ANTI-AGEING THAT DOESN'T COST THE EARTH!

The cost of anti-ageing creams keeps spiralling upwards. Nevermind the ingredients, the higher the price the more claims that are made for them.

So its refreshing to learn that some of the leading names in the UK high street are fighting back with creams that deliver the latest magic ingredients at a fraction of the price.

Two big names ALDI and SUPERDRUG unveiled their autumn and winter beauty collections this week and ELIXIR went along to investigate:

At last I was able to get my hands on a pot of that Siana Moisturising Anti-Wrinkle Cream with Q10 that has been flying off the shelves at ALDI. Looking at the ingredient list I can see why it has been such a big hit.

I cannot rave more about CoQ10 as an anti-ageing ingredient. I take it as a supplement because it helps energise every cell of the body. Doctors in Japan, where most of the world's supplies are made, give it to heart patients. It is also a very powerful agent against gum disease and Alzheimer's.

The list of other ingredients in this cream is phenomenol: bioflavones from the elderberry blossom, vitamins C and E, provitamin B5, Aloe Vera, Algae, papaya extract, phospholipids and many more including UVA/UVB sun filter SPF4. It also smells and feels great on the skin and the packaging is classy - unbelievable for £1.89!

SUPERDRUG is also big on value-for-money anti-ageing products and has its own brand OPTIMUM and will be introducing a new range of handcare in the autumn. The Optimum Line Decrease Eye Cream (pictured) is a new addition to the range also.



The store's customers have also been clammering for anti-ageing hair products, in particular the SAMY FAT HAIR range from the US, which will go into stores this autumn. There is nothing more ageing and upsetting than thinning hair whatever age, and whatever sex. So this really is a big hair range.



The range includes a pommade, shampoo, conditioner and a thickening serum. The serum, works by thickening each strand of hair with FH4 Thickening Complex–a blend of natural extracts and proteins which penetrates each hair strand, increasing the strand’s diameter and expanding the hair from the inside out. The result–thicker, fuller, stronger hair that holds your style all day long. Superdrug has yet to price these for sale as they are not in the shops yet, but they look to be very reasonable at say between £4 and £6.

GOTH & GLAM

Last winter's smoky eyes have become darker and more defined, according to the experts at Superdrug.

"Apply black and charcoal shadows in layers to encircle the whole eye. Lips are beautifully defined and can be a matt stain or slick and glossy but should always be pigment rich and have a colour deep enough to dive into!"

Great value is this Colour works Mini Cube. For just £6.99 you get four eyeshadows, two blushers, a matt powder, a loose powder, brushes and mirrors.