%7C%20SPF&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0rSABhDlARIsAJtjfCcrNVIg6IAm-9ERkx8Txrg1frojghTzo92g0DTCOrMWoE7DJrUiVYaAnTXEALwwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It's so exciting you fill in one of their online forms, explain your issues (anti ageing/ acne/ pigmentation), then upload (makeup free) photos of you, their dermatologists look and prescribe what they think suits your needs. I think most people get 3 actives comprising (for most people) of tretinoin (the best all rounder retinoid) and then whatever addresses you more specific needs. No over the counter product will rival tretinoin.
dermatica or skin + me

I really rate the products from facetheory. If you look on their website, they’ll give you a product list based on your skin concerns. There’s usually a discount code at the top of the website too.

I also buy bits from Beauty Pie. It’s a membership scheme. My only bugbear is that some products I try and like are then out of stock for months and months when I want to rebuy. I probably will end my membership soon. Their customer service is poor too.

Liz Earle (cleanse & polish, toner and moisturiser) is good and they often have offers on.

When I was in my mid 30’s my skin went mad a beautician told me to use Dove soap as a cleanser and E45 as a moisturiser it worked for awhile and my skin felt great.

Thanks everyone for advice. I ended up going to Skin + Me as mentioned by @Anotheruser02 and my products arrived today. They recommended the following (in the mid price range):

Morning routine:

Avene Tolerance Extreme Cleansing Lotion
La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Moisturiser
Heliocare Advanced XF Gel SPF 50

Evening routine:

Cleanser as above

Personalised solution which has Tretinoin (0.006%): a retinoid proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles; Niacinamide (4%): an antioxidant that reduces fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation; Azelaic Acid (4%): an antioxidant with evidence that it improves skin texture

Moisturiser as above.

Now I just have to wait the 12 weeks for it all to take effect!