The behind the scenes secrets of the skincare industry; where to save and splurge and what is a scam

When it comes to skincare the sky is the limit when it comes to pricing. From cream de la me that charges a small fortune for a tinny tiny eye cream because it is supposed to have special properties or May Lindstrom which charges a premium for its organic/natural products. With all the noise, claims and of efficacy it can be difficult do decide a product is worth spending the funds on an expensive product or if a less expensive alternative will work just as well.

So here are some tips to help you decide which type of products you can save on or which you should spend a little more on.

SAVE  

Sunscreen:

This is one product where the price is not relevant, sunscreen from the drugstore or more affordable brands are just as good as their high-end counterparts. So save your money for other items, some great options for sunscreen include  Elta MD,  Biore, and La Roche Posay.  As long as you choose one that is broad-spectrum with at least an SPF 50  you are protected from both UVA and UVB rays.

Niacinamide:

This is a great product for reducing redness and inflammation but does not need to cost an arm and a leg to be effective. As long as the product has between 2-4% of Niacinamide you are good to go and some popular brands include the ordinary, Revolution skincare and Paula’s Choice. You can also read my review on an affordable Niacinamide serum to make your decision but I would recommend you save your money and spend it elsewhere.

Benzoyl peroxide:

This is probably the first skincare product you used, it certainly was for me. Thankfully the Benzoyl Peroxide is an inexpensive but effective product available in any drugstore and is widely available so save on skincare and buy a drug store brand.

Salicylic acid:

This is relatively new on my radar as the best chemical exfoliant for acne-prone skin and is also a product you can save some of your coins when purchasing. Fortunately, you can find effective and affordable salicylic acid products and save on skincare because you don’t have to break the bank to get the effects you are looking for.

• The ordinary Salicylic acid
• Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid
• The INKEY list salicylic acid

Splurge

Retinol:

Retinol is one of the only objectively verified antiaging products in the market, this also makes it one of the most recommended products as well. However, to get the best results this is not a product where you go for the cheapest version available, formulation matters. This is one area you should splurge on skincare for the best result buy retinol from a doctor’s office. They are able to provide medical-grade retinol with a higher percentage of retinol, a more stable formulation which is more effective.

Vitamin C:

This is a key product when it comes to reversing free radical damage as well as brightening your skin. Unfortunately, it is difficult to stabilize and oxidise easily so the cheaper versions may be completely ineffective. So the formulation, as well as the percentage of vitamin c in a product, is very important for ensuring product efficacy

Hyaluronic acid:

When it comes to keeping your skin moist and hydrated the real G is hyaluronic acid, however not all were created equal. The percentage of hyaluronic acid in a product is extremely important so if the product doesn’t have at least 5% hyaluronic acid don’t bother. So check the ingredient list for the percentage because a good number of products that claim to have hyaluronic acid only have trace amounts that are not effective.

• The ordinary Hyaluronic acid 2%
• Revolution skincare 2% Hyaluronic acid

SCAM

Collagen

We all know that collagen is the building block for skin so it makes sense for it to be included in skincare products right? Wrong. Products that contain collagen do nothing to stimulate your own collagen production nor are they able to penetrate your skin tissue. At best they act as excessively expensive hydrating serums so don’t even bother with them.

I hope this was useful in letting you know which skincare products are actually worth the hype, so when a brand comes out with a serum that is supposed to be pure magic you can refer back to this list to see if it is worth splurging on.

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