Best 'bang for your buck' facial treatment?

[Greenplums]

Excluding botox and fillers, what can you recommend as the most effective anti-ageing facial treatment? I'm very overwhelmed with the different options (lasers/profhilo/PRP facials etc).

I'm willing to pay decent money from a reputable clinic/dermatologist. I'm early 50's and in London.

Thanks!

Profhilo is amazing I think, if you are happy with a subtle look. I had fraxel and ultracel (with rita rakus), and I rate profhilo more than either of them. The fraxel was intensely painful too with a week downtime. Never again!

oh I also just splashed out on a Lyma on the interest free credit option. It costs less than either the ulracel or the fraxel and has amazing reviews.

CACI Synergy - amazing.... and always SPF50

I like Profhilo, just plumps the skin up with hydration without altering the way you look. It’s very subtle though, I guess that’s why it’s described as a ‘skin booster’

Lasers were a game changer for me about 4 years ago. Cost ££ though and a good few days of down time and swelling. Completely sorted my pigmentation out though.

I second CACI - I have a weekly session. God knows what I'd look like without it as I don't feel I look my best as it is

@Usernamechanged

Where do you buy prescription strength retinoids?!

Use a prescription service like Dermatica. You fill in an online questionnaire and send photos of your skin and they prescribe you a retinol mix. You can adjust how often it's sent to you. There's another one - Em and Me? ( might have got the name wrong) I use Dermatica and it's made a small difference to the overall look of my skin

I'm in my 50s and have been interested in skincare/facials etc since I was about 25.

Genuinely nothing has affected my skin as well as Botox and fillers have. I must have spent thousands trying to find the right lotions and potions over the years.

Now I have Botox twice a year and fillers once a year (approximately)
Costs about a grand. I can afford it and I realise I'm lucky to be able to do so.

My day to day skincare is so basic now. Superdrug cleanser, a cheap glycolic toner and a nice moisturiser [ light in the summer and heavier in the winter). SPF.

I use Vit C serum and a retinoid and that's it.

Occasionally I like an ESPA facial, but not regular enough to say it makes a difference (although it makes an immediate difference post session. Their lymphatic drainage massage is so good.)

I know no one wants to hear it but genuinely the most cost effective thing you can do for your skin is drink plenty of water. It really plumps up when you're well hydrated and you look less tired too.

@Spiceup

I know no one wants to hear it but genuinely the most cost effective thing you can do for your skin is drink plenty of water. It really plumps up when you're well hydrated and you look less tired too.

I know this is trotted out again and again but everyone's mileage varies. I have drunk shit tons of water for the last 5 years and apart from needing to go to the toilet a lot ( doing it for my internal organs mostly) it has made jack shit difference to my face. For the last year I have drastically reduced my water intake ( forced on me as my work toilet situation means I can't just go whenever I need to, so I don't drink as much to avoid desperate pinch points!) and my face looks exactly the same as it did before.

For me -sugar and alcohol are the things that age.

By all means drink more water, but I am always wary of the "oh just drink water, it's all you need," brigade. When it doesn't work for people, despite being touted as the most reductive type of skincare, it's quite dispiriting.

I am a semi permanent make up / microblading artist I so work very near to people's skin so see it really up close and personal. One of my clients has Profhilo and swears by it but TBH I cannot see any difference and she has spent loads on it.

Another of my clients has had PDO threads, again, cannot see a difference.

I have botox and love it - and have also had a small amount of lip filler. however I am 41 now and need something more hardcore I think so I am watching with interest ;)

Agree, I drink loads of water. It’s on the basic tick list like spf. Not sure it makes me look any younger though.

I get a face cream sent to me every month from skin and me. Combined with cerave moisturiser my skin is definitely brighter and smoother (texture). I haven't noticed a real difference for the fine lines but I've come to the conclusion that no cream will ever get rid of lines, possibly slow the process but I'll never know unless I stop using the stuff, which I'm not going to do.
I absolutely will get subtle fillers when j feel I need them though.

Google Secret RF

It's amazing

@Spiceup

I know no one wants to hear it but genuinely the most cost effective thing you can do for your skin is drink plenty of water. It really plumps up when you're well hydrated and you look less tired too.

Lol

@Indoctro

Google Secret RF

It's amazing

Ooh - this sounds interesting.

I get prescription strength retinol (tretinoin) from Skin + Me.

They build up the strength slowly and you apply it at night from a doser (that is sent to you each month) that dispenses exactly the right amount.

They also recommended some brilliant products I hadn’t tried before that I am now hooked on (Cerave hydrating cleanser from Boots and Heliocare spf 50 for the face).

You can try them with my code for just the postage cost of about £3 I think: JOANNAB53CH

I saw it recommend on Mumsnet and have used it since. I think you can buy tretinoin in other countries in pharmacies but not the Uk.

I also use the magnitone electro current device from Boots and rate that plus a Gua Sha with Weleda skin food straight after.

A friend uses a LED mask that she rates but I haven’t tried that yet!

think you can buy tretinoin in other countries in pharmacies but not the Uk

You can, it’s ridiculous that you can’t buy OTC in the UK or the US. I stock up when abroad

I bought some in Portugal for 3 euros!!! Wish I’d bought more but I did have to go to two pharmacies (it’s at their discretion or something) so was just grateful to get some I didn’t want to push my luck!

I now use Dermatica which are good and I don’t get a tube every month but every other month. So £10 per month.

Bookmarking

@UsedUpUsername

think you can buy tretinoin in other countries in pharmacies but not the Uk

You can, it’s ridiculous that you can’t buy OTC in the UK or the US. I stock up when abroad

I'm going to Spain next month, what brand/strength should I ask for?

Caci.

It’s retirides in Spain and they do 0.025 or 0.05 %.
It’s Ketrel in Portugal.

I started out on the 0.5 Retirides which I bought on holiday in Spain. The Pharmacy I went in only had that strength but I had no problem buying it. It seems madness we can buy it there but not here. Works out way cheaper than Dermatica etc.

@JoJo36

I get prescription strength retinol (tretinoin) from Skin + Me.

They build up the strength slowly and you apply it at night from a doser (that is sent to you each month) that dispenses exactly the right amount.

They also recommended some brilliant products I hadn’t tried before that I am now hooked on (Cerave hydrating cleanser from Boots and Heliocare spf 50 for the face).

You can try them with my code for just the postage cost of about £3 I think: JOANNAB53CH

I saw it recommend on Mumsnet and have used it since. I think you can buy tretinoin in other countries in pharmacies but not the Uk.

I also use the magnitone electro current device from Boots and rate that plus a Gua Sha with Weleda skin food straight after.

A friend uses a LED mask that she rates but I haven’t tried that yet!

How do you find the magnitone?

Does tretinoin have any side effects?