Skincare on a budget?

[TheGreatestAtuin]

Hello - hoping for some advice from some of the lovely Mumsnet skincare experts!

I love skin care and over the years I've used some £££ products... for example I used P50 for years, but I came to repurchase it recently and I just couldn't justify nearly £100 for the smallest bottle. With the cost of living going up I've gradually been replacing more expensive items in my skincare with cheaper alternatives. I was also a Beauty Pie annual member until recently, but again when it came time to renew I cancelled as I'm trying to cut back wherever possible, and their prices also seem to have gone up considerably since I joined.

The current products I'm using are:
Inkey List Oat cleanser
CeraVe hydrating cleanser
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid (PM once or twice a week)
CeraVe Retinol serum (nightly)
The Ordinary Vitamin C in silicone (AM)
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion (AM+PM)
Monuskin collagen cream - got both the day and night one as a gift
Byoma de-puff brightening eye gel (AM+PM)
SPF CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 50

I'm very nearly 40 and have dry skin, but it's not in bad condition on the whole. I layer a lot of moisture onto my skin, which I know would be too much for a lot of people, but I love it and my skin stays feeling hydrated and comfortable all day. I do have quite a bit of pigmentation, as I haven't always been that sensible about SPF over the years unfortunately, but I'm using it religiously now (I really like the CeraVe one - I've tired so many over the years and it's my favourite hands down).

I'm wondering if there's anything else I could consider adding to my routine? Anything I am missing? I've been looking at The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acide + B5, which seems to get a lot of love.

Finally - the Monuskin collagen creams were an unexpected gift set, and I really love them... but they're running out and I've looked at repurchasing but they're £36 for the set, so I'd love any suggestions for a more affordable alternative that might be out there. They're really rich and nourishing, but without being super greasy.

I know there are lots of knowledgeable posters in this forum, so I was hoping someone could offer some advice.

Thank you!

I'd go with Hada Labo Gokujun Premium lotion over the ordinary HA+B5 (which is mostly appreciated by oily/acne prone skin), great for dry skin and it's 200ml Vs 30ml at about double the price, depending where you source it from, if you've got the ability to buy a lot at once from a seller like Stylevana it's a lot cheaper.

As for moisturiser, I'm not familiar with that brand but it just looks to be a shea butter based one, so a little richer than most. Embryolisse might be a cheaper alternative.

Technically speaking, there's no need for a separate eye cream so you could economise that out if you wanted to.

Another vote for Hada Labo. I think it’s about £20 but my current bottle has been on the go since august and there is still loads left. If you are using hyaluronic, I’d add a moisture spray too. Hyaluronic needs moisture to work and if you don’t add it, it can take moisture from your skin and make it drier. I use Curel deep moisture spray but there are loads out there.

Depends what you want from your moisturiser, but look at something like Byoma moisture gel. It has tri ceramides which are great for looking after you skin barrier. Or a peptide moisturiser which is great for helping with collagen and elastin. I use Naturium, but, again, lots of brands do one.

Thank you both, will check out your suggestions, much appreciated.

I don't mind spending more on something that will last a while (that's how I used to justify the P50 as a bottle did last me ages) so the Hado Labo sounds interesting.

The Byoma eye cream was also a present, but I really like it, although I do know that technically eye cream isn't necessary. I haven't generally used eye cream much, but I have become a bit addicted to this one, and I'm sure it helps make my under eye concealer go on better. But I'll see how I feel when it comes time to replace it.

In terms of what I'm looking for in a cream - I guess rich and nourishing? The Monu skin ones are soft and creamy and make my skin feel lovely and moist and protected. But peptides sound like something I might want to consider... :)

I've been trying out the byoma hydrating milky toner, hydrating serum and moisturizing gel as I wanted to work on my skin barrier and have a break from actives. All were surprisingly good! I especially liked the toner and hydrating serum and will use them again in the future.
My skin can be quite dry too and I find these really help.

The Inkey List Bioactive Ceramide moisturiser is brilliant and only £19. Have been really impressed by it.

@StickSeason - thank you so much for this recommendation. I tried this and I love it. So rich!

Also got their collagen peptide serum at the same time, which is also nice!

Weleda skin food gets lots of votes from dermatologists. it's on my to try list!

Weleda Skin Food is very rich. So much I use it as a foot cream.

Blimey!!

So do I. Also the smell! So thick and citrusy. I cannot put it on my face. I like a very light moisturiser and most of the time not even that, if I’m honest. (I used to have very oily skin and I’m now enjoying the dryer, clearer skin that age and tret have brought!).

I like expensive skincare too (I’d use all Chanel if I could!) but I’ve tried to rein it in a bit recently. I’m 53 and I’m trying to improve some minor pigmentation. My routine is currently:

AM
Cetaphil moisture cleanser (£10)
Pai Fade Forward pigmentation serum (£59)
Cetaphil SPF 50 daycream (£12)
PM
Pai Lightwork / Middlemist Seven as a double cleanse (£29 + £34)
Prescription Tretinoin (Skin & Me) (£25)
MooGoo full cream moisturiser (£12)

Someone mentioned Embryolisse above. The Embryolisse tubes last forever, as a little goes a very long way. It's nice, comforting, and basic (in a good way). I sometimes use it as a night cream over actives, or as a day cream when my skin is especially prickly from allergies and such.

I love Farmacy Honey Halo, especially in winter but it works well in a thin layer in summer. It costs a bit more than say Embryolisse or Cerave, but is often on 20% off sale at all the usual places and is on the cheaper end of 'posh' moisturisers. It lasts forever as well; it's rich enough that I only need to use a bit, even on my dry skin. Also, it comes in a 25 ml size as well as 50 ml - more expensive per ml but less expensive as an initial outlay.

Oh no. Now I want the expensive honey cream with a magnetic spatula. Send help!

Nivea is great for dry skin. It made me break out when I was younger but now my skin is drier it's amazing.

Go to B&M. They usually have L'Oréal day and night creams there at about £6, and nivea Q10 stuff including serum and eye creams. I also get a vit C serum and hyraularic acid serum from there, again, about £5. Aldi caviar creams are nice too. I use retoninol serum from The Ordinary. honestly find little difference with the high end products. I just layer my cheap stuff on and at night seal in with a little coconut oil. A good diet and some excercise and my skin looks great.

Have you considered an oil over your moisturiser at night? I use the Ordinary Squalane over mine (and Tret but that’s a whole different set of considerations)