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!

Vaseline isn’t a moisturiser. To hydrate you need water. Vaseline or similar is only a barrier that keeps moisture in. Using it over moisturiser can work for some people. Others it clogs their pores. Similar is true for hair oils.

I make compromises. I don’t splurge on skincare but my skin doesn’t seem to complain too much. Not much of a makeup wearer so I save on that. I have very curly hair and find that the specialist curl products are worth the spend. Same with better haircuts. The price of shorter hair is more frequent cuts unfortunately. I have a few greys (late 40s) but don’t feel the need to colour it.

someone else might have very easy to care for hair, but more sensitive skin, so make the opposite choices.

I am with you OP, Elemis everything for me - night cream, pro collagen day cream/ serum, cleanser, elizabeth arden serum eye cream, prai neck cream, dior foundation. My friend cuts my hair and colours it thats 70 every 5 weeks.

I simply cannot give up my Keratase shampoo and conditioner and masks. I bulk buy in the Black Friday sales and save each month on the lead up to do this and buy enough for the year.

That amount per month on beauty seems huge to me, but if you can afford it and it brings you joy then why not?

I guess the question is, is it really bringing you joy, or is it just something you feel you have to do?

If the latter the maybe some counselling/therapy around your self image, because you undoubtedly don't truly need those products. Many people are happy and looking/ feeling great without spending that amount of money each month.

But if it does bring you true joy to do it, then carry on! You live once, enjoy it.

I used to waste a lot of money switching brands and trying stuff but for a few years I’ve stuck to Dr Sam Bunting’s skincare with a chemical exfoliant from Paula’s Choice and although not cheap - it’s not sky high in price and I don’t waste money on things I impulse buy and don’t need. I’m 58 and people comment on how good my skin is.

Hair is expensive and I’ve been with the same amazing hairdresser for 16 years but because my hair is long I go 10 weeks between foils, toner, treatment, cut and finish and buy the treatment (K18 and Epres) and use in between. Again - not cheap but lasts ages and again don’t waste money on impulse purchases. Again people comment on my hair.

I think find results based products/services and stick with them.

My own ethos:

Don't go searching when you find your Holy Grail
For example - Aveda Shampure is my go-to shampoo, it is ££ but a 1 litre bottle lasts me the best part of a year and I;m not wasting money on trying other brands that will disappoint

On the other end of the spectrum, I discovered Aldi roll on deoderant about 70p ( the invisible one) works best for me .
Skincare I buy SKINN and Prai with some M&S and Inky List thrown in.

I don't smoke , drink , sunbathe (Celtic skin) good genes on my Dads side .

Gunna be honest I'm 50 just turned and look no where near that age !
I do use good skin care but it's skincare that actually works for my particular skin needs sensitive acne prone and redness !
So I use expensive stuff it's works and I won't change if it makes me skin look rubbish ! It is false economy for me !
Some.people just have excellent skin and can get away using water and Aldi creams !
If what do doing works I'd stick with it !
As for the hair I'm a stylist ask for a low maintenance lives in blonde ! If u have minimal grey It won't need it doing much it's a different kettle of fish if u needing a tint to cover Grey's and then highlights to keep it looking reflective ! Don't fix it if it ain't broken that's my motto !!!

I'm 45

Cut and colour every 8/9 weeks is £220
Botox every 3/4 months is £240
I use cleanser, serums, moisturiser, SPF for my very sensitive skin from various places probably £60 a month
I have filler maybe every 3 years
I've learned to do my own bikini wax which is handy
Collagen and various other supplements prob £50 a month

Some people are naturally attractive and some people don't care. For me, the investment is worth it. I don't think most people could carry off cutting their own hair.

It’s such a tricky one isn’t it. I have really sensitive and problematic skin so have to stick with what I know works. I also find the older I get the trickier my skin becomes. If you can afford the products you can I’d stick to them. If you would like an alternative though I would recommend looking at Beauty Pie. You have to pay an annual subscription but then get access to high end discounted products. I’ve used them and they are really amazing. Hair wise, can you perhaps change from a full head of highlights to just a halo, then alternate between them?

I found ChatGPT really helpful when I was trying to improve my skincare routine. There are so many products available so it can be difficult to wade through all the claims and marketing. If you tell it what you’re trying to achieve and the products you use just now it can recommend alternatives that offer the same, if not better, results for a lower price.

This makes me want to try Clarins... but my Nivea works and my hairdresser (local independent) makes my hair look great. Im worried about spending more and then being stuck in a trap of having to spend more 😆

Plus peri skin means I'm using clearisil as well so not sure how that works with clarins 🤣🤣🤣

I love Nivea, my skin is so sensitive it’s the only brand I can tolerate.
For years I used Clinique but they must have changed an ingredient as I started to get red blotches especially around my eyes.

I think it’s bullshit . No one can actually prove these expensive brands are better . I’m sure some people will testify they are but the truth is it’s more about genetics and lifestyle. I have gotten a tiny bit of Botox on a line on my forehead approx every 8 months which has done wonders for my self esteem because it was making me look angry . I use cerave

Being cruelty free is a big deal for me - so first I filter out the brands that can't meet this requirement. Many mentioned on this thread cannot sadly.

I've found elf to be good for a cheaper duplicate - their spf primer is nice.

Finding products that can multitask saves money.

I have highlighted hair but can stretch my appointments out much further by going for a toner only, so now every 12 weeks with a toner at 6 weeks.

I find Arkive shampoo and conditioner to be a good, cheaper option and it lasts ages as a little goes a long way.

Expensive stuff definitely can make a difference if you find the right one.

One thing I have done to cut some costs is to make some of my facial wash and cleanser myself.
I looked at the ingredients on the Neil's Yard bottle, bought them off amazon and mixed them myself.
I love how my skin looks at 69.
But a good haircut...now that's non negotiable 😉

I swear by Nivea day cream and night cream. Many dermatologists argue on youtube high end products are not necessarily better. That said there are three products from Elemis I swear by but I only purchase them from Ebay as much cheaper. Several beauticians approve of Nivea too.I have to watch the pennies personally.

@Dazedandconfus - I'm pleased to see someone else mention cruelty free being their prime consideration as its the same for me. I am always quite shocked when it doesn't register with people tbh. I am glad that my daughters also have this as their top priority for buying skincare, make up and perfume too.

I love Green People for skincare. It's high end to me but maybe not to others.

There's a useful section on skincare ingredients in the latest Trinny book 'Fearless'. I'm using this to find ingredient led products in the sensibly priced superdrug range and it's working for me.

I've also substituted my beloved clinique take the day off balm cleanser for an M&S apothecary brand one at half the price and whilst it's not a strict dupe it has the same effect.

I think this is why I try to go as natural as possible. That, and being careful of chemicals/toxins on my skin and hair (yes, I know water is a chemical, but you know what I mean). I have a very sensitive scalp and skin, so this helps. I do get asked regularly what my skincare routine is, so I figure it must work!

Another natural product I like is castor oil (I don't use the Jamaican Black one, as it stains my silver hair), for both a scalp massage pre washing, on eyebrows and in winter as an extra layer after moisturiser at night. Rosewater is a great skin toner, too.

I'm 40 and stubbornly refuse to use anything that breaks the bank. My hair I wrote off years ago as a law unto itself. Currently I have cleanser and toner from lush, argan oil and a moisturiser from the body shop. That's it. I could probably ditch the moisturiser as the argan oil does most of the heavy lifting.

I'm 60+ and stubbornly refuse to use anything at all.

Have never used any skin care at all on my face. Just water and a liquid soap. Very occasionally use some Nivea on my legs and elbows.

For a while I was having my hair highlighted but the last few years it seems to have been coming through a nice light blonde so I haven't even done that for about 2 years now. Even then it was a box dye. I do condition it every other wash.

People regularly put me about 10 years younger. Skin is clear. Hair looks nice. Might have a look at something for necks as some wrinkles appearing there but creams are absolutely not the way to go.

Yes, I'm lucky but I think a lot more people would be if they hadn't trapped themselves in a vicious cycle.

If you like the natural look, have finer highlights. I have started doing this and only need a colour twice a year

Thanks for the recommendation - I will look that up for sure 😊

If you aren't struggling to afford these treatments then carry on. But I do think it's a lot.