12 Days of Christmas: Day 9
December 13, 201112 Days of Christmas: Day 11
December 15, 2011Today I thought I’d tell you about my Skin Care routine.
One of the things I love about learning about the past, and vintage glamour, is finding all those forgotten wonder products that our grandmothers and great grandmothers used for generations, and somehow we forgot. The thing I love about living right now is that I’m free to combine those with the latest Hi Tech advances in skin care and cosmetics to get the very best results, for the best price.
I remember when I had a full time job, every pay day I used to end up in Boots with a basket of goodies that would cost me a small fortune. Skin wipes, toners, spot cream, moisturiser, pore strips, shampoo, conditioner, it all seemed to need replacing on a fortnightly basis. Self employment forced me to be more thrifty, but thankfully my particular area of self employment has also led to me finding ways of needing less of this stuff. My Shampoo and Conditioner, for instance, seems to last for months now I only wash my hair once or twice a week, and a monthly bottle of setting lotion is way cheaper than all those expensive volumising sprays that didn’t work I used to waste my money on.
My skin care routine varies slightly in Summer and Winter, but these are the products that I find brilliant in Winter.
Cold Cream
I used to have problems with dry patches around my nose and chin, plus I seemed to get terrible spots, which seemed unfair considering my advanced age. I spent a fortune on face wipes (still handy for travel, camping and late night laziness) that just didn’t seem to cut the mustard.
Then I discovered Cold Cream. I started off using the classic Ponds Cold Cream (Ā£4.49 for 50ml) which I loved, but didn’t last long for the money. Then I started using Boots Traditional Cold Cream at just Ā£2.42 for 200ml. It last ages, the tub is cute and it’s really cheap. There is some debate about whether the mineral oils in cold cream block pores. All I can say is that I’ve been using it for 2 years now and get far less spots than I used to, plus my skin is super soft and blackheads (urgh) are less too. It’s richness is particularly good in winter when your skin might need extra protection.
How to use it
Slather it all over your face rubbing it into all the nooks and crannys! Look at yourself in the mirror with terror. I use it to remove eye make up too, and I have no problems, even as a contact lens wearer, but you might want to be a bit careful if you have sensitive eyes.
Leave it for a few moments. Maybe brush your teeth while it’s on.
To remove I use a facecloth run under really hot water and then wrung out. I use it to wipe off the cream, rinse again and then hold the hot cloth over my face to open the pores. Then I rinse again and give my skin a bit of a scrub with it for gentle exfoliation. When travelling I decant cold cream into a smaller pot and use cleansing sponges to remove it, which are far more portable.
Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel might not come in a pretty bottle, but as a toner it’s brilliant and cheap and you can always decant it. It’ll not only remove the last of your cold cream and make up, but it’s a great anti-oxidant and astringent so it’s good for fighting spots.It’s also great for scrapes and cuts, shaving rashes and other skin problems, so having a bottle in your cupboard is a good idea! Take a look at the ingredients of other good toners like Simple Soothing Toner (Ā£3.29) or Burts Bees Natural Anti Blemish Solution (Ā£9.99) and you’ll find Witch Hazel there.
Boots Distilled Witch Hazel at Ā£2.99 for 200 ml is the one I buy most often as it’s convenient when I’m buying other beauty products, but places like Wilkinsons do have it cheaper (It’s Ā£2.09 here on Chemists Direct). It’s often with the first aid equipment like plasters and savlon.
Witch Hazel is supposed to be good for dry skin as well, so it’s good all year round, not just in winter. If you specifically have a problem with dry skin, and not blemishes, then I have heard very good reports of Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater (Ā£2.32 for 200ml) and it’s even cheaper!
How to Use It
After removing your cold cream at night use a cotton wool pad to sweep Witch Hazel round your face. Pay particular attention to round your hair line and nose where you might have missed the cleanser. I also sweep it across my eyes, though again, you might want to be careful if you have sensitive eyes.
In the morning I use it after washing my face with soap (see below) or sometimes on its own just as a freshen up!
Wrights Coal Tar Soap
Another super cheap product. Wrights Coal Tar Soap (85p) is antiseptic, so I tend to use it in the Winter only if I’m having a bit of a spotty moment as it can be a little drying (seriously, I’m in my 30s. I think I’m being punished for not having spots as a teenager!).
How to Use It
Do you really need me to tell you how to wash your face with soap?
Day Cream
My skin inconveniently has the habit of bursting out into spots and grease, but if I don’t use moisturiser it gets terribly dry and flaky. Moisturiser is one of the areas I like to spend money when I can, but I’m not loyal to a particular brand of day cream, and what I buy depends on my budget at the time the last one runs out!
When I’m on a budget I’ve always been a fan of Simple skin care products, and I’m currently using Simple Vital Vitamin Day Cream that was sent to me over the Summer, it’s nice and light and absorbs well as a base for make up, though in winter I sometimes need to use something a little heavier in “high flake” risk areas like around my nose.
When I’m feeling a bit flush, or someone buys them for me, 2 other moisturisers I love are Clinique Dramatically Different and Clarins Multi Active Day Cream.
How to Use It
Again, I’m fairly sure you can all apply moisturiser. But a few tips. Massaging well brings blood to the surface of your skin and will make you feel all glowy and healthy. Also try to leave at least 10 minutes between applying moisturiser and putting your make up on to give it chance to sink in a bit. Lastly, Don’t forget your neck….
Night Cream
A product I didn’t bother with for years. But, you know, I’m getting on a bit and it’s never too early to start looking after your skin! Night Cream might seem like an unnecessary luxury, but it does very different things from Day Cream. A Day Cream might contain sunscreens, and it’s job is to protect from the elements and provide a smooth and non greasy base for make up. Night Creams job is normally to provide more intense moisturisation while you sleep, making it particularly pertinent in Winter, and possibly boost collagen levels to help prevent wrinkles.
I’m always wary of any too medicinal claims for skin products, but since using a night cream I have definitely noticed smoother and softer skin on my face. I occasionally try cheaper brands here, but the one I keep coming back to is Soap & Glory’s Night in Shining Armour Cream (Ā£13)
How To Use It
See “Day Cream”, apart from the make up bit, unless you wear make to bed, which you shouldn’t.
I tend to apply night cream in long upward strokes as I once read that helps prevent wrinkles by dragging your skin around. Probably nonsense, but what’s the harm?!
So those are my current skin care essentials.
Are there any wonder products you find particularly brilliant in winter? Especially cheap ones!
P.S. I can’t guarantee it’s good for your skin, but todays Christmas Stocking prize is a miniature of Absolut Citron. All comments on todays post get an extra entry into the Christmas Stocking prize draw! Visit the original giveaway post to see all the prizes, get extra entries and read the T&Cs
47 Comments
Vodka – yum! I’d love to be entered š
oh and my thrifty skin care secret is Cetaphil face wash. looks really medicinal but is the best facewash I have used.
boots cheapo cucumber moituriser for me at Ā£1.52 is brilliant.
washing my face with imperial leather sensitive at the mo, but want some pears soap….
and toning with boots glycerine and rosewater.
I really like Pear’s soap – is cheap and really creamy lather so doesn’t dry you skin out. Haven’t tried the coal tar soap but love the packaging.
Great Post, my beauty routine is simple too, I was thinking about trying ponds but think I’ll go for the boots cream you recommended as well. they only other tip I can suggest is rubbing a slick of vaseline into your lips before bed (or on any stubborn flaky dry skin)
Maxine x
Having just done a media revision session, I took one look at “The thing I love about living right now is that Iām free to combine those with the latest Hi Tech advances in skin care and cosmetics to get the very best results, for the best price.” and thought ‘ooh, postmodern skincare routines’. Talk about overthink!
I work for ‘the man’ (our headmaster, actually a very decent chap) but I am still stingy and old school in my beauty buys. My favourite winter moisturiser is Nivea ‘soft’ in a tub (which I stock up on when it’s on offer). Very rich, no added promises, good for face and hands. I use Ponds clear soap for my face and …. LIDL shampoo, conditioner and hair mousse. All very effective, but cheap.
It’s lemon so it counts as one of my 5 a day right?
Great post! My mum used Ponds Cold Cream her whole life and has beautiful skin. My tip for cheap winter beauty is to make a face mask with natural yogurt and a teaspoon of honey. The yogurt doesn’t even need to be within it’s sell-by date, in fact, older is better! Slather on and leave while you relax in the bath, then rinse off for super soft and nourished skin š
Great tips, Iwork outdoors and have tried at least 20 different lip balms, the one I find the best is cheap and cheerful Nivea š
Being rather strapped for cash over the last few years (and also strapped for time since giving birth to my monsters), I’ve had to be a little more clever with my skincare routine, especially as I don’t always have time to wear make-up so my skin tends to get blasted by the weather a lot. I try to double up on Johnsons moisturisers that I buy for my children (great for handcream and as a top up to my facial moisturiser when my cheeks get dry). My mum always had Johnsons products in, a little tub of Nivea cream (with the foil over the top that you gradually peel back) and she would make up a body scrub with oats every couple of months.
Great post. I use rosewater to freshen up my face in the mornings. Better than harsh toners.
I’m using Boots No. 7 moisturiser, but am thinking of trying a night cream, particularly because winter dries my skin a bit.
I am also a fan of the Boots cold cream and witch hazel combo, but am still trying to find something that may help with my rosacea š
Vodka may be the only answer š
This is a really useful post, thanks! My recommendation is always Olay Complete Care beauty fluid. It’s great for combination skin that can’t take heavy moisturisers (but that goes dry without), and had vitamin E plus SPF15. I swear by the stuff! Perhaps I need a night cream now too?
Fantastic! I’m very much into “granny” cosmetics and have been using cold cream as a mask for a while. I also love pears soap, linco beer shampoo and yardly lavender shower gel. oh, and Euthymol toothpaste. I’m currently hunting for setting lotion!
ps: yes Vodka please!
Apart from some of the products – we basically do the same thing.I use BodyShop vit E oil at night instead of a night cream. Or I use the moisturiser from the Boots range. Nice and thick. I LOVE their cold cream (and shamelessly display my unmakeup-ed chops in a review somewhere in my archives). I use Pears instead of Wrights (but I might give it a whirl!) to wash my face if I really cannie be bovved with cold cream/flannel.
I too have noticed how less I spend on face products. The money I save, I spend on the illusive perfect red lippy. Sigh.
ooh, russian red lipstick from MAC is the perfect way to spend the money you saved. Its not the cheapest, but it lasts for ages, so is very good value.
Aah vodka! My poison of choice š
I’ve recently been trying to simplify my skincare routine. I am 26 and have teenage skin (apparently I’ll appreciate it when I’m older) and I’ve tried all the fancy schmancy products out there so I’m now simplifying things. Oh and actually sticking to a skincare routine rather than just taking my makeup off with a wipe – that might help as well.
I like the smell of coal tar soap but I’ve only ever used it to wash my hands.
Totally agree with how awesome cold cream is!
I love love love distilled witch hazel as a toner, it’s so soothing- when my skin freaked out over the summer and was incredible sensitive, that actually made it better! š xxx
It sounds like your skin is similar to mine. I swear by cold cream to remove my makeup, I use it to remove my eye makeup too and I have super sensitive eyes and never any problems. For shampoos I’m a convert to Lush’s shampoo bars, smell nice and last forever. M&S rose handcream is a cheap must have too. Xx
Face cream isn’t really something I use regularly – but should! This is great info to help me decide what to use xx
Must moisturise more, must moisturise more, must moisturise more…oh and take my make up off before bed – naughty!!
You may not believe me but Bepanthen, sold for babies’ bottoms, is brilliant for protecting and softening the face too!!!!!!
Vaseline on everything!! Booze you say? Vodka you say? Count me in! x x
Hope I win! š
I love Absolut š
Great tips for skincare on a budget. Must try cold cream as my nan had gorgeous skin and she swore by it
Omg I love all those products that you use esp the witch hazel-I havent used it in yrs-I think I will begin again soon LOL xox
Imperial leather soap and water every night and shower gel in the shower on my face in the morning is my skin care routine!
My mum is a Pond’s fan too and she’s 70 and I swear has nary a wrinkle. She swears by that stuff!
Oh and Johnson’s Baby soap is my tip for cheapie but ace. Esp the honey one because it’s a tad extra luxurious, you can get a multipack of 4 for under Ā£2 I am pretty sure esp at Wilkinsons.
Voddy voddy voddy!
I’ve noticed that I worry less about my facial skincare routine once I’ve had a few measures of vodka! RECOMMENDED.
Oooh interesting post. Must make more of an effort with my skin, I have got very lazy recently.
i only use water on my face – so far it seems to work
Woudl love to win yum yum
my trick is lemon juice and washing up liquid in my hair may sound funny but in summer it works to brighten my hair
I’m terrible and do next to nothing with my face! I use sensitive baby wipes for removing make-up and occasionally slap on a bit of vitamin e cream. Maybe I’ll try out some of your favourites. x
I have always been a bit worried about trying cold cream (incase it causes a breakout). I hadn’t thought of using a hot flannel to wipe it off, I might give that a go.
Great skin care routine! I’m sure I could incorporate some Lemon Vodka into mine!
A great product I discovered last year is Clinique’s pore minimizer. Not on the cheap side so I asked for it for Christmas last year, and I still have loads left. You only need to apply a tiny little bit and it works wonders!
PS: Yum, lemon vodka…
You are much too good with your skincare routine! I’m afraid I tend to skimp! The result? When going for a skin consultation recently I was told they could not recommend any products -just botox! So, keep up the good work and you might not end up like me!
Great prize! x
I’m still a face wipe fan since I cant use soap and water, and many products burn me. I’ve been converted to aldis own sensitive wipes which might not be as cheap as soap and water but theyre not a couple of quid a packet either so pretty good value.
Other than moisturising like a crazed person (and I adore no7 protect and perfect) I dont bother with anything else. I may regret this at 60 but as someone who is still asked for ID at 35, I’ll stick with it for now.
After reading this post I am definitely going to give cold cream a try š
I currently use rosewater as a toner, it’s so good: making my skin feel clean, soft and it smells divine too.
Haven’t started using a night cream although it has been recommended from 5 onwards!
I’m developing a skin routine every night that is simple, relaxing and easy to do with a up of tea š
Whatever I use on my skin it’s still all spotty š Might try some of these and see if it makes a difference! š
Nommy! Should help Christmas morning slide by!
I use that cold cream every morning and every night! It’s amazing! Solved all my winter skin problems!
merry christmas. good luck everyone!