Skin care

[EmpireBiscuit]

So, my DH has said he will get me (my request) a new skin care regime for my birthday.

It's a whole new territory for me, I'm from the Simple wipes school of make up removal, and I don't have a clue where to start. Watched my SIL clean her face the other day, and it involved lots of patting, daubing and spritzing of lovely looking things. Although, mineral water in a can?! Is that necessary?

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I have about £70/£80 to spend.

[LordTumble]

Hi Empire

I was like you and have only just started a 'proper' skincare regime. Have you heard of Caroline Hirons? I found looking at her blog, esp the cheat sheets on routines etc really helpful with getting my head around what I actually needed to buy.

If you stick to a basic cleanse-tone-moisturise routine you can't go far wrong. I also use a serum after the toner stage and an eye cream but that's up to you. Personally I ended up buying all my stuff from The Body Shop because they always have a sale online - cost me £45 for eight items. I do wish I had mixed and matched a bit more though. REN do some good affordable options too.

For £70/£80 I would stick to mid range stuff for a cleanser, toner etc and then splurge a little bit more on treatments like serums and oils and things. There are tons of reviews knocking around for everything so have a good Google and see what you fancy. Oh, and avoid Clinique toners, IMO.

Hth

[Kundry]

What do you want your skin care to do?

Is it just clean off makeup and smell lovely? Or do you have dry skin you want to moisturise? Or oily/combination skin you want to deal with spots? Or anti-ageing?

And what sort of brands do you think you will like? Are you a natural and organic products person in which case I can't help you or are you all about the science?

Need more info in order to make suggestions

[EmpireBiscuit]

Well, I have just been baffled by the lady at Clarins but kindly she's sent me off with a barrow load of samples.

I have combination skin, oily T zone and slightly dehydrated cheeks. She's recommended a combined cleanser/toner for quick make up removal and a moisturiser.

She then started waffling on about serums and eye creams and brightening creams and exfoliating wash and all manner of other things.

I guess I am looking for make up removal first and foremost but also was just lovely skin.

[Kundry]

So a nice cleanser, toner is a waste of time unless it's an acid toner and a moisturiser.

Not convinced what a combined cleanser/toner is as old-fashioned toner is pointless and was to get off the last of your makeup before cleansers were more effective, acid toners are what you want for lovely skin but you need the ingredients to stay on your skin, not be washed off immediately.

Looking at Clarins not sure what I'd pick as a cleanser (I can't bring myself to spend loads on a cleanser because it spends less than a minute on your skin), I'd have the Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner (although the website is pissing me off by not telling me the ingredients and just showing me pictures of flowers) and I can't pick a moisturiser as beyond Hydraquench they are all ridiculously expensive. And making ridiculous claims without owning up what's in them. Sorry Clarins.

You could get a just as lovely range, with just as impressive ingredients, from Bravura London or REN for much less money.

[EmpireBiscuit]

Thank you kundry I'll have a look at the brands you mentioned.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

REN products are working wonders on my skin at the moment

[MotherBluestocking]

Another vote for REN. Beautiful products at not ridiculous prices. You might like to try their cleansing balm, which gives you a lovely massagy pre-bed ritual (and stays on your skin for more than a minute if you do it properly!); and they do an exfoliating toner, too, which will be good for your T zone. If you don't have big issues with dryness around the eyes, their eye gel is nice too - but you may want something more hard-working. Look for a moisturising serum to give you some extra boost on the T zone and a daily moisturiser with SFP to finish off.

[EmpireBiscuit]

REN eye gel is in the basket - this could become an expensive hobby!