43 years old. Tell me your best high street beauty buys

[kevinnnnn]

Off to Boots to get a proper skin care regime! After doing some research want to get a good SPF and some retinol. And a lovely hydrating serum. Any advice for good high street beauty buys would be appreciated! Anything under £30 would be amazing xxx

La Roche Posay Anthellios 400 SPF 50, or the Ambre Solaire super uv spf serum are both very good.

Retinol is one thing I do spend money on. Everything else is high street, but I use Medik8 Retinal. Start at the lowest number and build up.

For hydration, I use a hyaluronic acid and moisture spray. Quick spritz of curel deep moisture, follow with Hada Labo super lotion and another spritz of moisture spray (the hyaluronic needs the moisture spray to work).

I know it’s tempting to rush out and revamp everything in one go, but introduce new products one at a time and use for 28 days before adding something else. That way you can see if it makes a difference or reacts with your skin in any way.

Chanel red camellia face cream.

Cerave foaming cleanser and moisturiser.
The Altruist Suncream SPF50 (I buy this from Amazon).
I also use tretinoin but buy this online.

Boots Future Renew Range is fabulous and I’ve used lots more expensive brands in the past. It’s often on 3for 2 and I’d buy the day cream, serum and night cream.

My skin suddenly got really sensitive after having my son and now I only use Cerave. I just got the moisturiser with factor 50 sun cream in it but have also been using the cleanser and the foaming face wash for a while.

Also Dr Jart’s Cicaphar green tiger balm, absolutely love it and gets rid of any redness.

Elf is a great high street primer, green tube.

Loads of fab suggestions already @hauntedhenthanks for the good advice! Can I ask what hyloronic acid you use

I rate the Garnier vitamin c serums, and their factor 50. For good rich night creams, you can’t beat blue pot Nivea and the Aldi lacura stuff.

Sadly Aldi lacura was what set my skin off :( and I always used to use Nivea blue pot but it’s too cloggy on my skin now.
i used to love Aldi hot cloth cleanser too.

The Hada Labo is a hyaluronic. I don’t think Boots sell it, but you can get it from Superdrug or Amazon. There are 3 types. The premium one is the best one to use.

I’m a few years older than you and I started taking skincare a bit more seriously during lockdown. Lots of signs of aging and fine lines are due to dehydrated skin, and I think the moisture spray and hyaluronic made a huge difference, especially around my eyes.

I’d also second those saying Cerave. I use the hydrating cleanser every morning in the shower and it’s fab.

@HauntedHendi you mind linking to the ones you use. They sound great

loving all the other suggestions ladies, thank you. @kungfudancingI used to be an avid user of all the No 7 skin care and I have to say it was transformative! I find their skincare is a good price point too! I know they do a retinol but it’s so expensive!

got to check out the ceravae too

https://www.superdrug.com/skin/face-skin-care/expert-anti-ageing-skin-care/hada-labo-tokyo-premium-lotion-150ml/p/817392

This is the hyaluronic I use. Let me know if you want any other links.

Just want to say thank you for all your recommendations! Have started using cerave and Hada Labo hylaronic acid. I’m also using a very gentle ceravie retinol! It’s been a hectic couple of weeks either Easter hols but I’m started to see change.

a couple of things I’ve realised in this process, is that I think my skin is quite reactive to even gentle products as always red after applying.

my dark circles are probably my biggest trouble zone! I’m using a cerave eye cream, so going to see if any changes, but if anyone has any great product suggestions let me know!

I would also recommend a welleda skin food cream. I’ve been using the night time cream and it’s really rich and wonderful. The price point is amazing too.

Weleda gets loads of awards but sadly for me there is something in the base ingredients that really sets my face off badly!!

I'm not from the UK, and I use mostly German brands, so I'm not sure if my suggestions will be helpful. But if you have it, Essence make excellent mascaras that cost pennies (not literally, but they are very inexpensive).

Cerave all the way. Also second Hada Labo. If you have the inclination, boots are stocking a lot of Korean brands too which are well worth investigating.

Thanks for even more tips! My area I’m trying to focus on dark circles around eyes - I used a collagen mask and the results were amazing so was wondering if there were any specific id collagen eye products. Did a google and one for sale for over £1500 haha

I use Cetaphil gentle cleansing lotion followed by hyaluronic serum( The ordinary atm) then Cetaphil rich night cream. I’m 60 and when I collected a prescription recently the pharmacist was surprised I didn’t need to pay!
My skin is very reactive so less is more, in my case.

For Dark circles the best thing is do drink lots of water.