Best budget skincare for ageing well in your mid forties?

[Justkoko]

I'm not into getting fillers and botox and the like, but I would like to age gracefully. 😀 I would like to know the best budget skincare for anti aging I can pick up easily and which might actually help. There used to be skincare threads on here which helped me to improve my skin barrier, and all on reasonably priced products. I'm not sure what happened to those threads.
I don't want to spend a fortune, I'm just overwhelmed with what is out there and what to choose. I see lots of people rating aldi skincare but even then, which one? I'm mid forties and starting to feel I need to do something, face, hands and body. I've been lax with spf over winter so I need to start that up again. Even my hands are looking a bit parched and aging.

Aldi q10 eye cream better than more expensive ones I have tried

CeraVe.
I've just done a ChatGPT for the exact same thing.. and for budget friendly it came up with this.

Is it vegan?

I've used various Olay creams over the years & had compliments on my skin.
The last few years have used Olay anti wrinkle - both day & night. Price ranges from £6.50 to £14 for 50ml.
Currently using Olay double action (sensitive) £5 ish for 50ml.

Body moisturiser I use
Nivea coconut & monoi oil lotion
Neutrogena body moisturiser
& Body shop Spa of the World™ Polynesian Monoi Radiance Oil.

Hands if really dry/sore Neutrogena norwegian formula hand cream.

Korean skin care is great and not expensive. You also don’t need to buy into the multiple step routines all over insta. I get most of mine on amazon but you can pick some up in tk maxx as well. Chat gpt or Reddit can get you started as what you need depends on skin type/need.

I like the number 7 protect and perfect intense. It’s usually on 3 for 2 or they have money off vouchers. My mum tends to buy me a gift set at Easter and my birthday too which helps. I’ve been using it for years, along with the inkey list retinol eye cream and la Roche posey face wash and inkey list oat cleansing balm.

The Ordinary is great and very budget friendly

All of my skincare is budget but I really like it and am pleased with how my skin looks and feels. I'm slightly oily skinned.

Mornings:

I use Garnier Vitamin C serum for brightening followed by L'Oréal Revitalift SPF 50

Evenings:

Toner..... I alternate Garner organic thyme toner with Byoma milky toner

Nivea Bakuchiol serum

Nivea organic rose night cream

To cleanse my face I use any old micellar water and foaming cleanser. If you're drier I'd use a cream or balm cleanser but I don't think it's worth spending a lot of money on something that gets washed down the sink.

I like The Inkey List, no frills but clear about the active ingredients.

I have used lots of the e.l.f. range and been impressed. Currently using their SKIN Holy Hydration! Face Cream - SPF 30 and really like it. Make up applies nicely after using. Also just discovered their Soft Glam Foundation and was complimented a couple of times this week on my makeup which hasn’t happened in ages!! Their products are all cruelty free and vegan.

I bought some Inky List Oat Balm cleanser for in the shower and I use a wash mitt face cloth to buff it off with

I am older and find Prai works well for me , I want a couple of good products that I'll use , not loads of things that'll sit in a drawer .

Aldi products have a good name but you cannot rely of them being in store when you run out , They are such outrageous copies /dupes , I try and guess what they're copying and wonder why they don't get into trouble with copyright .

Do you want to stick to the same brand for everything or pick from different ones .
You could get a Byoma starter kit for about £17

For your hands - white cotton gloves and whatever handcream you like . Apply at night , put the gloves on. Same for your feet but socks obvs

Water - lots of it

@SuitcaseAndSecrets which cerave? I used cerave to help my barrier when it was all red and sensitive.

Olay has always been respected I think hasn't it?

Just remembered I got one of those little gifts from no7 with some no7 protect and perfect but thought I'd wait till I'd used up what I have. I have some quite light but hydrating like clinique moisture surge but not sure if I need something a bit 'stronger'!

Skin is prone to redness, bit oily but can feel dry (but not tight) which makes me think hydration is missing?
Need to up the water always.
Skin on arms and legs can just feel a bit...grizzly, like it's not my own? Though it's not scaly. Just not soft. Got kp as well. I have Palmers kp lotion, so am putting this on the kp but also would like to use gradual tan which doesn't fit with exfoliating lotion!
Just want to keep it simple, budget and gentle.

I haven’t any advice for kp, but know how to fix facial redness/oily/dry skin. This isn’t budget price, but it is value for money and will last a long time.
https://pureseoul.co.uk/products/skin1004-madagascar-centella-ampoule
If you put this on before an oil free moisturiser it will fix your problem.
Simple has a hyalauronic acid serum which is much cheaper, but won’t be as good.
Try using something like this as your day moisturiser
https://www.boots.com/simple-hydrateand--gel-cream-50ml-10363462
It fits the bill as being more budget price.
This might be good as your night moisturiser.
https://www.boots.com/simple-age-resistand-night-cream-50ml-10363461
Avoid really rich creams: they will aggravate the oiliness. Look for hydrating rather than nourishing.

Nida. My skin has never looked better !

Hi OP. I would focus on a simple, consistent routine. The 3 things that make the biggest visible difference are:
*Daily SPF (this is the most important)
*A retinoid at night (a gentle retinol used consistently)
*Good hydration & barrier support (glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides)

You don’t need expensive versions of these. Budget products can work really well if the formulas are solid. A basic routine is more than enough (unless there are areas that need targeted treatment). Hope this helps!

I completely agree with @1emma19. Don’t focus on a brand - you need to work out what products your skin needs and then find the best version of those products for you.

AM, I would focus on hydration and SPF. I use Cerave hydrating cleanser, then follow with PDRN 100, locked in with Curel deep moisture spray. I use No 7 Future Renew serum too in the mornings. If you use a good SPF, you don’t need a separate moisturiser. I use Beauty of Joseon SPF50 which is amazing.

Introduce products 1 at a time, and use for 2/3 weeks minimum before you add something else new. That way you can see what works for you, or causes a reaction.

PM, I cleanse with The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream cleanser and follow with Medik8 Retinal which is the only expensive product I use.

Cerave do a fab salicylic acid wash which can be used on face or body, has cleared my KP up brilliantly and I use it for my face too

It’s called SA Smoothing Cleanser, can’t add a link for some reason

I also like the inkey list for good basics. The Me+ range at Superdrug is brilliant too. Their BHA toner is the same as that Paula’s choice one and much much cheaper

I use cleansing balm followed by Cerave foaming cleanser. At night, retinol serum followed by whatever heavier moisturiser I have to hand and day, Vit C serum followed by sunscreen and a light moisturiser (Clinique DDML for me). I’m 56 and my skin is very good.

Aldi and Lidl products are amazing
Been using them for years
Late 50s and very few lines at all

( in my 30s I used aloe Vera and coconut butter with sun cream )

Aldi and Lidl have vegan products and all products are approved by cruelty free
international

Only says animal cruelty free on box, so suspect not

Can you or anyone else recommend a budget retinoid/retinol. Is this something I can get from the Ordinary or Inkey List?

I highly recommend l'oreal. In particular I use the Bright Reveal spf fluid daily. I use the face wash from same range. I've also discovered the oil control Revitalift cream which I love. All of them are often on offer for £10 or less.
Weleda Skin Food range is brilliant if you've got very dry/sensitive skin.

Curel hydrating range is very good for my 50 year old skin.

I had a Google and worked this out. I've ordered 0.2% from the Ordinary as a starter