Cheap and cheerful but do the job for skin care

[ChristmasTreeBee]

I’ve run out of all bits & bobs for skincare (used the supply up and haven’t been buying anything)

I’m mid 30’s and want some cheap and cheerful recommendations for a moisturiser, exfoliating scrub, and anything else you think I might need for dry sensitive skin. Gone are the days of Clinique, liz earl etc

I’m literally a scrub once a week and use a moisturiser daily (rarely make up - even tho I hoard the stuff) but I need a better routine - can anyone share one? It needs to be quite quick as I don’t have lots of time on an morning but plenty on an evening.

I’ve also noticed quite a few fine lines around my eyes

Any help much appreciated

The Inkey List and The Ordinary are two ranges mentioned often as being really good and very reasonably priced.
Nivea is much loved on here too. As are Aldi and Lidl's offerings / dupes of more expensive ranges.

Go to the ordinary! Great range and often stocked by Boots.

The Ordinary and Cera ve are good. Depends what you are trying to do for specific recommendations

I was short of funds last summer (thanks Covid!) and swapped my Liz Earle cleanser (£27)for Tesco Kind & Pure Sensitive cleanser (£1.85). It's just as good if not better, I think my skin has slightly more glow.

@Flingingmelon - just trying to take better care of my skin - I’m a bit slap dash with it all and need a decent routine to get into with cheaper products

I will look at the ordinary on boots website

@MintJulia have to go to tesco later I will have a look for some thank you

I know it gets slated for being mineral oil-based, but my skin is the best it's ever been since I started using Aveeno a couple of years ago. I have combination skin but rarely have breakouts these days.

I really rate these for my very sensitive skin. Really cheap and cheerful but actually really suit my skin. I bought when super skint on mat leave and have continued.

www.boots.com/nivea-daily-essentials-light-moisturising-day-cream-for-dry-and-sensitive-skin-spf15-50ml-10081022

www.boots.com/boots-cucumber-face-wash-150ml-10290324

Aldi Lacura.

I'd skip the scrub. The fewer products you use the better IMO.

I really love Elf Holy Hydration moisturiser - about £12 for a decent sized tub. Not sure what else is in their skincare range though.

I use the ordinary for moisturiser, oil and retinoid. Hada labo for hyalauronic acid (the gold Japanese one, you can buy on Amazon) and inkey list for niacinamide. All brilliant even when compared to v expensive ranges. I also love heritage store rose water and glycerin (also Amazon) in winter for thirsty skin.

Garnier night or day cream - I have used this for decades and am 73 and literally have not a single wrinkle on my face.

No exfoliating or any other stuff - just once a day with the Garnier.

Lots of Superdrug's own ranges are fab, and often BOGOF/BOGOHP/342 etc.

You don’t need an ott skincare regime. I revamped my routine in lockdown 1 from using Elemis, Estée Lauder etc to cheaper brands and my skin is better, more even and no break outs.

AM - cerave hydrating cleanser in the shower, Hado Labo hyaluronic (not super cheap but I’m still using the same one I bought last March), Superdrug Vitamin C super booster and then either spf or curel facial moisture milk. Takes less than a minute.

PM Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser, followed by Superdrug Vitamin E moisturiser,

I have just bought some The ordinary retinol to start using.

I wouldn’t use an exfoliating scrub on your face. They’re really not great for your skin. I would also introduce one product at a time. Use for a couple of weeks, then introduce another. That way you’ll be able to see how your skin reacts to each product.

Cetaphil daily defence moisturiser is great, has spf in, lasted ages and is under £10. Also acts as a light primer which is useful too!
Cerave cleanser is nice - I'm currently using at the moment and will be re buying.
I have also found the body shop camomile cleanser balm really effective yet gentle on skin

Facetheory are a good brand, lots of actives for a reasonable price. My skin is dry at the moment so I have an oil cleanser, moisturiser, night cream and organic cold pressed rose hip oil.

Altruist is a great spf for a reasonable price and they do a good general light day moisturiser.

How cheap is cheap? L'Oréal laser recitalist stuff is very good, and around £10-15 a pot

Another vote for Superdrug Vitamin E range. I use the facial oil every morning and night.

I like the Simple range - find that some of the other brands smell a bit unpleasantly.

I am in love with the Ordinary. I recommend going on their website and taking their skin quiz to get a handle on their product range.

The Nivea day cream mentioned by @Megan2018 is excellent. Just a warm facecloth followed by this in the mornings.

Garnier micellar water on cotton pads at night, followed by warm facecloth, followed by Nivea crème.

@FourEyesGood

Another vote for Superdrug Vitamin E range. I use the facial oil every morning and night.

And yet another vote from me for Superdrug Vitamin E - the daily moisturiser cream and hot cloth cleanser plus the oil are my budget go tos and have been for years .

Nivea creme cleanser rinsed off with hot water and flannel followed by Nivea creme (original in the blue pot) thats what I use every night (don't use any moisturiser in the day). Occasionally use a face scrub, at the moment its an N'spa one I got at asda.
People always comment on how nice my skin is for my age (46).

Wilkos Skin Therapy tea tree range is surprisingly really good, and it feels gentle but thorough.

The few ordinary and inkey products I tried broke me out. I persevered for a while as I wanted a routine with ‘proper’ products.

I have an on/off relationship with skin care now, but love trying new stuff to try so I’ve started getting a roccabox subscription, it’s £18 per month and I just cancel and restart from time to time when I fancy a refresh. I’ve got a nice little collection and my skin is actually a lot nicer than when I used to stick to the same products/routine (have tried many over the years)