How to pare back beauty products once retired

[Cocojazz]

I'm in my sixties and planning to retire in around 18 months. I love Clarins products and I currently subscribe to Beauty Pie as their stuff is gorgeous. However, once retired I probably won’t have the funds for luxury skincare so I’m looking for ways to pare back my routine and take out what isn’t necessary.
I’ve appreciated how much better my skin is with a good cleanser and using a flannel to wash my face.Obviously day and night moisturisers are key, as is a good SPF. So now I’m thinking do I still need things like acid toners, serums, Vitamin C drops etc.?
When I was younger it was cleanse, tone and moisturise and I’m wondering whether to go back to that basic routine? Also I should probably be looking at cheaper brands so does anyone have any tips or advice to offer? I still want to take care of my skin but wonder if expensive products do make a difference, and if so, what should I concentrate on? TIA.

I stopped using Clinique and switched to No7. In the end, all the brands are the same.

I would drop the Clarins and keep Beauty Pie.

I like both Inkey List and The Ordinary which are a fraction of the price of things like Clarins. Depending on what family members buy you presents and what their budget is, do bear in mind that you might be able to change from one of those has-everything impossible-to-buy-for people to someone who can actually give suggestions of what they would like for Xmas and birthdays. MIL has a jar of moisturiser every Xmas and a bottle of perfume every birthday. The moisturiser is the same each year but the perfume varies and, if she hasn't found once she likes, we give her a voucher for when she does decide. We've been doing this for several years now and other family members have cottoned on so she gets a good stash. And, yes, we do all check with her that she does want a particular product and, like us, others also tend to get her something else as well. Her and teen DD are always the easiest people to shop for as they both have a long list of "wants"!

I second the ordinary for reasonable products containing the latest ingredients, perhaps give a few a try. I use the niaciminide and hyalauronic acids currently and the results are impressive. The above posters gift idea is also a great one!

I am 60… not retired yet , but considering this so watching eagerly.
i tend to use cheaper cleansers… the ordinary squalene is great!.. I intent to keep the serums going if I can and use a clean flannel each time.
i also have the omnilux LED mask and see that as an investment.

It seems a shame to stop having the things you love and work for you - is there any way you could look at something else to be 'sensible' with and keep as much of that as possible?

You'll be saving on travel to work, work lunches, work clothes, work shoes, etc, after all.

Saying that, the things I think are easy to switch out are things like handcream and anything else that is purely there to prevent moisture loss - a plain ointment emollient works brilliantly for makeup removal, handcream, body moisturiser - and there's nothing wrong with an inexpensive shower gel or soap. I think Vitamin C is still important, but that doesn't seem to need to be expensive as compared to being fresh/in a dark bottle and regularly replaced.

I am an Estée Lauder skincare devotee but I rarely buy from Estée Lauder. I buy from eBay quite a lot, and, more recently, Vinted. I’ve never had a dud. I also ask for cosmetics or skincare for birthdays or Christmas, should anyone (usually DH or my mum) ask.

I have within the last few years really cut down on what I spend on cosmetics though. Again, I used to buy only high end stuff, but now I find that the newer, cheaper brands do fantastic quality things compared to when I first started buying cosmetics in the early 1990s. I spend on foundation, lipstick and lip liner, but have found really good options for eyeshadow, mascara and blusher.

Many thanks for your replies.

I have previously used some of The Ordinary products so they may become my go-to. I do get Clarins products as gifts so they could continue to be a treat for me - I rarely buy them myself these days.

I'm also trying to see what I could drop as part of my skincare routine - maybe I don't really a Vitamin C serum or need to use hyaluronic acid serum - maybe just go back to the basics. I'll probably experiment and see if my skin misses any of these products!

The Ordinary are good for serums.

Geek and Gorgeous do a very good Vitamin C serum for cheap - it's basically a dupe for the Skinceuticals one.

Are you using a retinol product?

Echoing everyone's recommendations for The Ordinary products - it's almost the only brand I use now (similar age). Squalene as a cleanser, then the new growth factor serum, then buffet (multi peptide? It recently changed name) and then at night their Natural Moisturising Factors + HA - it's unbelievably cheap and really effective!

Having used all kinds of bands from high end to budget I can honestly say Aldi caviar day and night creams are brilliant.

I am still using a retinol - a Medik8 one but it's expensive and probably something I wouldn't pay out for once retired.

Loving the suggestions - thanks!

A lot of Korean skincare is amazing quality and is generally cheaper than the famous European and US brands, even if you buy it from UK based retailers (if you order from YesStyle or Stylevana, it’s even cheaper). Korean cleansing balms/oils, toners and sunscreens are particularly good, but there are some great moisturisers and gentle serums too.

I realise that I will be able to save on 'work' stuff. Just trying to work out a sensible budget that I can live on. Certainly don't want to give up on everything I enjoy.

Hello! I'm the same age as you and have pared my skin routine down to the following:
Morning : Simply B hyaluronic acid serum followed by a Beauty Pie moisturiser (whatever takes my fancy) with a cheapo SPF when I remember/ in the summer
Night : Body Shop cream cleanser (hate water on my face) followed by And Begin Tret Plus cream and a This Works Neck and Chest Serum
And Begin are part of the Skin and Me skin care family . It's Tret plus moisturizer and general skin care. It's a lovely product that's been really badly marketed but I can thoroughly recommend.

Sorry - I should add - And Begin is about £30 a month - the Simply B and Body Shop bits are about £10 and the Beauty Pie products are about £30 each - but last a few months plus the £10 subscription charge

I'm inclined to think that less is more. I'm 66 and can pass for younger. I wear moisturiser with SPF and a night cream. On days that I wear make up I cleanse with whatever I have to hand. I'm not brand loyal at all. On non make up days I wash with a foaming face wash.

I'm very sceptical about all the skincare products that manufacturers would have us believe that we need, and just keep it simple.

Another vote for the Ordinary brand. I also like La Roche Posay.

If I had to cut back but still wanted some luxury, I would go for the best moisturizer i could afford and go cheaper on the rest,

I wouldn't immediately ditch all the things you love but as you'll be retired you'll have more time for hunting bargains so I'd look on Vinted or eBay for some of the pricier stuff.

If you have family or friends who usually buy for you on birthdays and xmas maybe you could ask for some of the things you like then.

There are inexpensive alternatives to most things though, as PP have mentioned brands like The Ordinary are good as is a lot of K Beauty. You can research at leisure too. 😊

How come badly marketed? I thought it was fine. I'm currently using the Monderma tretinoin but I have a friend who uses And Begin. I think their serum in a cream.

OP I suggest a gentle cleanser, hyaluronic acid moisturiser, SPF50 and a tretinoin night cream. You could have a highly effective skincare routine for around £40-45 per month. In my opinion there's no reason to spend any more.

I've been looking at dermatologists who are saying that hyalauronic acid isn't worth bothering with.

Oh really, what in its place then?

Just glycerine - apparently it does exactly the same on the skin in products.

After having tried every cream/serum etc in the world I finally decided to pare right back. I'm 60 too and retired, I just couldn't warrant the price anymore.

I decided to do some research on what actually works and what is just hype.

My findings were, all moisturisers are the same. The only difference is if they are water based or oil based. All the other ingredients are in such miniscule amounts they are not effective. The plumping effect you get is purely from the moisturiser itself not the added ingredients.

So, I just use a Cerave gentle cleanser at night, then Tret, then Epaderm. It's not sexy or trendy but if you've got dry skin it's a game changer.

Epaderm is also in a massive pump dispenser for about £10.

Of course, clarins etc smells lovely etc but all you really need is Tret and a basic emoliant.

I'm early 60s and am told by friends and people at make up counters that I have very good skin, I think it's mostly genetic as my 87 year old mother also has great skin.
I've used the same skin routine for at least 10 years, I use Estée Lauder moisturisers, I buy direct from them and signed up to their e-list, they have excellent samples and free gifts so I get lots extra for no cost, I use various of their cleansers but never pay for one, they're always a free gift.
At night I use No 7 eye makeup remover, wash with the EL cleanser and a muslin cloth, use Cerave eye repair cream, EL advanced night repair serum and EL night moisturiser. Mornings I wash face with water, use same eye cream, EL advanced night repair serum and EL moisturiser. About once a week I use a Murad aha exfoliating cleanser.
So my routine is very simple and effective. I only use SPF in summer( was red head and freckly so stay in shade as much as possible and wear sun hat). I've never used any extra products such as vitamin c, tret( don't know what that is), retinol,or led masks and I've never had a facial in my life.
So I believe you can still use luxury skincare but have a simple routine and that keeps the costs down.