Is expensive skincare better than inexpensive?

A lot of perfect skinned celebrities are always coming out of the woodwork saying they use inexpensive products to look after their skin (soap or just water:shakehead:) . I often wonder if they are lying because they are getting paid huge amounts of money to endorse a product.

I always seem to buy moderately expensive skincare and sometimes insanely expensive potions and lotions. Does expensive mean better?

A lot of people say to spend up on certain products (cleansers & moisturisers) and spend less on others (scrubs, toners & eye makeup removers etc). What do you think?

I'm with you, its very confusing. I have been let down by some of the expensive items I have bought and astounded by some cheapies. Now I read the ingrediants list on everything and only buy products that are relatively pure, that is without all the unnecessary crap in them and more active ingrediants. Ultimately I think the key is finding a product that is right for YOU (not Madonna or Cate), no matter what it costs.

Totally agree wiht you Medusa. I think the key is to find whats good for you some ppl on this forum know that cheapie products don't suit there skin so they don't use them. I for example have dry pale skin so i tend to stick with my skin care products to avoid irritation etc. i have products ranging from Natio, loreal and Nivea to the more expensive clinique. Its wat suits you best, also i agree with that certain products are sometimes better when they are more expensive eg. foundation.

I personally get a better result with better quality lines in the following:

Cleansers, Moisturisers, Anti-ageing treatments, masks, foundations, powders, eyeshadows and brushes.

Things to scrimp on include:

Toners, sunscreens, scrubs, eye and lip pencils, mascaras (sometimes) and lip glosses.

Food for thought! :ashamed:

This an interesting subject, because I have tried many different products both expensive and inexpensive. Unfortunately the inexpensive products seem to aggravate my skin and make me breakout (my problem area being around my mouth and chin, sometimes around my nose). The more expensive products don't aggravate my breakouts as much (and can keep them at bay) BUT some expensive products have really let me down, which is why I'm hesitant to try them until I've read or heard other peoples experiences with the product, as I 've wasted a hell of a lot of money on such expensive products only to breakout badly.

I always end up buying expensive skincare. However I have been really disappointed with some of it.

I find that brands specialising purely in skincare often tend to give better results. I remember years ago being introduced to Dermalogica and MD Formulations by my beauty therapist and I thought I was mad to pay up big dollars for skincare when I had some old foaming thingy at home that did the same thing!

After much persuasion and convincing (and a heap of little samples) I purchased my first prestige skincare. Eventhough I have always had really good skin I couldn't believe the difference the prestige skincare made. I have never looked back since then and am only too happy to shell out my hard earned cash for good quality products!

I hear so much about fantastic budget skincare such as cetaphil etc. I think we should start a register of what rocks and what doesn't! I am certainly learning a lot from other forum users and have found myself rushing into Priceline and Pharmacies to get my hands on some of the things you guys have suggested.

Has anyone used SK-II? I havent but it gets some rave reviews? I just dont know whether it is worth the money? has anyone had any great results using this product?

Haven't tried SK-II but would like to. I use expensive skincare too but wouldn't mind saving some cash by trying cheaper brands. This will sound ridiculous - but I love packaging and how the product 'looks' in my bathroom - and that is a place where most cheaper brands tend to fail (in my opinion!!)

I think we have all been suckers for what expensive skin care that has promised great results. But in saying that, im currently using Dior moisturiser and have been for quite a while, and really happy with the results. Its just i see all these beautifully packaged beauty products and i want them. But I am really curious about SK-II beauty products. I have seen an add for their new foundation which looks great, but do i really want to spend $200 on foundation?

I think the problem with a lot of cheaper products is that they are marketed towards a larger, often younger demographic who may not neccasarily be very knowledgeable about what is and is not good for their indvidual skin type. Also, these products often have a lot of superfluous additives (such as colour and perfume) to add to the appeal, rather than a quality composition.

That said, there are some cheap lines that also offer quality. Simple do great cleansers, and there are a lot of chemist brands that offer high-quality but no fuss products (Cetaphil, Hamilton, Ego, Dermaveen etc) although they lack the gorgeous packaging. Natio is good value and smells wonderful, and I sometimes use the She enzyme exfoliating mask, which comes in a cute glass bottle and works nicely. I also like Palmers body moisturisers and of course the original Nivea creme in the blue tub- what a great smell, too!

It's all about finding what suit your own skin. It shouldn't be expensive vs cheap but case by case examples. I think its worth researching to find a really good cleanser and sunscreen/moisturiser. Those are the two staples for me.

I generally have to use the expensive stuff - I started with expensive stuff from the outset in my teens and I just find cheap stuff clogs my skin and irritates...

I do however like to use the L'Oreal Balancing Cleansing Wipes.... I grabbed some one day (about 4 years ago) to keep in my bag for freshening up and my and my skin loved them - so now I buy them all the time... I wash my face morning and night with MD Formulations Sensitive (Glycolic) Cleanser, then use the L'Oreal wipes to tone - they are very soothing and slightly moisturising... they arent overloaded with ingredients and contain B5 (panthenol) which I think is the secret.... B5 is soothing, calming and healing...

These wipes are gentle too and I clean my daughters face with them if we are out and she gets grubby... :rollthoseeyes:

I think the problem with a lot of cheaper brands is they use all of these artificial and cheap fillers (if you look at the ingredients) and these irritate the skin....

I believe in keeping ingredients basic and as natural/organic as possible is the key - because the skin/body wants to purge artificial anything as it is a foreign body and not recognised by our composition/makeup....

In terms of skin care, inexpensive stuff does nothing for my skin. I used it heaps while at school / uni but now i appreciate the expensive stuff.

Make up however i think is easier to get away with - esp things like nail polish, eye liner, mascara, lip glosses, and especially when you're like me and like to try everything at least once :redcheeks:

I am often in a dilema in regard to this "inexpensive to expensive" skincare question... currently I spend over $200 on Dr Hauschka skincare, my skin is in good condition but I am not 100% that I can continue this... the products are of high quality, gorgeous to use and are in align with my belief that natural alternatives on the skin are best. I never spend much money on makeup as I am an inconsistant user, I use little or no makeup on a daily basis. Is there a cheaper alternative to Dr Hauschka skincare? How can I justify spending that much every couple of months on these products?

I am often in a dilema in regard to this "inexpensive to expensive" skincare question... currently I spend over $200 on Dr Hauschka skincare, my skin is in good condition but I am not 100% that I can continue this... the products are of high quality, gorgeous to use and are in align with my belief that natural alternatives on the skin are best. I never spend much money on makeup as I am an inconsistant user, I use little or no makeup on a daily basis. Is there a cheaper alternative to Dr Hauschka skincare? How can I justify spending that much every couple of months on these products?

Hey Alice, I understand you mean. It does seem like a lot of money - but I've always thought of good skincare as a bit of an investment for the future. If you look after it now, you're not likely to need even more expensive products and treatments down the track. Also if your skin loves it, it must be working. You mentioned that you spend money on skincare rather than makeup as you don't use the latter much - I reckon that's definitely a case for better quality skincare (cause skin is what's on show most of the time, rather than product). If it makes you feel any better I spend about this on skincare too...

RE: alternatives, I'm not familiar with similar lines but you could ask Allison. I think A'kin has some nice stuff, it's available on Adore. Also check with Luisa Brown and Medusa (I think Medusa has a good eye for the natural/organic products).

I tend to go for a particular type of skincare - i.e Vit C Serum, or milk cleanser, or chemical exfoliator depending on what I need, or want to try. Then I research these based on reviews and ingredients and way up the price. I've found extremely good products - like the Vit C, at very reasonable prices, same as the cleanser. Also - I've purchased more expensive products for reasons mentioned - like texture and scent - but found them as effective as cheaper ones - but not as fulfilling for me in the overall value.:whistle:

So, it depends on what you are looking for and if you think it is worth it to you. I always try and enjoy the products for both the effect and the joy - then I can justify the cost. And if it's cheaper than GREAT!:) :worship:

PS. I dont know that you need to use the same line for all products either - so I shop around.

RBB is right, skin care that suits your skin is like an insurance policy! It must seem like a lot when you are purchasing more than one product at a time but if you look at it weekly, you are spending about $25 a week on your skin.

Wait to hear if Medusa has any suggestions on other brands but hope breaking it down has made if appear less scary. The $25 would be two or three lunches a week (or create your own comparison!)

I go with the cheap stuff all the way where skincare is concerned, and I have to say (without sounding arrogant), I get compliments on my skin all the time. I think this is because of a couple of things:
1) I eat properly, exercise, drink water, stay out of the sun and generally treat myself well. I do have the occasional blowout but I treat my skin well from the inside.
2) I have good skincare habits and I use everything properly. I don't think there's any sense in owning a $75 cleanser if you don't take your makeup off every night before you go to bed, and there's no sense in owning a $90 foundation if you have untreated pimples underneath it.
So, really, I think it's not a case of what you've got but what you do with it!

But I do find that my dermatologist (I go to him for exczema on my ankles but I always chat to him about facial skincare too) says that expensive skincare is a waste of money, while my beauty therapist is always trying to get me to switch to Dermalogica (yeah right, I'm at uni lol). My brain is telling me that the medical specialist probably knows more, but I will admit that if I had money to burn I'd probably have a bathroom full of prestige skincare.

I go with the cheap stuff all the way where skincare is concerned, and I have to say (without sounding arrogant), I get compliments on my skin all the time. I think this is because of a couple of things:
1) I eat properly, exercise, drink water, stay out of the sun and generally treat myself well. I do have the occasional blowout but I treat my skin well from the inside.
2) I have good skincare habits and I use everything properly. I don't think there's any sense in owning a $75 cleanser if you don't take your makeup off every night before you go to bed, and there's no sense in owning a $90 foundation if you have untreated pimples underneath it.
So, really, I think it's not a case of what you've got but what you do with it!



You are right that you do need to look after your skin from the inside, but it sounds like you are still young (assuming since your at uni).

You might find as you get older, you need to invest in more active skincare to treat specific things like lines, pigmentation and loss of tone - which is a natural thing. I might also add that when I was at Uni, I was less stressed and time poor than I am now, and my skin was also less of an issue for me, and when I was younger I didn't use sunscreen because it just wasn't known to be as important as it is now.
I'm at the stage where I am trying to use skincare - which is more expensive than what I used at Uni (for the same reason as you probably!;) ), because I am trying to prevent ageing if I can. Only time will tell, but I find that my skin is much healthier, looks more refined, less breakouts and better colour since I've purchased "proper" skincare than it ever was!:p
PS. Sunscreen is probably the most important thing for you now in terms of skincare.

Hey Ozcat, So what products are you currently using? Please give us a list. I'm trying to also downgrade on skincare as i'm moving out of home and the money is needed elesewhere eg. a fridge lol.

Hey PP....I think others are right that you do need to invest more in your skincare as you get older, but you're probably young like me and if so you might have luck with the following products, which are what I use:
Morning:
Cleanse with L'Oreal Pure Zone Deep Purifying Gel Wash (I have oily skin and live in a humid tropical climate so I need something to dry my skin out a little bit)
Tone with Pure Zone lotion
Moisturise with Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser with SPF 15

Night:
Remove eye makeup with L'Oreal (the one with the two liquids that you shake up, can't remember its name)
Double cleanse with Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser (I don't wear foudnation, but I think this would take it off anyway)
Apply Clinique All About Eyes (my only real skincare indulgence)
Moisturise with Neutrogena oil-free moisturiser or Nivea oil-free moisturiser.

About three times a week I use Pure Zone Deep Purifying Exfoliating Wash in the morning. I also have a facial about every 5-6 weeks (which only makes it come down to about ten bucks a week, which is okay).

Hey Alice, I understand you mean. It does seem like a lot of money - but I've always thought of good skincare as a bit of an investment for the future. If you look after it now, you're not likely to need even more expensive products and treatments down the track. Also if your skin loves it, it must be working. You mentioned that you spend money on skincare rather than makeup as you don't use the latter much - I reckon that's definitely a case for better quality skincare (cause skin is what's on show most of the time, rather than product). If it makes you feel any better I spend about this on skincare too...

RE: alternatives, I'm not familiar with similar lines but you could ask Allison. I think A'kin has some nice stuff, it's available on Adore. Also check with Luisa Brown and Medusa (I think Medusa has a good eye for the natural/organic products).

Thankyou for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated. When I look at the prices of my products - $33 cleansing cream, $56 cleansing milk, $54 facial toner and $48 moisturiser.
The cleansing cream lasts me 6 weeks, cleansing milk, toner and moisturiser probably 3 months give or take a couples of weeks. Dr Hauschka stuff is so concentrated that I am learning that small quantities is most sufficient.

I have tried A'kin but I've found the cleanser/toner in 1 to be very rich! and I never had much luck with the moisturisers, maybe 1 day I might try the Gel Cleanser, I welcome suggestions though.

Thanks heaps for the advice.

How to cut down:
Could you just use 1 cleanser instead of buying 2?
I'd def get a cheaper toner.
Invest in a good moisturiser, but there are great ones under $50.
Sounds like the Dr H stuff is sold in small quantities for you to be going thru it in 6 weeks? I'd look at something that gives you better value for money. Use the product more sparingly if you can.

Everyone's skin is different. If the expensive one is the only one to work then that's good. If the cheap pharmacy brand works then that's good too - that's the main thing, finding something that works. Extra bonus if the cheaper stuff works but Raspberryberet is right in that if you're spending more, see it as if you're investing for the future.

I go with the cheap stuff all the way where skincare is concerned, and I have to say (without sounding arrogant), I get compliments on my skin all the time. I think this is because of a couple of things:
1) I eat properly, exercise, drink water, stay out of the sun and generally treat myself well. I do have the occasional blowout but I treat my skin well from the inside.
2) I have good skincare habits and I use everything properly. I don't think there's any sense in owning a $75 cleanser if you don't take your makeup off every night before you go to bed, and there's no sense in owning a $90 foundation if you have untreated pimples underneath it.
So, really, I think it's not a case of what you've got but what you do with it!

But I do find that my dermatologist (I go to him for exczema on my ankles but I always chat to him about facial skincare too) says that expensive skincare is a waste of money, while my beauty therapist is always trying to get me to switch to Dermalogica (yeah right, I'm at uni lol). My brain is telling me that the medical specialist probably knows more, but I will admit that if I had money to burn I'd probably have a bathroom full of prestige skincare.


You forgot number 3! Youth! Lol!

Everyone's skin is different. If the expensive one is the only one to work then that's good. If the cheap pharmacy brand works then that's good too - that's the main thing, finding something that works. Extra bonus if the cheaper stuff works but Raspberryberet is right in that if you're spending more, see it as if you're investing for the future.



:worship: :worship:

here, here.....

I am undecided about expensive versus inexpensive. I agree with jaime ,whatever works for you.
What makes me suspicious is that if all the expensive products would do what they claim they do, would not everyone run around with perfectly lovely wrinkle free skin?
Now I don't want to bag any products,I love my beauty products just as much as everybody else on the forum, but when I read that a very expensive product like La Mer consists almost exclusively of water with added thickening agents,mineral oil,vaseline,glycerine,well I am sorry, but it does make me question the price?? Sure it also has some algae,minerals and vitamins. But hey if it works for someone thats excellent. Personally I could not justify buying it, but then again if I sample it, I might really like it. In the end it all comes down to personal preference and how the product feels.

(I just re-read my writing, might come across a bit harsh,but it is not meant to be;)

You forgot number 3! Youth! Lol!


Haha so true! I'll be swallowing my words in ten years or so as I rack up humongo bills at the SKII counter!

Haha so true! I'll be swallowing my words in ten years or so as I rack up humongo bills at the SKII counter!

Seriously, the best thing you can do for your skin is to wear a sunscreen. I have fabulous skin for my age but tons of freckles (even though I have olive skin). Wish I had paid more attention to the sunscreen. 90% of the damage done to our skins is environmental.

Yes, that's most important above all!! I had a lovely facial today and my beauty therapist gave me a clap-clap for my sunscreen use......she said a lot of women come in with quite severe sun damage on their faces and neck/chest area and are willing to spend hundreds to repair it...but nothing can fix it! Prevention is best!

I agree. I grew up in Europe,came to Australia 15 years ago. My skin was flawless then.Nobody told me about sunscreen back then, took me awhile to pick it up. Ignoring it has done damage to my skin.