5 Things Friday
This week, it's a mixed bag, including topping up my wellbeing with a bit of me time, making the most of a brief break in the rain and my thoughts on embracing the grey.
Hi, how are we all? It’s been a little while since we had a random chit-chat on here. We’ve turned back the clocks, the Easter holidays went in a flash and the weather is stuck in a permanent cycle of rain, wind and more rain. I had a bit of time off from Instagram, which gave me a little headspace and some time to reflect. So get a brew on, pull up a chair and let's begin.
So, this week has got me…
1. Considering - is expensive skincare worth it?
I recently collaborated with a skincare brand, using one of their products and sharing my results. The product in question was £90 for a small pot of eye cream. To be fair, you only need a dap, so it’s going to last a long time and I was really pleased with my results, but it did make me consider how much it costs to take care of your skin nowadays. My skincare regime in my 50s is far more rigorous and science-led than my mother’s was. I don’t think she ever did anything more than a nightly application of Oil of Ulay for 50 years. My daughters are far more savvy now than I ever was in my teens. Whereas we stripped our teenage skin with Clearasil, my girls ship all their serums and retinols in from Korea (skincare capital of the world) and have been applying daily SPF since their late teens. You practically need a science degree nowadays to understand what to use, nevermind what order to use it in. However, you don’t need to have an extremely expensive skincare regime in order to have an effective one. You just need to make sure you’re spending your money in the right places – that really is the key to achieving results. So, which products are worth investing in? And where can you save your money? After a little research, here’s my opinion:
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Cleansers - I’ve been doing the double cleanse routine for about 7 years now and do feel it’s made a difference to my skin. I guess it makes sense that you need to get all your make-up off before your cleanser can do any good. I do love the Dermalogica Pre-cleanse (it’s oil based and feels lovely on the skin), but you don’t need to spend money on expensive cleaners. Essentially, as long as your cleanser is removing all your make up, it has done its job, and you’re then washing the product off your face and down the plughole. So I would recommend you don’t spend your pennies there.
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Toners - Don’t bother! Most skincare experts now agree that with the use of retinoids and serums you don’t need to include toner in your skincare routine.
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Serum/Treatments - This is where you may want to spend your cash. Most of them use high-performing ingredients -and that costs money. Your serums are the products you are relying on to target skin concerns and how you will get results, so that’s where you should be investing. One thing I always do now is remove my make-up as soon as I get home and get those expensive serums on early in the evening. That way they’ve plenty of time to soak into your skin before your head hits the pillow.
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Moisturisers - You can really think of your day moisturiser as hydration and protection and you needn’t spend a lot for that. However, with night-time ones, you want to look for added ingredients. Over 40s need peptides and retinols and those ingredients mean a moisturiser will cost extra.
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A good dedicated SPF can be found for under £20.
If you're looking to save rather than spend, beauty journalist Sali Hughes suggests going for mega brands owned by L’Oréal (such as CeraVe, Garnier), Unilever (Dove), P&G (Olay), Beiersdorf (Nivea, Eucerin) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (No7), which have enormous bulk-buying power, recruit top cosmetic scientists and have the big budgets to spend on research. So what’s your routine, spend or save or (like me) a mix of both?
2. Making a dedicated time each month for me.
I have decided to give myself a monthly treat and have absolutely no guilt about it. I usually treat myself to a facial once every few years; I absolutely love it and every time I promise myself I will make it a regular occurrence - and then don't get round to it for another 12 months! Is it the same for us all? The last few years have been busy. Like most of you, I’ve juggled bringing up children with caring for elderly relatives, working a demanding job or two and keeping everything running like a well oiled machine. It’s bloody exhausting! So, after losing my mum last month, I was feeling particularly worn out and booked myself a hydra-facial as a treat. It was an hour of pure relaxation. I completely drifted off and my skin looked revived and glowing afterwards. Whereas normally I’d promise myself I would book another one soon, this time I did it there and then and have already got the next date in the diary. It doesn’t have to be a facial, but I would highly recommend finding something you enjoy that gives you time out. Making yourself a priority just once a month is something we can all benefit from… and without any guilt!