Face Moisturizers. Do you get what you pay for?

Moisturizers save or spend

It seems like the drug store and major cosmetic brands are just swarming to gain our cash these days for moisturizer. I use moisturizers every day, twice a day, and can therefore get through a substantial amount. It feels like every brand from boots, Avon or L'Oreal has their own line which is 'perfect' for you. But do you get what you pay for? In this article I will be discussing all the moisturizers I have used, the price tag and which one I thought was best for me. 

Over the last few years from going from employment to being a university student, to a low paid job I have had my fair share of both budget buys and high end splurges.  But after these years of product trials and errors, which is the best and is spending more worth it? 

A bit of background on my skin: I have combination skin where my T zone (nose, chin and forehead) often get oily during the winter time, and dry in the summer. I don't get breakouts and have never had acne, however I spent a lot of money on prevention products.  I do get dry areas on my skin which can feel tight if I do not moisturize. I take care of my skin as I know whatever I do to it today will affect the way it looks forever more. The other products I use on my skin and have for years is soap-free face wash, natural based face exfoliate and clay masks at least every fortnight. I do also use toner sparingly. I am in my early 20's so some of the challenges facing older or younger skin do not always apply. 

  This product I used during my late teenage years was the boots essentials moisturizing cream cucumber. This product costs £1.50 for a 100ml plastic tub.  I don't really have a great deal to say. It did do the job, and I got no break outs or adverse affects.I didn't like the tub it came in as the lid got stuck on several occasions.  I would recommend this product for sensitive skin or those on a budget. However, There is far better out there and as long as I can afford it I will not be going back to this product. 

 This product gets a 4/10  

Olay beauty fluid £3.99 for 200ml. This product was one of the worst experiences I have had with moisturizers. It was way too rich and left my skin itchy and blotchy. I got a rash from this product and it reacted with all my skin. After I stopped using it the rash and spots went away. The fragrance is very strong and smells more like body cream than a facial moisturizer. It may not have suited me as I have combination skin, but it is my mothers favorite (she has dry skin). I personally find the product too runny to use and I do not like the packaging. 

This product gets a 1/10

£3.99 for 50ml Nivea  moisturiser day cream. I love this day cream and use it still to this day ( I have several bottles on the go). I even keep a spare bottle at my partners house. I have had no issues with this product and really like the easy squeeze bottle. The product is quite thick where it would not run out of the bottle, but not too thick where you feel like pasting your face with concrete. I have used the rich one for dry skin but find it too rich for my skin. This product sits under my makeup all day without issue. The product has a light fresh fragrance.  I will continue to buy this product for many years to come. It could only be made better if it was sold in a larger bottle as I go though one a month.

This product gets a 9/10 

Now to a brand which is aimed at sensitive skin, Simple. This is as a whole a brand which I really trust, I feel they make good products at a very competitive price. This moisturizer costs £4.19 for 125ml. I hate the packaging, it is so difficult to use in comparison to pump products or those which you can stick your fingers into .  This product is pretty runny so a little goes a long way, I apply it using a cotton wool pad. The product is fragrance free, with vitamin B5 and E, color and harsh chemical free! It is well worth the money and fantastic for those with sensitive skin on a budget. The bottle keeps the product hygienic. From this range I also use the shower gel, and have used many of their other products.    

This product gets 6/10

I recently got a sample pot of this Estee Lauder day wear cream. My skin had gone a little dry and needed a bit of support through the winter months with central heating issues and chilly winds. For 50lm this product costs a whopping, purse frightening £42! I have to say from using this product I feel you are paying for a brand and not a product. It really didn't do anything special and for £42, I expect my skin to look fabulous for that price... But it looked no different than when I used any other product.However, it did clear up the dry patches and didn't over hydrate my T- Zone.  The one thing I would say is I do not like the smell of this product. I will not be buying the full sized product! 

                                         This product gets 4/10 

Next is another luxury mega brand Clnique drastically different moisturizer. This product costs a eye watering £30. This product is so worth the money it is untrue. This was my go to moisturizer as a teenager! Expensive but so worth every penny. This glides onto your skin and soaks in so quickly you can start applying makeup within just a few minuets. I also like the smell of this product, the pump also makes the product sanitary which is important for those with skin break outs. If I hadn't found my current moisturizer I would still be buying this. 

                                                    This product get a 10/10

A product which I have used several times, and is my partners permanent facial moisturizer is the Clean & Clear dual action oil free moisturizer. This retails for £3.20 (links at the bottom of blog). I love this product for being oil free as a lot of moisturizers rely on heavy oils which can clog up pores and leave you feeling like you have a layer on your face... Nice. This product does not aggravate my T zone which is fantastic, but it does smell distinctly like toilet cleaner, or prescription grade creams. The fragrance does linger for a while but the product does absorb into the skin fast, and allows my foundation to sit on top without streaking. I found this did dry my skin and left it tight. 

This product gets a 5/10 

 Next is one of my favorite brands: Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream. Retailing at £30 (although often cheaper as part of gift sets) this product is legendary. The power this product line has is honestly astounding. It really has helped my skin both heal and be moisturized. I use the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream lip balm as my go to lip saver. It is expensive for 50ml of product, but I really feel this is worth investing in. It is very rich and would not be for those with oily skin. The only notable drawback is the fragrance... Although they now do a fragrance free line it is not as good, but it smells a bit like medicated balm, tiger balm or mosquito repellent.  

                                                                  This product gets a 7/10

 Lancome's Hydra Zen was for a few years the product I wish I could afford. I had several freebies which were part of gift sets/ free gifts and totally loved it. What put me off was the price of £39.50 for 50lm... As well as that after prolonged  use, around a week, I broke out with a really bad facial rash from an allergic reaction. I will not be spending my money on this product again. 

                                                                This product gets a 1/10

 Elizabeth Arden Ceramide gold ultra lift 60 capsuals £50. This product also do face capsuals which are pink . They are very rich and aimed at women with aging skin. I use this product as a remedy after treating my skin badly such as late nights, or sunny days or just overworking. I really do wake up with soft supple skin and even feel those little lines on my face have been erased out. I have often brought these on special offers. Due to the price being so high I would not go out of my way to keep purchasing these. It would be great if they did miniature packs of 10 as this product is not my everyday moisturizer. This is my Nan's favorite moisturizer and she introduced this product to me. 

                                                       This product gets a 8/10

 This is my current face moisture and is called Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference. It costs £30 for 75ml glass pot. The product is presented in an easy to open pot, the product is not runny or thick but feels silky. It soaks into skin really well and allows makeup to be worn soon after. I have never had an issue with this product and it is often on offer. This product does have a mild smell but this fragrance does not linger. This product is quite rich, but not rich enough that it reacts with my skin. This product can be used all year round and seems to be a good night and day moisturizer. One pot of this tends to last me around 6 months as a tiny bit goes a long way. I love the wide glass pot as I can make sure every last bit is used up. 

                                                  This product gets a 10/10 

Next is an Avon product which I got as a gift. I do not buy Avon products as they seem difficult to get hold of and I don't like using products I have not been able to look at in a shop. The face moisturizer was a set of day and night cream. They were actually pretty good, a bit too rich for my skin type but I did not get any reactions to my sensitive skin. I would buy from this range again. 

                                                 I give this product 7/10 

Next is the Body Shop massage oil £10 for 100ml. This product can be used to moisturize your whole body and can be used for the face, body and hair. This is perfect for an all in one product. As well as that is smells ace! I honestly feel like i'm on holiday when I put this on. I don't tend to use this for my face unless it is very dry, but when I do a little goes a very long way.   For the price and versatility this is a product I find myself buying time and time again. 

                                               I give this product a 10/10 

So you can see this huge range of facial moisturizers have really been hit and miss. With some product I would buy again such as Visible Difference by Elizabeth Arden and Nivia Oil free.  I felt that although the high end products tended to have a nice package, what was inside wasn't always necessarily any better. I am sure like all products that the ones I reacted to wouldn't always be the ones which would react to you. I feel the best moisturizer has to be the Nivia products. They do such good moisturizers for all ages and skin types, and this was by no means the most expensive product. 

So do you get what you pay for? In my opinion over the years it's a big No. 

Thank you for reading 

Laura x