Decent budget skincare

[Ilovecrispstoomuch]

Please help me with my skin!

I’m mid 40’s and deep into peri I would say. My skin was always fine with soap and Nivea soft moisturiser. Not amazing - but not bad.

it’s changed so much in recent years that I really have no idea what to do with it.

i tried skin and me daily doser - that worked well for about a year, but I’ve had to give it up recently as it mad my skin irritated and peeling. I think it was the tretonin.

my skin’s texture has changed so much. I’ve got dry parts, spotty parts and big pores. I can live with wrinkles - but would just like it to look better overall.

i bought some erborian stuff in the Black Friday sale (already use and love their cc cream) and that’s made a difference. But it’s gone so quickly and I don’t really want to be spending that much that often.

can anyone recommend a decent regime that will be gentle, effective and not cost the earth? Or am I looking for a unicorn?

Boots No7. Check out their £10 Tuesdays every week ( still on today on their website) for big reductions on their range, plus others.

I really like NIOD from Deciem it is a bit more expensive but not super high end. They have a sale every November with 23% off. I also like their sister brand the ordinary and their Peptide serum with Copper, the Milky toner they do, the GF serum and eye serum and lots more are good. They also have the November sale and they are often on offer on other sites throughout the year.

I'm 46, deep into perimenopause & my skin has changed beyond recognition.
I really like The Inkey List. I've been trying various items of theirs over the past couple of years and have found that applying their Niacinamide serum followed by their Bio-active cerimide repairing & plumping moisturiser, both morning and evening, works best for me.
I'm going to try their Salicylic acid cleaner too as my forehead is quite unevenly textured at the moment.
It's often on offer on Sephora & Look Fantastic but I prefer buy direct from The Inkey List website as their rewards system is very generous and sometimes have 30% off. If you get a 'Refer a Friend' code you get £10 off your first order too.

Fragrance in skincare is really not good for skin that might have become more sensitive with hormonal changes. Also SPF 50 every day.

Cerave is a decent price point, but I also treat myself to the Estée Lauder advanced night repair serum and I have no idea why it works but it gives me plump and glow (much needed in my case!)

Well, dont use soap for a start. An oil/balm cleanser would be good, also if you have dry patches. Body Shop do a nice one, but the Superdrug B range is decent too.

If you use toner, I like the Loreal Age Perfect one, its surprisingly gentle.

The Ordinary Rosehip oil is amazing, good for the dry patches but also gives some life to your skin. At less than £10 its a steal, my bottle has lasted 5 months and still loads left. Take time to massage it in, same with the moisturiser, allowing it to penetrate deeper layers x

The ordinary
Cerave
Aveeno

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentré multi function moisturiser - I use it for EVERYTHING

The ordinary stuff has worked extremely well for me. I am 58 and my skin is now very clear and smooth. I don’t use any type of foundation or concealer as there is no need to.

I would recommend trying tretinoin or adapalene.

Tretinoin is better for fine lines, adapalane usually for acne.

If you want to fade dark spots simultaneously you can add azelaic acid, tranexamic acid or hydroquinone.

Monderma offers combinations of 3 together for £20 ish.

I dont think Tret is the issue, its the way that you use it.
Sounds like you need to rebuild the skins natural barrier.
You can still uses Tret but need to build extremely slowly and adapt
Do the buffer or sandwich method
Gentle Cleanse then ceramide cream then later apply the Tret and your usual moisturiser and serum.
My skin doesnt tolerate Tret more than twice a week in the winter .

Going against the grain here
If the Erborian works for you, stick with it and buy a stash when they have offers.
You could try a whole host of other stuff, upset your skin more and end up chucking it and £ away.

I have a mixture of Nivea and Nivea Q10.

Aldi Lacura caviar range. It's great!