The 3 skincare product worth splurging on and 3 that are a waste of money
MANY of us spend hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds every year on the latest cleansers, toners and oils.
But it could all be for nothing, according to a dermatologist.
Dr Natalia Spierings reckons most high-end skincare products aren't worth splurging on as they offer the same benefits as cheap ones.
The complexion expert said: "There is no such thing as 'essential' skincare, but most people use a cleanser, a day time moisturiser and a night time moisturiser (often these are the same two things).
"There is no point in paying a lot of money for any of these types of products as they are pretty much all very similar."
She said no matter the price tag or celebrity promoting them, they all do virtually the same thing.
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"Cleansers remove makeup and oil from the skin and moisturisers trap water in the skin," Dr Spierings added.
"No amount of fancy added ingredients like stem cell placenta or gold leaf powder will make them better.
"These are all just added for marketing purposes to give a product an ‘edge’ or a ‘unique selling point’ and an accompanying price increase.
"Same with fancy packaging. A glass tub with a gold lid does not make a moisturiser work better than one in a plastic tube. They are all the same."
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Instead, just go for the ones you like that work for you.
"If you like the texture or feel of it, and you think it works well for your purposes, like removing makeup in the evening for example, then choose that," Dr Spierings, author of Skintelligent, added.
"Skincare is a luxury item - not an essential - so if you want to buy a £300 tub of face cream then go for it, but it won’t do anything better or different to your skin then the £2 one you can buy at your local supermarket."
When it comes to moisturisers specifically, the dermatologist recommends people use thicker versions in the evening - to benefit their skin and their wallets.
She said: "I like my patients to use greasier ointments at night that are better at trapping water in the skin.
"If they do that, then often they don’t need a moisturiser in the morning so it makes having an additional moisturiser unnecessary."
The only skincare item she would suggest spending any real money on is sunscreen.
No amount of fancy added ingredients like stem cell placenta or gold leaf powder will make them better.
Dr Natalia Spierings
"Most people should be wearing a sunscreen on a daily basis," she said.
"This, therefore, is something you need to like the texture and feel of and you are happy to wear under makeup (if you wear makeup).
"Sunscreens come in a huge variety of formulations – from serum-type ‘lighter’ feeling products to heavier ‘creamier’ ones.
"All sunscreens have the same level of protection if applied correctly so there is no ‘better’ or ‘worse’ sunscreen.
"It really just comes down to what you like to use and will use on
a daily basis."
But , who describes herself as taking a "no-nonsense approach" to dermatology, added: "I still would not recommend spending a lot on this, but if a more expensive brand is the only one you like to use, then spend your money on that."
Other experts in the field generally agree that moisturisers and cleansers are fine to scrimp on, while sun protection should be a priority.
They say cleansers just end up down the drain, most moisturisers tend to do a decent job, and an adequate SPF is a must to protect against skin cancer and ageing.
But several doctors would also add serums and retinols to the good-to-splash-your-cash-on list.
Dr Hope Mitchell, a dermatologist from Ohio, said more expensive serums - which are usually infused with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to target wrinkles, dryness and dullness - can make a real difference, especially if they contain higher concentrations of key active ingredients like vitamin C, AHA and BHA.
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She told : "When a compound is more difficult to formulate, it makes it more expensive."
On retinols, which help reduce fine lines and acne, Dr Mia Jing Gao, from Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Investing in a high-quality retinol product is guaranteed to deliver 'multitasking' results as it is an unmatched ingredient."