Which drugstore skincare brands really deliver? Do you have to spend to get the right ingredients? I don't always think so, and below are some of my favourite economy and mid-range brands and my hero products.

Avène

What is it known for?

I very first discovered Avene at a Polish facialist in New York when I was in my 20s. It seemed so exotic at the time, with the only brands available being Estee Lauder and her peers, and a few years later I bought Avène products sold in my local pharmacy in France. The brand is known for their Thermal Spring Water with a range ideally for those with the most sensitive skin. They specialize in products for Rosacea, dehydrated skin, and very sensitive skin.

My top products

• Gentle Puryfing scrub A face scrub that gently exfoliates dead skin. What are the magical ingredients? Sodium salicylate that complements the mechanical exfoliating action of the microbeads. They tell me they are changing over the microbeads to Jojoba soon.....
• Eau Thermale Antirougeurs Jour Redness - Relief Moisturising Protecting Cream SPF20 - It's a green cream for the ladies that suffer from rosacea. This product has a greenish tint that counterbalances the redness of your skin.
• Eau Thermal Avene Water Spray Hydrating spray for the face. It's just the pureness of the thermal waters.

NUXE

What is it known for?

Founded in 1990 in Paris by Aliza Jabès, a young inspired female entrepreneur who discovered a small formulation laboratory in Paris called NUXE. Their hero product is an oil that can be used on face, body and hair.

My favourite products

• Dry Moisturising 24h Crème Fraîche® de Beauté a hydrating face cream that restores the skin's natural water reserves hydrating it for 24 hours...... well no product can really do that, but iI do notice that my skin stays hydrated all day.......It's got SPF20, evens out your skin tone, and it leaves you with a sense of hydration. Comes in both a serum and a cream, depending on your dryness levels. The smell is a little like honey and neroli having a baby together. I always have it in my handbag especially when the weather is changing. It really lifts and brightens my skin.
• Reve de miel - Ultra Reconfortante Body Cream A 24 hours hydration body cream, perfect for when my skin on the legs gets very flakey.

 

EMBROYLISSE LABORATORIES

What is it known for?

Embryolisse story begins in 1950, when a Paris hospital dermatologist specializing in skin diseases creates the legendary Milk-Cream Concentrate, sold millions worldwide.

My top products

• Lait-Crème Concentré This cream has been used by makeup artists around the world as a base before foundation, and to wake up skin before make-up.
• Complexion correcting CC cream SPF20 It's the same price of a Boots No7 and the most expensive cream in their range, I love the consistency of this cream. Unfortunately only comes in one shade so not suitable for more caramel/darker skin tones. But if you have a porcelain/to lighter caramel skin it will work. It has SPF protection, it evens out skin tone and leaves you with a little hydration if you have oily skin but if you have a slightly dryer skin you might need to apply a moisturiser beforehand. The magical ingredients are: Pigments enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and Biosaccaride to restructure the skin and help to protect against premature ageing.

• ARTIST SECRET - Radiant Eye Beauty Cooling Stick Really great product that pings away the tiredness under your eyes - A smoothing radiance booster in a stick that reduces dark circles and puffiness, and brightens eyes. Your nights with no sleep will be absolutely sorted out. The magical ingredients are: Aloe vera and Vitamin PP, Vitamin E that protects the skin against oxidative stress (UV, pollution, fatigue) forming a shield against free radicals ageing factors.

INDEED LABS

What is it known for?

You asked me where you can find a brand with very targeted ingredients and Indeed Labs is one of my favourite. They started with one product called Nanoblur but I love their Vitamin-C range.

My top products

• VITAMIN C24 Vitamin c24 combined serum and moisturizer formulated with 22% Vitamin C (L- Ascorbic acid) and 2% Hyaluronic Microspheres.

• RETINOL REFACE It's a night cream that combines retinol and peptides to help deliver softer, smoother looking skin while helping to reduce the appearance of crow's feet, fine lines and wrinkles. The magical ingredients are: Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, considered to be one of the most effective ingredients in helping to reduce the appearance of visible signs of ageing.

• 10BALM SOOTHING CREAM An intensive healing cream that repairs and revitalises sensitive, irritated skin. It's a unique blend of 10 of nature’s most powerful healing ingredients such as Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Pollen Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Arnica Extract, Bisabolol, Allontoin, Vitamin E, Buriti Oil and Baobab Oil.

LA ROCHE-POSAY

La Roche-Posay is a French pharmaceutical brand that started with a more medical range and now specialises in face, body and suncare products.

My top products

• HYDRAPHASE UV LIGHT Intense hydrating cream with a filtering system that helps protect the skin against damages caused by UVA & UVB rays. The magical ingredient is Hyaluronic Acid.
• ANTHELIOS Really good sun care range for fair and sensitive skin. Protects against sun-induced pigment spots.
• LIPIKAR Baume AP+ - Moisture replenishing balm for dry or very dry skin.

SUPERFACIALIST BY UNA BRENNAN

Úna Brennan is an Irish facialist specialising in skincare, firstly at home in Ireland and now here in the the UK. She is known for her Neroli range and her Rose range.

My top products

• Superfacialist Neroli Super Lift SPF15 Day Cream
• Superfacialist Neroli Super Lift Night Cream Night Cream

Neroli is orange blossom and it's a very good natural anti depressive. The smell of that cream puts me in a very different mood and this two creams are an easy day and night cream solution below £20.

• Superfacialist Rose Intense Moisture Mask Very good mask. Magic ingredients are White Willow extract, known to enhance skin cell turnover, Vitamin E and Urea with soothing Marshmallow extract. It hydrates, plumps and replenishes the skin.