Do facial moisturisers do any good?

Like the late Queen, I use Clarins. Really very good.

Can't bear heavy creams, so use Clinique's fluid mosituriser. Fairly expensive, but lasts for ages. Always buy it when I see it on special offer.

I cannot use Nivea, it is one of the OTC products that contains something my skin has an allergy to. I cannot use most products advertised as safe for those with skin allergies either.

Even though I use serum as well I find that moisturiser doesn’t seem to sink into my skin but just stays on the surface of my skin.

Maybee70 I gently massage moisteriser into my skin - and quite a lot of it. I will gently massage my skin for three or four minutes most mornings.

I think the mistake you made ExDancer was that6 you used it on your elbow
No promises were made for elbows - it was a facial moisturiser

ParlorGames

The downside with emulsifying moisturisers is that they not have an SPF formula. Therefore, they might be great for night time use but would offer no protection whatsoever during the day.
I use No. 7 - day cream and night cream - not expensive compared to many alternatives. It suits my skin type and I am not changing now.

I live in Scotland, why would I need SPF? 😉

I've an aged relative who boasts that she's never used moisturiser. Wow, does this show: she's looked wrinkled & "scraggy" for decades.....notably older than her actual age.

This type of post crops up regularly, with numerous recommendations for cheap as opposed to expensive stuff.

Fact is all “moisturiser” creams are simply a way of introducing water to dry skin with a greasy substance to hold it in.
This enables skin to feel smoother to the touch, but for all the extra fancy ingredients some, non prescription creams contain, little reliable science is to be found for their efficacy.

Genes are the best predictor of whether you will get wrinkles, plus sun exposure, smoking and general nutrition.

Oh dear, oh dear!
I wrote this as a light hearted remark, not as a serious query about moisturisers.
I was amused to see the skin on my left elbow, which gets treated with the moisturiser left on my hand after I've moisturised my face, was no less wrinkled than the skin on my right elbow, which has never had the benefit of being moisturised,
And musing on whether this proved moisturisers are a waste of money.
(There's no doubt in my mind that without these creams we'd all look a lot older - apart from a few lucky people who don't seem to need them).

Dear oh dear
My reply seems to have missed its mark too

Since I had Covid I haven’t eaten anything sweet because I can’t taste it, so no point.

The improvement in my aged skin is really noticeable.

Moral: don’t eat sugar 😬

Garnier organic lavender oil on my face. Aveeno cream for the rest of me.

I think moisturisers are essential. I'm not sure that it's that important to pay a lot though. I use Nivea Soft.

I did get a sample of a Lancome skin cream that I thought was really good but when I looked up the price it was over £100! Needless to say, I didn't order it.

For the rest of me, bio oil!

I have the skin itch problem with Nivea, which is why I use the M and S stuff.

I agree about taking the time to massage it in, twice a day.

Well all we can do is slow time down, but I just get cheered up by looking a bit nicer by the pampering!

I use whatever’s on offer and yes, I rub any excess into my left elbow which is now as soft as a baby’s bottom. Do I look any younger than if I hadn’t moisturised? 🤷🏼‍♀️

The question is what does a 'standard' 50, 60, 70, 80 year old look like in order to decide whether they or any beauty treatment they use makes them look younger than they are.

The same with wrinkles. How many wrinkles does the average 50, 60 etc year old person have?

What people look like, or more often the impression that they give of their age is based on so many other things other than how many wrinkles you have - health, genetic inheritance, life experience, personality, how you dress, how you stand and present yourself

Like most women I look after my skin and duly felt satisfied and complacent when my 15 yearold DGD, commented on my lovely smooth skin, but I have no illusions that anyone other than her is going to notice, and certainly do not think it makes me look 'younger'. As I said compared with who?

I am quite happy to feel I look good for my age, further than that the details are irrelevant.

When I worked as med sec at the hospital for a team of dermatologists one of the consultants (lady, natch!) said to apply night time moisturiser well before actually going to bed “otherwise most of it will just rub off onto your pillow”. Good advice.

I fell a few years back and cut my cheek. I was advised to use Bio oil to reduce the scarring. This I did, and noticed that that side of my face started to look smoother than the other, so I have ditched the night time moisturiser and just use that, just a little, well massaged into the skin. Possibly the massage is the greater factor. I don’t use it near the dark circles under my eyes (hereditary) for obvious reasons, copious amount of water, as much sleep as possible, nothing budges them!

I use Nivea moisturising day cream during the day, Nivea Soft at night, I have good skin for my age (82). I don’t really know if the creams help my look, but they certainly make my skin feel more comfortable.

I've used Nivea for about 50 years. No " miracles" but at 73 I've got quite smooth skin with few wrinkles. I think genetics helps too - both of my parents had good skin into their 80's.

I wasn’t trying to dish your post ExDancer, just to point out that whatever you use, cheap or expensive, most of it does the same basic thing whatever claims are made, but best to use what you have found works and doesn’t cause irritation.
I find my skin getting more sensitive as I age, and I use bio oil, mainly because it seems to last, retaining moisture in the skin better.

I don’t feel ready until I’ve put moisturiser on. My skin feels tight and dry without it. I’ve used many different brands and have come to Nivea Soft. I realised that the hefty price tag of upmarket brands was selling ( an expensive ) myth. Rose water is inexpensive and lovely on the skin before moisturising. I like the sense of self care and the feeling of hydrated skin. I’m pretty sure no cream or potion can turn back or halt time .

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I've used moisturisers and serums for years and years and now use Vitamin C lotion too every morning that sinks into my skin easily. Beauty Pie sells this one. This has evened out my skin tone and makes it firmer. I am 75 but am often taken to be early 60's so I am glad I used moisturisers, serums and anything I thought could keep wrinkles at bay ! Once you get to my age its too late!