Skin Care - have we been seduced by hype?

Mum used to use Ponds cold cream and she had beautiful skin

As this thread is full of sensible bargain hunters I will be the lone voice in the wilderness saying I love expensive face creams and make up and have done so since I was 13/14. I apparently do look good for my age but whether it is as a result of that or not it's too late for me to change now - I think I will leave instructions for the undertakers only to make me up with the most expensive beautifully smelling and packaging products going!!

I love all the moisturisers I have used, I am not sold on one make or type of product. I have cleansed, toned and moisturised, since I was 14/15. I always moisturise night n day, and use almond oil too!

BUT sadly I believe it is all hype, my mother had wonderful soft skin but only used soap n water! I have clearly inherited her (and my fathers) skin type. My youngest daughter never uses products but her skin is lovely, just like mine n her grandmas!

I have been doing it too long to stop now, it makes me feel good and I always buy the offers/bargains.

Thanks for recommendations for the products mentioned on this thread, some more to try!

I use BUAV approved products which restricts my choice, but they tend to be mid range in price. I bang on about Liz Earle, but her stuff is good and she often has offers. When all is done all you need to do is clean your face and moisturise it in whichever way suits you. The rest is down to genes. Oh, and I don't use toner.

My mother and her mother used Nivea, and after trying a variety of products throughout my life, now so do I. This on the basis that they had good skin and it worked for them, and presumably I have inherited their skin. So far, so good.

What really hacks me off however, is these ads where the models are all about 23. How on earth can you tell how effective any skin care product is when the example before you is 50 years younger anyway? Gah!

I'm currently using 3 competition wins, a honey & propolis cleanser around £10, it smells divine & doesn't over dry my skin, a ren "beauty shot £36 which is fab my lines are reduced in seconds & a white oil moisturiser £70 which is amazing, but it's not 7 times as good as my normal one.

I have to say my friends can't believe how few lines I have but not sure if it's down to the products or good genes

marks and sparks royal jelly with honey for me. it leaves my skin very soft and smells good too.

they used to do an eye cream and one for the feet but have now discontinued these but I still get the face creams, hand cream and body moisturiser.

I've tried other creams - some of them the expensive ones - but I didn't find any difference so it's the royal jelly for me every time.

I use the Replenish range from Healthspan, it's mid price - about £20 for both the day and night cream when it's on offer. Don't know why I use day and night as I haven't noticed any difference really. Lasts for months and months and is in fairly light pots so easy to take on holiday.
Having bought all sorts of expensive hand cream since I use it by the gallon I have found really good ones in both Aldi and Lidl at under £1 a tube. Definitely worth a try.

I am a long time user of Nivea Soft cream. I use it on my face and hands and can't see me changing in the future. I have occasionally changed to more expensive products but found them lacking.

I have found a fabulous face moisturiser with SPF 15 in Savers. It's £1 a tube and my skin has never looked so good.
I don't think that price necessarily equals best in this case, but you do have to experiment until you find something that works for you.

Any skin cream works better after a gentle twice weekly exfoliation. The best I've found are silkworm cocoons which are very cheap online, about £2 for 20. You just put one in a glass of warm water for a few minutes whilst you cleanse your skin. Then slip it on your finger like a thimble and gently massage in circular movements over your face and neck but excluding the delicate skin around your eyes. Rinse the cocoon for further use (maximum 2 uses) pat your face dry and apply your normal moisturiser. Give it a try.

This is my 3rd time trying to post this so apologies if the hamsters get working and it appears three times !!

I totally agree Alea.

I use Clarins face cream and also their hand cream ( I also have a Nivea hand cream on the go and a Boots face cream ). I use what I do because I love the fragrance, and it makes me feel good.

I don't use anything on my face except water and never have, and I use sunscreen sometimes but not always ( and to be fair my Mums motto was get burnt and get it over with when I was a child so the damage is probably dont !!)

I guess if and when the time comes that I cant afford my little luxuries then I'll revert to whatever I can afford. I'm certainly not seduced by the marketing and all the airbrushed models!

I think people who are seduced by the hype want to be.
We are intelligent human beings and capable of seeing through ridiculous claims, but if a person chooses a product because it makes her feel better about herself I would not blame her!
In the same way, I love the scent of my current shower cream (Christmas smellie) but freely accept it probably cost up to 10 times a supermarket equivalent. Horses for courses?

I agree with you JessM

Wash your face with a flannel and warm water. Use a moisturiser with a sunscreen. Don't smoke or over-tan. When you buy expensive products you are paying for fancy packaging and a lot of marketing.

Yes, we have! Superdrug and Boots for me, although I have very occasionally bought expensive cream (when I was richer), I always go back to basics.

DD was referred to a consultant dermatologist a year ot two back. In the casual conversation that occurred around the consultation he told her to use the cheapest possible moisteriser on her face but change it every six months' he gave no explanation for this advice. The reason she was sent to him had nothing to do with cosmetic advice.

I only use what works for me and I find that out by asking for testers first and I decide what I am happy to pay.

My answer to the OP question is Yes.

That is, some of us have been seduced. Some of us write. all the seduction off as hype right from the start.

Since I became an Aldi shopper I have been using their skin products. The price range Is from £1:99 to £3:95 (approx) for the serum. I have not noticed that my skin is ageing any faster than it did before.

Back in my early 20s, I bought a jar of Helena Rubinstein night cream. It cost £6 10s 6d, the better part of a weeks wages. It was so greasy and unpleasant that most of it ended up on my pillow case and I ended up having to buy a new pillow. I saw no visible improvement in my skin. I have not made that mistake again.

I used to use a basic Boots product but since developing a lot of skin allergies I now use an organic product bought online and which is as inexpensive as I can find.

Yes, I know I have in the past
Now I use M&S Pure moisturiser, it's cheap and works so I can't ask for more than that!

I've always used Olay in one shape or form.. I've always thought it was a cheapie but its always suited me. So no I've not been seduced by 'expensive', products. Although there are Olay products now that are very expensive I only buy the basic Olay with SPF.

Without even reading the article, my answer to the question in the title is "YES!"