Cheap but effective, non greasy, moisturiser wanted.

[icecoolbabe]

With all the cold weather at the moment, plus dry centrally heated atmospheres, my skin has gone very dry. Instead of spending lots on expensive cosmetic creams - are there any cheap but effective, non greasy alternatives?

[Mrs Thrift]

Well "they" do say that the cheaper versions are just as good as the more expensive brands, but with cheaper packaging and less advertising, when it comes to cosmetics.

I can't recommend anything specifically, but I'd look in the chemists and supermarkets own brands for a plain and simple moisturiser that's oil free and give that a go.

[Becles]

Try Tesco own brand face creams. They are much cheaper than brand names, and I like it better than the Boots Botanicals cream I used to use. My skin currently looks lovely and fresh and it's keeping the dryness under control. I tend to put it on quite thickly before I go to bed, as I don't really like wearing face cream!

Cheaper still would be aqueous cream from the chemists. It's oil free and keeps skin moisturised. You can get a big tub for around £1, and you can use it all over your body.

[catsonic]

you can also use aquaus cream as a body wash if you are allergic to soap. it leaves your skin really soft too!! lol

[Lelly]

Its a bit messy but it really works and its cheap..Use porridge oats..put a tablespoonful in your hand and add warm water, rub all over your hands and then rinse. You can use it in the bath all over but I never tried it. I gets you nice and clean too.

[Nile]

You could try E45 cream which is unperfumed and non-greasy. It's available in tubes or pots from supermarkets and pharmacies. A friend of mine was advised by her plastic surgeon to massage E45 cream on the operation scar.

[tru]

I've got very dry skin too, if I don't use moisturiser I itch like mad. The best thing for me was Superdrug's cocoa butter hand and body lotion, it's only 99p, and when I ran out of 'proper' moisturiser for my face I used it and it's fine :)

I've got some Body Shop cocoa butter too (£10 and no I didn't buy it, it was a present), the Superdrug one is better IMO.

[Mrs Thrift]

If you have very dry skin, check if you could be using a different cleanser too, as one that is the wrong type for your skin, or too harsh, can add to the dryness. And some toners can actually help to moisturise, even though I always used to think of them as drying. There is a Rose type one by L'Oreal I think that is lovely, but I now use a glycolic acid based one for my acne scarred skin. It sounds harsh, but it also softens somehow!

I know this doesn't sound very money-saving, but as I say, the cheaper ranges should be just as good, and of course there's always offers to look out for!

Having had acne and acne scars for about 16 years now I've tried everything and anything to help my skin, and spent probably thousands of pounds. So although my routine is fairly expensive now, it is at last one that works for me, so it's cheaper than wasting money trying new things every month!

[Judi]

With all the cold weather at the moment, plus dry centrally heated atmospheres, my skin has gone very dry. Instead of spending lots on expensive cosmetic creams - are there any cheap but effective, non greasy alternatives?
I am a recent convert to olive oil. I apply it to my face, and wipe it off with a warm/hot flannel. All my dry patches have gone and i dont need a moisturiser.

[gremlin]

Its a bit messy but it really works and its cheap..Use porridge oats..put a tablespoonful in your hand and add warm water, rub all over your hands and then rinse. You can use it in the bath all over but I never tried it. I gets you nice and clean too.

I also use porridge in the bath too - put a generous handfull inside an old knee high/stocking/tights tie in a knot and pop in the bath when filling.

You're bath is all milky and it leaves your skin lovely and soft. My kids get dry skin and i used to do it for them when they were little.

[icecoolbabe]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Today in Asda I bought an own brand moisturiser - very originally named Dry Skin Cream!

£1.98 for a 125ml pot. It is non greasy, fragrance free and - 'specially formulated for dry skin conditions'. Rich in emolliants the effective moisturing action will help replenish itching, flaking and chapped skin. Also suitable for sunburn!

I don't think it's tested on animals either as the label also says 'Asda is against animal testing and funds research into alternatives'

Bargain!

[Lelly]

Lavender oil is very good for scarring, also for acne..neat..smells good too.

[pavlovs_dog]

i generally find that, whatever moisturiser you use, the best thing to do is get into the pattern of putting it on every day (i do it just before i go to bed), at least until your skin perks up a bit, then you can cut it down if you like.

i get the other half to do my hard to reach places...he seems to enjoy the responsibility ;) :D

for feet, if you have dry patches, the best thing i ever heard (honest to god its like a wondercure). smother them in vaseline, then pop ya socks on and go to bed. when you wake up in the morning, its like having new feet...soooooo smooth! (note: i have been told not to do this tooo often, as apparently it *can* encourage fungal infections, but every now and then is ok)

on a slightly different note, any of you ladies notice get plagued by spots during period week? i currently look like a join the dots book. ok, so thats a gross exaggeration :D but im sure you know what i mean. any ideas/tips of combatting them or keeping them away?

i go through phases of drinking the gallons of water per day that thye recommend per day, then zilch. and toothpaste doesnt really do it for me. but i'll try anything once :D lol

[Mrs Thrift]

I am a recent convert to olive oil. I apply it to my face, and wipe it off with a warm/hot flannel. All my dry patches have gone and i dont need a moisturiser.


Hi Judi, is that you using the olive oil as a cleanser? (I think you said it was a good cleanser before.) Does it remove make-up and everything, or do you have to use something else for that?

[Mrs Thrift]

on a slightly different note, any of you ladies notice get plagued by spots during period week? i currently look like a join the dots book. ok, so thats a gross exaggeration :D but im sure you know what i mean. any ideas/tips of combatting them or keeping them away?

i go through phases of drinking the gallons of water per day that thye recommend per day, then zilch. and toothpaste doesnt really do it for me. but i'll try anything once :D lol

Ah, spots, tha bane of my life for the last 16 years! I have tried just about everything, but I think I've finally (fingers crossed) found a routine that works for me (although, I've said this before then my skin changes and I have to start again!)

My Mum bought me a book called "The Acne Cure" and I follow its recommended routine of using a salycilic acid containing cleanser in the morning followed by a glycolic acid containing toner then an oil-free moisturiser and in the evening using the same cleanser followed by a benzoyl peroxide containing treatment cream on the spotty areas.

But the clever bit, that makes all the difference, isn't just what products you use, but how you use them - with the cleanser you apply it with water and rub it in, then leave it for a few minutes before rinsing off. And with the treatment cream in the evening you cool your face with ice before applying it, then keep the ice / ice-pack on for another few minutes afterwards. Apparently, the cold reduces the inflammation in the spots and allows the cream to do its work properly. And it does feel really good - you know how nasty spots can feel so hot and angry? - and it's very relaxing too.

Even if you don't use those specific products, I definitely recommend using ice to cool and calm the spots.

[jaybee]

When I was younger (and a lot better off :() I used to use 'expensive' face creams (Arden, Clinique etc). Now that I'm older (and a lot worse off :( ) I use cheaper stuff and can honestly say that I can't tell the difference. Maybe I'm just lucky in that I've got a pretty good skin although it is very dry. One of my favourites these days is Vitamin E Moisture Cream from the Body Shop. Sometimes I use Nivea in the winter but I find it a bit heavy and drags the skin a bit.

I did read somewhere once (can't remember where) that you could even use margarine on your skin if desperate.

[Lelly]

If you add a drop of tea tree oil and a drop of lavender oil to the vaseline you will actually be preventing athletes foot as well as any other infections.

[pavlovs_dog]

im quite lucky on the spots front. the teenage ones have pretty much cleared up now, its just the occasional period week one. its just that you feel all the worse for it because you get used to NOT being spotty, then they come back to haunt you lol

[pattycake]

Super body moisturiser is Palmers Cocoa Butter products. They are really rich and smell like holidays(!). Better yet, they are half price at the moment at Supedrug. I keep popping in and buying all their stock.
I will be silky smooth for months.

[Luis]

E45 is the very thing for dry skin.

Olay do a shower body wash for 'extra dry skin' (yellow top) which leaves my skin like glass. Apply with a body shop hemp mitt which takes the rough skin off and voila!

I have eczema and very sensitive skin, and the above two leave my skin like silk for next to nothing.

Luis.

[Savvy_Sue]

E45 is the very thing for dry skin.

Olay do a shower body wash for 'extra dry skin' (yellow top) which leaves my skin like glass. Apply with a body shop hemp mitt which takes the rough skin off and voila!

I have eczema and very sensitive skin, and the above two leave my skin like silk for next to nothing.But E45 may not suit everyone - they may have changed the formula but mine were allergic to the cream! It had lanolin in. DH uses E45 shower cream though and finds that best: he also has eczema. GP has just prescribed Doublebase for him, also available OTC but dearer that way. That seems to do a good job and be non-greasy.

[beautyscientist]

I am a recent convert to olive oil. I apply it to my face, and wipe it off with a warm/hot flannel. All my dry patches have gone and i dont need a moisturiser.

Olive oil is a useful cleanser if you don't mind fiddling about a bit. I have blogged on the benefits of olive oil on the skin. (http://colinsbeautypages.co.uk/the-benefits-of-olive-oil-on-the-skin/) It is definitely very effective at getting rid of make up with a bit of practise.