i had terrible skin. spots and really oily t zone. i tried Clinque stuff you know the 3 step thingy, anyway it worked wonders for my skin...for a week and then i started getting more spots horrible uneven skin,thankgod for MAC to coverup, so i moved on to Clarins. Clarins much better than Clinque ok my spots were still there but they did not increase like the overmarketed Clinque. by the way i was using Clinque for about 7 months and clarins about 6 months.
these expensive products work no better than cheap products. its all hype. stick to Nivea and other products under 15 quid.

I agree, I use St Ives and Simple and they are great for sensitive skin and really cheap too!

Why do they use Nichole Kidman to advertise chanel beauty products when she is so over botoxed and photo shop edited. these stars who have much more money and get free beauty products look really awful without make up. thats why i think cheap is better because at least you wont be taken for a mug.

Well, from my own experience the better products work better. If you have problems with spots you shouldn't be overmoisturing. It's about getting the right products for your skin type first and foremost.

I would totally recommend Elemis though - fantastic products. I have very dry and sensitive skin, but it looks fantastic with Elemis/Clinique products, and I rarely have to use foundation. There are some great products out there for spot flare ups too.

Sometimes. I've been on Retin-A for many years to try and rid and whiteheads. Although it kept most of them away, I'd still get a few breakouts - not to mention severely dry skin.

Earlier this month I visited a specialist skin clinic to see if they could work on some acne scars and the beautician recommended a 3 step Akmicare programme. It's working a treat so far, much better than the (prescription) Retin-A ever did.

I start microdermabrasion on Weds.

Dermalogica are fantastic products. The treatment foundations are brill and really even out skin tone. The cleansers and moisturizers are fab. Check it out.

Yeah I agree. Dermalogica is fab. If you don't wanna fork out ask around the counters for samples, they usually are very generous. Try out and then buy the stuff you like.

L'Oreal are using Jane Fonda who has had extensive plastic surgery on her face and body to advertise their products! I am a 55 year old woman with great skin and I can tell you HONESTLY it is Nivea products and good food, sleep and a good husband!! You buy a NAME when you spend a fortune on expensive cosmetics. I have used Nivea products and DOVE Shower gel for YEARS (since I was 13) have never used soap on my face and believe me I get taken for a lot younger than my age!! I am also dreadfully immature and think I am 21 joke!!

i mainly use clinique stuff cos it suits my skin,
personally i dont mind paying that bit extra since it works, spent heaps buying loads of cheaper things for them to make my skin worse

I think skin is partly genetic, partly maintenence. My Mum looks amazing at 66 and her Mum looked great too. I, however have smoked and drank far much more than my mother ever did and subsequently my skin looks about right for my age. Incidentally my Mum uses pretty normal stuff like Olay. I've used expensive eye creams since I was 18 and I've not got one single crows foot or line at the age of 29. Whether thats skincare or genetics I'm not sure. I've always tried to use a sunscreen in either my moisturiser or foundation too.

I am a victim of the expensive brand hype and I have tried cheaper products at one stage for a few months and didn't really noticed the difference (only in moisturisers) but I dare not stop with the eye cream just in case its actually working!

I tend to find the stuff that doesn't advertise much or at all is better.

I agree with both Dermalogica fans. I have really really sensitive skin and find this stuff just amazing. It is expensive but lasts for ages and IMHO is well worth the investment.

I used to have a lovely old lady as a friend, she was 93 when she died last year.

She always used Oil of Ugly...Ooops, I mean Oil of Olay on her skin from when it first became available. She had lovely skin, you'd never have guessed from her appearance that she was in her 90s.

My mother is 50 and has fabulous skin - I don't think she ever used anything expensive when she was younger, only just now when she's getting older that she's using Estee Lauder. Plus she's never worn foundation, which is great.

I use E45 on my body and Olay on my face. Can't really tell the difference between those and expensive stuff.

In many cases, the active chemicals in a £50 tub on skin cream are the exct same as in a £2 one from Superdrug.

The differences are in superficial things like perfumes, softeners, preservatives, and marketing-bullshhit like "Pentapeptides".

Agree entirely. Cosmetics companies like to patent fancy scientific names and then brag in ads that their product contains them . Perfumes are the biggest rip off. Most of the price of a famous brand goes on packaging and advertising. The perfume costs about 50p to produce.

OP. The clinique stuff has alcohol in which will dry your skin at first but then irritates it - hence the recurring oil and spots.

While you may feel like blitzing it with harsh products the best thing is to use gentle, soothing stuff. I also really rate Dermalogica and, for cheaper and alla natural stuff, Liz Earle. I recently recommended Liz Earle to my friend's sister who had bad skin - she used to use clinique - and its really helped.

Also, with skin, the stuff you put into your body and the way you treat it will show up in its condition. Get plenty of fresh air and exercise and eat well, drink lots of water.

I hope that helps.

Pentapeptides in a face cream what a joke ! Would guess they do work if used in the right way… there are several amino acids making the peptide, it wont do much rubbing it into SKIN, they need to be broken down in the body which in turn can use them to repair damaged skin.

Reminds me of that ad where 3 models rub cheese and milk into their faces.

Excepting make up and sun cream, I wouldn't put anything on my face that isn't from Lush. Their ingredients are completely natural, far better for you. I have no idea what's in the Nivea, Clinique, Simple etc. cleansers or facewashes, and I like to know what I'm putting on myself (hint: can you even pronounce what's in these products, let alone know what they are?). My skin's never been better, and I'd never go back to using anything from a chemist.

I do think it is more genetics than products. My mum aged 76 uses cheap stuff and has amazing skin as does my daughter who uses the best money can buy. I smoke and drink and don't deserve the skin I have but I do swear by clarins

I've always gone for cheaper brands - but recently tried out elemis pro-collagen marine cream (free sample with a mag) and absolutely loved it.... (v interested that lofichick above is a fan too...) - thing is, it's £75!!!!!

If I'd won the lottery I'd feel I could justify it.... but not otherwise!

The scent and feel of products is v important to me...if it's smells too chemical or won't sink in I hate it and won't bother with it..... (and actually, some products I've tried in shops (eg Aveda) which are meant to be great, I really don't like the smell of! I guess it's very personal!

I've used a range of different products from fairly cheap own brand to high end, and I would definitely say that you get what you pay for. Example: Eve Lom cleanser is £45-50. But it lasts me about 18 months because you don't need to use as much. I think that's pretty good value!

I agree with those that have recommended Dermalogica (a recent convert) and Elemis (I too had a pro-collagen sample and fcuk it, I'm getting some!!). I'd also recommend Eve Lom; it's fairly natural, not highly perfumed and like I already mentioned, lasts ages.

I always have to use sensitive and hypoallergenic stuff as I have very reactive skin, so it doesn't come cheap.

I have used Eve Lom cleanser - was not convinced at first, but grew to love it, my skin has never felt cleaner and every last scrap of make up was taken off, I also think the massaging of the skin and using a muslin cloth really helps.

I am currently using Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - the jury is still out, I think I prefer Eve Lom, but haven't used the Liz Earle stuff for long enough to fully comment.

I have heard really great things about Dermologica, I have tried a few samples and was really impressed with the results even in the short space of time I was using them. They are pricey though.

The cheapest thing I use at the mo is Boots Experts Sensitive Moisturiser with SPF - it works really well and reasonably priced, having said that if money wasn't an issue I would be using Decleor products as I really like them and I do think they make a difference to my skin, especially their skin balms.
Last edited by cutekookie : 03-12-2007 at 19:14

Fantastic. The skin smoothing cream is great. I'm currently using Nivea as I want to see if it's true that cheaper products work just as well, but dermalogica is brilliant.