The Cost of Living & Medical-Grade Skincare: Let’s Talk Honestly

This year has been tough on so many of us, and I’ve heard something repeatedly in the clinic lately: “I’m not sure I can keep going with my skincare.” And I genuinely understand why. When life gets more expensive, we naturally start looking at what we can cut back on — and skincare often ends up on that list.

But before you make that decision, let’s pause for a second.

You’ve come so far. Your acne and rosacea are under control. Your hydration has improved. Your skin looks calmer, healthier, and naturally glowing.

You’ve invested time, consistency, appointments, and care to get here — so of course the thought of stopping feels scary.

But what if I told you…You don’t need to stop. You just need a different approach.

Why Medical-Grade Skincare Works Better Than High-Street Products

Medical-grade skincare isn’t just more expensive packaging — it’s a completely different level of science.

Here’s why it works better:

1. Higher Potency, Backed by Clinical Research

Medical-grade products contain active ingredients at proven, effective levels. High-street brands often dilute these ingredients to keep them affordable and cosmetically “nice,” meaning they feel lovely but don’t penetrate deeply or make meaningful change.

2. Designed to Work at Skin-Cell Level

These formulas are made to reach the dermis, where real transformation happens — collagen, pigmentation, inflammation, and hydration regulation. Off-the-shelf products mostly sit on the surface.

3. Consistency + Correct Formulation = Results

When you use the right medical-grade products, in the right order, consistently… the skin changes. That’s why your results have been so good — because the products actually perform.

How to Stay on Medical-Grade Skincare Without Overspending

Here are three smart hacks to help your products last longer and keep your results during tough times.

✨ 1. Prioritise the Products That Work the Hardest

You don’t need everything, all the time. Let’s simplify.

✔️ Always Keep: Your Serum -Why? Because serums do the real work. They penetrate deeper into the skin and deliver active ingredients where change happens — hydration, pigmentation, acne, rosacea, fine lines… this is where the magic is.

Serums are worth every penny and should always stay in your routine.

✔️ Swap or Save On: Your Cleanser - Cleansers don’t stay on the skin long enough to make dramatic changes. A good gentle cleanser is great — it doesn’t have to be the most expensive item. So yes, this is an acceptable place to save if needed.

✔️ Swap or Simplify: Your Moisturiser - Moisturiser sits on the surface to lock moisture in — it does not hydrate deeper layers (that’s your serum’s job). If needed, you can use a more affordable moisturiser as long as it's gentle and non-irritating.

✨ 2. Adopt the “Less Is More” Approach

Medical-grade skincare is concentrated. This means:

You genuinely only need a pea-sized amount. Any more is wasting product — your skin can’t absorb it.

You can also reduce frequency of some products without losing results. Think smart, not more.

✨ 3. Tweak Your Actives: Skip the Retinol, Use AHA Twice a Week

If you need to simplify:

✔️ Cut out retinol for now. Retinol requires consistency, supportive products, and tolerance — not ideal when trying to minimise.

✔️ Switch to an AHA (like lactic or glycolic acid)Use it twice a week only. This is more than enough to keep cell turnover moving, pores clear, and skin bright, without needing a full retinol routine.

This small tweak keeps the skin renewing without the cost or irritation risk.

And Don’t Forget: SPF Must Stay Medical-Grade

Always. Always .Always.

Here’s why:

• Medical-grade SPFs offer true broad-spectrum protection, including stabilised UVA filters (the ones responsible for ageing, inflammation, and triggering rosacea).

• They’re formulated to sit beautifully under makeup and not clog the skin.

• They protect your investment — pigment, redness, and ageing all return quickly without proper SPF.

High-street SPFs often don’t have stable UVA protection, and UVA is the ray that hits you all year round, through clouds and windows.

If You’ve Been Feeling This Way… You’re Truly Not Alone

So many of you have shared the same worries with me lately, and I want you to know something: there’s no shame in feeling this way. Life is expensive right now, and it’s perfectly normal to rethink the things that feel optional.

But your skincare hasn’t been a luxury — it’s been part of your confidence, your comfort, and your wellbeing. And if you’re worried about losing the progress you’ve made, I completely understand.

You don’t need to throw everything away or start again. Sometimes all you need is a small adjustment, a more thoughtful routine, or a couple of clever tweaks to keep your skin happy without stretching yourself thin.

If you’re feeling unsure about what to keep, what to pause, or how to make your products last longer, just reach out. I’m always here to help guide you — no pressure, no judgment, just honest support and advice whenever you need it.

Book a skincare review, and we’ll go through your routine together. I’ll help you decide what to keep, what to swap, and how to stretch your products without losing results.

Because you deserve to feel confident in your skin — even in challenging times. And we’re here to help you do exactly that.

Book Here

You’re never on this journey alone.