Skin Care - have we been seduced by hype?

I think good skin is largely genetic and a sensible life style and usually the regular use of a moisteriser, any moisteriser.

I would never be dogmatic that what works for one will work for all. A number of the brands posters have extolled bringing me out in a rash. I stopped using soap in my mid 20s because it dried my skin out and left it cracked and inflamed. By trial and error I have found products that my skin is happy with, but products get reformulated or my skin decides that it doesn't like some substance it has not had problems with before and off I go looking for something new that it will not react to.

Where my skin problems come from I have no idea as nobody else in the family, either generations above or below has them.

A lot of us must be seduced by all the hype considering it's a billion pound industry. The fact is there is no skin care product that will replace collagen in the skin and it's collagen that keeps our skin smooth and wrinkle free. A good moisturiser is essential, but it doesn't have to be expensive - like Rhonab, I use Nivea Soft and it's excellent. Whilst on the subject, what about this latest trend of needing first a primer (whatever that is) then a serum, followed by moisturiser, before applying foundation. Just another way of extracting more money from our pockets on unnecessary products I feel.

I stopped using soap & water on my face about 38 years ago; I cleanse, tone & moisturise morning and night instead, always with Olay products. My face cream (one for day, one for night) is whatever is on special offer in Superdrug for 70+ age-group ... currently using their B-Nourished brand and finding it very good.

I have recently started using one from Bodycare its 99p and its great. I have used expensive creams, but they are not as good as this one. So glad a friend told me to try it.

I know women who spend a lot on moisturisers and, in my opinion, I think they are wasting their money. I tend to buy No 7 or something relatively cheap, preferably on offer. I'd never splash out on anything really expensive. I agree with MOnica I think on the whole everyone is at the mercy of their genes. My two black friends and also a Chinese friend have fared very well as far aging skin is concerned (very few lines) and whilst I had a few spots in my teens I have been told by friends that my skin is fairly line free, so the oily, spotty skin that I cursed my Mediterranean hereditary genes for is now working in my favour. Fair/red haired freckly skins don't seem to age as well as darker skin tones.

I also must be the other voice in the wilderness as I've been seduced by a lot of the hype over the years. I've used the cheapest and the most expensive creams and to be honest i don't really think I've noticed any difference but then it's difficult to tell as I'm getting older all the time! My aunt used Pond's cream all her life and her skin was lovely. I have started to use a cleanser and muslim cloth rather than make up wipes as I think it cleans better so tend to have everything in the same range. I just stock up on stuff when it's on offer and realise that once I stop working I'll probably have to revert back to the cheaper products.

I once read an interview with Shakira Caine, wife of actor Michael, in which she stated that after a certain age she stopped using foundation as she was of the opinion that it tended to emphasize lines. I agree, too much slap after a certain age is very aging. Remember Barbara Cartland, she certainly never applied the less is more rule

I've [re]started using Ann French cleansing milk on my face; leaves my skin lovely and fresh. No good for removing eye make up though. Often use olive oil, coconut oil or the rose hip oil that Teetime recommended a while back to moisturize. And Vaseline round my eyes [but not if I'm wearing make up the following day as, no matter how much I clean it off the residue stops any eye make up from staying put].

I use cheap Asda cleansing product, also mix rose water and witch hazel as a toner and then buy whatever moisturisers are on offer at Asda. Used to buy v expensive clarins products but then went broke. Can't say I've noticed any difference in state of my skin, which is of the rubbish sensitive Celtic variety. If I were rich, no doubt would buy into all the hype. But I can't, so just keep slapping on the cheaper potions.

Also, as a body lotion, I buy baby oil and decant into a spray bottle. Works well on my dry skin.

Alea the trouble is the companies are very clever at marketing, make a lot of pseudo-scientific claims (aka sciencey-sounding lies) and have no obligation to publish any of their research.

If I had won the £33m this week I would probably be buying the most expensive available but it's going to be Aldi for the foreseeable future.

I do spend a little more on moisturisers and use it every day. I feel uncomfortable if I haven't put cream on. The secret, apart from having inherited very few wrinkles, is that I started when I was about 14 (only Ponds Cold Cream available in those days, at least for someone on a pocket-money budget).

Some face creams create little "crumbs" after a while, so I don't get them again, but generally, I have kept to the same make for over 30 years now. Advertising for the really expensive creams (or recommendations in magazines) have really persuaded me to spend any more than about 8 - 10 euros a pot.

Aqueous Cream BP. works well as a moisturiser about £6 for 500ml.
The big advantage of that for me is that it is unperfumed. I really don't like
perfume around my face.

Beware of any product with the word "Pro" in it. It is a totally meaningless word invented to sound scientific. Advertisers love it.

Does anyone else know what it is supposed to mean. ?

Is it even a real word?

Make up off with a baby wipe, wash my face with the flannel, and a rub on of whatever was cheapest on the supermarket shelf.

DH is 5 years younger than me. DGD age 8 says yesterday, after inspecting both of our foreheads, Granny how come you have only 4 wrinkles and Granda has 7, and you are so much older than him?

Nivea for me every time have bought more expensive products but always returned! Always remember an article I read sometime ago, the lovely Joanna Lumley swears by Astral

I read that it is important to use a good serum, any moisturiser will hydrate the skin to some degree.

Nelliemoser, pro means for, are we any the wiser?☺

Probiotic is supposed to mean that it encourages the formation of the live good bacteria.

I stopped using soap and water on my face about ten years ago it was so drying I use various cleansers and wipes whatever is on offer but the one thing I splash out on is Dr organics snail serum sounds a bit odd but is fantastic on my skin.

I do love a wash-off cleanser, especially my Liz Earle, but I refuse to pay silly money for the muslin cloths. I wait for Aldi to have a 'baby event' and buy a pack of muslins, cut each into 4, machine the raw edges, and have a huge pile of cloths for very little outlay!

My tip of the day!

I don't think it's what you use as much as making sure you clean and moisturise your face night and morning and don't leave make-up on overnight. Also, protect your face from the sun at all times. I have never used an anti wrinkle cream just nivea. I used to use the original, which is a bit thick and heavy, but now there's Nivea light I use that.

Everyone on this thread has, whether they admit it or not, been influenced by the 'hype' if only to not buy the product advertised.
Only someone who's never used anything other than water could claim they're not influenced.
Some of us are more interested in different products than others, it doesn't necessarily mean we rush out to buy the latest 'find'.

I also think that at our age most of us have realised that these 'miracle creams' don't actually work!

The secret is finding a product that suits your skin and doesn't break the bank. I used the Boots serum for years but find it doesn't do anything for me now, so I've reverted to Olay for sensitive skins. Not as greasy as some of the stuff out there.