Because I’m worth it!

Oh Helena Rubinstein. In my different life I worked in a large store in the training department and treated myself to some HR skincare. I shared a house with 2 other girls and after a party one night my HR products I kept on the bathroom shelf had disappeared. I was so shocked as I knew everyone there.

That was a lesson learned at 20.

I would love to know the product PP above says to avoid because of the chemicals. I use mostly Boots, Aveeno and Cerave moisturisers. And currently not a lot of make up. I must make an effort as I look better with some light foundation. Normally Boots.
One DD spends a lot on a particular brand, but she has a sensitive skin and it seems to suit her.
In my kitchen drawer I have a tube of L'Occitane hand cream. More expensive than others, but very good and I need such a little squeeze.
I have noticed that some women I know who have smoked a lot have very wrinkled skin. So smoking can be added to the list of what to avoid with sun damage at the top.

As I have combination to greasy skin, I need to use light products. Avene suits me. Middle priced and also just right for my skin type. I like Elemis too but it can be pricey. The price, for me, does reflect the quality.

butterandjam

M0nica

I believe in starting at the bottom and working up. Buy the cheapest product that does the job, and if it doesn't do it well, then go up a grade until you find one that does, then stop.

I don't put anything on my bottom. It's lasted pretty well, still as soft as a baby's.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Don’t use any apart from a bit of light makeup (Rimmel or what’s on offer) only ‘beauty product I use are Savers face wipes 99p a packet
Haha
I m a lucky lady my dad had great skin and kept all his hair and most of his teeth until he died at 92 Its all genetics and the luck of the draw
(However I haven’t been lucky in other walks of life )

M0nica

I believe in starting at the bottom and working up. Buy the cheapest product that does the job, and if it doesn't do it well, then go up a grade until you find one that does, then stop.

Good strategy, M0nica

I'm a fan of L'Occitane products too for daily use. I am happy to pay that bit extra for smells that evoke nostalgia, summer or just happy days.
I also use NUXE. Their skin products are luxurious, but a bit oily.
I would say middle priced is me, and if I like something, I'll decide convice myself that "I'm worth it" and gleefully carry on.

This has morphed almost entirely into a cosmetics thread!

NotSpaghetti

This has morphed almost entirely into a cosmetics thread!

And that's the power of the iconic slogan in the thread title!!

I have a middle of the road hairdryer (Remington), however having used a DiL’s upmarket all singing and dancing Dyson one to dry GS’s hair I am rather tempted to treat myself…

My friend has a kettle cradle, because of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, she can't lift the kettle properly and safely when it's full.

She went online as they don't sell them in the local hardware store, and she doesn't drive, and found one for about £9.00, a basic type. When it arrived, the flimsy box was battered... not known if it was the cradle company or somewhere in the post ... but it turned out to be a good cradle. But others came up for almost £1,000 just for one!

I totally understand what you're saying. Quizzer!

I love my Dyson hairdryer - it’s definitely takes significantly less time to get a nice smooth finish on my bob, which always looks shiny and well conditioned. It is light too. I will buy another if this one packs up because I think it’s paying for itself.
But I definitely wouldn’t pay more for a toothbrush that then wants to link itself to an app to monitor my brushing! I bought one from Suri when there was an offer, because of their sustainability policies. I generally like to look at the science behind new/higher priced products.

I really dislike excess packaging on premium products. It doesn’t make me think that I’m getting better value - more that I’m wasting money on the packaging. And the cosmetic industry is way behind with double wall jars, and boxes.

Years ago, someone I knew who was training to be a nurse and was very interested in geriatric care described the problems that the older people often had with their skin. She said that we should care for our skin like we care for any other organ in our body and should never think that moisturising is a luxury. I have never forgotten that and always moisturise after the shower. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but I do prefer products with more natural ingredients. And it’s always nice to have a luxury one with a lovely smell for when I’m going out - they are permanently on my Christmas present list!

I use aqueous cream for moisturising- very cheap and works for me

Not too much washing, bathing or showering is better for elderly skin as well as moisturising.

SORES

Years ago! I recall Estee Lauder being interviewed, asked
why her make up, perfumes were so expensive, her candid
response was that she believed if it was all more costly than
any other, customers would believe it to be superior and buy
for the snob value.
EL products were of consistently good quality but you are right, a marketing con, which worked, heard here straight
from the source.

Does anyone remember Youth Dew? My glam paternal gran would spray it lavishly, ‘to no avail’ as Mum would murmur waspishly.

OMG, Youth Dew! In my house-sharing days there was a girl who used to douse herself in the stuff every time she was just nipping to the shops.
Enough to give anyone a raging headache!

I found a lovely light moisturizer at the RHS Gardener's World Exhibition a few years ago. It's made with all natural products and it's light on the skin, absorbing well. It's not cheap but it's not ultra expensive either. I used it everyday and a pot lasts for ages. I continue to buy it online.

I still wear Youyh Dew every day. My girls say it's old lady perfume, I don't care I am an old lady

I use fewer face and body creams than I used to.

For the last 6 months I have drunk a tablespoon of high quality olive oil every day. After about 3 weeks I noticed the difference to my face and hair - skin was softer and hair shinier. I no longer have dry flaky skin on my legs.

The olive oil has to be a good quality, extra virgin, grown on volcanic soil. The one I use costs about £23 per bottle, which is pricy but costs a lot less than the face creams /skin creams I used to use.

Here's a good example of inflated prices because of the brand name. Keyrings made from paracord sell for £4.50 each on Etsy. However if you buy similar from Miu Miu they're £400 each.

Good for you, Abcdefg! It's been my perfume of choice since 1970 when it was bought for me. I was 20 then and still love it now.

I bought a slightly more upmarket OralB electric toothbrush and, by shopping around, found I could get a set of two for what was effectively the usual price for one. What I didn't realise was that the toothbrush heads were much more expensive than the normal ones and that they wear out very quickly.

i know my granny had lovely skin right up until she died. the main thing was she used rain water to wash with and Camay soap.
i rarely use cosmetics and my skin is fine

I love my Dyson hairdryer, which I've used for about 3 years. It's kinder to my hair than a traditional dryer and I wouldn't change it.

I have rosacea so I've worked my way through many different skincare brands. I'm not swayed by price or packaging, once I find something that my skin doesn't react to, I stick with it. Some are basic but others are more premium, it's just about the formulas and ingredients. I use cleanser from one brand, moisturiser and serum from another and sunscreen from yet another. If I could get away with using Aldi or Boots own, I would do.

My dental hygienist always advises me to use an electric toothbrush, which I do, but she says you don't need to spend £100+ on a bluetooth one.

I have used Boots Perfect and Protect products for about twenty years. I’m in my late seventies, and don’t have wrinkled cheeks, but do have around my mouth, probably caused by sagging jowels. I’ve had no problems with these products, but it’s hard to tell how effective they’ve been, as we don’t know how our skin would have been without them, or with different ones.

I agree with all that’s been said
However the other side is luxury, not the products themselves but the general feel of the packaging and the aesthetics.
I’m now in my 70’s and can afford the treats so why not buy the products because they simply look or work better, by work I don’t mean the product itself but a gorgeous range of beauty products that enhance my bathroom and are nicer to utilise.
Would I have thought like this years ago of course not,
I just think the point is to be aware of the cons and don’t believe the hype.

I take no notice of the marketing since I learnt about all the chemicals and microplastics in make up. I’m in the process of changing to products that contain natural ingredients now.