Aisling on Beauty: Best budget skincare routine for mature skin

I wrote a few months ago about my sixtysomething mother’s skin and how she felt that it was becoming dull and drier than usual.

As she had been using the same skincare products in the same way for the past 40 years, I was not all that surprised at this news and took the opportunity to persuade her to try something new.

I drew up a five-step nightly regime, beginning with double cleansing using a balm cleanser, followed by gentle exfoliation.

If dead skin cells are not removed properly, any product you put on afterwards, such as serum, moisturiser and oil (steps 3,4 and 5) cannot be absorbed properly (or at all) and just sit on top of the skin.

After a few weeks of this new routine, her skin looked refreshed and less congested.

There was one problem, however. Because I receive samples for testing purposes, the products my mother chose for her experiment were on the expensive side .

Ever since then I have received numerous requests for a variation on that routine using cheaper products that will also deliver the goods.

I am more than happy to oblige.

Probably the most important step is a good cleanser. Balm cleansers are ideal for mature skin because they are very gentle and they emulsify, and can therefore be washed off, leaving no residue. Silcock's Base is an emulsifying agent that you can pick up from any chemist (about €3-€4), and it fulfils this function perfectly.

The second important step is exfoliation. Don't use scrubs: they are too harsh. Instead choose a liquid toner such as Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner (€4), which contains natural AHAs from the hibiscus plant, to gently "unglue" those nasty dead cells and reveal fresh new skin underneath that can absorb serum.

Good, inexpensive serums are not hard to find, especially in your local supermarket. Aldi Lacura Multi Intensive Serum (about €6) and SuperValu Pure+Kind Anti-wrinkle Serum (€4.50) are both good choices. The latter contains Q10, which helps to repair sun-damaged skin.

Solid budget moisturisers include Neutrogena Multi-Defence Night Moisturiser (€2.50), Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Regenerating Night Cream (€5.99) and good old Astral Cream (the 200ml jar is only €4.99, which is great value for money).

Oil is your last step; you can apply it over moisturiser or mix the two together. Boots Botanics Facial Oil (€6.50) contains rosehip oil, and I recommend it all the time. Another good budget oil is Good Things Argan Oil Perfecting Facial Oil (€9.99), which contains vitamin E.

• amcdermott@irishtimes.com 
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