Because youth needn't be expensive. Forget fancy frippery and ludicrous price tags and get all your anti-ageing beauty needs from these top brands on the high street
When it comes to anti-ageing beauty products we’re often made to believe that we need to invest in luxurious brands in order to help wind back the years on worn skin - because, surely we can’t place the responsibility of correcting our crow's feet in the hands of a £15 face cream, can we? Well, according to industry experts, we can.
“When you look at how many products fall into the +£100 price point but don't actually contain significant levels of proven actives, you realise that price has very little bearing on efficacy,” says Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting . Many effective ingredients with good quality data to support their mechanism of action can be found in reasonably-priced pharmacy brands.”
In fact, when it comes to the more highly regarded upper echelon brands, it’s factors such as perfume, packaging and general frippery that experts cite as the reason behind their steep price points, rather than the actual science behind them. More often than not it’s with these price tags that women are fooled into believing they contain a wonder ingredients designed for ‘life-changing results’.
So, how do we know when a half-price high-street product is worth its anti-ageing salt? Essentially it’s all in the ingredients. “In particular, look out for products that contain niacinamide, lactic and glycolic acid, soy, retinol and retinaldehyde in the top 1/3 of the ingredients list, as this would suggest tangible amounts present in the product,” advises Dr. Bunting.
Ultimately, we’re not interested in the sparkly celebrity endorsements and glamorous gold packaging - women want products that work and won’t break the bank. So, with that in mind here’s our edit of the best budget anti-ageing beauty products that work to tighten, brighten, lift and firm.
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum, £24.95
Branded a ‘miracle serum’ this No7 product created somewhat of a skincare sensation when it was first released over eight years ago.
Aimed specifically at over-35s, its powerful blend of multifactorial ingredients led 85 per cent of the initial 2,600 volunteers to experience a reduction in fine lines and a younger look after just four weeks. Antioxidant complexes and matrixyl 3000 plus protect against environmental stresses, while rice peptide, alfafa complex and hyaluronic acid improve firmness and preserve collagen and fibrillin in the skin. Light, smooth and easily absorbed, this super serum is also rumoured to double in efficacy over time...
La Roche-Posay Redermic Eyes, £24.50
A favourite brand amongst industry insiders and dermatologists alike, this La Roche-Posay eye cream is hailed for its super-sensitive properties and wrinkle reducing results.
Containing ample amounts of retinol - an ingredient widely recognised by dermatologists as one of the most effective solutions against the visible signs of ageing, this cream also contains a dose of caffeine to refresh and revitalise dull, lacklustre skin. Lightweight and gentle, apply in the evening from the inner corner of the eye outwards and watch as eyes become brighter and more luminous over time.
MORE GLOSS: Is your anti-ageing regime making you age even faster?
Eau Thermale Avène PhysioLift Day Smoothing Emulsion, £25
With a product range based around the therapeutic properties of Avène Thermal Spring Water, Eau Thermale has gained a cult following thanks to their carefully chosen ingredients and suitability to a wide range of sensitive skin concerns.
Specifically formulated to combat loss of firmness, deep wrinkles and dehydration, this nourishing cream works deep within the skin by stimulating collagen, while hyaluronic acid fragments quickly get to work to leave your face looking plump, toned and filled with a youthful vibrancy.
Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream, £25
Taking a more preventative approach, this illuminating cream from Vichy has been developed for a slightly younger market who are looking to stop the first signs of ageing before they have a chance to set in.
Enriched with kombucha, vitamin b and a mixture of probiotics and polyphenols, everything from wrinkles, dullness and uneven skin texture is tackled within this formula. Velvety smooth and with a delicate fragrance, this heavenly cream can be applied both morning and evening to prep and protect your skin from the lines of life to come.
Olay Total Effects 7in1 Anti-Ageing Age Moisturiser, £14.99
While most products only work to tackle a finite number of anti-ageing concerns, this Olay mega moisturiser boasts a whopping seven solutions to leave users with younger, more radiant looking skin. These include; smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, maintaining moisture, evening skin tone, minimizing pores, evening skin texture, (*breathe*) enhancing brightness and firming. If that wasn’t enough it also contains SPF15 and has, unsurprisingly, won over 100 awards globally for its effects. In short, it’s an anti-ageing no-brainer.
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