I’m a dermatologist – here’s the top 5 budget anti-ageing skincare buys that REALLY work
IF YOU think you need to spend an arm and a leg to keep your skin smooth and lifted, think again.
According to dermatologists, there are plenty of budget-friendly anti-aging skincare options you can choose from.
All you need to do is walk into your nearest pharmacy or health and beauty retailer.
Dermatologist and skincare enthusiast Andrea Suarez – known as Dr Dray on her social media platforms – raided her nearest Walgreens to pick out her favourite drugstore skincare items to stop aging in its tracks, from exfoliants to retinol and sun cream.
She also suggested which products aren’t essential, contrary to what you might think, like eye cream.
1. Budget exfoliants
Andre kicked off her video – uploaded to her YouTube channel – with exfoliants.
She suggested you look for an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) face cream to improve visible signs of sun damage and help your skin retain moisture, which in turn will firm it.
But she noted that you do need to wear sun cream if you use it.
She recommended CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment – this is on the pricier side, costing £25.13 on Amazon.
But you could go for Boots’ own brand Alpha Hydroxy Acid Serum for £6.00 or The Ordinary’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution for £8.40.
You can also opt for a product with salicylic acid to improve signs of aging on your skin and hyperpigmentation, which might be easier for your skin to tolerate than AHAs.
Andrea suggested the Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer and the Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid. Both Boots and Superdrug stock Cetaphil products.
You can also try The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Solution for £5.80 at Boots.
2. Cheap Retinols
Andrea swore by using retinoids for anti-aging, saying it her “holy grail drugstore anti-aging product” as it will boost collagen production and smooth wrinkles and fine lines.
Over the counter, you can by it in retinol and retinaldehyde forms.
To incorporate retinol in your routine, use at nighttime – about once a week at first and then bump up your dose gradually until you can use it every day without it irritating your skin.
The dermatologist suggested the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Regenerating Cream, which she said “is probably one of my favourite retinol products.”
Whilst this’ll cost you £32.60 on Amazon, you can try the The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane instead for £7.90 at Boots, or The INKEY List Retinol Serum 30ml for £11 at Sephora or LookFantastic.
Andrea also suggested Olay’s Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Face Moisturiser With Retinol & Vitamin B3, which you can grab at Boots and Superdrug for £19.
3. Affordable antioxidants
Next, Andrea pivoted to antioxidants such as niacinamide and vitamin C.
“Niacinamide is a great one to incorporate in your routine – you don’t have to do anything specific because it’s already in a lot of moisturisers.”
The ingredient can help fade discolouration and improve redness.
Andrea recommended the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion Normal to Dry Skin which has niacinamide in it – nab it for £11.99 at Superdrug.
As for vitamin C, Andrea suggested you stick with bigger brands when buying it as the ingredient can be unstable because it is tricky to formulate.
She recommended the CeraVe Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid – which you can get on Amazon for £19.99 – or the pricier Neutrogena, Rapid Tone Repair, 20% Vitamin C Serum, 30 Serum Capsules and Vichy Liftactiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector Serum 20ml.
If you’d still like to go cheaper, you can go for The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% for £6.90 at Boots.
An underrated antioxidant according to Andrea is Q10, found in the Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Creme – you can find this on fruugo for £12.95.
4. Inexpensive eye creams
“Everyone always asks me what’s a good eye cream,” Andrea declared.
But the dermatologist said: “You actually don’t need an eye cream, you can just use your moisturiser around your eyes, it’s fine.”
“Ingredients that actually help the eye area is going to be your sunscreen and sunglasses,” Andrea continued.
But for those who don’t want to skip that ritual, she suggested the CeraVe Eye Repair Cream – it has hyaluronic which can have a skin plumping effect.
Get it for £10.39 at Superdrug.
“For dark under-eye circles, caffeine may temporarily improve the appearance of them,” the dermatologist said.
She suggested the L’Oréal Paris 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine Eye Serum, Revitalift Filler Eye Serum as an option – that’ll cost you £24.99 at Boots.
Also search for The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream, £9.99 at Boots.
5. Low-cost sun cream
“You cannot ignore the value of sunscreen. If you do nothing else in your anti-aging routine wear sunscreen,” Andrea stated.
She shared it can have a huge impact on the look of existing sun damage and prevent further sun damage at the same time.
The dermatologist showed Avene’s High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50, which is a mineral sun cream. It costs £18.44 on Amazon.
She said Avene’s liquid mineral sun cream were good but might leave a white cast if you have darker skin.
For an affordable mineral option, try the Holland and Barrett 100 per cent mineral sunscreen, which costs £9.99.
Andrea previously did a deep dive into what products you should be using your 20s and 30s.