Broke. Need to downgrade my Estee Lauder DayWear Cream...to what?

[LondonGrimmer]

I'm 43 and perimenopausal. Been using this for years and it's sits so well under my Clinique foundation and was serving me well, until recently.

https://www.allbeauty.com/estee-lauder-moisturiser-daywear-multi-protection-anti-oxidant-24h-moisture-creme-spf15-dry-skin-50ml/11141583.html

I'm having a bout of cystic acne on my chin (awaiting some topical solution from GP) and am currently not working, so looking for a more budget friendly option.

Any ideas please? Been trialling the Cerave face cream with SPF30 in it (20% off at Boots atm) but it's like pure sun cream- too heavy and greasy (realise that's probably down to the spf, perhaps I should stick to factor 15?).

Nivea or e45 - doesn’t have that luxury look but is fabulous

I've just bought super facialist rose hip night cream and rose hydrate day cream in TK Maxx and it's actually really good, it does have a floral scent but it dissipates quickly. They had a few different super facialist ranges in there and all about £6-8 a pot which is why I took a chance.
I also liked the look of the vitamin c one.
My office has moved and is now near a TK Maxx I've not really shopped there much before but it's actually good for branded skin care, bath/shower products, I have combination skin so some of it is trial and error which I don't mind at those prices.

On special offer at Boots and has good reviews.

https://www.boots.com/olay-regenerist-niacinamide-day-cream-50ml-10343744

I downgraded from Clinique a while back to Olay Regenerist (red pot day cream) and their Vit C (yellow pot.) Both from Amazon half price usually.
Normally £35. I love them both and would not go back to paying almost £50.

I also like Lumene - mainly under £20.

As PP says I have also used Super Facialist but the rose cleansing cream. It's nice but quite perfumed.

Have you looked at Aveeno? They have started a facial range now.

Nivea Q10 Vit C is nice but for some reason it seemed to give me a few small spots so I've left off it for now but only cost me £5.

x-d posts.

But you can get it from Amazon for around £14.

I love the Aldi caviar day cream and night cream. Really light. SPF in the day cream. £7 a pot.

www.aldi.co.uk/caviar-cream

The boots Dermo 100 hours hydration cream might suit you. There are two, a lighter one and a heavier one.

If you’re getting cystic acne you want to cut out anything with oil - I like the Cerave night moisturiser - isn’t SPFy like the AM one at all

Weld’s Skin Food Light

La Roche Posey is great for skin conditions. The website will give you a ‘prescription’.

OP, check out BeautyPie. You pay about £60 a year, I think then you have access to some amazing face creams at low prices. I think they are direct dupes for some £££ creams. I use the Super Healthy Skin range and it's ace. You can always do a trial membership then cancel.

Thank you all! I shall do some research.

I've tried Olay, Nivea and the Aldi dupes over the years and find them far too heavy, even only using a little.

I don't really like heavily scented creams (the Estee Lauder one I've been using for around a decade has a light cucumber scent) and definitely want an spf of 15 or above (so night cream will be out).

I bloody love beauty products so fear subscribing to Beauty Pie for £60 will be a slippery slope and I would have been better off just buying my £45 EL 😂 (dh treats me to a set at Christmas, so I've just got to get something that lasts five months).

Hate the cystic acne and don't want to aggravate it any more...

I was in your position a few years ago. I’d used Estée Lauder products for 20+ years and have used ANR and day wear throughout that time. I’ve also used various products that have been discontinued and swapped within the EL range.

And then a few years ago, I thought I was being boring and that there must be loads of cheaper, newer, lighter, better products available. And I tried various more interesting sounding things by a mix of Elemis, Pixi, Clinique, occitane, Olay etc just to get some variety and hopefully save some money.

My skin did not like it at all! And so many of the things that I tried I got a reaction to (I’d never in my life had skin reactions so this was a huge surprise), and in the end I went back to EL including my trusty day wear. I don’t think I saved anything as none of them were as good!

The Ordinary Moisturizer with hyaluronic acid is lovely under makeup and quite light feeling. You’d need separate sunscreen though … theordinary.com/en-gb/natural-moisturizing-factors-ha-moisturizer-100435.html

I used to use EL daywear too but the price! 😢

I now use no7 but it's white unless rubbed in and doesn't feel or smell as good. But it does have spf and I get it cheap as part of Xmas advent calendars/ gift boxes.

The ordinary,nivea,the inky list are all good value.

Nivea too greasy

Try Oil of Olay

I’ve recently discovered this brand & this product. Despite it being spf50 it doesn’t leave a white cast, isn’t greasy, is light and sits well under foundation.
I also have the spf30 facial sunscreen to use separately when I’m on holiday.

Daily moisturiser

Spf30 sunscreen

@ThinkingAgainAndAgain sounds familiar! I end up spending the same amount or more trying different creams that then end up in the bin! I usually wait for a good offer at EL and get a gift set with ANR serum and eye creams in it, to justify the cost. So are you still using EL Day Wear now? I find I only need a tiny amount and it sinks in well, works well with my foundation and doesn't cause breakouts or any reactions. Just wish it wasn't £45!

@Baddaybigcloud thanks. I'm currently using Clinique Dramatically Different as my night cream as I got a free full size tube in an offer a while ago when I bought my foundation. It is quite greasy so only using a little, and not on my chin.

@Justbetweenus I've looked at The Ordinary stuff online for years and been tempted to try some of the acids and 3-step products etc. Their moisturiser looks good and is only £6.10, but I'd have to pay £4.99 p+p as order under £25. Then I get carried away and add £30 worth of stuff in my basket, most of which I'll probably never use haha. Nearest store location is 30 miles away. Gah. Thanks for the recommendation tho!

I would just stick with the EL if it works for you.
I've tried numerous £10-15 face creams and they aren't a patch on BB which I use and I end up using them as hand cream.
Then you work out you have spent £35 and it was a waste of money.

@BearFacedCheek ooh, the Gruum site looks interesting/different and affordable. Thank you. I'm also tempted by this Facetheory stuff as they have 20% off first order

https://www.facetheory.com/gb-en/products/glow-c-daily-moisturiser-spf30?variant=41338574340157&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMAX-SHELL-EN&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4_K0BhBsEiwAfVVZ_17C9dMdTY_a79rsA57gj0mcIWK1b0rpURw8CbZJXFJCt8O0vQ2g6hoCbRUQAvD_BwE&Scent=Mandarin&Size=50ml

The Clinique DD is a very basic moisturiser btw
I get it free with make up and slather it on but at 43 I wouldn't use it as my main night cream

I used to use Clarins (I know, not the same brand as EL) and a few years back I also just couldn't pay those prices anymore.

I bought the Neutrogena Hydroboost and honestly wish I had changed years before. It does have a scent though but its very light yet moisturizing.

I had to get something a bit heavier now, just due to menopause and my skin being way dryer so the Hydroboost is just a bit too light for me now.