Every beauty aficionado knows that looking after your skin does not have to cost the earth.
With the burgeoning internet it has never been easier to find good deals on skin care products. Whether it is via sites like lovelula.com or the Debenhams Blue Cross Sale – there has never been so much choice at your fingertips.
Modern beauty buyers are much more savvy today. They know that they do not have to go directly to the houses to buy their skin care and grooming products. There are now many outlets for skin care and grooming products. TK Maxx is a one stop shop for all beauty items. Prestige skin care products can be bought for a fraction of the price at the store and there are a plethora of well known and lesser known brands to choose from. The Savers group is more “street” when it comes to skin care and grooming. Here, prestige brand Elizabeth Arden rubs shoulders with Morny and Cyclax. A 30 ml tube of Arden’s iconic Eight Hour Cream can be bought for less than £4 at Savers.
Everything has it’s price but you can be wise. As a rule of thumb, save up for a good moisturiser but budget on your cleanser and body products. Skimping on quality products is as bad as putting junk food into your body. Trying to cut corners will cost you good skin. It’s better to invest in a good moisturiser and save on cleanser for instance.
If high end brands are out of your price range then there are plenty of cheaper classic brands that have stood the test of time and many of them are under £5.
Ponds cold cream, Olay beauty fluid and Astral cream are just a few of these brands. Rimmel Hide The Blemish Concealer is another classic make-up product which is beloved by men who are eager to hide dark circles under the eyes and five-o’clock shadows. And it isn’t just high end brands that stars of stage and screen love. British actress Joanna Lumley has been using Astral cream since the 60’s, while singer Katie Perry is a fan of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion. The Queen has been using Cyclax products since her twenties and the brand carries her royal seal. Incidently, the late Queen Mother was a long time devotee of Elizabeth Arden.
The search for budget skin care can be an adventure and don’t be prepared to find treats in unexpected places.
Poundland sell the pretty respectable Derma V10 line which carries products for men and women, all for £1. The Derma V10 hand creams are particularly good. Creighton’s is a well established British company which is now sold at Poundland. Their Squeeky Clean Body Lotion, is worth a look as is their Argan oil based range.
The 99p Stores carries lines from Garnier to Nivea and there have been some surprises in the past with the luxurious Fenjal bath oil and products from the delightful Sen line such as the Relaxing Bath and Shower Gel and Ginkgo and Mandarin Energizing Mist. More reasons to stop by discount stores for that special deal.
In the past, supermarkets sold a limited array of branded names like Nivea and L’Oreal but in more recent times this has changed. Now they have commissioned skin care experts and cosmetic companies to create their own lines. Of particular note is the Skin Wisdom line at Tesco which has been designed and formulated with Ayurvedic ingredients by facialist and skin specialist Bharti Vyas. The brand caters for all skin types and there is also an impressive body care line. Many of the products are under £5 and the Skin Wisdom Instant Benefits Beauty Balm was apparently as effective as Clarins Beauty Flash Balm at a fraction of the price. Modern British hypermarkets are now selling high end brands like Estee Lauder.
One surprise of note with supermarkets is sun care. A Channel Four programme lifted the lid on prestige sun care and super market own brand sun care to ascertain which was the most effective. The shock came when the results that the cheaper supermarket sun care products were just as effective if not better than their more expensive rivals. It was shown that the key ingredients were the same. The conclusion is that the necessity for using sunscreen should always be the priority and you do not need to spend a small fortune on it.
Good skin care does not have to come with a hefty price tag. But even hefty price tags can be snipped if you know where to look.
So don’t be accept the conventional routes for finding and buying skin care and grooming products. There are a wealth of alternative sources to look at – particularly if you are on a tight budget but do not want to lose out on your favourite products.
Be wise. Take a chance and discover something new.
Skin care is a world of adventures.
Ponds Nourishing Anti-wrinkle Cream 50ml £4.99 (www.superdrug.com) Its gentle yet effective action leaves your skin soft, smooth and feeling noticeably cleaner. The deep cleansing action
Olay Beauty Fluid Non-Greasy Moisturising Fluid Sensitive 100ml £4.99 (www.boots.com) Combines unique Olay fluids with moisture–rich nutrients. Suitable for sensitive skin.
Astral All Over Moisturiser (from) 200ml £3.89 (www.boots.com) Astral locks in the skin’s natural moisture whilst still allowing it to breathe, leaving skin fresh, hydrated and protected.
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Jar 100g £3.25 (www.superdrug.com) The original classic moisturiser; this unique solid formula contains the highest concentration of cocoa butter, making it the perfect choice to soften, smooth and relieve rough, dry skin
Bayliss and Harding Wild Rose & Raspberry Leaf Shower Creme 200 ml £2.00 (www.tesco.com) With the scent of exotic jasmine and fruity raspberry, blended with gentle notes of wild rose for a fresh, light fragrance that’s reminiscent of a country summer.
St. Ives Gentle Apricot Scrub 150ml £4.29 (www.superdrug.com) A mild cleansing formula that gently exfoliates, removing dull, dead skin cells.
Skin Wisdom Ultimate Lift Night Cream 50ml £1.98 (www.tesco.com) Has specially created to help deal with the needs of ageing skin. It works to reduce the visible signs of ageing by reducing wrinkles and improving the skin’s elasticity and firmness.
Rimmel Hide The Blemish Concealer £3.99 (www.boots.com) A creamy concealer stick that blends to camouflage any skin imperfection. Gives complexion a smooth even appearance.
