Woman shares £1 product that helps her ‘look better in 40s than 20s’

A woman in her 40s has claimed that her skin is better now than it was two decades ago – attributing this to a simple skincare routine and one particular product she swears by.

Many individuals spend years trying out various products in the quest for the perfect radiant complexion. Skincare enthusiasts are constantly bombarded with social media posts advising on “must-buy” products and techniques for achieving flawless skin.

However, according to skincare expert Natalie Steinborn, also known as ‘The Beauty Recluse’ on her website and social media platforms, simplicity can often be the key to a glowing complexion.

She’s a big advocate of creating easy skincare routines on a budget and insists her skin is healthier now than it was in her 20s. The expert claims it took her years to understand that the price of skincare doesn’t dictate how good your skin looks.

While she acknowledges that some pricier formulas may work slightly faster, she believes that a consistent routine and results are what truly matter. These can be achieved with less costly products.

Natalie stated: “We do not need to spend a lot of money on skincare to achieve our skin goals. The Nivea moisturiser in the blue tin is almost identical to La Mer and it’s brilliant.

She added: “Vaseline is so underrated. What that stuff does for moisture loss is insane. Trust me and try it, you will be shocked at how quickly those dry fine lines disappear.”

The skincare enthusiast has discussed her battle with moisture loss, which is particularly challenging during the night and in colder weather. She said: “When we lose moisture, we suffer with dry skin and dry skin emphasises fine lines and wrinkles.”

Vaseline has become her go-to for preventing this dreaded problem. Natalie said: “So as soon as the temperature starts to drop, I do my usual evening skincare routine.

“Then once I’ve left my skincare for around half an hour I will apply a very small amount of Vaseline, particularly around my eye area and any other areas I struggle with dryness and it completely prevents moisture loss. It is magical stuff. Just make sure you want in your fingers before you apply and tap onto the skin, don’t rub.”

For face cleansing, she swears by the Ordinary Squalane Cleanser. Natalie explained: “You do not need to spend excessive amount on any skincare step, but particularly not your cleanser.

“As long as you pick a cleanser based on your skin type, the amount it costs is irrelevant. When I saw the biggest changes in my skin I was using The Ordinary and that’s cheap as chips.”

Lifestyle factors can also play a role in how you age. Natalie noted that managing stress, cutting down sugar and alcohol intake, and improving sleep also played vital roles in enhancing her skin’s health.

But her main piece of advice – whether you’re buying expensive lotions and potions or not – is “consistency”. She added: “Being consistent with your skincare is what gets results. Luxury skincare is great as a treat but you absolutely don’t need it even though marketing would have us believe we do!”