Hello again
Before I start on products for my skin, I’d just like to say how much I appreciate those of you who commented on the last two posts and thank you for being so kind. The family health drama is resolved and we are back to normal, whatever normal is!
Also note that I do listen to you. I bought a mousse and it really has plumped up my hair. It’s still a bad cut but I can live with it. The product is TRESemme Curl Mousse and I’ll be using it for the duration. I also bought three White Hot Hair products and will be using the Brilliant shampoo occasionally, and the other one regularly to brighten my hair – for more information on these products and how to use them go to the link above.
Hair is such a part of one’s identity and I thank all of you who took time to share your worries and thoughts about your own hair. And for those of you with thinning hair, don’t forget to look at Catherine’s Atypical60 blog as she is such a role model for thinning and balding hair. As for her solution, which is to wear a wig, her wigs are amazing, truly lovely. If you take a look at them you’ll realise that they are the answer to alopecia.
Now for the skin care regime and the products I use. Skincare is not btw, something I’ve just started to ward off the wrinkles. I have always used products, since I was a teenager in fact. It is a routine that has been part of my life for ever. It’s ingrained, it’s part of me, probably because every day I watched my mother sitting in front of her dressing-table ‘putting on her face’, so it’s what I do. Also can I say I do not get sent freebies or get paid for my thoughts – these are my honest unsolicited views.
Ok, let’s start with the fact that I use a lot of different brands. I don’t stick with just one make – I’m a bit of tart, tbh, I’ll try anything.
My evening routine is the longest as I am taking off the grime of the day and my makeup, so here it is. I start with Simple, Kind to Eyes, Eye Makeup Remover. It’s excellent, inexpensive and really works.
Then to remove the combination of dirt and the makeup that I wear during the day I use Simple Cleanser, which is also excellent and inexpensive. I love it and have used it for decades.
After that I do something that not everyone approves of – I wash my face with soap. It is right for me, but not everyone will want to do this. I have the view that it is all part of the cleansing that is needed at the end of the day. But I use a very pure version of soap, a Friendly Shea Butter Facial Cleansing Bar, which btw, lasts and lasts, is inexpensive and has very few ingredients, only 4 in fact, which is so different to most soaps on the market. I use the soap then taking a hot flannel, I softly press the flannel to my face and gently wash the soap suds off.
Then I use a toner. I’ve used Simple’s inexpensive products for years, and that would have included their toner, but I have recently changed to another, a Lancome toner, which I have found to be calming and gentle. It is Tonique Comfort Toner for Dry Skin. I absolutely love it and worth every penny of the extra money it costs. You can probably buy it elsewhere for less – I use Boots online. Toners are important as they get rid of any residual dirt from the day and any makeup still on your face.
Then it is time for my moisturiser. Btw, I have decided to stop using a serum for my face as I use an eye serum, more about that is a minute. With regard to moisturising (which I see as key part of my night time routine) I change and change about with these moisturisers, I do not stick with just one brand. The brand I like best is Boots No 7. I often use Boots No 7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck MULTI ACTION Night Cream. (Apologies for using an Amazon link but the Boots link kept linking to my personal account!) Recently I have used one of Boots newer products the No 7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Night Cream. Can’t say I noticed much difference between the two. Currently I’m using Protect & Perfect Intense Night Cream. They’re all pretty good and manufactured by a huge company that has an enormous capacity for research, so you can trust them to do right by you.
I occasionally use Look Fabulous Forever’s moisturisers, but not so much these days as they are a tad more expensive. But I have used their Deeply Dreamy Night Cream and can say it is a good moisturiser. Every now and then I treat myself and get a Lancome moisturiser, when I feel I can afford it, but never their more expensive creams. One I have used is Lancome’s Hydra Zen Neurocalm Rich Cream moisturiser and very lovely it is too.
Recently I tried another product, Nivea’s Intensive Anti-Ageing Night Cream but wasn’t keen on the fact that it has a slight purple dye in the cream. I think this month I shall buy another Boots No 7 night moisturiser.
Now the eye serums I use. Over the years I have tried many eye creams, you name it I’ve used them. But they have never made much impact on the lines under my eyes or the increasingly hooded area of my eye-lids, which were near to being droopy with that fold that comes over them as you age.
A little detour. I wonder how many of you are thinking, this is far too much to put on one’s face, and really it does’t matter what you do or what product you buy, it’s all the same and anyway it won’t make any difference. To a certain extent I would agree with you, but only so far. I’ll tell you what I think. You cannot turn back the clock – there are no moisturisers and/or concealers that will get rid of those lines. If you are that bothered by your laughter and age lines there are far more radical ways to reduce these lines, up to and including surgery. And if you want that, fine, but cleansing and hydration is important as this softens and reduces the dryness you might be experiencing. Indeed, a good skin care routine can delay the ageing of one’s skin, and I say, why wouldn’t you attempt that.
Of course, skin care is a complex subject, and I sometimes think we need our school science hats on to understand what our skin wants. There are dead cells to get rid of and the pH level of our skin to maintain, but what do the scientists actually know. To get more information on our skin I watched a Zoe Youtube podcast, Skin Ageing & Acne, which had a consultant dermatologist talking about skin. I’d say about the last 1/3 is on our ageing skin. The gist of it was that there are intrinsic factors that affect our ageing skin and extrinsic factors. The intrinsic factors include our chronological age and our genetic makeup. For instance, did your mother have good skin? Then you are likely to have good skin as well. Extrinsic factors are how the environment and what we eat affects our skin.
I expect you all knew that out of all the causes of ageing skin 80% is down to damage from the sun. Yes, we need our Vitamin D, but the consultant was clear: put on the 50% SPF cream; stay out of the sun particularly during the middle of the day; and if you can’t do that cover up. She also said, that with regard to collagen supplements – the jury is out on this. But why not instead eat a Mediterranean diet? She summed up by saying that the three things you could do to help postpone the skin ageing process (which is inevitable) would to use, first and foremost, a high protection sun screen, then use Retinol, at night (it does cause some sensitivity to the sun) and third, use antioxidents on your skin like Vitamin C. The podcast lasted an hour and I do highly recommend it to you.
So, turning the clock back? No, these products won’t do that. I particularly do not like concealers, which supposedly hide lines, but they don’t, and very often they accentuate them as the product clogs up into those lines.
However. On that cruise (the one I keep harking back to – sorry!) I had a facial, which was eye-wateringly expensive. But wow, was it lovely to have. And then, for my sins, I bought two Elemis products.
Oh my word, the expense! They were Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment, which is an eye serum and the Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal, which is a cream. And I’m kind of flabbergasted as something extraordinary has happened. I wish I’d taken a before photo, so you’ll have to believe me, but my eyes always had quite a large eye lid area and I could put on a lot of eye makeup on that lid. Over the years though, the flesh above has slowly encroached onto my eye lids and I thought hooded eyes were definitely on the cards.
Gosh, after only a few weeks of putting these products on, and I have to say, additionally, massaging above the eyes as the beautician instructed me (which was to lift the area above the eye, carefully with one finger, just under the eyebrow) I have much of those lids back! So it might be the massaging and/or the product, but no eye serum or cream has ever had any impact on the state of my eye area before trying Elemis – so I’m sold and never mind the price.
I mean I am contradicting what I’ve said throughout this post, but maybe the result I’ve had is the combination of doing the massage and the particular product….? Tbh, I’m not sure what’s happened, but I will continue that regime around my eyes for the duration.
Anyway, that is about it for my night-time routine, which takes about 20 minutes. Of course, my daytime routine would include adding a 50SPF sunscreen (I use Eucerin) particularly on my nose, and once a week, I exfoliate using an enzyme exfoliator followed by a mask. Sometime soon I’ll tell you about my daytime routine and the makeup I use too!
That really is all for now but do tell about your skin care routines and whether you think it’s worth the time, effort and expense!
With love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
Wow Penny you use a lot more products and spend a lot more time on your skin than I do! Partly I just can’t be bothered & I’m very cynical about the claims that are made for skin and hair care. Starting with hair I didn’t like the White Hot products and neither did either of my sisters but I can’t remember why now! I use a solid shampoo with occasional applications of L’Oreal Serie Expert Silver ; I’ve had the bottle for years. I’m using a styling spray by Karen Ess with which I was impressed at first but not so sure now.
I use a micellar type cleanser and a wash off one in the morning ; just finished one by Tropic now going to give the LFF one a try. I’ve used Avon creams all my life and people say I have a good skin but, as you say, genes are very important too. I like a serum under my make-up ( which has as my skin is quite dry but I don’t bother with separate eye products. I’ve bought them in the past but I don’t use them. I was given a skin roller but just too much bother after a couple of weeks. My sister said that Elemis products are best , you can get offers on QVC apparently. She had MS and loved home shopping with the channel. My eyelids have dropped a bit now but I accept it.
BTW I’m going on a cruise next week, 13 days to Iceland with Olsen! I really thought I’d never be able to do it again and was contemplating ditching my fancy dresses but we’ve found insurance for me, pricey but worth it. Bring on the glitz!
OMG Lynda, I can’t tell you how happy that news of a cruise has made me. Sooo delighted that you are going on one! It will do you the world of good. Yay, good old Fred. Enjoy!!!
I really have had a bad hair cut but can live with it! I must never ever put layers in again. It’s a bit of a bore having to find another hairdresser though.
I do think genes are key as I know that the people who say they don’t have any kind of skin regime but just wash their face and put on some basic Nivea do have wonderful skin. Because I’ve looked at them and yes, they don’t need to do anything. Lucky them. However, with some people I do see the sun damage that is becomes increasingly apparent – staying out of the sun is so key to skin care. I think back to my teenage years and shudder at the number of times I had burnt skin!!!
Thanks Lynda and enjoy the decision-making with your packing, and the cruise…. three cheers from me over that and ENJOY!
Hi Penny thank you for this blog. Like you I’ve had a routine going for years with skincare and having lived in Italy for nearly twenty years I am very careful about covering up in the sun!
I have very sensitive eczema prone skin and I have to be careful what I use. I have tried everything in the past but now I stick to a combination of products from La Roche Posay and Avene.
Both brands are popular here but most importantly they don’t irritate my skin and both are recommended in hospitals here for people with really sensitive skin.
They have a lovely creamy cleanser which I use at night and remove with a flannel.
They are not cheap but they suit my kind of sensitive skin.
Looking forward to hearing about your daytime routine and make up too?
Charmaine
Ah yes, when I lived in Switzerland (that’s many years ago) I remember buying La Roche Posay, which was a very good brand. I’m not sure if it is sold in any of our UK shops but I know it’s an excellent product.
RE: the sun, us Brits go mad when it’s sunny (like all this week) we rush out into it and expose our skin and think it’s nice but really it isn’t. Am I right in thinking that Italy’s heat is dryer? I’m finding the humidity of the heat here awful – it’s like walking around in a can of soup! Not really enjoying this week’s hot weather at all.
I have bought cheaper brands and in the long run they are not worth it – very taken with Elemis products so will buy a few more every now and then – when I feel I can afford it!
I definitely plan to write about my day-time routine which will include my makeup. Thanks Charmaine 🙂
Liz Earle
Absolutely Brilliant hot cloth cleanser
And the superskin range
I’ve used it for years it’s brilliant and cruelty free
I’ve heard that Liz Earle is good, very good. Will try it at some point, but for the moment I’ll be experimenting with the Elemis range – am very impressed with it so far.
Thanks so much Jayne 🙂
Thanks, Penny for the reports and suggestions which I will try. I, too, use the No. 7 line of moisturizers and Simple cleansing fluids. All work well, but I turned 79 yesterday, and the close up photos show much deeper lines ( really, crevices!) than I can see in the mirror (macular degeneration). Clearly, my sunscreen wasn’t’t up to the job.
Oh that’s good, you’re another No 7 and Simple fan! And yes the deeper lines do appear, don’t they! I wince when I think of the sunbathing I used to do. You never thought…..
Thanks Sharon 🙂
I fell in love with Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect and have used it for years and years — but I prefer the serum to the cream. I don’t like the feel of heavy moisturizers or makeup. I use the No 7 make up remover wipes followed by the serum and call it good. Thankfully a couple shops in the US now stock it and I don’t have to bring it back from the UK or beg friends to bring it when they visit.
Oh good, so glad you can get Boots No 7 in the States – I did wonder.
Thanks Katji 🙂
I’m always looking for that ultimate amazing skin care product that will make me look 10 years younger 🤣 but do realise this is an impossible dream. However, one item I will never sway away from is Liz Earle cleanse and polish to take off my make-up at the end of the day. It isn’t cheap but it really does the job and will remove eye make-up too. It comes with a cloth and this is what exfoliates the skin and I love it. All other products I use vary all the time but, like you, No.7 is usually on my agenda and I’m trying their new range serum at the moment so will let you know in a while as I’ve only just started using it. Elemis pro collagen marine cream extra rich is another favourite daily moisturiser and they do a lighter one for those with a combination skin. I think most of us older ladies benefit from the extra rich one.
Hi Lynda. I’ve heard that Liz Earle is an excellent brand but haven’t tried it as yet. Because I’ve had such success with the two Elemis products I shall continue trying these out first and have thought I might get the Elemis marine cream – sounds as though it’s right up my street! I shall look for one of those platforms that do the lower prices.
Thanks Lynda 🙂
So happy to see you back and that the crisis is past. Such an interesting topic. even at the stage in life I confess I still search out products which will help me look my best. And I admit I have a fair degree of skepticism. The Boots products are interesting and I have heard that they are carried here in the US, though I have not seen them myself. I am also curious about Elemis. This is what I do now. For a number of years I have used the IT cosmetics CC cream as my foundation. It has a SPF of 50 so that is my sun protection. When I went to get a new tube the salesperson asked what I used under it and at the time I was trying Hylau B5 serum by Laroche -Posay, a hyleronic acid serum. it was a bit sticky and felt kind of heavy under the IT. She urged me to try Strivectin, showed my a three piece set of their lift and tighten peptide line. There was a facial serum, an eye serum and a neck cream. She remarked it was a really good value. well, I did try it and I actually think I could see a difference. my neck felt tighter and the area under my eyes was smooth, where I had really seen a texture change. I was very surprised to say the least. I am still using them and actually today I did go to Ulta, the beauty product store to get a new eye serum as I had used the last of the tube from the set. the price was quite high, but I decided to go for it. So basically I am using these three products both AM under makeup and at night. I take off my eye makeup with micelular water and use Cetaphil cleanser first with my hands and then a washcloth. then the above products. the Cetaphil I can get even in the supermarket. occasionally I will admit to using St Ives fresh skin almond scrub to exfoliate. this is a very old and cheap product and many will probably wince at the thought at using it on the face. I use it very gently and don’t get any irritation and I think it gets rid of the stuff that gets trapped under the surface. I find that soaps on my face make it tights but do use a common one, Dove, on my body. shower gels might be nice but to me another plastic container to litter the planet. So a mix of inexpensive products and a couple of more pricy ones and not overly complicated.
On my hair I have been using a gel to style it for years and I am not sure it is even made any more, Sebastian Potion 9. I have to keep searching it out.
What I do like about your blog Penny, among many other things is that you do not have sponsorships for clothing or products so it’s yours and your followers honest experience. Anyway, that is my take on this interesting topic. Love from New York, Darby
i use it very gently
Oh it’s great to see someone taking as much care with your face as I do. So interesting to hear what you do.
I’d never heard of Strivectin and yet it is on sale in the UK and some of the products quite reasonable too. Boots No 7 is consistently good and a mid-range price. I’ve tried cheaper and feel now I’d rather not do that. I am rather taken with the results of the Elemis products for the eyes and will attempt to use other Elemis products if I can find an outlet that sells at a lower price.
Thanks for those kind words – actually I have no idea how to get freebies! I was told you have to ask and I did that once and they said I didn’t have enough followers. Well there you are, they want you to influence large numbers of people. I’m quite glad I don’t qualify!!!
Very best to you, Darby, from a muggy, soupy Lewes, it’s hot weather but very humid. Thanks as always 🙂
I don’t think you use too many products at all, Penny. I think I use more than that, actually! I double cleanse with an oil first to remove my makeup and then cleanse again with something from Clinique. I am trying to find a different toner. The last two I’ve had have had bits and pieces of botanical material which looks pretty in the bottle but not on the face! I’ve been thinking about a Clinique but may try your Lancome one. I then use a couple of serums…hyaluronic acid is one. Then, moisturizer…not sure of the current brand because I, too, am fickle followed by a retinol oil every other night. I am very interested in your Elemis review. I’ve used some of their products and like them, but, gosh, are they expensive! My serums are from The Ordinary company and are very inexpensive. I’ve used No. 7 items before and liked them, too. See, I really do bounce around. I do need to find an exfoliator. I have a monthly facial subscription at a medical spa, but they just raised the rate $75…not to $75, but up $75!!! There’s an Aveda school not far from me where I can get student facials for $30. But, I like and trust my aesthetician. I just can’t justify that price. I’m so torn!
Anyway, I hope you have a fabulous week, and I’m so glad your family crisis is over!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Hi Marsha and how lovely to hear that you take care of your skin as much as I do! The Lancome toner is lovely and not too pricey but the Elemis, yes that costs. I’m going to search for those platforms that sell at a cheaper price and also look for Elemis when they have a sale. I do like the results of using the Elemis eye cream and serum so will continue with them for some time.
I go to a very good beautician. I guess you could call her an aesthetician as she does all sorts of procedures most of which I don’t even begin to try. But her bespoke facial is soooo good. I’m going for one on Thursday – can’t wait! And I’ve hears to The Ordinary and know it’s sold here so I must look it up banditry something.
Thanks Marsha – you have a good week too 🙂
Morning Penny
Very good news that your family crisis is over and thanks for this interesting post. I’m glad you’ve found a solution whilst you grow your hair longer and thanks for the tip on the mousse. I’ll give it a go. I’d like to find something that makes my grey hair shine more. I want to be silver – not grey! I used Ojon for a while but it’s been discontinued. I’ve tried Philip Kingsley and White Hot Hair but neither as good (for me) as Ojon.
I’ve always loved make-up and I’m always interested in other people’s ‘beauty regimes’, probably because my mother and grandmother did not wear make up and simply washed their faces with Palmolive soap, augmented with a bar of Wrights Coal Tar or Durbac once in a while. Neither wore make up or face cream. Their only protection was avoiding the sun. Both covered their faces with a towel while sitting on the beach (Naturally, I thought they were stupid and most embarrassing!) As a consequence of their austerity, I’ve always loved make-up and beauty regimes/products. Occasionally I do go out without make-up and it’s interesting to notice how differently I am seen/treated but, survey aside, I’m a 100% make-up gal.
When I was a teenager a woman came to my youth club to gave a presentation on make-up, cleansing etc. She recommended a couple of things: when massaging cream into our face and neck always use upward, outward strokes; don’t pull the skin down and never rub the skin under your eyes as it is very delicate and stretches. i’ve absolutely no idea whether there’s any facts in this but, at 77, I’m still following the lady’s advice 😉 And I’m going to try lift-massaging my upper eyelids – thanks for that tip.
For many years I used Ann French Cleansing Milk until about 15 years ago when my daughter treated me to an Eve Lom facial. She recommended a massage routine around the pressure points on the face and then massaging from behind the ears down to the collar bone which she said helped lymphic drainage. I still do that – unless I’m a bit the worst for wine (!) but what impressed me most was her saying, “Most women put too much on their faces” and, in line with her philosophy only sold cleanser which she removed with a hot cloth and finished with a spalsh of cold water. Her complexion was amazing so I followed her routine incorporating her massage with what I’d been advised all those years before. For years John Lewis offered a free facial with a purchase of larger cleanser. About ten years ago she retired and sold up. The company kept her name and has introduced additional products. The cleanser is still very good – and still ridiculously expensive but it does last months. Now retired, I only use it if I’ve received it as a present.
My go-to products these days are Beauty Pie’s Japanfusion cleanser, toner, serum and night cream. But before I cleanse I remove make-up with baby lotion – cheap, cheerful and works. I also use Beauty Pie’s retinol hand cream at night. Talking of hands, my glamourous aunt in Brighton advised me many, many years ago that “bright nail polish detracts from ageing hands” – that old bird knew a thing or two: I follow her advice on that too.
I thought of you yesterday when I came across a delightful shop in Bridport: T. Snook “the largest little hat shop in the land”
All the very best, Mary
Hi Mary, and I too have always been interested in skincare and makeup. As I said I follow my mother in this. And gosh yes, Anne French Cleansing Milk, I used that for years!
I’ve heard of Eve Lom but I’m always ever so slightly suspicious of people who say you do not need so much on your face or nothing at all. Lucky them I think, you’ve got great skin. Mine was always full of acne and sensitive, then oily and quite spotty and sensitive and now much dryer and still a bit sensitive. I’m very careful with it, and I know just from how it feels that I need to moisturise.
I might try Beauty Pie’s Retinol hand cream as my hands are now so aged, with extremely thin skin and no flesh on them at all.They’re classic ‘old lady’ hands but I totally agree with you that a bright nail varnish does the hands a world of good. They do indeed look better.
Even in this sunshine hardly anyone wears a hat. I’m looking forward to wearing my winter hats.
Thanks Mary – have a lovely week 🙂
That sounds like a very thorough skin care regime. I’d be tempted to try the Elemis creams for the eyes as, I too, fear I’ll end up with hooded eyes; my eyes are deep set anyway and more prone to hooding, I think.
I’m a fan of Lacura products (Aldi). I use their eye cream and facial serum and have used the serum for about 5 or 6 years now; the eye cream is only in the last couple of years. Their Caviar night cream is also very good and I’m currently finishing up a jar. Then I will revert to my Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference night cream and day cream which I’ve been using and buying on the ferry to and from Ireland for the past 9 years.
I’m glad to hear your family crisis has been resolved – sometimes family are such a worry…
xxx