Are we being ripped off with skincare products?

[PinkPondQueen]

After hitting my mid-forties 2 years ago I started using lots of different Estee Lauder skincare products (cleanser, day and night creams, serums, eye creams & gels). Prior to this I just used mid-range products. Honestly I've seen no improvement whatsoever in any lines or the texture of my skin but I have carried on using them hoping in the long-term they would prove beneficial.

Anyway, I was given a Nivea gift set for Christmas which included both day and night creams. Never used Nivea before but it felt wasteful not to use them so I have just been using them on work days/nights. Honestly the difference in my skin after only a few weeks is remarkable! It feels and looks so much smoother and even my make-up looks better!

So Mumsnet, what gives?! Are we being ripped off? Do I carry on with the EL stuff?

If Nivea works for you, use Nivea. Don’t carry on with EL for the sake of it!

No we're not being ripped off. It's a choice to buy luxury and most of us buy it fully aware it is unlikely to have must benefit over drugstore brands

As I get my make up from EL anyway I started bulk buying make up when there was a free gift set offer on plus as free loyalty produts - so it's not like i've spent hundreds on it. I was always led to believe though that these products contain better quality ingredients so long term they might prove better? Maybe that's just bollocks, I honestly don't know!

With premium brand you're paying a heck of a lot for marketing, packaging and the brand name - they have to be highly-priced to be viewed by customers as 'premium'.

There is zero scientific evidence they make much difference. SPF does make a difference.

I think some skincare is a rip-off yes, as there’s very little evidence for a lot of the products that are sold. Agree you’re paying for the branding and the experience (texture, scent and that sort of thing).

However not all skincare is a rip-off. I spend money on evidence based skincare - tret, vitamin c, glycolic and SPF. Other than those products, and a moisturiser, I use very little.

Are we being ripped off with skincare products?

By and large, yes. However, it does depend on the individual and the type of skin they have.

Loads of people swear by Nivea in a blue pot. I don't get on with it as it is too greasy and just sits on my skin. I do have even tempered skin though and chop and change skincare products all the time.

I like the Superdrug own brand ranges and they are as cheap as chips. I am currently using up a Garnier moisturiser, which is too greasy for me, but is fine if I am not wanting to wear make up over it, and will go back to the Nivea Dark Spot Control SPF50 fluid.

I cannot see the point in paying £££ for Creme de la Mer or similarly priced products when something at a fraction of the price is just as good (unless you are allergic to absolutely everything else).

Yes absolutely we are being ripped off. What actually works is well known in the industry and everything else is just packaging, marketing and making you feel 'luxury'.

I did get on with Nivea blue pot. Did it give me the same feeling of loveliness as something I bought in Space NK - absolutely not.

I love Nivea blue pot. I have dry skin as I'm getting on a bit but when I was younger it used to cause awful breakouts.

I've tried higher end stuff and although I've liked some it of doesn't seem to be worth the extra.

Yes, but I think people are knowingly getting ripped off iyswim. Skin care seems to have become a hobby and people have started treating it like they would any hobby - throwing money at it, trying different things, levelling up etc. Not realising that it's your skin and needs to last another 40-50 years and unlike a bike or cooking pan or book you can't get a new one if you ruin it with heavy duty chemicals you don't really understand other than online articles/marketing. It's like those people who use their bodies as a canvas and get tattoos everywhere - skin is the canvas.

I think some creams are worth the hype - the French pharma brands cicalfate/cicaplast balms. Which are not dissimilar to Nivea tbf but much thicker. Most of the expensive creams don't have ingredients in high enough doses to make a lasting difference but it's the placebo effect. I also think a lot of creams just make the skin dependent long term on harsh ingredients - if you stop using it your skin isn't good anymore. I personally feel it's much healthier to bolster your skins natural defence and inner health rather than use retinol for decades - but I know people like feeling they're being proactive and doing something, rather than just letting their bodies do the work. Obv this doesn't apply to people with skin conditions that need medical treatment. More people with a few wrinkles who will blitz - like using a tank in a knife fight. Sure it might get you a win in the moment but what collateral damage.

Use what works for you. I’m allergic to Nivea though ( and most skincare products) so I won’t be using that! Imo we don’t need most of the products pushed at us though. Cleanse, tone, moisturise!

Nobody is forcing you to buy the more expensive brands! If a cream works for you then use that. There are so many options out there at different price points, not just the two companies you’ve mentioned.

Nivea made my skin look awful, I’m not keen on Estee Lauder either, but luckily there are literally thousands of other options.

I'm pretty sure the cosmetics marketing teams just make a number when it comes to setting the price. Then double it.

If I were really on it, I'd be checking the ingredients list on every product to weigh up what you're actually getting. If the no 1 ingredient is glycerine or paraffin or sodium laurel sulphate, it's probably not worth much extra cash.

But I can never be bothered to do this, and mostly just get Sukin products because they're nice.

I agree that a lot of skincare brands try to rip women off using scientific-sounding nonsense to try to pull the wool over our eyes. It actually really pisses me off that they prey on womens' insecurities and try to treat us as if we're idiots.

This has changed somewhat with industry disrupting brands like the Ordinary and Inkey List that actually are fairly honest and transparent about the science and price their products fairly. I use those two brands plus La Roche Posay products for very sensitive skin as I have rosacea. I would touch Estee Lauder, Nivea, or any of those old-school products as they wouldn't be suitable for me.

I've gone through phases of expensive skincare I think you pay for a lighter formulation, a more luxurious smell, nicer packaging. For me it's not really worth it. I have a lovely routine that my skin loves and none of it is really expensive. I think having good skin is about genes, finding what your skin needs and being consistent.

I mostly use Superdrug own or Olay and rather spend the money on having microdermabrasion or peels which have much more obvious effects than expensive skincare!

Different products suit different skin! Generally though I agree with you.

I do use Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair because it works for me and I do see a big difference when I don't use it. Otherwise I've switched to boots no7 ( but their serums/ day creams with spf give me spots) cerave and la Roche posay instead of clarins/ guerlain etc. No worse than premium ranges.

Has anyone tried Clarins double serum? I am really tempted to buy it but it’s a lot of money!

Irrespective of the price, no skincare company will tell you that drinking plenty of water, a good diet, not smoking or drinking too much alcohol or drug taking, having daily multivitamins, double cleansing, wearing spf and getting decent sleep will give you better results than any lotion or potion.

My skincare used to consist of Elemis, Estée Lauder and Emma Hardie. I used to spend a fair amount of money but my skin was never great.

During lockdown I completely changed all my products, 1 at a time, using ingredients that have proved to be beneficial. My skin looks 10 times better than it ever did for about a tenth of the price. It’s only worth spending money on active ingredients like Vitamin C and Retinol/Tret.

Products that suit your skin and consistency far outweigh any pricey moisturisers or serums.

In my case, when I WFH:

Wash face with soap and water morning and night.

Garner Skin Active vitamin C brightening serum cream SPF25 in the morning (horrible stuff, I don't recommend it)

L'Oréal Revitalift night cream at night

If I wear make up I use Nivea 2 in 1 cleanser and toner.

I have very good skin.

I've done a fair bit of consumer panel testing for skincare/cosmetic brands, and in all honesty, I've never found any skincare that was so stunningly transformational I'd consider spending more than £40 on it. Even the 'miracle products' were only OK - but it might have been because they weren't exactly suited to my (sensitive) skin. That's the key, I think, as PP have said: working out what your skin actually needs, and not overdoing the harsh chemicals.

Water, sleep, exercise, decent food, minimal alcohol/caffeine/sugar, regular SPF are going to have a much bigger impact on what you look like. That, and accepting that your skin changes as you get older and it's actually normal not to have the bouncy fresh skin of a 26 year old when you're nearly 50.

depends on what you buy/what suits your skin etc

Estee lauder is not known for having good skincare tbh. I wouldn't waste my money on that

if nivea works for you, why not

I find clarins really good for some things. I also like cerave - not expensive and have had good results

la mer is probably the one brand I have come across where i felt the big bucks are justified. sadly its out of my budget...

I got Charlotte tilsbury for Christmas - no difference at all waste of money.
Love love love my Elemis cleansing balm totally notice a difference - hate that I deviated off it!

@RampantIvy which soap do you wash your face with?

It’s all a waste of money probably.

I even remember the Times Beauty editor writing that a lot of Beauty journalists had terrible skin. Because of all the “beauty products “ they were continually slathering on their faces!

But if I can get something at a reasonable price, for me that’s under £15, that smells nice and feels good on my skin, well, that’s nice is about all I can truly say.

I do apply a serum every couple of days. Maybe in the hope that it helps – at my age – 60. But who knows. Again, I never spend serious money on it £15 tops.