Okay I am not getting any younger and I decided I needed to take better care of my skin. But I am a cheapskate. I really don't do anything know but bar soap. I know its horrible. I had this "free" Merle Norman coupon for a makeover. I used it yesterday because I was going to a party last night. Anyway of course the girl almost died when I told her about facial regimen. I ended up walking out with a $22 bottle of stuff that I really am not sure what to do with. Its more of just an exfoliating mask. I do have blackheads that she said this would take care of and hopefully this big tube will last me a loooong time. So know I have to buy some kind of cleansing and possibly moisturizer. They had a cleansing bar that she said I could get away with. But seriously it was $15 dollars for a bar of soap. The moistrizer was anywhere from $22-43. I can not bear to pay this much. So please share your good, not so exspensive products. I would even be willing to try Clinique or something if it is cheaper. I am almost afraid of those kind of places though. Because I think I have sucker written on my forehead. I would be safer in a drugstore. Also do you really need moistruizer?? I have oily skin in the summer. Do you all use eye cream? Sorry so many questions.

By Conni on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 02:00 pm:

I currently use some Neutrogena products that you can find at Wal-Mart. In Sept I ordered the Proactiv products because I was tired of having pimples and I really do like it so far...

I use alot of Mary Kay products that I like. I have to say tho, that my friends sell it and they are always very kind and give me *lots* of samples when I buy things from them. It makes it to where I dont have to buy things as often. lol

Really you just have to try diff things on *your* skin and see what works best for you. My Mom has used Clinique and Estee Lauder products for yrs. I cant use Clinique and never have been able too for some reason. I do like Estee Lauder and Lancome and from time to time if they have a promotion going w/ a free gift I will buy something from them.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 02:31 pm:

I don't really do anything. I have some Mary Kay stuff I could be using, but I hate doing that EVERY single day!

By Pamt on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 03:08 pm:

There are plenty of things at the drugstore that are just fine. I am currently using 3-step Neutrogena facial products. I think it was about $20 for all 3 and I've had them for several months--facial cleanser, overnight acne control, and morning moisturizer. I do have oily skin, but it gets dry between my eyebrows and on my cheeks. You can select facial care products specifically for oily or combination skin. I do use a moisturizer daily--an oil-free light moisturizer designed for oily skin. I am a cheapskate too! I haven't tried any of the Burt's Bees facial care products, but I love their other stuff and the fact that it's all natural, so I'm thinking about trying them next. My grandmother always took such good care of her skin and even into her 90s she had very few wrinkles and her skin was always so soft. It IS important to take care of it.

By Tink on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 03:42 pm:

I have been using some kind of Aveeno face care for years now. I really like the quality and they are very reasonably priced. I get mine at Target and am currently using their blemish bar and calming moisturizer. I never thought I needed a moisturizer until I started using one. My skin is so much softer and it hasn't made it any oilier.

By Kym on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 03:47 pm:

Beth, e-mail me for more info if interested k bal tunis at cox dot net

By Reds9298 on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 04:24 pm:

I'm one of those people that stopped using the cheaper stuff once I saw the results from the pricier stuff. Until a few years ago I religiously used BioElements (a salon product) which is WONDERFUL...but it is expensive. Well worth it, but expensive. (I had to stop due to hormonal probs and now use only Proactiv which I highly recommend for sensitive skin.)

I do think it's true that you just have to start trying things to see what works for you. Good luck!

By Amecmom on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 04:39 pm:

I used to use only clinique or Lancome - now I find I get great results from an Olay daily facial cloth - which removes make up - and either Cetaphil cream or Triple Aloe moisturizer that most nail salons use.

Ditto everyone who said you have to find what works for you. But I know I used to spend over $50 on a little jar of face cream and the cetaphil cream is just as good. Also the key is to be consistent in your routine.

Ame

By Alberobello on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 05:19 pm:

I don't believe in that expensive stuff is any different. Why would so many women in the world who have never heard of anything such as Clinique or whatever have great skins, and others who use the most expensive products still have problems with their skin. In my opinion it just depends on our different types of skin, and on what we eat sometimes and maybe a little on the care we give to it.

Saying that I think our faces need a bit of moisturiser but maybe is because we don't drink enough water or something else, and also because it feels nice!

I wash my face with "dove" soap (the plain bar) and then use a nice cheap cream like Johnsons & Johnsons day + night cream (or something like that) which costs about £3 (about $5). But recently i discovered an Italian cream called "Cera di Cupra" which is very cheap but beautiful; it's one of those they used to sell in the drugstores years ago and they still make it, not a famous brand or anything.

Ditto everyone on whatever works for you, but i understand completely why you don't want to pay $20 for a cream, to me it's just plain silly but that's just me!

By Feona on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 06:17 pm:

You know I recently stopped using everything. My face looks better than ever.... I just use a md forte on it to clean it once in a while. I can't stand anything on my face since I am pregnant.

My mother said you can't stop the wrinkles once they start. I think it is true. The moisturizers all do cause werid bumps for me too.


cetaphil cream is a good cream, but when I use stuff I like spf 30 in it. My face is so sun damaged. I like the proactive spf30 stuff from face. I can skip the bumps them...

By Truestori on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 11:05 pm:

I have heard that the stuff you wash off isn't important, its the stuff you leave on that is. I would invest in a good eye cream/night cream though.

By Colette on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 08:08 am:

I use Dove soap and neutrogena moisturizers, if I am splurging I will use something from aveda or aubrey organics but usually just those two products for skin care. Once a week I do a mud mask too, but that's just a cheap one that I got at the drug store.

By Groovepickle on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 08:18 am:

OH I HAVE TO SAY! The new olay microdermabrasion rocks! This is sad I will admit to my poor facial routine, I really never use anything to wash my face. Just water and only once a day if I can't avoid washing it at all. But I got a sample of Olay microdermabrasion somewhere and in the morning when my husband was sleeping I used it. When he woke up he said "You look like a young Weasel!" (Weasel is my nickname) Since then I've used it once a week and am always getting comments on how nice my skin is. Depending on where you get it it's from about $23 -$30.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 10:46 am:

I used to use nothing but Estee Lauder products on my face. But it was too costly, so I haven't used it in years. I've been using Olay products, and a Loreal microdermabrasion thing. I like the way my skin looks and feels. Try the Olay *skin polisher* - it heats when it contacts with water and makes your skin so soft!

Fortunately I don't have problems with zits these days, just want to deal with the fine lines and the dry skin.

By Feona on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 11:10 am:

By the way you can go to drugstore.com and sort products by best selling or best rating.

You can get a feel for what is working for the most people.

They have categories with these products:

Face Moisturizer
Face cleanser
eye cream.

If you want spf then add spf to search. If you want tint then add tint or tinted to search.

Keeping in mind that what works for someone is based on their age and also where they have sensitive or bump prone face. (Too complicated isn't it?)

You can do the same thing at beauty.com for the more expensive stuff.