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How is it nearly December already? This year seems to have flown by and my mind is already firmly on Christmas and what I am going to buy everyone!
With the tendency to spend more at this time of year on gifts, the next couple of weeks can be quite a hard time for your wallet. With this in mind, I think it’s a good time to get savvy on our beauty spending.
With cosmetics, a lot of people have the misconception that expensive automatically equals better – but that is not always the case, and there are so many affordable beauty brands out there that are every bit as effective as their high-end counterparts.
Proof in the pudding
A few years back, a review was carried out between Aldi’s Lacura range and another (very well-known) luxury brand.
Both lines had recently launched new face creams made with marine ingredients, but there was a difference of about €600 in their price tags!
After the review was complete, the results were almost identical; proving you don’t always have to spend big to get great results.
Aldi and Lidl both brought out skincare brands a number of years ago which are highly regarded by dermatologists. The way I see it is, every line has to go through a number of tests to ensure it can deliver on the claims it makes – so if it is shouting about something, it should do as it says. A good, consistent routine will have your skin in its best shape, and it really shouldn’t take a whole lot of time or money.
Must haves
Key products I always recommend include a good cleanser, SPF, night cream, exfoliator and mask.
Having these products will help provide you with glowing skin, enable your make up to sit perfectly (and last all day) and will keep you looking and feeling your best. The type of range you go with will be determined by your skin type, but if you spend a lot of time outdoors, an SPF is the most important product to use – it is, by far, the best anti-ageing product out there!
A couple I love are Clarins Dry Touch Face Sun Care Cream SPF50+ and CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF25. Both absorb quickly and won’t leave a white film on your skin.
As they say, summer bodies are made in the winter
I also like No7 for their skincare range – and, at this time of year, they do great gift sets where you usually get your creams plus one full-size product for free.
This can be a nice way to get your new skincare routine started without having to break the bank. They are available online and in store at Boots.
With the weather getting colder and the heating getting turned up, it is important to keep the skin on your body hydrated – even if it won’t see the light of day until the summer. As they say, summer bodies are made in the winter, so by keeping your skin hydrated you will have super supple skin come summer 2022.
For years, I have loved the 24-hour Body Lotion from Cien at Lidl. You get a massive 500ml bottle for under €5 and it smells gorgeous.
These few key products will change your skincare game for good, and what I love most about it is that it makes for a simple and quick routine. I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to do at the end of a long and busy day is to spend an hour cleansing and toning.
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