Staying fabulous at 50+

SKINCARE AFFAIR

I have spent more than 30 years looking for 'the one' and during that time I have had dalliances with budget skincare,  flirted with high end products and I've had a few long term relationships but 'the one' is still eluding me.  Am I too fussy?  Are my expectations too high?  Am I  commitment phobic?  Or am I just a skincare slut?

I was a skincare virgin until I was 15 years old, I remember my first encounter like it was yesterday, the white and blue bottle of Anne French Cleansing Milk seemed so sophisticated and grown up, I thought we would be together forever but our relationship was over within a few months. I then met Johnsons Baby Lotion, we stayed together until I was in my late teens as this removed make up and moisturised.  When I started buying grown up magazines I discovered I could do much better for myself and dumped Johnsons for Clearasil, our breakup was not as painful as the breakout this product caused.  I then moved to Germany for 7 years and had several relationships with products whose names I couldn't pronounce, sadly none of them lasted more than a few months.  I moved back to the UK and got back with Johnsons for a while but again this didn't last, although I must confess we still have the occasional one night stand!!  Then Glamour magazine was launched and changed my life, I discovered Clinique and Clarins and on occasions I was seeing both at the same time, sadly neither of them could truly satisfy me and although I was happy for a while I just couldn't commit myself to either.  I watched the launch of Liz Earle on QVC and thought that's it, that's 'the one', I loved all of the products immediately and we were together for a couple of years, but I was lured away by Decleor and Gatineau, although Cleanse & Polish still pops in and out of my life.  I then trained as a beauty therapist, this was a revelation for me, it opened up a whole new world of relationship opportunities.  The first salon I worked at used Espa products, I was in heaven, this range treated me very well and when I left that salon I was heartbroken at first but then I was introduced to Elemis, I thought I had found my soul mate at last, I thought this is 'the one'. We had 2 very happy years together, then disaster struck, I became an air hostess and my skincare affairs went international!  I had liaisons with Korres, Estee Lauder, Kiehls, Chanel, Molton Brown, Prevage, Ren, Biotherm, and Bliss to name but a few, but I loved and left each and every one of them.

I got to thinking recently about why I found it impossible to remain faithful, is it because these products fail to deliver, have I got some sort of undiagnosed medical condition or am I just a skincare slut?  I have been really lucky to be blessed with very good skin, the majority of people who do not know my age would guess I am younger than I am, is this because of good genes or because over the years I have always taken good care of my skin, despite my inability to have a monogamous relationship with one brand?  I don't know the answer to this question but I do know that my quest to find 'the one' goes on, so until then I guess I shall continue to be a skincare slut and I'll have a blast with any new brands that find their way into my life.

I would be interested to know if you have found 'the one',  the skincare product that you can't live without, the one that will be with you forever.

19 comments

  1. Nope I will have to join you in being a facecream floozy, each new brand turns my head and I an off. I think they are fab for a while, then my skin seems to get used to it, the magic just isn't there. then I am off to seek pastures new, its the same with shampoo for me though.

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  2. Oh yes Jo don't even get me started on shampoo, I've never purchased the same bottle twice, I think we are destined to be product whores for eternity. So glad it's not just me xxx

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  3. Hi Ali, phew thank goodness for that, thought there was just the two of us brave enough to admit it. I totally agree with your comments. I just think there are too many products and not enough time but I'll try my hardest to get through as many as I can before I settle down xxx

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  4. Oooh you tart!

    I must admit to a bit of product sluttery myself. I buy whatever's on offer. The only one's I regularly come back to are Simple (cheap and cheerful) and Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream - although I only ever seem to rush back to her arms when I'm in extreme need of TLC!

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  5. Liz, I always had a feeling you were a bit of a dark horse, I have also flirted with Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream and I keep her in the back of my cupboard in case of emergency skin dramas xx

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  6. After all those posh brands you've mentioned - I feel almost embarrassed to confess that I have used cheap, and reliable Nivea for 40 years. But it has helped my dry, sensitive skin so much... I couldn't manage without it now. I am often asked what my secret for young-looking skin is (I am 60!)

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  7. Wow, if that's a recent photo of you then wow, I think you have found 'the one', you look amazing. This was my point, have I just been seduced by pretty packaging, delicious fragrances, posh brand names, when all along 'the one' was staring me in the face and I just overlooked them? Although, I have to admit my affairs with skincare have been amazing and I don't regret a thing :) xx

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  8. I was definitely a Skincare Slut until I discovered Inlight Organic products 2 yrs ago ( a comp win :) ). Having very dry and sensitive skin nothing seemed to work after a few months. Theses products are marvellous , not cheap but not the most expensive either , they have made this 40 something very happy.

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  9. Great post hun, i love trying different products and have never stuck to one brand before, Anne french was my 1st cleanser too how funny.
    I must say though i only found liz earle last year and it has made such a huge difference on my skin that i'm a bit wary of using other products. I do trial other products but i will always have a bottle of cleanse and polish at the ready to use inbetween testing products.
    I think the reason we keep on searching is because one day we think we will find something that will make our skin perfect ( lets face it, it's never going to happen ha )
    xx

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  10. Many thanks for your compliments Jude! The photo was, I admit, following a make-over - but it's recent. I usually get taken for around 40ish... which is wonderful at my age!
    My 40 year old daughter looks like a teenager!! I will send you photo via Twitter (if I can get my head around how to do it!lol)

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  11. Hi daisybeebee, I am so glad that you have found 'the one' and I hope you both have a long and happy relationship :)xx

    Hi Nicoletta, I find I go back to Liz when I am feeling disheartened and I am waiting for the next big thing in beauty, it doesn't matter what my skin is doing Liz always takes it back to where it was xx

    Thanks for taking the time to comment xxx

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  12. Hi Muskrat, I would've also put your age at 40 I cannot believe how fabulous you look. I have to say I have never used Nivea but I think I may arrange a date in the very near future. I would love to see a photo too xxx

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  13. I started with Anne French too! and flirted with many different products since. I don't think I could ever stick to just one, but for the past few years have stuck to a few: Clinique 3-step if I wash my face when I am in the bath, Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash and/or Origins Modern Friction exfoliator in the shower, Dr Hauschka (my fave) cleansing milk & Evian water spray if I am cleaning my face with cotton wool in the bedroom and now of course that is vying with Les Fleurs de Bach cleansing milk.

    I'm glad you didn't ask about shampoo, my list would be endless!

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  14. Hi Molly, Anne French seems to be the favourite starter for many of a certain era!! I forgot that I was once also addicted to Origins Modern Friction, maybe I'll revisit that one soon, have used so many products they need to be quite special to get a second date with me. I too am an even bigger slut with my shampoo, I am usually bored with it before I get to the end of the bottle xx

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  15. I me definitely a Skincare Slut Having very dry and sensitive skin nothing seemed to work after a few months.

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  16. Hi legs21, I think that is why there are so many sluts about, it seems just when you think you have found 'the one' it seems to let you down and stop 'doing it' for you. I wish you luck in what will probably be a lifelong quest xxx

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  17. lol brilliant post! Cleanse & polish is fab but i haven't tried anything else in the range. TBH soap & water & a cheap moisturiser is all i tend to use & i look very young for my age.
    @pied_wagtail

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  18. Hi Lucy, I have tried all of Liz's products and they are all fabulous, but Cleanse & Polish is the hero product in my opinion. I have also dallied with soap and water but it always leaves my skin feeling tight and dry, but my daughter uses soap and water and her skin is lovely. You're lucky to have been blessed with good skin xxx

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  19. Nice blog! newbie blogger here! t'll be so sweet of you if you follow me there too http://ibeauty-addict.blogspot.com/

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