Is expensive haircare and skincare worth it, or can you cut back?

[Peonies2026]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone else here spends far too much on haircare & skincare, and if anyone decided to cut down, and the results were.

I'm 50 and have a natural look. At least, I wish it were really natural and didn't cost a fortune! Everyone comments on my skin. I've used Clarins for 25 years, and swear by their SPF50 skin protector. Whenever I try a cheaper brand, my skin loses the kind of luminous gloss that Clarins gives me.

Then the hair... I tried various hairdressers and now go to a good London salon. Using them really made a difference. The cut is flattering and the colour is natural (as much as blonde can be natural). But the stylist always pushes for me to have highlights every two visits so it costs a lot.

So I spend about £320 on average a month with all beauty costs combined. I really would like to save that money instead. On the other hand, I'm a bit reluctant to let go. I read everywhere that women are supposed to become invisible at my age, but people still check me out. There's a bit of gossip going around at work about me (I'm very discreet and have a boring job but some people keep trying to find things out and seem a bit obsessed about me!). I'm by no means a great beauty so it's quite nice not to be invisible.

Do people who pay a lot for their 'upkeep' feel it's worth it? Has anyone given it up for a much cheaper routine and what were the results?

I do lots of interesting things on the side, so the only harm this is doing is preventing me from saving more.

Thank you!

I use whatever shampoo and conditioner is on offer. I use Micellar water to remove makeup and Cien moisturiser and facial scrub from Lidl. I do use Clarins foundation but one bottle lasts me a year. I also use a box dye and have found an amazing hair dresser who does a wet cut for £25 which I have every 3 months or so. I used to spend £150 every 6 weeks on my hair but it was such a waste of money and I have had more compliments about my hair since I've been going for a wet cut and colouring it myself.

I'm late 50s and my skin is every bit as good, mostly better actually, less lines and under eye issues, than friends my age. The main difference is that I have never drunk alcohol and I've never smoked. It is really obvious at my age who has been a smoker and who drinks alcohol regularly. I 100% believe that it's what you put inside you that is best for you.

Don't smoke. Don't drink. Your face (and your body) will thank you for it!

I was using Estee Lauder ANR serum for year but then discovered Revolution do an exact copy,I can't tell the difference so have swapped to that. Also used to use Double wear foundation but recently swapped to Revlon Colourstay and actually prefer it. I'd have carried on with the expensive stuff if I hadn't discovered the dupes as they were with the extra to me. I spend a lot of hair cuts as I have difficult hair.

I spend a lot on beauty stuff. Not that you'd probably know - as I always say it takes a lot for me to look average.

Some people can use a Brillo pad and olive oil and still look amazing (these people do not understand) and others are better with their self esteem. I know over time I have to accept a slow worsening of my appearance and to come to terms with that but for now, as I can afford it, I will spend what I like and after so many years I'm at least not wasting money on things that promise the earth.

Try Korean skincare. It is amazing and not that expensive

Fellow Clarins fan here but a bit older. Have tried other stuff to no avail so now I don’t compromise. I have sensitive skin and eczema yet Clarins agrees with me even though it’s perfumed. However, for hair I go to a local stylist in her home salon and she’s fantastic and great price too. She trained with a top place in London. You could maybe find someone like that? Also I find cheap shampoo like Alberto balsam absolutely fine.

I agree. Cleanser for example.....there is no point in my opinion spending lots of money on a cleanser as it's on your face for such a short time. Try something like Dr Althea grinding cleansing balm. If it's good enough for Sali Hughes it's good enough for me IMO and she often recommends a lot of high street products as well as higher end ones.

I also think Nadine Baggot offers good advice and again recommends a mix of higher end and lower priced stuff. She just did a video on Instagram listing products she uses on repeat which included quite a few cheaper brands e.g. Avene Ultra Fluid for SPF, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, No7 Future Renew peptide serum etc.

I am a big Nivea fan too - mum and gran both used it and we all get told we don't look our age (gran gone now but never ever looked her age). If I use anything more it just feels greasy.

That's £3840 a year which would be completely unaffordable for me and probably a lot of other women too. I have always looked after my skin and hair but more from the perspective of it being something that is just for me rather than attempting to preserve/maitain my looks because no matter what we do time marches on and sometimes stamps all over us no matter what we do. I thing that consistency is key rather than cost, actually using what you buy every day. I like some Aldi products and because they are vey affordable there is no guilt if you abandon them if they don't suit. i have used much more expensive brands such a Clarins and Elemis and can't say I have noticed any difference in my skin when I dis/ My skin is good condidering how ancient I am and I out this down to luck, not smoking, and consistent skin care .

Apparently Vaseline is the best moisturizer, I don't use any products but I would use Vaseline if I needed to.

Choose your genetics/parents well. ( Can be difficult to achieve.) Don't smoke, drink - or very little.

I spend at most £35 every 3 months. Wet hair cut, sun protection for skin, minimal make up - mainly bit of lipstick so doctors don't tell me I'm anaemic and eye liner so you can still see my eyes with glasses on.

Now the thought of spending £350+ a month! That would really make me look ill! (Though if I compensated by eating less that might be a positive.)

Part of skincare is about whst it does and part of skincare is about how it makes us feel. I get that you want the confidence from the latter. Perhaps Asian (both Korean and Japanese) and French pharmacy brands would have some products that hit the sweet spot? I think they are often more elegant than British and American pharmacy products.

In the pricier category, my luxury brand is Lancaster. Skincare is a bit more economical than Clarins but it is also very good. Sun care is more expensive but it is the best ever.

OTOH, all we really need is a pretty basic routine plus a retinoid. One of the subscription services is (Dermatica, etc) is less than £30/mo and can replace all serums. After about 6 months of Cetaphil, LRP SPF 50 and Uncouth tretinoin+, I started getting compliments on my complexion for the first time.

Cetaphil is not as much fun as Lancaster but the compliments are the payoff.

Derms all seem to use basic products ( except the ones that shill) and to have great skin.

I have never had good luck economising on hair care except that contrary to PP I recommend stretching a leave in conditioner or serum with olive oil - for the results as much as the economy. Just a little does it.

Interesting thread. I used to use Clinique for everything but now use Superdrug cheaper products, no particular loyalty to any and honestly don't notice any difference.

I am however postive blue tub Nivea is just as good as Creme de La Mer.

Hair is £165 every 5 weeks to keep grey at bay.

I spent loads on expensive skincare and found it was no better than the cheap stuff to be honest, so I don’t bother anymore. I stick with reasonably priced. Suncream is my biggest expense because I use BOJ but even that is reasonable in comparison to proper
expensive stuff. I think a lot of it is a bloody sham.

It’s worth it in that I’m more likely to use the expensive, luxurious products. And actually sticking to a skincare routine, and being consistent with self-care more generally, is the most important thing for me.

I need to know what this magical Clarins spf is! 😁

It’s totally worth it, im 57, I’m far from invisible, I get checked out by both men and women and yesterday I commented on my age at a dinner party with my husband, as we were discussing age, and the three women, who I had just met, stared at me, with that closed mouth stare, and one said I genuinly thought you were mid 40s. People always under exaggerate it.

good skin care, good diet, limited alcohol, a firm toned body, good clothes, good hair, mine is long and I add a few side extensions, often a little thin topper, which is invisible and I look like I’ve a mass of thick bouncy curly healthy rich girl hair.

I also wear great make up, I use Victoria Beckham the drops foundation and concealer, her highlighter on my cheekbones and a natural skin coloured mauve type lipstick ie Charlotte tilbury in pillow talk medium and a natural blush.

im fine with looking my age, i just want to look good for it, I don’t use Botox or fillers, I think when you hit your fifties it always looks unnatural, the time for that is 30s and 40s.

I laughed to ny daughter about it after, who is brutally honest and had had a few wines, she looked at me and said I think you look 50. I said I think it’s my make up, I look way older when I’ve not done my hair and make up, she said, I’m not sure about that, but I was also thinking that your make up is great, you look glowy and natural but with perfect skin.

it costs a small fortune, but I earn it,I can afford it, and I feel good, so fuck it.

I spend £150 every 3 to 4 months on my Clarins skincare and £24 a month on Dermatica.

I didn’t £50 every three months on hair care products.

I wasn’t doing these things and I started to really feel like I was letting myself go.

I don’t wear heavy cosmetics so my skin looking like crap wasn’t really helping me.

i have a sensible skin so using only Vichy, la roche posay, clarins, clinique as they work for my skin. I do like expensive serums, masks, creams, haircare… but i dont wear make up so overall i don’t mind spending more for my skin/hair!

Can you spread the haircuts out? Even adding a week will reduce the number of times you go per year.

This is a good shout. Try a site like this for skincare: https://incidecoder.com Especially helpful if there are certain ingredients that you are sensitive to.

For my skincare, and as a melasma sufferer who uses SPF50 religiously (even when WFH in mid January in dark and dreary NW England!), I’ve moved more towards K/J beauty now as many of those brands are focused around even skin tone etc. Certainly products such as SPF tend to be formulated in a much more cosmetically elegant way by those brands.

For makeup it’s a real mix of high end luxury brands (YSL, Prada, Chanel, Westman Atelier, Tom Ford, Dior, Marc Jacobs), brands stocked in department stores or online at Sephora/Cult Beauty/Space NK (Hourglass, Rare Beauty, Makeup by Mario, Milk, Lisa Eldridge), all the way to brands sold in Boots/Superdrug like Maybelline, L’Oréal, ELF etc. Personally I find product quality can vary massively regardless of how much you spend, so I really focus on choosing the specific products I like and need regardless of who makes it. That means reading lots of reviews and watching lots of YouTube videos to help me choose.

For hair, I remember years ago some celebrity hairstylist on Oprah(?) saying that spending any money on shampoo is a waste as the basic cleansing ingredients are essentially the same across any shampoo. Where you invest your money is in conditioners and serums/treatments as they can make a difference.

At 44, I’ve now had to concede the battle against the greys and get a professional colour every 8/10 weeks or so. As a result I now use the L’Oréal professional vitamino colour shampoo and conditioner range to help preserve the colour as long as possible between salon visits. It is expensive but you can often find deals for the massive bottles online.

However, even well into my 30s all I used was Johnson’s baby shampoo - it was cheap, cleaned effectively without leaving build up and was really gentle. I just splurged on conditioner from say Kerastase or Frederic Fekkai.

Tell us what’s going around about you OP- intrigued!

For skin care I use a lot of Korean products which I think are better than Clarins, etc and they’re certainly cheaper. I buy tret from Turkey at £10 a tube rather than Medic8 retinoid at £70 a tube. I use Cerave cleanser because it’s the best I’ve ever found.

I spend quite a bit on hair products. Amika shampoo and conditioner, Aveda and Gisou products. For me spending money makes a difference here.

My daughter and i have both switched to their products https://pureseoul.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=13590755401&gclid=CjwKCAjw9szSBhBNEiwAC57Sq4bwFfKYVPTkcptEFYuhfdS1HSVFgfXMgVFitePjWQaLKLiq84m1wxoCDDsQAvD_BwE

Wot? You do know how greasy and slimy your face will look with Vaseline on it. On your lips fine - but all over your face???

I use a simple moisturiser & hyaluronic acid serum
I also use frownies patches to prevent wrinkles
Simple cleanser

I also do a collagen Korean face mask maybe once a fortnight

For my hair, a simple cut, no dye (and if i did dye it, I wouldn't go blonde - it's so expensive to maintain)

I probably spend maybe £30 a month on skincare, and my haircuts cost £25.

I am 42 btw, and often told I look early 30s - but I believe that's genetics more than the products I'm using.

I also workout 5x a week. So that definitely helps my skin a lot.

At 50 I'm assuming I might to change my routine, but for now, things seem to be working well. I wouldn't dream of spending hundreds a month on products and treatments though. As tempting as they are, it's the simple things that deliver the strongest results - plenty of water, sleep, exercise, low/no stress, healthy diet, and simple products.