And in particular it is the 'doctor brand' skincare range that tugs hardest at our willpower and protesting wallets. Names like Dr Sebagh, Dr Brandt and Dr Perricone have garnered a huge celebrity and beauty editor following, but for most of us a moisturiser at £200 is just a step too far.
Thank heavens then for Harley Street cosmetic doctor Dr Darren McKeown, who has created Naked Truth, the first budget 'doctor brand' and thank heavens too for Superdrug – always ready to bring us affordable beauty – who are carrying it exclusively. It's the first time that the high street retailer has offered a cosmeceutical range, and, as you would expect, they're not charging silly prices for it – these products are tagged at a much less eye-watering £16.99 to £28.99.
"Ah, but..." I can hear you say, "do they work? surely the expensive brands are expensive for a reason – state-of-the-art manufacturing and super-duper ingredients and all that?" Well, the good doctor can answer that question. "Active ingredients are not cheap and if you want to
use the best ingredients at the top end concentrations, you can't do it for bargain basement prices," he concedes. "But at the same time it doesn't need to cost the earth either and by working with Superdrug, we have been able to get the prices down to a level which I hope is within reach of most women.”
Active ingredients in the range include the latest peptides, retinoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, copper and zinc. And why 'Naked Truth'? Dr McKeown wanted to deliver the latest in anti-ageing ingredients, but "without the exaggerated claims and hype that usually plagues the beauty industry," he says. "I get so fed up seeing new creams being promoted as 'botox in a bottle'.
The truth is that no cream can do what botox does. Good skin care products are an incredibly important part of looking after your skin, but they work at the surface of the skin whereas Botox works on the muscles underneath. The two are not the same and one will never replace the other."
As I am not a user of the aforementioned ultra costly skincare I can't say whether Naked Truth is on a par with it. But I do know when something feels right and does what it says on the tin. The Age Resistant Cleanser, £17.99, (with AHAs and shea butter) smells fruitily divine, is gentle, foams nicely and does a good job of perking you up in the morning (as well as removing make-up). The Age Resistant Moisturiser, £28.99, also includes UVA and UVB sun filters so it came with me on holiday and kept my skin feeling soothed and protected as well as hydrated. It too has a lovely fruity smell.
I also treated myself to Intensive Care for Tired Eyes, £16.99, which is perfect after a day on the beach or at the computer. Also in the range is a Face Renewal Mask, £21.99, to boost radiance and a lighter Facial Rehydration Fluid, £17.99, for younger skins – which sadly isn't me, with or without some help from a doctor.
Available from branches of Superdrug
|
