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I’ve given you three solutions for moisturisers to tackle the problems brought about by cold, wintry weather. Products from Clinique, Liz Earle and Guinot all get the thumbs up from me, but to a lot of people, they’re pricey. So, are there any cheap alternatives that will banish wind- and cold-induced fine lines and dehydration?
Yep. You betcha. My number one affordable winter skin solution is Aveeno’s Ultra Calming moisturising cream. Ideal for use at night, it’s soothing, really calming and hydrates skin excellently. Two bonuses here (or should that be bonii?), are that it’s €10.95 and it’s suitable for those with even the most sensitive of skin. I think this is a brilliant product for the price.
Nivea Soft is another option for those on a budget. It’s what I call a quick and dirty product: there’s no real sophistication here, no wonder-ingredients that promise line reduction and pigmentation-be-gone or anything like that. But it is very rich and emollient so what it does do is moisturise effectively and make skin feel soft. It’s got vitamin E and Jojoba oil, it’s under a tenner and comes in a couple of packaging options – tube or pot.
Be warned oily gals – this will fill your face so full of gunk you’ll be hoking it out for weeks. Drier skins will like it, but use it sparingly, as I found it to be really pore-blocking if I slapped on too much.
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Strong second for the Nivea, fab stuff, pretty much anywhere. Here’s some others I’ve used for a while (v sensitive skin here), and recently/currently, and don’t break the bank:
(1) ALLERGENICS cream (the lotion is also good inc. face): under a tenner, tube lasts ages, fab on the sensitive and dry, but no breakouts. In many health-food stores, McCabes, and a couple of other independent or small-chain pharmacies. Main ingredients: aloe vera, borage oil, glycerin, sweet almond oil, shea butter, zinc oxide, plant sterols, rosa moschata oil, glycyrrhetinic acid, and hyaluronic acid. The end result is very like Barefoot Botanicals SOS cream (but wayyyyy cheaper), as moistening as E45 (but a bit more exciting, and less petrochemical, in case that’s an issue).
(2) AVENE TRIXERA: haven’t seen it here, I get it online from France and Spain. Under 20 yoyos for 400 ml; better on really dry skin. Main actives: Avene thermal spring water, safflower oil, mineral oil, coconut oil, glycerin, evening primrose oil, dimethicone, beta-sitosterol, salt, and soybean oil.
(3) LAVERA NEUTRAL facial fluid (lighter) or cream. Super-concentrated, under a tenner. Wil really gunk you up unless very dry indeed!!! Main ingredients for both: glycerin, shea butter, and olive, evening primrose, jojoba, and sunflower oils.
my skin isn’t sensitive enough to have to use the aveeno.. but a girl i know w v bad ezcema and i can’t believe the difference it’s made to her skin
best i’ve ever seen it!
she has gone from raw red, tight tight, flaking skin to v smooth and just a little red, hydrated skin!
Been lurking for a while. I have v dry skin and would second the Avene product range. Originally bought it in France, but they also do it in Boots on Grafton St. It’s the same price as in the chemist in France (comparison done in Jan 09). I use the rich hydrating creme. It’s €19.50 for 40ml and a little goes a long way. It’s also got SPF of 20 – I find a lot of dry skin products don’t have SPF and I won’t leave the house without one (unless it’s dark). I think it would be too heavy for my skin in summer: my skin tends to be slightly less dry.
Thanks for all the dry/sensitive skin blogs. I thought I was the only one with dry skin.
Thanks girls, want a winter skin saver (to rescure sore nose) but don’t wanna splash el casho as I like the spensive products that I have already….
Girls – I’ve definitely seen Aveene in Boots Liffey Valley as well, and GK – the aveno product is suitable for all. I don’t have sensitive skin and find it excellent.
i saw the aveno cream in tesco last week. Its actually non-comedogenic as well so should not cause the dreaded face-cheese! when I need a new moisturiser i think i will try it out.
Kirstie, What would you reccommed for really sensitive skin? Im 25, have dry patches, and sensitive skin. Cant use brands such as lancome, dior, chanel as they burn / give me a rash. I need a good mosturiser though, so desperate and dunno whaere to begin!
what does face cheese look like?
oh admin – i’ve been thinking of trying it alright.. what i meant is that i like my green tea apivita a lot so haven’t been THAT tempted and that i don’t need need something for sensitive skin
i liked the aveeno shower gel!
This post comes exactly at the time of moisturizer-crisis for me!
I used yesterday the last drop of my much loved Dior Hydractive rich cream. It is amazing for my dry skin but as a student I can not spend 50 quid on moisturizer a month. BF ignored my sad face and deep sighs
What would you recommend as a replacement (for cream not BF)?
LouLaBelles: Try the Toleriane Riche moisturiser by La Roche Posay, I find it brilliant for sensitive skin (I have rosacea)
Cheers Ladywanderer!
LouLaBelles – or give the aveeno ultra calming range a go? There’s a day cream with SPF10 and a cleanser too and they’re designed for super-sensitive skins. RoC’s calmance is a good line for reddened skin and La Roche-Posay is always a good bet, as mentioned.
Ruth – face cheese is my charming name for congestion. You know the way you can get lumps under the skin (I get them especially on my chin) and when you squeeze, out comes white guck? Not pus, but white guk. That’s face cheese!
Apologies to anyone eating their lunch.
thanks Admin..thats what i thought…have it on me chin too…booo…
I know its not exactly for the face, but my hands get very dry and I find the Avon Glycerine Hand Cream amazing.
Kirstie I feel sick now- just had lunch!!
Are Aveena and Aveno different brands?!
must try it bexy!
M – yep, Avene and Aveno are different brands.
whats something good to wash your face with in the shower to give you a nice fresh awake look (glowing look is all the better!!) I use aqueous cream every morning or else st ives apricot scrub(running out now) and wonder if I could try something else…
M – facial washes by their nature tend to be drying so if that’s an issue, avoid anything gel-based. You could try a cream wash, clarins have some new ones; Origins have a newish one as part of their perfect world range too.
For the sensitives – Avene really is fab, *but* pick and choose your products with care, as there’s lots of things meant for lots of different kinds of skin. I like Trixera when it’s really cold and dry, and use their Skin Recovery cream when skin’s upset. These two are minimal-ingredients, and unscented: but a lot of the Avene range *is* scented, and they do a lot of retin-A and AHA&BHA stuff (which my skin, for one, can’t take). Be careful!
Also: careful on sunscreens in moisturisers: depends again on what *your* skin can take. Lots of people swear by the Aveeno and Eucerin moisturisers with SPF, for ex., but I react (hilariously) to all known non-physical sunscreens (and I’m not alone in this).
2nd Admin and others on La Roche-Posay: again, like Avene, one of these ranges with lots of weirdly good mineral water as the key magic ingredient. Ditto Vichy.
Yup, Avene and Aveeno are quite different. Both make good things for sensitive skins, and both names have “oat” associations. Avene is part of the Pierre Fabre group (inc. Klorane), and don’t do any animal testing. Aveeno is part of Johnson & Johnson, and do.
If you’re super-sensitive, I’d also recommend A-DERMA: made by the Avene/PF folks, uses a lot of oats, available online from various places in the UK, France, and Spain. I used their stuff when I was a baby with eczema …
thanks kirstie- ill check out origins and clarins
Yeah I have very dry skin so no washes for me! I remember you said before in some interview you use Murad every morning – is that a face wash?
M – ja I use it in the morning, it’s the vitamin c one. I find it fine and non-drying, but in general I try to avoid gels as they can be harsh.
[...] Cold Weather Skin Savers: Cheaper Options at Beaut.ie – The Irish … Main actives: Avene thermal spring water, safflower oil, mineral oil, coconut oil, glycerin, evening primrose oil, dimethicone, beta-sitosterol, salt, and soybean oil [...]