Since my teens I have taken skincare seriously.
My Mum was an advocate for Avon and, later, Nutri-Metics, so we were always trying new lotions and potions to optimise skin conditions. A morning and night time skincare routine, from an early age, modelled to me by Mum, was the most natural thing in the world to me.
As much as she loved these products, Mum was very strategic about her spend. With three teenagers to fund and feed, she was an absolute pro at being frugal where it counted, so simple, plain packaged products were often the heroes of our bathroom cabinets.
I remember falling in love with the Body Shop, and their vast array of products (I was an early adopter of fragrance “layering” using their white musk scent). They had a lotion, balm or gel for everything! I remember asking Mum to buy me a carrot cream for dry elbows. She looked squarely at me and said “sorbolene will work just as well for that”.
I felt so uncool! Sorbolene was not a fancy product, but I had been lathering it all over my body, using it as a makeup remover, shaving cream, even a soap as it effectively combatted my dry, excema prone body. So, no carrot cream for my dry elbows (incidentally, that product is now shelved, so looks like Mum was onto something).
That lesson stayed with me as I got older and able to afford higher end products for my skin concerns.
Lately though, I’ve been wandering around Mecca and struggling to justify the prices of the heavily promoted products that, as they always have (even at the Body Shop), promise to work wonders for your skin.
Now, don’t get me wrong: I love Mecca! I love the way their staff greet me, how clued up they are on the products, their redemption on product for makeup and facials and I’m a proud Level 3 Beauty Aficionado, easily influenced by this loyalty program to spend regularly there.
I have used Goop, Drunk Elephant, Go-To,, Dr Dennis Gross, Emma Lewisham, Tatcha, Dermologica and, more recently, cult Australian brand JS Health. I also love Skin Juice.
I’ve loved them all and, if anyone asks, happily divulge my beauty “secrets”.
And by my reckoning, the products work, as my skin is in pretty good condition particularly when I look after it properly.
But, with the cost of living, I am questioning the cost of this investment in my derma, and the price per 100ml I am paying is arguably more than I spend on food to feed my family!
So I went to chat gpt to crunch some data. Now, chat gpt may not be a certifiably reliable source, however it’s a good starting point and also converted the results into a spreadsheet for my analysis!
I asked it to rank the top 5 best value skincare ranges for mature skin that gets results backed by proper clinical research.
The answer? Top ranking for both results and lowest average price per 100ml of product:
Available online and at retail outlets such as Priceline Pharmacy in Australia, I have used these products before, attracted to their no-nonsense packaging and use of high quality active ingredients such as peptides, retinoids and squalane.
I rate their Multi Peptide eye serum (as has my husband), Natural Moisturising Factors +HA and a couple of serums.
I’ve not been disappointed.
Coincidentally, I visited their outlet in London’s Old Spitalfields market recently where they were promoting their new lip balm.
It is amazing, perfect for people with dry lips. I know that sounds ridiculous, but this is not a balm for glossy pouts, this is for getting your lips to a soft, kissable state and keeping them there!
I bought some for my husband and I ahead of a week in the Santorini sun and it worked a treat!
Here’s the big upside of this experiment. The products are, for my budget, very affordable. I’m much more comfortable trying the range when I’m not forking out in excess of $50 per product. So, once my current products run out, I’m committed to making the switch to the Ordinary.
Curious? You can take a quick online quiz to “Build Your Regimen“, for product recommendations that address your stated skincare concerns.
Rounding out the top 5, chat gpt listed CeraVe, Neutragena, La Roche Posay and Olay with an honourable mention to L’Oreal.
What about acne prone skin? Well, The Ordinary came in as #1 again, followed by CeraVe, Neutrogena and Paula’s Choice (the latter I’ve used at the suggestion of my botox doctor. I rate it for mature skin as well).
And for women in their 30s? It’s our same top 5, but #1 being CeraVe.
On the theme of maintaining a daily skincare routine that fits a budget constantly accommodating cost of living increases, these are my other affordable go-to’s right now:
Body lotion: QV. it’s not as heavy as sorbolene but similarly multi use including for shaving and (as my husband does) hair styling.
Exfoliants: exfoliating stones (usually French clay) last forever and work just as well as expensive scrubs. I have one for face and a rougher one for body I bought at a local market, you can check them out online. Body brushing with a loofah is also inexpensive. For a scrub, I use brown sugar and coconut oil. It smells and tastes amazing and is good for body and face.
Dove body wash. Our kids love this, too, we buy bulk size from Aldi which is cheaper than the other supermarkets. It’s super moisturising and a little goes a long way.
Face spray: this literally hydrates the skin from the outside in, which is awesome in hot weather or air conditioning. I carry it in my handbag and spritz as needed. It’s become a bit of a hit with my friends too. I use Mario Bedescu, but you can check out other brands from pharmacies and supermarkets, or make your own if you’re really into it.
Speaking of hydration. The cheapest hydration for your skin is the one that comes from the inside: water. And not the kind that comes in wine or coffee! If you really want to take care of your skin, get your hydration right first.
So there you have it: an aggregated view on the most effective, good value skincare around (for mature skin), that’s tried and tested by me!
It should go without saying, but I have no affiliated marketing or financial arrangements with any of the brands listed here, these views are completely my own.
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